Original Link :

https://www.city.ac.uk/people/alumni/manisha-jha

Tell us about yourself

I have over a decade of reporting experience in general news, financial news and feature writing with a demonstrated track record in reporting breaking news, exclusive interviews, news analysis and trend stories on financial markets, economy and corporates.

After extensive reporting from the heart of India’s political capital New Delhi and financial capital Mumbai, I got through the highly competitive Bloomberg News internship in London to emerge as one of the two candidates selected for the job from over 600 global applicants.

The internship was followed by stints across oil, bonds, currency and equity market teams at Bloomberg covering global CEO interviews, economic developments in China and policy action by OPEC and top central banks including the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England. This exposure to the exciting world of global markets further sharpened my reporting, data mining and analytical skills while giving me deep insights into the top financial issues of the day.

I graduated with a Masters in Financial Journalism from City University in London after winning a full academic scholarship from The Economist. Also received the first ‘New Blood Journalism Intern’​ award by The Leasing Foundation UK besides interning with CNBC TV and the Financial Times in London during my masters.

My masters course also took me to Fudan University in China and New York University in the U.S. for a truly immersive learning experience on how to report on global finance from the two biggest economies in the world.

What do you do now? What do you enjoy about what you do?

I am a business news reporter with Bloomberg News in London. What I enjoy most about the job is the exposure to the fascinating world of global financial markets and the opportunity to make a difference by writing informed, insightful stories and analysis that helps various market stakeholders to make sense of the latest developments in the fast-paced world of finance.

What path have you taken to get there? Were there any particular areas of interest that lead to you specialising?

I landed my present stint after applying to Bloomberg’s summer internship programme last year while studying at City.  An interest in financial journalism and past experience in the field in my home country India led me to specialise in this role.

How did you end up in such an offbeat, unconventional and unusual career?

It was my interest area in the field of financial journalism that led me to enroll for the MA in Financial Journalism course at City which was a one of a kind course that came with a formidable reputation and a scholarship without which I could not have managed. The course was instrumental in leading me to my current career path now as it provided me with a thorough understanding of the top issues in the world of finance and gave me a solid academic foundation as well as practical training that I could then leverage in the highly competitive job market to land my dream job.

The course also helped me develop my soft skills such as working under pressure, managing my time and building confidence. It sharpened my tool kit by teaching me how to create an impactful CV, cover letter and make a mark in interviews with potential employers which made all the difference in the end.

What did you study?

Before coming to City’s for my Master’s in Financial Journalism, i did my Bachelors (B.A., Economics) from Delhi University and Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism (News Media) from Asian College of Journalism.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

I enjoyed being challenged out of my comfort zone. I enjoyed the depth and rigour of the wide variety of lectures and academic discussions with my professor. I also enjoyed the unmatched global exposure I got through the course’s summer school programme in China and the U.S. This helped me become a well-rounded financial journalist with a global world view, armed with an insatiable intellectual curiosity.

What was the hardest part of your course?

The hardest part was the constant struggle for time management. Balancing the rigorous academic demands of the course along with managing my four internships, job applications, tests and interviews. My to-do list was never ending with often competing priorities and the course really pushed me to my limits to stay focused and bring out my best.

What was your favourite part of being a City Student?

My favourite part of being a city student was the relationships I built with my fellow classmates, other coursemates, professors, seniors, mentors and the invaluable lessons they taught me. Plus for me having worked for 7 years in India and then quitting my job to land a scholarship and move to the UK to study at City was an incredibly special feeling that made me feel I was living my dream every single day as a City student.

If you could give one piece of advice to a prospective City MA Financial Journalism student, what would it be?

I would tell students to try to make the most of the opportunities that come and use each and every one of them to invest in themselves and their future career goals. Knowing what you want to get out of your course will give you solid focus and landing a few internships will go a long way to complement your degree with a great CV that is bound to be an winning combination putting you one step ahead of the competition. But above all I would just say having a positive and can-do attitude through all your struggles will stand you in good stead.