The LSJ's old base at Upbrook Mews in Paddington may have been a little cramped, but many students nonetheless appeared to view it with genuine affection.
Perhaps it was the slightly quaint mews setting or the hospitality and proximity of the nearby Cleveland Arms which accounted for its appeal, but efforts to host lessons in more ostentatious surroundings like the lecture theatres at Birkbeck or conference suite at the Lancaster Hotel always met with mixed reviews.
But however modest the facilities at Upbrook, 2002 was a memorable year for a variety of reasons.
Despite connections with the school dating back to the mid-1990s, January marked my first outing as a freelance lecturer after two years as editorial training manager with the Western Mail and Echo in Cardiff, joining familiar stalwarts of the attendance course like Terry McMahon and Carole Dwyer.
My arrival coincided with significant changes in the course content and structure too, including the expansion of the media law syllabus.
But perhaps most significant was the calibre and enthusiasm of the students, many of whom have gone on to work for the national press and international titles.
Sadly, changing email addresses and mobile phone numbers have made it harder to keep in touch with many of the 2002 team, so it would be great to hear from anyone not mentioned here, along with any corrections if my spelling of names or lapses in memory introduce any inaccuracies.
Since many students have distinctive names, Google is helpful in tracking down familiar faces, but in the interests of accuracy and protecting people's privacy it seems fairest only to mention those who have been in direct contact or have independently mentioned their LSJ background - even though the names from that mews classroom six years ago are peppered across the web, from Italy and Greece to Nigeria and Afghanistan, as deputy editors and TV reporters, bloggers and foreign correspondents and PR people.
The 6M September group proved one of the most sociable frequenters of Paddington hostelries and still keep in touch, despite being spread around the globe. Irene Zevallos returned to her native Peru, Daniela Bonetto launched an interiors magazine in Cairo before launching her company, DB Communications, in 2008, and Charles Bobe (above, bottom) works as a journalist and TV director in Paris.
Emily Manson moved from the Richmond and Twickenham Times to become deputy features editor and later content editor of Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, where she worked for five years before pursuing a freelance career, while Femke van Iperen, a freelance broadcaster from Holland, regularly returns to the school to undertake TV training for the LSJ's postgrad students. 'Taz' from Afghanistan in now based in London as a freelance covering Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
Ali Ismail became a regular contributor to the Bangla Mirror newspaper in East London, moving on to become a sub-editor there, and Sheridan Bird is a full-time staff writer for Champions, the official magazine of the Champions League, and freelances for FourFourTwo, FA Cup Final programmes, England programmes and Manchester United programmes.
Among the three-monthers that year were Dean Wilson (above top), who joined the sports agency Hayters before landing his dream job as cricket correspondent for the Mirror, and Vicky Ophield, who went on to become a publisher with Informa Law. She moved to Kelsey Publishing as a digital publisher in 2013.
Fiona Govan worked regular reporting shifts for the Sunday telegraph for two years before becoming the Madrid-based correspondent for both the Sunday and Daily Telegraph. She later moved to The Local in Spain as editor.
Andy Tristem worked for two years at the Wood and Vale paper before joining the Western Gazette, Sunday Express and later the Sunday Times. He also worked in PR before publishing his first work of fiction in 2016 - An Incidental Murder.
Paddy Smith cut his teeth reporting for the Bristol Observer before moving to Dubai as deputy features editor of a lifestyle magazine. He went on to become editor of Stuff in Dubai - one of at least half a dozen former students attracted by the region's publishing boom in recent years, although he later returned to London to specialise as a freelance technology writer, becoming the online editor for Stuff in the UK before returning to freelance work.
Eoin Brophy is a leading strategic communications consultant to the European financial services industry, while Louise Davies worked as a reporter in the Liverpool Echo before becoming business editor of the Lancashire Evening Post and Rupert Smith joined the features writing team with the South West News agency in Bristol. He went on to become head of communications for the Trinity Mirror newspaper group.
Ed Davie joined the South Wales Argus as a news reporter before becoming a political correspondent for Newsquest, covering the Welsh Assembly for a number of papers. In 2004 he returned to London to work for Dods as a political correspondent, later joining the GPs' magazine BMA News as a senior news writer. In 2010 he was elected to Lambeth Council, where he chairs the health and adult social care scrutiny committee, while continuing to write for a number of publications, including a Guardian blog, and acting as communications manager for a mental health charity.
It's good to see faces who shared the same experiences of a cramped mews classroom in Bayswater making a name for themselves around the world, from the Fleet Street nationals to promoted posts on every continent.
When Paddy gained his editorship at the gadget magazine he was the first to admit it felt a little strange to be interviewing trainees for jobs so soon after qualifying himself. Dean's first day at the Mirror was spent on a plane bound for Australia to cover the Ashes - and Fiona's move to Madrid meant that she soon found herself bound for Portugal to cover the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
For tutors one of the biggest rewards is the sheer range of opportunities the business offers, from niche specialist publishing to sports reporting, production journalism and PR - and when that means the cycle turning full circle, or someone landing that "dream" posting, and fulfilling ambitions they once discussed over a pint in a Bayswater boozer, it's rather nice to share in the buzz...
But however modest the facilities at Upbrook, 2002 was a memorable year for a variety of reasons.
Despite connections with the school dating back to the mid-1990s, January marked my first outing as a freelance lecturer after two years as editorial training manager with the Western Mail and Echo in Cardiff, joining familiar stalwarts of the attendance course like Terry McMahon and Carole Dwyer.
My arrival coincided with significant changes in the course content and structure too, including the expansion of the media law syllabus.
But perhaps most significant was the calibre and enthusiasm of the students, many of whom have gone on to work for the national press and international titles.
Sadly, changing email addresses and mobile phone numbers have made it harder to keep in touch with many of the 2002 team, so it would be great to hear from anyone not mentioned here, along with any corrections if my spelling of names or lapses in memory introduce any inaccuracies.
Since many students have distinctive names, Google is helpful in tracking down familiar faces, but in the interests of accuracy and protecting people's privacy it seems fairest only to mention those who have been in direct contact or have independently mentioned their LSJ background - even though the names from that mews classroom six years ago are peppered across the web, from Italy and Greece to Nigeria and Afghanistan, as deputy editors and TV reporters, bloggers and foreign correspondents and PR people.
The 6M September group proved one of the most sociable frequenters of Paddington hostelries and still keep in touch, despite being spread around the globe. Irene Zevallos returned to her native Peru, Daniela Bonetto launched an interiors magazine in Cairo before launching her company, DB Communications, in 2008, and Charles Bobe (above, bottom) works as a journalist and TV director in Paris.
Emily Manson moved from the Richmond and Twickenham Times to become deputy features editor and later content editor of Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, where she worked for five years before pursuing a freelance career, while Femke van Iperen, a freelance broadcaster from Holland, regularly returns to the school to undertake TV training for the LSJ's postgrad students. 'Taz' from Afghanistan in now based in London as a freelance covering Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
Ali Ismail became a regular contributor to the Bangla Mirror newspaper in East London, moving on to become a sub-editor there, and Sheridan Bird is a full-time staff writer for Champions, the official magazine of the Champions League, and freelances for FourFourTwo, FA Cup Final programmes, England programmes and Manchester United programmes.
Among the three-monthers that year were Dean Wilson (above top), who joined the sports agency Hayters before landing his dream job as cricket correspondent for the Mirror, and Vicky Ophield, who went on to become a publisher with Informa Law. She moved to Kelsey Publishing as a digital publisher in 2013.
Fiona Govan worked regular reporting shifts for the Sunday telegraph for two years before becoming the Madrid-based correspondent for both the Sunday and Daily Telegraph. She later moved to The Local in Spain as editor.
Andy Tristem worked for two years at the Wood and Vale paper before joining the Western Gazette, Sunday Express and later the Sunday Times. He also worked in PR before publishing his first work of fiction in 2016 - An Incidental Murder.
Paddy Smith cut his teeth reporting for the Bristol Observer before moving to Dubai as deputy features editor of a lifestyle magazine. He went on to become editor of Stuff in Dubai - one of at least half a dozen former students attracted by the region's publishing boom in recent years, although he later returned to London to specialise as a freelance technology writer, becoming the online editor for Stuff in the UK before returning to freelance work.
Eoin Brophy is a leading strategic communications consultant to the European financial services industry, while Louise Davies worked as a reporter in the Liverpool Echo before becoming business editor of the Lancashire Evening Post and Rupert Smith joined the features writing team with the South West News agency in Bristol. He went on to become head of communications for the Trinity Mirror newspaper group.
Ed Davie joined the South Wales Argus as a news reporter before becoming a political correspondent for Newsquest, covering the Welsh Assembly for a number of papers. In 2004 he returned to London to work for Dods as a political correspondent, later joining the GPs' magazine BMA News as a senior news writer. In 2010 he was elected to Lambeth Council, where he chairs the health and adult social care scrutiny committee, while continuing to write for a number of publications, including a Guardian blog, and acting as communications manager for a mental health charity.
It's good to see faces who shared the same experiences of a cramped mews classroom in Bayswater making a name for themselves around the world, from the Fleet Street nationals to promoted posts on every continent.
When Paddy gained his editorship at the gadget magazine he was the first to admit it felt a little strange to be interviewing trainees for jobs so soon after qualifying himself. Dean's first day at the Mirror was spent on a plane bound for Australia to cover the Ashes - and Fiona's move to Madrid meant that she soon found herself bound for Portugal to cover the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
For tutors one of the biggest rewards is the sheer range of opportunities the business offers, from niche specialist publishing to sports reporting, production journalism and PR - and when that means the cycle turning full circle, or someone landing that "dream" posting, and fulfilling ambitions they once discussed over a pint in a Bayswater boozer, it's rather nice to share in the buzz...
I just stumbled across this and it made me smile. Seems such a long time ago but I also look back on those days with genuine affection, especially the wonderful Terry - who taught me the art of 'the hook'. I'd be nowhere without that! Thank you! As an update I still write for various lifestyley mags, but also run my own company Articulate Content - which creates all sorts of, erm... content and am also doing niche pr and possibly even some book writing in 2017! Keeps me out of the pub at least, if not in the lap of luxury! Love to class of '02 & all the fab teachers.
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