Persistence pays off for journalism alumni Daniel Henry

Persistence and more experiences outside of studying are vital for journalism students, according to Huddersfield alumni and BBC journalist Daniel Henry.

Daniel, who graduated with a BA in Journalism in 2008, has just begun a stint for Newsnight, the flagship late-night news and current affairs programme broadcast by BBC 2. He has previously worked for ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, and has made a string of documentaries covering topics including Britain’s reaction to the murder of George Floyd and Barbados becoming a republic.

But he is adamant that part-time jobs that he took while a student in Huddersfield helped to give him a rounded appreciation of people and life that has helped in his subsequent career.

Pints, curtains and bricks helped secure prestigious placement

“One summer I stayed in Huddersfield rather than go home to London, so I worked as a barman at Tokyo’s and a sales assistant for a curtain shop, who were very sympathetic to me being tired from working at Tokyo’s,” laughs Daniel. “My main job was as a labourer, where I would turn up in the morning at a building site to see if there was any work going. If the foreman took sympathy, I could spend the day rearranging piles of bricks!”

Study journalism at the University of Huddersfield

But there was a purpose to Daniel’s willingness to work all hours - as he had secured a month long placement with a magazine in New York, owned by a business partner of rapper Jay-Z.

However, it wasn’t just about the money, as his experiences outside of the media world helped inform Daniel’s approach when speaking to people who may not want to open up to a journalist.

“It is important to develop your writing, film making or whatever form of journalism you are doing.

It is about telling stories and understanding how stories work. But it is also important to develop that work ethic, doing whatever needs doing to get something over the line and not letting hurdles stop you.

“Other experiences can help your development as a journalist, it makes you more attuned to experiences that can then be used when you write or put a film together. I find people will talk to me because they can see I am empathetic or listen to what is going on, and if you have worked in a few different places, had knock-backs and other experiences then that helps.

“I’ve had periods of time out of journalism - times where newsrooms weren’t hiring. Living back at home, when all of your friends are moving out. It can hurt - especially when you can see colleagues seem to be doing well. You have to find a way through those times.”

“People are living through experiences, and we as journalists are asking them questions about them as well as asking questions of the people responsible for those experiences. If you can do things that are broader than just journalism, then that can only be a good thing.”

Daniel’s willingness to dip his toe in different areas has found ideal surroundings at the BBC, where his investigative films have helped him make the move Newsnight.

“I started at the BBC in 2010 as a researcher for Inside Out - before working in a number of newsrooms and eventually coming back to the BBC in 2014.

“Joining the World Service really opened doors for me - I have worked as a producer and reporter for the Focus on Africa TV bulletin since 2017,” he continues. “Being part of that programme has helped me to develop and to report more often. They commissioned my first documentary - which was nominated for an award at MIPCOM in Cannes.  I’ve made two more since then - including a film made in Barbados, about the country becoming a republic last November.