{"id":1107,"date":"2025-05-08T14:43:19","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T14:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/alumni-news\/?p=1107"},"modified":"2025-06-06T13:50:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T13:50:04","slug":"from-xpressionfm-to-the-bbc-alumna-lola-schroer-shares-her-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/alumni-news\/2025\/05\/08\/from-xpressionfm-to-the-bbc-alumna-lola-schroer-shares-her-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"From XpressionFM to the BBC: Alumna Lola Schroer shares her journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/a>Exeter alumna Lola Schroer graduated in 2022 with a degree in English and Drama and in the few years since, she has already built a varied career at the BBC. We caught up with her to hear what she\u2019s been up to since graduating, reflect on her time at Exeter, and gather her advice for future graduates looking to break into working in journalism and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, while wrapping up her dissertation, Lola began working with BBC Radio Devon, presenting and producing a four-hour evening show three times a week. For Lola, the show, which focused on arts, music, and culture, was an excellent way for her to apply her passion for broadcasting while also gaining hands-on experience in producing content and engaging live with listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduation, Lola then went on to freelance across several BBC platforms, including BBC Radio 2\u2019s Jeremy Vine Show<\/em>, BBC Radio 1\u2019s Newsbeat<\/em>, and the BBC World Service\u2019s Focus on Africa<\/em> podcast. During this time, she contributed to a wide range of content, from live studio production to breaking news. Lola also worked as a freelance assistant producer for BBC Radio London, supporting presenters like Asad Ahmad and Gaby Roslin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“When I first joined XpressionFM<\/a>, I didn\u2019t see myself working in news. Although I had always been interested in current events and news programming, I didn\u2019t think I would end up in journalism. During my time at BBC Radio Devon, where I started working around people in news, I realised how much I enjoyed the news side of broadcasting. This experience really sparked my shift towards journalism, and I decided to pivot from being a Radio DJ to pursuing a career as a journalist.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By the end of her first year at Exeter Lola had launched her own show, Locked in with Lola<\/em>, during the pandemic, where she shared the best up and coming new music from around the world. Reflecting on why she started the show Lola shares, \u201cI wanted to keep busy alongside my degree, so I reached out to local Devon musicians and some from my circle of friends in London. That show became a huge part of my university life, and I still keep in touch with many of the artists I played on the show. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that shaped my passion for both music and radio.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her third year, Lola then became Head of Music at XpressionFM, curating the station\u2019s music content, and during that time the station won a silver award for diversity at the Student Radio Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast-forward to 2024, and Lola became one of the presenters of The Catch Up<\/em> on BBC Three, delivering news and culture stories aimed at 16-24-year-olds. Around the same time, she also joined the BBC News Channel<\/em> as a journalist, working on breaking news stories covering major global and political events, including the UK and US elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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She shares, “This role has been incredibly exciting as it allows me to produce fast-paced news as well as report on culture events like the BRITs, BAFTAs and MOBOs. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“One of my proudest moments was producing a cross-platform <\/em>feature<\/em><\/a> on accessibility at London Fashion Week this year, which was broadcast across TV, radio, and online platforms.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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The journalism and media industry is a popular one for graduates, so finally, we asked what advice Lola would give to students or recent graduates looking to work in the sector.  She said, \u201cMy biggest piece of advice is to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. Whether it\u2019s through student radio, community radio, or even hospital radio, getting as much experience as possible is key. The more hands-on you are, the better you\u2019ll understand how the industry works.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI also recommend listening to the shows you\u2019re interested in working on. Get a sense of their tone, structure, and the types of stories they cover. Understanding the ins and outs of what makes a show successful is incredibly valuable.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut beyond technical skills, journalism is all about storytelling. To be a good journalist, you need to be able to tell stories that resonate with people. It\u2019s essential to work with a diverse range of individuals and hear their unique perspectives. The more you travel and experience the world through different lenses, the more you\u2019ll enrich your storytelling.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinally, don\u2019t be afraid to pitch, pitch, pitch. Whether it\u2019s story ideas, freelance work, or even your own projects, getting comfortable with pitching is crucial. It\u2019s how you build relationships and create opportunities!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to Lola for taking the time to talk to us, we love hearing about what our alumni are up to! If you would like to keep up to date with Lola\u2019s career and see what she does next, you can follow her on Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> at @lolaschroer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you have a story to share about your career since graduating from the University of Exeter, then we would love to hear from you! Our DMs are always open on socials (Instagram<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>), or you can email us at alumni@exeter.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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