SUPERWAG Coleen McLoughlin was in my line of fire this week - for calling herself a journalist.

May 14 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

As someone who spent four years studying for a journalism degree, followed by on-the-job training at the Gazette, and with my last ever exams still to take in October (fingers crossed!), I was a bit miffed at this claim to say the least.

Most proper journalists are graduates of some description, who then go on to learn their trade at a local paper or radio station.

Those who are not graduates are usually educated to A-level standard, train on certified journalism courses for about two years, then still face more on-the-job training.

They have an in-depth knowledge of media law, shorthand at a minimum of 100 words per minute and full training in media ethics and a variety of writing styles.

Journalists are certainly not defined as people who are paid £100,000 to write a column in a glossy magazine, which consists of drivel like “last week, I bought the new Gucci perfume” - or in Coleen’s case it would be paaaiiirfume.

The more accurate occupation Coleen should have given for her wedding certificate is “self publicist”.

In the past, I have stuck up for the proud-to-be-curvy Liver baaiird, on the basis that, whatever path she took in her life with Wayne Rooney, she would have been criticised.

If she had continued with the “professional shopper” lifestyle she led when she first came into the public eye, continuously pictured with expensive looking Cricket bags on one arm and the latest Louis Vuitton accessory on the other, she’d have been accused of living off Wayne’s earnings.

Because she has carved out something of a career for herself, she is accused of only having those opportunities because she is the fiancee of one of the biggest football stars in the Premier League.

The wag, who was with Rooney before he made his millions, was damned if she did nothing and damned if she did something.

But calling herself a journalist is a step too far.

Following her claim, Coleen was offered some proper training with the Crewe Chronicle to “boost her journalistic skills”.

Funnily enough she turned the offer down.

Perhaps they offered her a real journalist’s pay!

Sarah Judd is a reporter at the Evening Gazette.