Weaknesses 

• Organised – I try to be as prepared as possible e.g. my participation in the Young Enterprise program, as Marketing Manager it pushed me to  be organised to achieve team targets.
• Networking- The Young Enterprise Scheme taught me how to make professional connections and contacts that would benefit the business.
• Can-do-ness- people commend me fo my willingness to learn new skills and through my work experience at The Southern Daily Echo, my willingness to learn was a benefit to my overall experience.
• Adaptability- I have had different jobs in various sectors from customer service to hospitality and I have been able to adapt well to these situations.
• Professionalism- I have been exposed to many influential and professional individuals through taking part in Young Enterprise and have learnt how to represent myself in a professional way.
• Entrepreneurship- I have been exposed to entrepreneurship from a young age as my mother ran her own business and I was a regular helper to her despite my age. Having helped to run our own business through Young Enterprise I was able to become more entrepreneurial skills.
• Team working-I have had to learn to work in various teams and one of my first experiences was being part of an editorial team for a local teen magazine. With no prior experience as journalists, we had to work effectively as a team to ensure we met deadlines. We ensured that we stayed in touch constantly and helped each other to meet print deadlines.
• Creativity- during my time at the Daily Echo I was able to exercise my creativity through different mediums. For example I was given the responsibility of helping to write a story that was to be published and I was also given the opportunity to make my own mock front page for the paper which i was commended on by the Editor.

• Confidence- people say although I may exert confidence, I lack confidence within myself to which sometimes hinders my work and development. For example I was nominated by my team to be the Managing Director of our Young Enterprise business and even though they were confident I was right for the job, I didn’t think I was. Instead I should have taken the opportunity and prove my ability. This is something I am working on and improving on.
• Initiative- Because I am sometimes a bit shy, I will rather be told what to do than do things for myself. Working at the Daily Echo I wish I had taken advantage of so many more opportunities that would have got me more involved with the paper and using my creative skills.
• Perseverance- Some people say I give too easily and perseverance is a skill you need as journalist to get the best stories and to report the best way you can. During a recent Newsday, I had to get interviews with a local Councillor and because i didn’t continue to pursue them, I wasted time looking for someone else willing to do the interview.
• Toughness- I am sometimes too soft and sometimes this can be a disadvantage especially in a leadership position. As a Marketing Manager for our Young Enterprise business, some of my team would use this if they hadn’t met a deadline and would know that they could get away with it. But in the end I had to take firmer control to avoid them affecting the running of the business.

  Opportunities 

Threats 

• Making the most out of the experience:

What I am looking forward the most is taking away the skills I learn from the experience and adapting it to my future career. Whatever I learn on this placement will help me decide the career path I want to take and also hopefully confirm what I don’t want to do.

• Learning from the professionals:

Being able to work with the professionals will make the experience more real and worthwhile. I will be able to work as a real media professional and adhere to company and industry policies.  Hopefully I will be able to get useful advice and tips from those in the profession that I can take back with me and work towards.

• Making contacts and connections:

As part of making the most out of the opportunity, networking is very important because it could lead you to the right person who can help you with your career. This is not just with the organisation you work for, but also if you attend any social events, meetings or conferences. Taking advantages of such situations will get you connected with industry experts, professionals and will come in handy whether its for advice or looking for a job. Working on my confidence will help me to make the most out of this opportunity.

• Being able to take advantage of media trends

Blogging is a big trend at the moment, and by documenting your progress and experience online will reach a wider audience and possibly industry experts as well. Also using social networking sites will keep you in touch with potential stories, leads, sources which you can use if you have to report on something.

• Not having enough experience to do the job:

Because of the limited experience I have working as a professional journalist; it will be intimidating if I am asked to do publish work. This lack of experience might also limit the opportunities I get to have any published work

• How worthwhile the experience will be:

Media placements are known for being about ‘making coffee’ and whilst I accept that this will happen , I hope that I will learn more about being a media professional. I want to be able to take something from the experience that I can use to further my studies and career.

• Technological changes:

The media industry is a fast paced world and new technologies are constantly being used. Lack of knowledge and experience using certain technologies could hinder my  opportunities to contribute creatively to the organisation.

Dear Laurie-Ann

WOW…..I can’t believe you have almost finished the first year of uni. Time has gone so quick. So let me guess, it was not like you expected it to be. A lot of hard work, late nights finishing assignments and projects. Okay so you did enjoy yourself sometimes. You have not yet been asked to go and report in Iraq although this will happen sometime in your career as you hope.

So the first year you have dabbled into many different areas from print to radio to learning some camera work. You have had two articles published in the student paper as well as the Buzz. You have also become a radio presenter for Source radio which has given you the hands on experience you always wanted to have. You will definetly continue with this next year.

So what has been the high point of the first year at uni:

• Settling in well and making really good friends
• Starting the course and learning things you always wanted to
• Having experience in all aspects of uni from societies to contributing to the uni media
• Getting really good grades for my assignments so far…all those late nights are paying off

And what have you found the hardest:

• The workload has at times seemed too much to handle
• Adjusting to independent learning
• Group work was sometimes frustrating

You have definitely faced many challenges this year but like you said in the first letter DO NOT GIVE UP. At times you have felt like you wanted to give up but knowing your reason for suffering is to have the career you have always wanted has kept you going. You have proved to yourself that you are capable of achieving and doing well and this is what you have loved about uni- the challenge. So now that the year has ended you look back and feel proud that you have survived and stuck to it. You have played hard but worked even harder. Well done and I only hope that you continue to grow and achieve more in the coming years of your studies.

Best wishes

x

]]> http://lanne09.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/final-letter-to-self/feed/ 0 lanne09 http://lanne09.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/under-represented-group-in-the-media/ http://lanne09.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/under-represented-group-in-the-media/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:21:31 +0000 lanne09 http://lanne09.wordpress.com/?p=188 ]]>

Yes....it happens to men too

Domestic violence campaigns are commonly targeted towards women yet male victims are severely under represented. According to The British Crime Survey only 23% of domestic violence towards men was reported in 2009 compared to the almost twice as much for women. Researchers believe that far more victims exist but go unreported. It is mainly to do with the stigma surrounding the issue were men feel embarrassed to report incidences.

I think it is important to highlight this because when people think of domestic violence the image of the victim is normally female. Some feel that admitting to violence takes away their masculinity and therefore are ashamed to admit any problems. The design of this advert is to encourage male victims to seek help when needed and to not feel humiliated. The image is to emphasise that violence is experienced by both sexes, in this case physical. However it is also important to remember mental abuse as well, which again tends to be overlooked.  The media often ridicules violence towards men and is sometimes a taboo subject, making it harder for victims to look for help.

I hope this advert not only inspires victims but also highlights a problem which is often stigmatised and rarely discussed in society. Women are the often the focus of most campaigns and men are sometimes ridiculed if they experience any violence especially from a women. This advert will hopefully encourage them to talk about their experiences and receive help without making them feel humiliated. My wish is to see more adverts like these because by eliminating prejudices male victims will feel less embarrassed reporting such incidents.

If there ever had an opportunity to work for a TV news channel it would be Al Jazeera so upon hearing that Stephen Cole, Senior Anchor at the news station was going to be part of Coventry Conversation, I ensured that my day would be free.

Mr Cole has had an extensive career in the journalism industry having worked for the BBC, CNN,ITN and Sky News. But since joining what the US consider ‘Al Queda TV’ that he has felt content and happy. The main reason I love Al Jazeera is because it focuses on the international aspect of news. Many news channels briefly speak on international affairs unless it is a big story, but Al Jazeera prides itself on bringing world affairs to world audiences.

“We provide in depth journalism from the unreported world”

He emphasised this throughout the presentation and it is something I strongly value when regarding the kind of news that interests me. I feel that news on other TV stations is controlled to a certain extent and a worldwide station such as Al Jazeera focus on the real news whether it is from the Middle East, Africa or Eastern Europe.

Despite the bad reputation the station might have in the Western world, it is available in 100 countries and has over 120 million viewers worldwide. They have correspondents actually based in places from Nigeria to Gaza ready to bring news out as it happens.

“Having permanent correspondents in these areas allows the viewers to get a more full perspective and focused account of what is going on”.

This makes me appreciate the news I receive more because I know the reporter is understands what is happening because they are part of that community. Stephen Cole proves that news is not about what we want to hear but what we might know is going on but not want to acknowledge. And I would love to work for an organisation that believes in ‘keeping it real’ than sugar coating the real.

I joined the Source radio society mainly because I wanted to experience what being a radio presenter entailed and I was extremely surprised by how much i enjoyed it.  We had three weeks of training and before I knew it, it was my first show alone. I have a co host but it was still nerve wrecking the first show is still very much in my mind. I love being on radio because you are having a conversation with an audience whilst entertaining them. It has increased my confidence immensely because I am now comfortable talking on air and would definitely consider doing it professionally after my degree. This has given me hands on experience as well as showed me a different side of journalism. We have regular listeners on our show and the feedback from the audience has been encouraging and positive. I will definitely continue with it until I leave uni.

http://www.sourceradio.co.uk/content/home

• Supporting independent film and music:

I am a firm supporter of non mainstream music and film and have been since I was in high school as many of my friends are involved in music and film. I feel that much of the media these days focuses on mainstream entertainment whilst independent media is often overlooked as boring or low budget. What I get from independent media is something I can’t get from mainstream entertainment- it often displays the reality of the world and has more heart and soul in it than focus on money and selling to an audience. Yes many of the films made on a low budget don’t have the same effect as big budget films or the music on an independent label is more concentrated to a certain audience. Its bout how it affects the way you look at life and not about the effects you see. But it is the authenticity of the product and the connection with that audience favour such projects. Whatever journalism I get into, I will continue to support independent entertainment and just educate people that and that just because it hasn’t cost millions it doesn’t mean it’s not good enough.

(A Tanzanian film produced by Urban Pulse Media- based in Reading)

(A Tanzanian Film produced by Jake Production based in Atlanta, USA)

Shinjuku’s Incident is a film about a struggle that societies all over the world face whether Western, Asian or African. The struggle to try and straighten your life from a life of crime and violence whilst being tested by friends and foes. Chan’s character, Steelhead, is deep, vulnerable and distractive as he seeks revenge on behalf of his friend, Jie. The gangster flick has everything you would expect from a raw film: violence, gore and corruption. What will surprise audiences the most is Chan’s ability to actually carry this gritty role and make it believable. Some might be sceptical that his performance would not be authentic and that he is unable to carry such a role. Far from it, seeing Chan channel various emotions and feelings proves his credibility and ability.

Another message the film carries is the struggle to adapt and be accepted in different a society. The Chinese gang attempt to establish themselves in a Japanese society that will not accept them. This is putting across the message that such prejudices still exist and continue to hinder the progress that Chan and the gang are trying to make.

Western audiences have become accustomed to the violent and gory depictions of some East Asian Films and Shinjuku’s Incident will not create shock in that perspective. What will shock audiences however is seeing ‘funny guy’ Jackie Chan in a dangerous and hard role. With an equally superb supporting cast, this is film will finally show Chan’s acting skills to the fullest.

Director Kazuaki Kiriya was keen to avoid the less than encouraging reviews from its prequel Casshern (2004) and Goemon certainly does not disappoint on the visual aspect. The screen explodes with bright colours and sharp contrasting tones. For what the film lacks in story telling and a strong plot, Kiriya makes up for that with the stylish and effective use of CGI. This for me is what saves the film from being a mediocre and amateur film to an attempt to contemporise historical and traditional events into something more modern and adaptable to today’s cinema viewings.

What is frustrating about the Goemon, is sometimes extravagant and complicated translations whilst one is trying to concentrate on the impeccably choreographed sword fight going on. A simpler way to word the sentences would make this an easier viewer and I think this is what alienates a potential wider audience. The briefly explored love story and a few epic, thrilling battle scenes left me thinking that there was more that the director could have explored to finish the narrative.

A visually pleasing watch with some mind blowing fight scenes but a flawed plot which was sometimes too complex to translate to the non Japanese audience. Kiriya set out to better the first instalment which he did achieve but in my opinion could have done better by just doing one thing-being simple.

the realisation sinks in...SUPERBOWL 2010 WINNERS

This had to be one of the most exciting and nail biting Superbowls and Saints were a deserving winner. Coming from 10 points down, they fought their way through the 2nd quarter to level and overtake the Colts. Winning their first ever Superbowl, the Saints were doing this for New Orleans after a rough few years. Peyton Manning was the feared man on the pitch and he was really what was standing between  a Saints loss and a Colts win.

it was the tragedy surrounding hurricane katrina that gave the Saints inspiration to bring the trophy back home. the Colts experience seemed to overshadow the Saints nerves in the 1st quarter. But all that changed when the Saints began fighting back making use of the Colts mistakes. the winning moment of inspiration came from Tracy Porter who put the Saints in the lead with touchdown through interception. this was the moment when the Saints actually started to believe that they could win this and the Colts could see their grip slowly slipping. the game ended 31-17 to to the Saints and it was an emotional win for the players and their city.

Saints put on for their city and they done New Orleans proud to win Super bowl XLIV.

With Super bowl it realli comes down to the night…suprises are inevitable. it has been a season of ups and downs for the NFL in general and whoever wins this will surely deserve it. for those that have never witnessed the superbowl its the equivalent to England playing in the World Cup-FINALS!!!..yes it is that much of a big deal and many Americans take their loyalty to the game very seriously. As a  fan myself i will be hoping that The Saints take the crown this season but just like all sporting finals- you just never know.

Indianapolis Colts

Head of Editorial Development, Multimedia Journalism

As the BBC’s Head of Editorial Development, Multimedia Journalism and probably the longest title in the BBC, Pete Clifton has the enormous task of re vamping the most popular news site in the world.  My admiration comes from the fact that as a respectable site, the BBC still realises that it needs to adapt itself to new technologies whilst still maintaining:

“the originality and distinctness the BBC prides its self in”.

My interest in multimedia journalism comes from growing up with interactive sites such as the BBC making online news more visual and audio appealing. For any business whether commercial or public service, it is vital to have a site that engages with the target audience and this is what Pete is trying to achieve. To achieve this, the site has a few proposals which I think will benefit as well as widen the audience. These are a few of them:

• Election site-“We will try and get users more interested in the campaign through things such as a live events page, video as well as twitter feeds covering different constituencies”.

This will get the younger audience involved in the election campaign using mediums that are popular with different age groups.

• Countdown to 2012- “This will launch in the middle of the year and will not only offer a sporting perspective but also a cultural one”.

Although still far away, getting audiences used to the upcoming extensive coverage on the Olympic the site will try different streaming techniques that will further the sites interactivity.

• Project Canvas- Combining computer technology to the TV. “This is a big project involving other organisations and will be available from the end of this year. We want to keep it simple and understandable”.

This could potentially revolutionise the way TV and computers combine together  and the BBC’s participation will encourage other networks to follow suit.

For a site such as the BBC to take steps into adapting with technological advances reflects online media is a dominating force in the media sector. What I have taken from this conversation is  not to be scared of growth and that adapting to change is the only way to survive in a society that thrives on interactive media. And the best advice that Pete gave was:

Most important thing is to keep key journalistic skills such as grammar and good writing but make sure you have multimedia skills as well”.