MTV’s Oriana Storey today urged students at Leeds Trinity University to make and maintain contacts at every point in their media careers.
Storey, now working as a talent coordinator for MTV, said her love for music and producing drove her to where she is now, but “making contacts and keeping connected” would be essential for students.
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Speaking as part of an alumni panel at this year’s annual Journalism and Media Week, she said that before getting her current job, being a talent coordinator would never have crossed her mind.
“I had done the Radio 1 and 1Xtra production internship which I think really stood out to MTV as it was in the music industry and quite similar to what I would be doing at MTV.
“I’m now a talent booker for MTV, which I didn’t know existed and I think that’s one thing I’d say: sometimes there are jobs out there that you don’t know exist and now I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
“I looked after talent when they came in, spoke to their teams and I think that made me stand out. But then also after Radio 1, I worked in PR and marketing, so I had solid writing experience and research experience which I think combined with my experience in music and that helped me get into MTV.
“With what I do, because it’s specifically music and sometimes celebrity talent, it’s not as serious of course and it’s more like pop-culture instead of journalism.”
Oriana shared some of the great experiences and opportunities she’s been a part of while working with MTV, such as working on the MTV European Music Awards and interacting with former Spice Girl member Mel B.
“Recently, I met Scary Spice, and it was probably the person I’ve been excited to meet the most. She was lovely and that was quite a strong highlight.
“I think the biggest highlight I had was working on the MTV European Music Awards for the first time. It was six months into my internship as a music assistant and it was just amazing, working on this huge scale award show abroad.”
Oriana said how being thrown in the deep end was the best way to learn a role, and that it’s important to try and enjoy what you’re being taught.
“There are so many spinning plates that you kind of learn it, so it’s an amazing experience – just on the go and you kind of get thrown in and you learn. It’s amazing.”