M.A. in Journalism

Week three

2007-01-30T16:53:00.000Z

Still battling on at First magazine. After an extremely busy and exciting week at the Surrey Mirror, it has been a bit of shock. So far my tasks have been a little on the dull side. I was really looking forward to a week's experience at a celebrity magazine, but I have come to realise that while it's fun to read them from time to time (ok, a lot of the time), living, working and breathing gossip can take its toll. I have generally been doing admin work, press releases and research. I am grateful to have the experience and I understand that everyone has to start at the bottom, but I honestly don't see a lot of what happens here as journalism. Everything revolves around PR. Sadly, I still enjoy reading these kind of magazines, but something tells me I'm not cut out for a career on one of them.
Still, I have managed to use my frustration to do some excellent filing. So it's not all bad.
On a happier note, one of my articles for the Surrey Mirror, made the front page, with my first byline!

2007-01-25T21:56:00.000Z

Just to say that I'll be there from around 6 tomorrow night. There's a "beat the clock menu" till 6 30 so we have to order by 6.15. If money's no problem then it doesn't matter what time. Looking forward to seeing you all x

Work experience

2007-01-23T09:44:00.000Z

So, just finished a week's experience at the Surrey Mirror. To be honest, I really wanted to get this one out of the way to get on to "more exciting" placements at consumer magazines. I was pleasantly surprised.
The first day started off pretty slowly, just flicking through the nationals looking for relevant stories, but by the afternoon, I was out doing the dreaded voxpop. This was really the first time I had done this, so I was pretty nervous. I was assigned to go to the local park with a photographer to speak to people about a proposed exclusion zone. It turned out that as soon as you say you are from the paper, people are more than happy to chat, and I ended up getting some really good stuff and actually enjoying it. Back in the office, I sent them off to the editor and they were published.
I found that the more enthusiasm you have, the more willing people are to take notice and give you other things. Press releases and phone interviews followed and I was finally able to put all that theory into practice.
I really enjoyed my week at the Surrey Mirror and even ended up with a front page splash "local yobs terrorise pensioners in bongo fiasco"! The placement turned out to be a lot of fun and has really made me think that I could happily work for a local paper.
This week I'm at First magazine. So far, it's been pretty slow. The office is pretty big, but because there are two of us on work experience, there's not really enough work to go round. So far, the work has mainly be admin and writing a few problem page entries (oh my god - they make them up?!), but hopefully my constant badgering should pay off soon.

Dinner

2007-01-17T13:29:00.000Z

Hello everyone. Hope your work experience is going to plan. I'm going to organise a night out for us all on Friday 25 at Belgos in Covent Garden. It's good food, flavoured beers and its cheaper the earlier you go. How does everyone feel about 6.30. It's just by Neal Street. Can you post me a comment to let me know? Thanks xxx

Office hours

2007-01-17T13:16:00.000Z

The harsh blocks of buzzing light illuminate the ceiling like a Michael Jackson video. The silence sits on top of a bed of the sound of air conditioning smugly humming. Water bubbles in school canteen jugs with blue lids which laugh at the scratched brown tables. The window frames slit the walls, their hinges jut out like dinosaur heads looking on and cackling at the theatre.
Everyone is suffocated by the low synthetic ceiling and magnolia walls and eagerly watch the red second hand tick by.
Click, click, click, click, click....Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle.....
Too shy to talk and too scared to whisper, everyone laughs nervously at in-jokes and smirks at one another.
Sniff, sniff.....
The grey machine looks on and winks its green eye at me.
ssssss, sh, sh, sh , sssss...
Black suits and grey, sullen faces. Just children playing grown up.

What's next?

2006-12-13T15:31:00.000Z

Taking a welcome break from law revision today, I came across this article in the Guardian.
In fact, it's not too far removed from what I'm studying.

BBC2 have decided to commission a program where twelve celebrities sit on a jury to decide the outcome of a "fake" trial involving two footballers who are accused of rape by a girl and her friend. Sound familiar?

I admit that my knowledge of the law is limited, but if there is one thing which sticks in my mind, it is DO NOT INFLUENCE THE JURY. It is contempt of court. What is said between members of the jury must stay confidential. I know that this is "only" entertainment, but I think that it's cutting a bit close to the bone. Add to this some interesting choices for members of the jury, including one of the most famous perjurers in history, Jeffrey Archer, Stan Collymore, best known recently for punching his girlfriend in public and hanging around public toilets. And most alarmingly , Sarah Payne's mother.

Having never sat on a jury myself, I suppose I am not in a position to comment on what goes on, but what I am sure of is that there is a great number of people who watch a lot of TV and are greatly influenced by what they watch there. Will they be negatively (or positively) influenced? Reality TV is entertainment. But at what cost?

A Modest Proposal

2006-11-27T14:34:00.000Z

Ian McEwan has been accused of plagiarism over his Booker Prize nominated book, Atonement. Perhaps McEwan is aware of two important points. One. Nothing can ever be original. Two. Whatever you write, someone else has probably already done it better.

Plagiarism is not stealing. It would be impossible to think of something completely original. People speak too much. It is far better to be economical with language. There are too many useless words just floating about pointlessly. If we attempt to reuse them more effectively, we can all live in a cleaner, happier, quieter place.

Too much time has been wasted on philosophy and literature. There are much more important things to worry about. Plagirism helps us to use our time more effectively. If, for example, we spent less time thinking about poverty and more time actually doing something about it, perhaps there would be no more poverty.

If everyone just copied what someone else had already said, time could be spent much more wisely. Instead of making students think for exams, universities should permit plagiarism so that everyone gets good marks. Universities would go up in the league tables and students could actually get jobs and earn some money doing something useful.

There are too many ignorant people in the world already. If everyone just copied what more intelligent people had already spent years thinking about, the world would be a much better place.

McEwan is obviously not intelligent enough to write something original and so has wisely stuck to plagiarism.

Train journey

2006-11-20T15:14:00.000Z

Condensation drips down the scratched windows of the warm train as passengers struggle to keep their eyes open. An old man, dressed in beige pulls his bright red anorak tightly as the train doors whoosh open and the draft is sucked in. He is holding a woman’s hand tightly. She wears a smart, straight chocolate coat and sits up tidily. They sit in comfortable silence. As she draws her hand away, his stays locked, claw-like in the same position.

“’Ave we got all the Christmas presents nahw?” she asks, half looking out the window at the graffitied factories and rows of identical houses. Then they go back to silence.

Bom-bom…bom-bom….bom-bom….bom-bom….bom-bom…bom-bom…

The passengers are made to dance as the train plays the tracks like a thudding xylophone. As it comes into the station, the man looks up sharply, coughs and wipes his nose.

“Wos that…”

A passenger’s ipod blares out a high-pitched racket. They both look round.

"Just gimme the light"

“ ‘is ipod. Bop, bop, bop in ‘is ear”

Turning round again, they talk in hushed tones.

“sh…sh…sh…sh…sh”

The train drowns them out as it powers on to its destination past barbed wire and dreary factories.

The woman begins to look tired and grey except for the shiny buckles on her shoes and the gold clip in her hair. She blinks heavily, succumbing to the cozy warmth and steady rocking of the train. The man’s hand rests in place, waiting for hers to return as his eyes glaze over. His lips are pursed in a half-smile+ All that can be heard now is the munch, munch of someone eating a sandwich and the whizzing as a train passes swiftly by.

I'm all ears

2006-11-07T23:09:00.000Z

Following from Emma's post i am really beginning to wonder whether I will be able to become the kind of journalist I aspire to be. Journalism is not a career, but a life choice. Being truly committed means living and breathing everything news, every minute of the day. This takes some getting used to after years of being a student "for the sake of it".

On the one hand journalism is a buisness just like any other. We are dealing with the selling of information. But, journalists have a responsiblilty. We are dealing with a precious comodity and without strong morals, the truth can become distorted. Everyone has an agenda, but when your words are read, I believe you have a responsbilty to 1. have a clear opinion and 2. be balanced.

I recently read on another blog that people want to talk to journalists. I completely agree. People want to tell their story and it is our job to listen. That is what we are there to do. Tell a story to the best of our ablity.

I spent my evening trying to explain British newspapers' agendas and stances to a friend and it got me thinking. Trainee journalists are one of the most exceptional parts of this industry because they are coming into this buisness with an innocent passion and an eagerness to learn. Long may it last.

"We got him"

2006-11-05T21:42:00.000Z

I cannot believe that capital punishment can and will be imposed in 2006 when Saddam Hussein will be hung for crimes against humanity. The Iraqi people have been through hell at the hands of an enemy within and without . Does the coalition really believe that it has brought peace to a country on the verge of civil war? According to Sky News, the trial brings "catharsis" for the Iraqi people. While in Nebraska, where George Bush is due to appear, U2's "It's a beautiful Day" booms out to an elated crowd, the Sun and Sky News show us images of an elated Iraqi people while the Telegraph tell us of clashes between armed civilians and police.

In an article in The Guardian over the weekend Sir Tim Berners-Lee talks about his fear that the web is becoming a "bad phenomena" as little can be done to regulate it. This worries me. He is concerned that blogging can be too heavily relied on and people can trust the wrong information. Blogging is dangerous as it gives people the freedom of speech in a way never seen before. We are able to express our opinion so that anyone and everyone can see it and judge it for themselves. Isn't it an elitist view to say that someone should regulate our opinions and presumptuous to say that people are not intelligent enough to be able to make up their own minds? How dangerous, for example, if we could only hear the elite's views on Iraq.

(Please also see Kathy Rowsome's take on this by clicking on her blog)

Anything is possible

2006-11-04T23:23:00.000Z

I have been noticing more and more the - think of a story, stand it up - method. With the Killer Bees in mind, I noticed an article by a "futurologist" in the Sun over the weekend about the amount of surveillance in Britain. Many of the papers have approached this subject since it was revealed that there is 1 camera to every 14 people.

I found it funny to see that the Sun has employed an "expert" to warn its readers of the possibility that thought police could tell if a "criminal beat someone up for their ipod or because they were black, so it will know whether it was a racist crime". It's amazing what they can make into a story. I wonder whether the creation of a futurologist turns speculation into fact. If so, what isn't possible? Everything's a story so long as someone can back it up as a possility.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006510107,00.html

In it for the laughs

2006-11-02T14:28:00.000Z

Living in London can be a nightmare if, like me, you are living on a measly budget and trying to fit in course commitments, work and somehow squeezing in a social life somewhere along the line. With this in mind, I have tried over the last week to stop feeling sorry for myself and get out there and make the most of my time. Instead of spending time moping about, feeling guilty about not getting enough done and forever checking my wallet for that lost pound coin, I have picked myself up and taken advantage of the cheaper side of London.

This began last Wednesday with a trip to the Comedy Cafe in Old St. Cheap, cheerful and a potential story. What more could I ask for? The shows at the Comedy Cafe usually cost around £10, but with so much "talent" around, there is a special free night where comedians (victims) can come and try out their material. Big mistake. With no cover charge, punters are free to wonder in off the street and spend their hard earned cash on booze. This also means that office parties often migrate there with the promise of a few cheap laughs at the boss' expense.

As I took my seat, I could sense the crowd getting riled up, ready for their first victim. Up steps the compere (think the child-snatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang meets Fagin) who informs the already boozed-up crowd that the evening's acts are not used to heckling. This gives the green light for the comments to begin. On comes the first act. A young man wearing a striped t-shirt bravely went first and promptly died on his feet after a "where's wally gone bad" comment. Through the night we see 10 acts and are invited to rate them out of ten, although the cheers, or jeers, work well enough.

As the night progresses I am singled out as the next prey as, mid-joke, I turn round to look at the fireman talking to the compere, leading to many hose jokes as I become the compere's stooge. I can't complain though after what was after all a free evening. I'll just make sure I'm not at the front next time.

Why learn a language?

2006-10-23T12:42:00.000+01:00

After spending 5 years at university studying French and German and now embarking on a career in journalism, I am beginning to consider the merits of learning a foreign language.

It is compulsory in England to learn a foreign language up to the age of 14, but there is often little done to encourage pupils to carry this on and frequently little desire. Perhaps it is the languages on offer which is the problem. French and German are usually the only options and some children find it difficult to see the relevance of these languages to their lives. English (American) on the other hand is much more attractive as many youngsters watch American television and movies, or listen to music with English lyrics. Basically, it has the "cool" factor. This may explain the vast gap between the abilities of many English students and their counterparts overseas.

Learning a foreign language such as French or German can help with English grammar and syntax. Grammar is often sidelined in the English language curriculum, but by learning a foreign language, you are forced to learn the names of tenses, and general basic grammar. It has been shown that young children are much more capable of learning languages and the promotion of this can help to develop creativity, problem solving and memory.

Unfortunately, a passion for languages is normally a result of excellent teaching and when this is not the case, pupils' enthusiasm wanes. Learning a language is not just being able to speak it. It is also a lesson in culture. Language exchanges are extremely useful and allow students to live the life of a foreign peer. This is obviously dependent on money and so many pupils lose out. Perhaps the way forward would be to involve language assistants or highlight the significance of non-English pupils' languages and cultures in school.

Foreign language teaching is too often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. The fear of the immensity of the subject can also be a turn off, but language learning, like anything else, comes in different levels. You don't have to be fluent but making the effort to speak the language in a foreign country shows goodwill and manners.

Speaking another language opens many doors, and it doesn't have to be the languages you were taught at school. The School of Oriental and African Studies, London, is one of the few universities in the UK to offer languages such as Kurdish and Swahili and many students realise the benefits of this. Having an extra language demonstrates an interest in others and you can have some fun doing it.

"Those who know nothing of foreign languages,
know nothing of their own."

- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Shopgirl

2006-10-21T20:13:00.000+01:00

I hate shopping for make up. I ventured into Mac today feeling very pale and uninteresting hoping to remedy this and was greeted by the most immaculate and stunning salesgirl. Hardly a crime, but given my fragile, hungover state, I wanted to run away and get involved with the bronzer. Why I should feel the need to put make up on to go to a shop selling..well..make up, I don't know, but I will be doing it in future.

The hardest of dilemmas

2006-10-21T19:44:00.000+01:00

What would you do if you were in a happy relationship with someone who you knew had to leave the country in a few months? Two friends are in this very position and finding themselves forced to deal with the hardest of dilemmas. Marry...or split up.
Now this is not the kind of dilemma that many 20-something year olds have to face. But as the cliche goes - you can't chose who you fall in love with. When it is someone close to you, it's easy to judge. "That Green Card-watching foreigner's trying to brainwash my friend." But things are rarely black and white. I in fact found myself sympathising (even after the hangover had worn off) with my friend's girlfriend. I am not being flippant about marriage, just trying to see the other side of the picture.

What I learnt today

2006-10-19T22:38:00.000+01:00

I am not perfect. I know I have a lot to learn. I think the way to keep learning is to listen to those around you. One of my lecturers, David Dunkley-Gymiah, often refers to "the smartest person in the room syndrome". Basically, everyone knows something you need to know. Without meaning to sound trite, we all need to help each other. This is especially true of journalism. Yes, you have to be ambitious to get ahead, but if you try to do it all alone, you will not go far. After a short time on a new course, I think that I am beginning to see the point....

Let me start from the beginning. I finished my degree 6 months ago. In five years I was encouraged to ponder, pontificate and generally be a smug student. I studied language, film, philosophy and literature and thoroughly enjoyed it. Going straight from the comfort of school to the big-wide-world was a shock, but I still had a routine. I enjoyed learning, but sometimes got the feeling that I was storing up information for an exam rather than learning for the joy of learning.

University is a privilege. It wasn't so long ago that only the privileged few were able to go to university. Now it seems that the opposite is true. In many areas in Britain, those that finish their A Levels and do not go on to university are in the minority. I wonder what this means.

Just going to university for the sake of it seems pointless to me. Why waste 3 years and huge amounts of money if it isn't going to be useful? More and more degrees are becoming available. Perhaps I am being cynical in wondering whether a football studies BA will actually lead to a career, or more importantly, be useful at all. All I want to say is that it is important to learn. The more information a person can take in, the better and then we can learn from each other. People are nosey. We are all interested in people which is why blogging is so exciting. If this 'noseiness' can be used as a catalyst to learn, it can only be a good thing.

I want to learn as much as possible and I'm glad that I am now studying to become a journalist which means that I am acquiring knowledge which will actually be useful in my life rather than collecting information for an exam.

After a conversation with friends today, I have discovered a new mantra. A good journalist has to depend on others. What attracts me to journalism is the fact that I will always be learning - learning about and from others as well as professionally.

Definitely not Diaz

2006-10-17T22:27:00.000+01:00

Just to say sorry in advance to anyone that clicks onto my bog in the hope that it might in any way have something to do with Cameron Diaz (as I suspect one fellow blogger did). Definitely not. Anyone is very welcome post messages intended for little old me though.

Let me just say...

2006-10-17T22:08:00.000+01:00

This will officially be my first (hopefully of many) blogs. It's also generally a chance for me to practice writing - something that is gradually getting more and more sidelined as dreamweaver takes over my life.

A bit about me....I'm studying journalism at Westminster and hope to use this blog to join the ever-growing online community on the PG Dip course. I'm gradually beginning to realise just how useful (thanks to David Dunkley...ahem) this internet buisness is. Studying print journalsim, I am constantly living in fear that my future profession may not be around too much longer. I think the trick is not to see print and online journalism in such black and white terms. The grey area is in fact an exciting one. I have absorbed more information in the last month than in any other month in my 23 years - and most of it is because of the web.

Ok, first rant over. I'm starting to feel as if I'm trying too hard to convince myself!

2006-10-16T16:51:00.000+01:00

I will be posting from this evening

Hey there!

2006-10-16T16:42:00.001+01:00

Welcome to my blog!