Graduate follows dream and wins award

Now working on national magazines, University of Gloucestershire graduate Aimee Jakes has received the Immediate Media Magazine Prize for her outstanding work in journalism.

Aimee attended her graduation ceremony yesterday (Thursday 24 November) at The Centaur, Cheltenham, and received her prize from Production Director Sarah Powell. The prize is presented to the best magazine journalist on the BA Journalism course.

Originally from Bristol, Aimee initially joined the University of Gloucestershire to study Primary Education but switched courses to follow her dream.

“I felt that working for a magazine was in the same realms of wanting to be a pop star or footballer. However I found confidence in myself in Fresher’s Week and figured if I was going to put my heart, soul and sweat into something, why not chase the dream?”

Aimee spent her third year on a range of placements at publications ranging from Grazia to The Sun to Heat magazine. She now works for Bauer Media as an Audience Development Executive, working online for heat, Closer, Grazia, Empire and The Debrief websites. She also recently produced a Facebook Live with comedian and presenter Alan Carr which reached over 600,000 people.

She added: “I was very surprised to win an award. What I enjoyed most about studying at the University of Gloucestershire is that the lecturers were insanely passionate about their careers and the industry in general. I wish I could bottle their passion and pizazz and keep it in my handbag.”

To find out more about graduation at the University of Gloucestershire please visit www.glos.ac.uk/graduation