Lockdown opened up new opportunities and kept me connected - Sophie Mei Lan

By 5.30am I was in the car setting off for my daily commute from Wakefield to MediaCity in Salford. It was a quick drop off at the nursery inside MediaCity where I would pass other working parents as we dashed off to our day job or, for me, to university lectures. I could have studied my postgraduate diploma in journalism at one of the other incredible institutions closer to home, but I was determined to go to University of Salford to be as close as possible to the northern home of ITV and BBC.

When MediaCityUK opened in 2012 I saw this as my opportunity to have a career in the media and stay up north while also raising a young family. While I do love Manchester United, MediaCityUK was my theatre of dreams.

As soon as I got funding from Journalism Diversity Fund, I was determined that I would travel daily with my newborn and find a job there too so I could move and live inside the purpose-built media world.

Except, a long commute, a young baby and being in a different building to BBC and ITV, meant that I was simply quickly dipping my toe in the water and then running backwards and forwards between home and study. I tried to network when and where I could but I also had to work on the side too at the Daily Mirror on the outskirts of Manchester.

I did eventually get on a brilliant scheme at BBC called Journalism Trainee Scheme and I began my year contract in Leeds where I found out I was pregnant again so I couldn’t move for my next placement at BBC Radio 4 and The One Show in Salford which had been a dream of mine. They deferred my place but with two young children and being a distance away, I no longer felt like I could commute or move. I was devastated. But then I started making vlogs and mini documentaries at home online with the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

I found that I could get the same kick out of working in the media but from home and on local newspapers. My opportunities weren’t as vast and I couldn’t even watch or listen to some of my favourite TV and radio shows without a pang of envy. Then my heart leaped with joy when I heard Channel 4 were moving its headquarters up north. And better still in Leeds.

I continued to work online through blogging, vlogging, documentary making with editors all over the country and then lockdown happened. I was able to do so much online training with the likes of BBC Talentworks, Youtube, Channel 4 and the TV Collective. I could attend courses I would usually struggle to attend.

Last week alone I filmed an interview for BBC Two’s Newsnight over Skype, I was interviewed by local newspapers at home and I had the most fantastic time being invited on to Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch show at Leeds Dock.

I finally feel more in touch than ever before. These days my commute involves waltzing between rooms in my house, school runs or a quick train journey into Leeds. And as a result, I am happy and healthier than ever.

Sophie talks about getting all families active in Yorkshire regardless of any barriers at yorkshirefamilies.co.uk