Career Stories

Want to work in the fast paced media environment? Letitia is doing just that

Letitia Poultney, SunLive News Editor and Newsroom Manager, SunMedia.

What did you want to be when you were 16?
Forensic Pathologist or Embalmer.

What did you end up doing when you left school?
Studying to get my diploma in Journalism, while working two part-time jobs.

Describe a day in your life at work:
No two days are the same, my job is very dependent on what is happening in the community. I typically start my day by checking emails to see if there is anything of importance that needs to be dealt with – whether it be an internal matter or a news item for SunLive. My days are spent checking for news in any avenue possible to make sure we have the most up-to-date news on our website. Some days are quieter than others, it just all depends on what happens throughout the day.

Why do you love your job/career?
I’ve always loved writing and getting to the truth. You can ask my mum, sometimes my honesty would come out a little too much when I was a child. This job allows me to do both. It’s hard and you need to have a thick skin, but I can’t imagine myself anywhere else in this stage of my life.

How did you get into your career?
I studied journalism in high school and wrote for our paper. My mum wanted me to do journalism rather than embalming, so between her and my teachers, they pushed me to go for my journalism certificate and then my journalism degree. I got my first job in a community newspaper in Morrinsville about a month after I finished my diploma.

What qualifications did you study?
I have a Certificate in Journalism, a Diploma in Journalism, a Certificate in Radio, along with some Health and Safety Certificates I studied while working in a rest home.

Do you have any advice for getting into your sector?
Be persistent, tenacious and willing to learn. You can have all the qualifications in the world, but having the right attitude and will to work hard will get you a long way. Make sure you are excited about news.

What do you wish you had done differently?
I think I have been pretty lucky in my career so far. I have been supported by some good people in both my professional and personal life. The mistakes I did make have helped me grow into the person I am today. There is not anything I can really think of.

What would you say to your teenage self about defining your future?
It all works out in the end, just not how you originally thought. Take the good times with the bad and learn not to be so hard on yourself. Enjoy life and make sure you're happy.