'Reporters don’t enter the industry to make money or be adored'

I am a reporter at the Basingstoke Gazette and Andover Advertiser. Hailing from a small town in Aberdeenshire, I’m often asked what brought me here to Basingstoke and, more broadly, why journalism?

I’ve long been an inquisitive person. As a child at any family gathering, I tended to sit with the adults rather than run off with my peers - desperate to listen in on the gossip and pick people’s brains.

We didn’t have a computer at home when I was in primary school, so when my friends decided to start a school newspaper, unlimited time in the IT room was too tempting. Before I knew it, a determined little me was editor.

When anyone asked me what I wanted to be, I’d say a teacher. It wasn’t until I hit my teenage years that I properly thought about journalism. I remember telling my cousin that I wanted to write for a living, and he suggested I review books and music. I started a blog (after many failed attempts), and never really looked back.

I grew up in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, with my parents and younger sister

Throughout school and university I soaked up as much work experience as possible, from my local to regional papers, and then travelling to Edinburgh and London to get a taste for bigger publications. 

Alongside English, I thrived in Modern Studies (a subject involving politics and current affairs, taught in Scotland). This inspired me to study International Relations at the University of St Andrews.

In my four years in the ‘bubble’, I took every opportunity, juggling multiple subjects, extra-curricular activities, and part-time jobs.

First year vs. fourth year at the University of St Andrews

I’ve always loved to have a jam-packed schedule, and had several jobs since the age of 14, including: cleaner, waitress, lifeguard, paper delivery girl, and receptionist. As well as lots of opportunities in sport and music.

I think this breadth of life experience fuelled my creativity, as I took on the role of features editor of my student paper while I studied. I was intrigued and inspired by the hundreds of different people, backgrounds, stories packed into just one tiny town.

Representing my student paper, The Saint, at a university event alongside the support charity Nightline

I did my Masters in News Journalism and NCTJ Gold Standard diploma at Cardiff University - and fell in love with the city along the way. Back at home in Scotland during lockdown, I finished up my exams and began searching for the next adventure. 

That brings me to Basingstoke. A town I didn’t know, but a ‘patch’ I knew I could learn about just by being here and speaking to as many people as possible.

Much like in the many places I’d lived before (at the age of 24, I’ve had 10 different homes), Basingstoke has its own stories to tell - good and bad. The role of the local reporter is so crucial. Immersed in our communities we celebrate the collective achievements, commiserate the losses, answer the shared questions, and question those who hold power and authority.

Feeling at home in a newsroom with my fellow trainee journalists at The Cardiffian

Like many professions, local reporters don’t enter the industry to make money or be universally adored - if they do, they’ll be quickly disappointed. But we do share a desire to help people, to not simply accept the world as it is but to know more - and usually a handsome helping of imposter syndrome for good measure.

For us to carry out that service though - to keep our communities informed, connected, listened to, represented - we need to be seen as people, members of a community.

I hope today I’ve let you see a little of the person behind the byline. 

Catriona Aitken

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