A patch, particularly a rural patch, is a proving ground for reporters.

There is no cover here, no hiding behind colleagues and what you produce is, more often than not, down to you. You live or die by your news sense.

But running your own patch can be hugely rewarding. Much of your time will be spent off-diary. Developing your own stories and seeing them come to fruition can result in satisfaction – you are not so much ticking boxes as creating your own.