First - but no cigar

It’s not often one can claim a first.

For most of us life is spent in permanent runners-up spot - ever the bridesmaid never the bride.

I am no exception to that rule.

But in returning to Howden last week to complete our Diploma in Video Journalism, myself and colleague Vicky were told that we may well be the first full-time Video Journalists working on a British newspaper.

Now I’ll admit that probably isn’t enough to get anyone nailing a blue plaque to the oustide of my flat but it certainly added a little spring to my step over the next few days.

Course tutor David Dunkley Gyimah - a video journalism pioneer - was blown away by the news that the Express & Star has set up a self contained department dedicated to shooting video, claiming it to be the way forward for all papers.

I should mention that David’s own site www.viewmagazine.tv currently features a report on last week’s course under the heading Reservoir Video Journalists.

As ever though the pride I had garnered from his insistence that no-one else was doing what we were was the pre-runner to a fall.

Having completed four days under his inspirational tutelage we were chomping at the bit to get back to the office and put some of the techniques he had shown us into practice.

Before we could do that we had to have some of the work we had produced before last week assessed as part of the diploma.

This was the proverbial pin to the balloon as the BBC journalist brought in for the assessment pulled no punches in pointing our where we needed to up our game.

Safe to say there is still much work to be done.