QMYOU / Graduate News 23
APRIL GRADUATED FROM QMU ’ s Media programme in 2011 . Two years on she now holds the position of Parliamentary Researcher for Malcolm Chisholm MSP . We caught up with April when she visited QMU recently to talk with current Media students and pass on some of the experience she has gained since graduation .
Do you feel your QMU degree has been important in helping you get to where you are today ? There ’ s not a lot of variety in terms of educational background in political circles , with many people coming from a very traditional , highly academic background . I think it has definitely been to my advantage that I did a much more practical degree . In a lot of ways it has helped me to hit the ground running in terms of dealing with and understanding the press and media processes around the Parliament .
Which parts of your degree have you found most useful on a day-to-day basis ? I ’ m a researcher , so many of the skills I learned at QMU through researching and constructing my coursework have been very useful . Every morning I have to put together a very quick review of relevant media coverage , so being able to quickly identify , collate and present pertinent articles in a coherent and structured way is hugely important .
April Cumming
BA ( Hons ) Media , 2011
That ’ s definitely a skill which I honed in my time as a student . My media degree has helped me to judge what effect relevant developments will have on the general political climate .
Any tips for current students ? Keep an open mind . The subject that you have chosen as your degree will offer you a variety of modules . You may find one day that your perspective changes and the things you find interesting in a career , and the things you value in life , are radically different to when you first set out . So embrace it and take everything you can from your degree . Use your final year to choose something that genuinely interests you and makes you want to succeed . Never do something just because it ’ s the easiest option ; choose what challenges you and will lead to a more fulfilling career .
What ’ s your favourite QMU memory ? On campus , it would be working on my dissertation and finding my niche . It can be quite a challenge picking out your topic and sticking to it . However it ’ s such a wonderful opportunity to tease out what you ’ ve found most rewarding and interesting in your course and to use it to create a substantive piece of work that you can be proud of . ❒
James stars in
‘ Gary Tank Commander ’
BA ( Hons ) Acting , 2012
JAMES ROTTGER , A QMU alumni , who graduated with BA Honours degree in Acting and Performance , has landed a dream role starring opposite the hilarious Greg McHugh in the BBC hit comedy Scottish programme ‘ Gary : Tank Commander ’.
James , who was born in Dundee , plays the character of ‘ Mickey ’ in the hit series , but this is not his first role since graduating from QMU with a 1st class BA ( Hons ) in 2012 . James has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Dundee Rep , Bard in the Botanics , BBC Scotland ( River City ) and , most recently , The Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy where he starred in their pantomime . However , he is probably best known for his role as the hapless new recruit Mickey Millar in the third series of ‘ Gary : Tank Commander ’ which aired in autumn 2012 . The BAFTA-award winning sitcom was originally broadcast in Scotland only but the series now receives a UK-wide screening on BBC Three ( in Scotland it ’ s on BBC 1 ).
James would like to thank the staff at QMU , particularly Robin Wilson , Marion McNeill , Scottie Anderson and Ksenija Horvat for their continued support .
For updates and news of upcoming projects follow James on twitter : @ jamesrottger ❒
QMYOU / Graduate News 23