Sky News — General Election 2024

On the night of the 2024 general election, I worked as a stringer for Sky News in Barnstaple, where the votes for the North Devon constituency were counted. This work involved planning for travel (as I had to make my way to Barnstaple from Oxfordshire on the day of the election) as well as remaining alert and professional for an extended period of time, as I was representing Sky News at the Barnstaple count.

My work required me to arrive at the count in good time before the ballots closed at 10 p.m. and then remain alert and aware of the progress of the count until the final result was declared at approximately 4 a.m., at which point I had to accurately and quickly transcribe the results exactly and enter them into an online system so that they would be presented on television and online.

This work was particularly interesting as it allowed me to see first-hand the complicated operations of a general election on-the-ground. I also found learning about how broadcasters, including the BBC and ITN (as I worked alongside representatives of both during the night), handle general election coverage particularly enjoyable.