For a man who best describes himself as an engineer, producer and entrepreneur, Dominic has an impressive CV that includes roles as co-founder of Beeb.com. He now heads up ITV.com.

Living by the motto ‘Love, Simplicity, Optimism’, Dominic reflected on how he has been able to transform the online forum into a space where people can connect and interact wherever and whenever they like.

With broad experience in the media industry, he gave students digestible information on the future of news and online, with the content revolution at the heart of his presentation.

Dominic explained how ITV.com is changing its ways—not only for its users, but to generate more income for ITV. “The BBC have more of a budget to spend than ITV,” he said, as means to explain the discrepancy in online visibility.

This may have come as a surprise, even to Dominic, bearing in mind ITV is a commercial organisation. He admitted that throughout the process of maximising content for the online user, “we [ITV] had to learn what is acceptable for advertisement on the ITV player.”

Cameron provided students with an in-depth knowledge of the online world, and a great opportunity for students to meet such an influential person in the business.

His lasting piece of advice? “Everyone in media, including graduates, must learn how to learn. Technical skills are given but the key thing is to be acutely curious.”

– Abigail Horseman is a L3 Sunderland University journalism student

One of the angles for the main feature that has been discussed is how much harder it is for a student today than it was ten years ago, and mainly due to money.

Well, some news out this morning proves that’s right. For example, on the Guardian this morning, it reveals that:

Parents are helping 53% of students at university with the cost of their university fees, accommodation and living costs, according to research for Halifax. Grandparents are helping 5% of students out with their costs.

What’s even more terrifying is that:

Research by the National Union of Students last month suggested students leave university with £40,000 of debt.

And this isn’t helped by the fact that students underestimate the cost of living (although, again, in Sunderland that’s not so bad, as we’re officially the cheapest living unversity in the country! Success!).

But on the bright side for Sunderland students at least, you are at one of the top 20 universities in the country for student satisfaction, according to The Times. And of course, graduates earn more than non graduates.

More on on the National Student Survey from the Guardian.

>> Posted by Alex Lockwood

The music magazine

The Music Magazine is the excellent creation of Level 3 journalism BA student Scott Goodacre, and he’d like your appreciation of his work in the BT Digital Music Awards. Take a look at his site and then, if you like what you see, make sure you vote and give Scott your support.