On Friday, I went to Manchester to represent my college at the recent Student Council for the NCTJ. Despite having to get up at 4am to catch the train, and not getting home until gone 11pm, I had a great day and met loads of cool people.
After an introduction from Joanne Butcher, the chief executive for the NCTJ we had a wee chat from Peter Allen who presents BBC Radio 5 live. It was great to hear his stories about being in the business and getting some good advice. The one that sticks out the most is "Have fun, and if you're not get out!"
Next was the Q & A session with the NCTJ. This gave us the opportunity to ask questions about our courses and the exams. We were split into groups and discussed the pro and cons of the NCTJ courses and what could be improved. One girl I was chatting to, Sarah, finished the course in 18 weeks!! the girl deserves a medal!
After lunch, we got to 'meet the editors'. The panel was chaired by Guardian readers' editor Chris Elliot and the rest of the panel was made up of Lynn Ashwell, deputy editor at Bolton News, managing editor at MEN Media Eamonn O'Neal and finally Michelle Mayman TV Editor at BBC North West Tonight.
Getting advice from them was the best part of the day. Having an insight from those already doing what you want to do, I think is invaluable. Even just small things like keeping a blog and interview and CV tips were really helpful. My favourite piece of advice of the day was from Chris Elliot when asked about interview tips: "Be yourself - but not too much!"
Talking to the other students there was good to know about the exams and how the different courses are run to the one that I am doing. Everyone was lovely and so friendly and gave me loads of advice as well as sharing my near-mental breakdown moments!
Monday, 13 February 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
KEN LIVINGSTONE: "THE TORY PARTY IS 'RIDDLED' WITH HOMOSEXUALS"
Ken Livingstone is under attack for saying that the tory party is completely 'riddled' with homosexual politicians. Okay... why does this matter? It doesn't stop them for doing their jobs at running the country or anything. So why is it still as big deal?
In an article published by the Guardian, Ken Livinsgtone is quoted as saying: "As soon as Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful … you just knew the Tory party was riddled with it, like everywhere else is."
It still seems as though Mr Livingstone is living in the dark ages. being gay is now more acceptable, just as it should be. And whether you are a politician or not your sexual orientation should not matter.
Tory MPs from London have witten to the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, urging him to make sure that Livingstone's remarks were retracted. Angie Bray, one of these MPs has said: "These are the sort of offensive remarks we hear all too often from Labour's candidate for mayor."
But what do you think? Should Ken Livingstone take back his comments? Is he homophobic? take part in the poll and tell me what you think. Ta.
In an article published by the Guardian, Ken Livinsgtone is quoted as saying: "As soon as Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful … you just knew the Tory party was riddled with it, like everywhere else is."
It still seems as though Mr Livingstone is living in the dark ages. being gay is now more acceptable, just as it should be. And whether you are a politician or not your sexual orientation should not matter.
Tory MPs from London have witten to the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, urging him to make sure that Livingstone's remarks were retracted. Angie Bray, one of these MPs has said: "These are the sort of offensive remarks we hear all too often from Labour's candidate for mayor."
But what do you think? Should Ken Livingstone take back his comments? Is he homophobic? take part in the poll and tell me what you think. Ta.
EXCUSES, EXCUSES OH, AND MY WORK PLACEMENT
I know I've been really quiet on the whole blog front but I have been busy. Well that's my excuse anyway! I'll start posting on here more regularly about college, posting new articles that I've written and just general chit chat, I promise!!
In other news, last week I did a week's work placement at Radio Tay and I must admit it was a lot of fun. As well as just general news writing and editing interviews, I actually went out and did some proper interviews. I interviewed Gordon Wilson, the former chairman of the SNP on the recent transport issues affecting the trains from the Aberdeen, Dundee area to Edinburgh and managed to slip in some cheeky questions about the referendum and Scottish independence.
I also covered the story of the dome being placed on the Hamilton Grand in St Andrews. It's such a beautiful building and will look amazing when it is complete and the scaffolding comes down. I also got a free lunch in the posh Old Course Hotel in St Andrews and even though it was lovely, I've never felt so out of place!
Remember doing Scottish country dancing when you were at primary school? Well, its quite big in Dundee with over 400 primary pupils taking part in the Annual Scottish Country Dance Festival. When I was their age, I didn't remember it being that much fun, but when I was there watching it, I did have an urge to start joining in. It looked so much fun!
I have to admit though that the highlight of my week was getting to see a tiny meerkat at St Andrews Aquarium. The poor wee critter had been abandoned by his mum so the staff at the aquarium were having to hand feed it and take turns staying there at night to keep an eye on him. He looks like a little fighter though and I'm sure he'll pull through.
I learnt so much being at the station. I did a course called Media Production a year or two ago and part of that was a module in radio but it didn't really go too much into the journalistic side of it. It did help me with the basics like using the studio equipment, the editing software and stuff. It also helped to give me some experience in all the different platforms of journalism as at college we look at print, broadcast and online journalism but not radio.
I have another work placement coming up at a music magazine so that will hopefully give me even more experience. It's all go for me :)
In other news, last week I did a week's work placement at Radio Tay and I must admit it was a lot of fun. As well as just general news writing and editing interviews, I actually went out and did some proper interviews. I interviewed Gordon Wilson, the former chairman of the SNP on the recent transport issues affecting the trains from the Aberdeen, Dundee area to Edinburgh and managed to slip in some cheeky questions about the referendum and Scottish independence.
I also covered the story of the dome being placed on the Hamilton Grand in St Andrews. It's such a beautiful building and will look amazing when it is complete and the scaffolding comes down. I also got a free lunch in the posh Old Course Hotel in St Andrews and even though it was lovely, I've never felt so out of place!
Remember doing Scottish country dancing when you were at primary school? Well, its quite big in Dundee with over 400 primary pupils taking part in the Annual Scottish Country Dance Festival. When I was their age, I didn't remember it being that much fun, but when I was there watching it, I did have an urge to start joining in. It looked so much fun!
I have to admit though that the highlight of my week was getting to see a tiny meerkat at St Andrews Aquarium. The poor wee critter had been abandoned by his mum so the staff at the aquarium were having to hand feed it and take turns staying there at night to keep an eye on him. He looks like a little fighter though and I'm sure he'll pull through.
I learnt so much being at the station. I did a course called Media Production a year or two ago and part of that was a module in radio but it didn't really go too much into the journalistic side of it. It did help me with the basics like using the studio equipment, the editing software and stuff. It also helped to give me some experience in all the different platforms of journalism as at college we look at print, broadcast and online journalism but not radio.
I have another work placement coming up at a music magazine so that will hopefully give me even more experience. It's all go for me :)
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Breakdown # 1,769
I'm not a crier. Really, I'm not. I'm not the type of girl that cries at chick flicks or a particulary harrowing episode of Gossip girl. But there is something about doing this journalism course that has me in tears at least once a week.
Sometimes it is born out of frustration (1500 words on the West Lothian question? Are you having a laugh?!)
Other times its because there will always be someone that wants to try and beat you down and bitch about you on twitter or other such sites and eventually that sort of thing will wear you down and you get to thinking, "well, what is the point?" Well, the point is my mother taught me better than that. I won't quit because some silly girl coughs "bitch" at me or feels that they need to take the time out of their lives to tweet about something I've said/done/wore or anything else they can think of. Don't you have something better to do?
But more often than not I can cry a river because I feel that I'm not good enough to do this course. That at some point someone is gonna turn round and say; "You, be a journalist? Really?" But I still continue on anyways because I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. 1000 words on privacy laws? Bring it on! 100wpm in shorthand? I'm on it!
Because as Bob Dylan once said "If you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose."
And as he also 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."
A bit sexist but I know what the dude meant :)
Sometimes it is born out of frustration (1500 words on the West Lothian question? Are you having a laugh?!)
Other times its because there will always be someone that wants to try and beat you down and bitch about you on twitter or other such sites and eventually that sort of thing will wear you down and you get to thinking, "well, what is the point?" Well, the point is my mother taught me better than that. I won't quit because some silly girl coughs "bitch" at me or feels that they need to take the time out of their lives to tweet about something I've said/done/wore or anything else they can think of. Don't you have something better to do?
But more often than not I can cry a river because I feel that I'm not good enough to do this course. That at some point someone is gonna turn round and say; "You, be a journalist? Really?" But I still continue on anyways because I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. 1000 words on privacy laws? Bring it on! 100wpm in shorthand? I'm on it!
Because as Bob Dylan once said "If you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose."
And as he also 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."
A bit sexist but I know what the dude meant :)
Thursday, 19 January 2012
I'd rather have a job wiping David Cameron's a@*e
Yesterday at college I was handed an application form for a work experience at a well-known Scottish tabloid newspaper.
My first instinct was to say “na, no thanks” but then I thought, well, maybe I’m being too hasty here. This is a work placement on a national newspaper, doing proper journalism; writing an article that stands a good chance of being published. Am I being a fool here to turn it down?
But I have always followed my gut reaction to things and I realised that despite this being a great opportunity I just couldn’t bring myself to begin filling in my details on this application form; it just didn’t sit right with me. Maybe I am being complete idiot but at least I am an idiot with some integrity and principles. How can you write for a newspaper or a magazine for that matter, if you don’t believe or agree with what they stand for or what they print? I feel that I would be selling my soul to the devil for just perhaps a glimmer of a chance of getting a job at the end of it. I’d rather do it on my own even if it meant knocking on doors, making phone calls or sending out emails everyday for a year or so to try and get a job. I know that eventually I will get there; I have enough determination and drive.
I’m not cocky or think that my writing is on par with that of the staff of say, the Guardian, and I will be more than happy to work on a local newspaper, but just one whose beliefs I share.
So the application form will remain untouched in my folder. I will keep it as a reminder not to sell out and to stand by my beliefs. Working for a tabloid? I’d rather have a job wiping David Cameron’s arse.
My first instinct was to say “na, no thanks” but then I thought, well, maybe I’m being too hasty here. This is a work placement on a national newspaper, doing proper journalism; writing an article that stands a good chance of being published. Am I being a fool here to turn it down?
But I have always followed my gut reaction to things and I realised that despite this being a great opportunity I just couldn’t bring myself to begin filling in my details on this application form; it just didn’t sit right with me. Maybe I am being complete idiot but at least I am an idiot with some integrity and principles. How can you write for a newspaper or a magazine for that matter, if you don’t believe or agree with what they stand for or what they print? I feel that I would be selling my soul to the devil for just perhaps a glimmer of a chance of getting a job at the end of it. I’d rather do it on my own even if it meant knocking on doors, making phone calls or sending out emails everyday for a year or so to try and get a job. I know that eventually I will get there; I have enough determination and drive.
I’m not cocky or think that my writing is on par with that of the staff of say, the Guardian, and I will be more than happy to work on a local newspaper, but just one whose beliefs I share.
So the application form will remain untouched in my folder. I will keep it as a reminder not to sell out and to stand by my beliefs. Working for a tabloid? I’d rather have a job wiping David Cameron’s arse.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
I need love too, but I don't go looking for it in the supermarket
In the wake of celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson being caught shoplifting at Tesco, all kinds of reasons why have come to the surface, apologies were made, clever headlines were dreamt up by the tabloids ( The Sun went with 'Ready Steady Crook' oh how we laughed......)
Still, celebrity shoplifting is a source of hilarity, not outrage.
Still, celebrity shoplifting is a source of hilarity, not outrage.
We don't know why he stole some coleslaw when he was buying hundreds of pounds worth of champagne at the same time. We don't know why Tesco watched him do this five times before they decided to step in.
Since being caught stealing, according to him, he cries himself to sleep. He has all kinds of deep-rooted psychological difficulties from childhood abuse, to his business collapsing, to bereavements and goodness knows what else. He is now going to get the treatment he needs. It's a shame we don't have Shoplifters Anonymous as they do in America. Celebrity shoplifting is seen as a cry for help across the Atlantic. Embarrassing? Yes. Evil? Not so much. Who can forget the "Free Winona" T-shirts?
These people don't steal because they need stuff that they just can't afford. They steal because they are stressed/addicted to painkillers/have a deep desire to be loved. Fair play, I kinda understand that. But everybody wants to be loved, including me, but I don't feel the need to go wandering around the aisles in my local supermarket looking for it.
It seems to me that it's so much easier for people to blame what they do on some sort of mental illness or stress or pressures at work than actually take some responsibility for their actions. I'm no expert, far from it , despite suffering from a mental illness myself, and I am sure that shoplifting may be some symptom or reaction to some buried psychological problem that is buried deep down, but what if it is just in fact well, stealing?
While celebrity shoplifters are seen as rather amusing in the media, when it is just us "normal folk" that decide to fill our trolleys without paying, it becomes this outrage in society. Seems to me there is some sort of double standards going on here. One rule for them and another for everyone else. What is fair about that?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)