Scandelously bad TV - So Close to Home!

Jeffrey Archer, Micheal Portillo, Patsy Palmer, Jennifer Ellison, Megaman (of So Solid fame), Chris Tarrent’s wife, Blurs bassist and Ann Summers’ chief exec among other ‘celebs’ were all in Kingston magistrate’s court recently! Alas, not for a terrible crime you missed over Christmas. Actually, for the making of shocking new TV program, The Verdict. The drama, due to air on BBC2 next month will show a fictional rape trial involving a successful footballer and give an insight into the reality of a court case in such a controversial trial. Still, why use all minor celebrities? I don’t think it’s going to seem very believable. There seems to be a lot of filming done in Kingston; they’ve done the Bill like, four times outside where I work.

Blogs

My late discovery of this site was prompted by one of my modules this term: Online Journalism. Previously I had heard of blogs in passing but dismissed them as trivial online diaries most commonly used by teenagers discussing their angst. This is obviously not the case. Those on the highest ranks of the journalistic ladder are blogging. Senior broadcast journalist at the BBC, Robin Hammon, says “I think that everyone who works in industry, journalism or academia needs to blog to stay relevant and informed these days.” He also points out the opportunity it gives to be part of “a much wider and more informed conversation” and to engage directly with your audience. http://www.journalism.co.uk/features/story1943.shtml
Howard Owens of Gatehouse Media, one of the largest publishers of print and online media in America, emphasises the importance to students, “Every student journalist should spend at least six months totally immersed in blogging…Learn to be a participant. That’s my advice to pro journalists, too: if you want to learn this culture, become a participant in it.” http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2007/01/15/icm-interview-howard-owens/
So, it seems blogs are much more important to our online culture than I realised, I am simply jumping on the bandwagon.

An Introduction, if you like.

It all seemed simple. First, pick a course. Well, I always wanted to do English Language, but considering what an expensive commodity a full-time degree is I thought it might be an idea to make it a little more vocational. So, after much deliberation of what was on offer and what I might enjoy I picked Journalism. As it turned out is was a very good choice.
Second, pick a university. I realised after 18 years of enjoying life in lazy Cornwall it would probably do me good to experience the bright lights and fast pace of a city. Kingston University had a bright pink prospectus (no, that really was how it started). It also offered English Language with Journalism. After substantial enquiries it seemed to be a good uni, and one I could probably get in. Luckily (seeing as I missed the open days) I love Kingston, enjoy being so close to London and even don’t mind the long journey home.
Taking all this into account, I really don’t think I was fully prepared for the whole university thing. I now find myself terminally skint and wondering what on god’s green I am going to do with my life post-uni. I wish there was some kind of catalogue that you could pick and choose a career out of so if you didn’t like it and it was rubbish you could send it right back. Maybe work experience is the answer; lots of it!