Liz Summers - Breakfast Broadcast Journalist, Heart Cambridgeshire

Liz Summers is a freelance broadcast journalist with five years experience in broadcasting, both in radio and television, plus a BJTC accredited MA in TV Journalism and a BA (hons) in Media Studies. Liz has worked for a number of different radio stations  across the UK and has just become the new Breakfast newsreader at Heart Cambridgeshire.

You can visit Liz Summers personal website by clicking here.

How did you become a news reader?

I was working as a freelance presenter on shopping channels and quiz shows and decided I needed to use my brain a bit more. I’d already done a BA (hons) degree in Media Studies so decided to apply to do a BJTC accredited masters degree in TV Journalism at Goldsmiths University. I got a place, worked hard, enjoyed it immensely and passed. After the course, I sent out loads of applications and e-mailed everyone I knew asking about work in TV and radio. I didn’t get a single response from the job applications. Then, a girl I’d worked with in London told me that the radio station she worked for was looking for journalists. I contacted the News Editor who offered me a week of work experience which I took. Since then I’ve built relationships across the network and secured regular freelance work.

Why did you want to become a news reader?

I wanted to tell stories to people that inform, shock and inspire. I wanted to be that person who reads a story when you’re making breakfast or driving the car and it makes you stop dead, turn the radio up and really listen. I want people to react to the stories I tell by saying, ‘no way’ ‘that’s amazing’ or ‘how awful’ and really feel connected to the world around them.

How did you improve your skills when you were learning to become a broadcast journalist?

I got work experience, asked as many questions as I could (without being annoying) and took on board constructive criticism.

What’s the best thing about being a broadcast journalist?

The best thing has to be the amazing people you get to meet. I’ve interviewed celebrities like Sharon Osborne, Pharrell Williams and Heston Blumenthal which is pretty awesome. But the stories from ‘real’ people are just as fascinating like the mum whose son was killed in Afghanistan, the man who wrestles in gravy and the boy who grew up haunted by his experience of the Hillsborough disaster.

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