Juliët only graduated from her Bachelor’s in the summer of 2020, but already she’s working for renowned Dutch newspaper Het Parool a few days a week. “It all came about because of an internship I did at the paper during my studies,” she explains; “from there, it turned into a freelance job and I just kept going!” Her role at the publication is twofold, alternating depending on which shift she’s covering. “Some days I do the news shift: that means I monitor the Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (Dutch press office) as well as various press releases and news sources. I then have to write up the urgent stories as quickly as possible. On other days, I get to go out and about, interviewing people and then writing more in-depth feature articles. They could be about anything, but I prefer topics relating to culture and society – probably because of my degree subject, now that I come to think about it!”

A way of thinking

Recently, for example, Juliët wrote an article based on an interview with the so-called homeless poet of Amsterdam – not only a poet but also now a mentor for other homeless people. “The Literature & Society programme taught me to have a very open mind,” explains Juliët. “It broadens your horizons and teaches you to approach any subject openly and curiously. That’s useful not only in journalism but in life in general. Plus, you learn how to formulate a coherent argument, how to deconstruct concepts and think analytically, and how to use logical reasoning persuasively. Broadly speaking, it’s about a way of thinking.”

Student publications

Asked what advice she’d give to prospective students, Juliët recommends a couple of different tactics. “Of course, taking an internship is an excellent opportunity – not only can it offer a pathway into the industry you’re looking to work in, but it’s also a great way to network. I’d also advise anyone interested in journalism to volunteer for one of the student publications. There’s a great online magazine called Red Pers (red press), and VU Amsterdam has a newspaper called Ad Valvas. As a student-reporter there’s less pressure on you than as a paid journalist in a national newsroom, and there are lots of people around who are willing to help – so it’s a great way to gain experience.”

Plans in the pipeline

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Juliët is studying for her Master’s in Journalism (this time at the Universiteit van Amsterdam – UvA) while freelancing for Het Parool. But she already has other plans in the pipeline: “I’m starting an internship at NRC Handelsblad soon, where I’ll be focusing on writing stories about domestic news from all around the Netherlands. I hope to graduate in early 2022 and then pursue my career in journalism. I’d like to be a reporter on staff for one of the media outlets, but we’ll see what happens!”