Journalism in Russia Article is Done!

Well my in depth feature article titled 'Shooting the Messenger:Journalism in Russia' is now finished. It's really been done for a while now but I wanted to make sure it was just right and I have to say, I'm actually quite proud of it. As an inspiring journalist, the topic interests me quite a lot and I learnt so much while carrying out the research. I knew bits and pieces about the Russian government and the KGB (now the FSB) just what I had picked up on the news and in newspapers. It's a really interesting topic when you get into it and a real eye opener to learn how another country is run and how they treat journalists.


Here in the UK, I think we take the media for granted and I think we should value our freedom of speech more than we do.


I'll post the article up here as soon as my lecturer as read it so keep checking back to read it and I hope you enjoy reading it as I did writing it, it is one of articles that I am most proud of.


Peace and Love




Do What You Love And Love What You Do

I love music and I love writing so it kinda makes sense for me to combine the two and try to make a career out of it. So that is what I'm aiming to do. Last weekend I attending a friend of mine's gig in Glasgow. It seemed the perfect opportunity to  write a review about the gig and use it for my college work. Kill two birds with one stone as the saying goes. I think it is harder than it seems to write a review of a band because you want to get across to the reader the atmosphere of the gig and also how well the band played, the songs they did etc without boring them to tears and giving them a minute by minute account of the night.

It is easier if you know the band though. You know what their set list is going to be ahead of time and you also know what tyope of music they play and most importantly you know if they are any good! You need to have a good ear for music and be able to try to write objectively soemthing that I am still trying to work on.

Bob Dylan once said "A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do". I try to live my life by that quote and hoefully will be able to achieve it.

John Watt RIP

One of the units included in the journalism course that I'm doing is a graded unit. We work together as a class to produce an online newspaper. Individually, we have to write two articles plus an accompanying video.

For one of the articles, I chose to write about Dunfermline Folk Club's 50th anniversary. The club has been around since the 60s and has seen many famous faces through its doors including Barbara Dickson and Archie Fisher.  It was co founded by Jack Beck and John Watt who sadly passed away this week. He was one of the most significant influences on the development of folk music in and around Scotland. John had a deep regard for the traditions of music in Scotland, and his songs carried an honesty and romance about the realities - and stupidities - of life that was instantly recognisable as being Scottish. He left a mark on everyone he met and gave inspiration to many. I was lucky enough to have met John while writing the article. Although he was gravely ill, he welcomed my visit to him in the hospital with warmth and enthusiasm. He recounted memories and experiences from his time at the Howff with great detail and affection. I feel very lucky to have met him.

The painting created by local artist Ian Moir

 To celebrate 50 years of the Howff, local artist Ian Moir was comissioned to create a painting capturing the true meaning of the Howff. The painting was presented to John Watt's wife, Cathy at the Folk Club Gala on 29 October. John Watt was an inspiration to many and loved by all who met him. He will be sadly missed. Rest In Peace John. 

A painting was commissioned from Ian Moir to remember the Dunfermline Howff, and was presented to John's wife Cathy at the Folk club's gala weekend.

He was an inspiration not only in the music scene but also as a person. He will be sadly missed. Rest In Peace John.

I am currently researching an article on journalism in Russia. What first attracted me to this topic was the secrecy of it all. No one really knows (well maybe the Russian government does) how many journalists and related media people have actually been killed in Russia while doing their jobs.

I’ve been reading articles written on it and reading up on the KGB and the FSB and even bought Luke Hardings’ book ‘the Mafia State’ which is his account on his experiences as a foreign correspondence in Russia. I have to admit it is creepy stuff, the lengths the FSB will go to stop a story or news story being published is madness. I've got some interviews lined up and I've done a couple already and I've got some good quotes for the piece which hopefully will add a personal element to the story

I’m about half way through writing the article, its only to be 1000 words, and I feel I’ve learned so much not only about who the journalists who have been targeted but also about the Russian government and the country’s human rights policy. It has to be the first feature I’ve written which I’m really interested in and hopefully that will show when its finished and my lecturer reads it. I’ll keep you posted as to how it turned out.

Amnesty International's report 'Beaten Up For Speaking Out'

Luke Harding 'Mafia State' book review

Committee for the Protection of Journalists website

Anna Politkovskaya well-known journalist who was murdered in Russia