Thursday 14 April 2011
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Friday 18 March 2011
Thursday 10 March 2011
Video Package - Chinese Festival
My second video package - a report on the Chinese festival in Bournemouth
Thursday 24 February 2011
SUBU Elections package
My first piece of video journalism, covering the Student Union presidential elections.
Sunday 20 February 2011
Spy Kids
Private investigator turned children’s author, Robert Muchamore, explains why he made such a radical career jump and why his success came as a surprise.
Two young girls walk through the third floor of a London bookstore. A former private eye is sat at a table, writing on a piece of paper, but turns around when he hears the girls.
“If you’re looking for the signing, it’s upstairs,” he tells them. Then, after a pause, “Nice t-shirts.”
“Thanks,” says one of the girls. “We made them.”
The man is Robert Muchamore, perfecting his speech for his book signing. The girls are just two of his many fans, armed with a bag full of books and wearing t-shirts with the series logo on them.
Author of the CHERUB series of spy novels, Robert is fast rising in popularity amongst young readers. The series has just seen its twelfth and final book published, and he has already launched one spin-off series, Henderson’s Boys, with another, Aramov, on the way.
CHERUB – the meaning of the anagram isn’t revealed - revolves around teenage spy James Adams and his friends, who go on a series of missions. One of the reasons James appeals to readers, Robert explains, is because he’s not perfect. “He gets dumped, he gets into fights – he’s like most teenage boys.”
Robert comes across as a down-to-Earth, relaxed person. It seems as though there isn’t anything off-limits. “I’ve had such a crap start to the day,” he explains at the start of our conversation. “My bed broke, and I’ve just spent the last twenty minutes trying to get my webcam working.” The latter is so that he can have an online conference with a school in Oregon this evening.
Talking to fans is part of the job; as well as holding events all over the UK, he embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2008. Robert values his relationship with his fans. “Even when you’re a big selling author, you can’t afford stuff like TV advertising,” he says, “so authors have to be quite creative about ways to build up a fan base.”
Robert’s first foray into novel writing came when his twelve year old nephew complained of a lack of books to read, and he tried to write something for that market. “The funny thing is, he’s never actually read the series. By the time it came out he was too old for the books.”Robert’s success speaks for itself: his debut novel won the Older Readers category in the 2005 Red House Children’s Book Award. Robert chuckles when asked about this. “It was voted for by kids. I never win awards when there’s a jury of librarians.” Of all the awards he has won, he still considers it the biggest, as it gave him “such a buzz.”
It is easy to see why children vote him as a top author. Regularly his signing events sell out, and he has forced queues almost halfway around the top level of Bluewater shopping centre. In a writing style described by The Telegraph’s Toby Roberts as ‘fresh and direct’, he churns out two books a year, much to the delight of his young fans.
Although he has large speakers in his room and shelves full of DVDs, Robert isn’t exceptionally rich. He still lives with his parents in North London, although he has been trying – and failing – to move out over the last two years. Ironically, when The Recruit was first published, he only hoped to make enough to “have a nice holiday or something.”
“I’ve been very lucky to beat the odds,” he says about his success. In 2005, he left his job as a private investigator at international firm Fraser and Fraser after a fall out with his boss – “I threw a box of tissues at her” - to focus on his career in writing. Although his work there hasn’t directly influenced his writing, the amount of retired policemen he knew made it “a lot easier when researching”. His second book, Class A, involves drug dealers, and a drug squad officer he knew from the job told him “some quite good stories that filtered in.”
The story ideas might come from reality, but he dismisses the idea of fitting people from his own childhood into the stories. “I’ve tried it a few times, and it just never really worked,” he explains. The series protagonist is a different matter, however. Both James, the hero, and Robert are lifelong Arsenal supporters, and the character even has the middle name of Robert. “James is the cool version of me,” Robert muses, taking a sip from a cup of coffee. “He’s who I wanted to be.”
Unlike James, who moves from a London housing estate into a teenage spy organisation when his mother dies, Robert, who is currently single, still remains in his childhood home in Islington. He grew up the youngest of four siblings, with an eight year gap between him and his brother, and his sisters even older. As such, there wasn’t really any sort of sibling rivalry. Robert fondly recalls his mum’s strictness, especially with the rest of his family. “She used to say, ‘Just because Robert’s birthday is on Boxing Day, you can’t skimp and only buy him one present.’”
For Robert, the future is uncertain. “I might carry on doing one more Cherub book a year, I haven’t decided that yet.” However, he believes it is now time to do something “completely different.” Already in the concept stage is a series about “rock bands in an X Factor style competition.” That’s definitely something to keep an eye on the bookshelves for.
Thursday 17 February 2011
Rolling News Story
This is my end of unit task, which involved changing a news story to keep up with developments throughout the case. It is a fictional account created by my lecturer, but I received a first for this article.
Bournemouth’s crossbow killer has been shot dead by armed police after a stand-off at a pub. Pascal Tonk, 23, would not put down his weapon despite pleas and was shot by a member of the firearms squad in self defence.
Mr Tonk, a motorbike repairman, has been linked to the killings of two people, including that of his own mother. Shaz Tonk, 38, was pulled from her house in Pine Road, Winton at around 10.45 this morning after a fire there was extinguished. She had been decapitated.
Dutch bonsai fan Mellini Rattue, 62, was shot in the eye after getting off a bus in the Chaseside area of town at 10.20am this morning. He was part of a coach party that had only arrived in the UK today and died from his injuries. He leaves a wife and two children, including an eighteen month old daughter.
Alan Rose, Assistant Chief Constable of Dorset Police, said that it was “random coincidence” that Mr Rattue was shot, and that he wasn’t targeted because of his nationality.
A seven month old Norfolk Terrier belonging to mobile hairdresser Pippa Shufflebottom, 32, was also shot, but has since been declared as ‘fine’.
Mr Tonk, who had no previous convictions, was believed to have been involved in a family dispute over Dutch national service, which he was entitled to do due to his dual British and Dutch citizenship. Graffiti found at Bournemouth Sports Club made threatening remarks towards members of his family.
Police believe the crossbow used in the murders is the one stolen from Bournemouth Sports Club last night. The wall of the building in Chapel Gate was destroyed with a JCB digger. The Olympic standard bow was taken along with bolts, with an estimated worth £3000.
Sunday 23 January 2011
Wind Farms - Vox Pop
For this assignment, a vox pop on a current issue was conducted. Surnames and addresses have been edited out to protect privacy.
Half of proposed wind farms are rejected
Government report shows a decrease in approvals for onshore wind farms
A report to be published this week claims that the government rejected half the planning proposals for onshore wind farms. Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties included expansion of offshore wind farms in their election manifestos, but nothing about the ones on land were mentioned. However, it would be expected that their committal to renewable energy expansion would mean onshore wind farms would be increased, not reduced.
Environmental campaigners want to encourage the use of wind energy, but objections have been raised over the visual pollution they are said to cause. Rural areas are hotspots for wind turbines, but many people consider them a visual eyesore and would prefer them to be far out to sea.
We asked members of the public what they thought of the fact that fifty percent of proposed wind farms on British soil will not be built.
Student Vicky W, 18, from C---- Court, Nottingham, thinks they should be, but in areas where they won’t disturb anyone and where they will have enough of an effect to make it worthwhile, though she would prefer them to be out to sea.
Peter H, from Verwood, 50, who is a manager for Cross Country Trains, says cleaner forms of energy should be encouraged. Mary L, a retired nurse from Winton, echoes his ideas, saying that wind farms are good for the environment.
Nursery worker Amy L, 20, from Forest Gate, London, says the government should build more wind farms because we are running out of fossil fuels. Bristol stallholder John S, 51, agrees that cleaner forms of energy should be encouraged as it is good for the planet and the environment. John N, a retired mechanic, 64, from Eastleigh, says if it will help us, then it should be supported.
However, some people support the cuts. Sheila B, 50, a bank cashier from Southampton says that if she lived in the country, she would probably be against them, as they are a bit of an eyesore and noisy.
Andy M, 19, of S--- W--- Road, Bishopstoke thinks the government need to look at other renewable energy sources instead, as it’s not always windy, so it’s not efficient. He believes tidal energy would be a better way forward.
This idea is echoed by James H, an 18 year old student from Stockport, who believes wind farms are good but their energy supply isn't constant, given that they can only really work when it's really windy. In his opinion, harnessing wave power as a form of renewable energy should also be considered as an alternative.
Dave C, 36, a bar manager from Eastleigh doesn’t think they are very good, and that there are definitely better alternatives.
The final word goes to Tom P, an 18 year old student from The Ridings, Eastleigh, who says that the government just need to admit that climate change is happening.
Fun, Films and Free Food - Original News Story
For this assignment we had to source our own original news story in the local area.
Fun, films and free food
Students organise week of events at Bournemouth University
Hungry students received hundreds of free toasties this week at Bournemouth University.
The annual Events Week, organised by Bournemouth Universities Christian Union, featured events at both lunchtime and in the evening. The Christian Union, which represents Christians at both Bournemouth University and the Arts University College Bournemouth, wanted to spread the word of God through serving the community.
Starting on Monday 15th November, a group were on hand every lunchtime to provide hundreds of free toasties to hungry students, in exchange for a question about God. Members of BUCU were handing out fliers around campus, but by the end of the week, word of mouth had spread and the Atrium was crammed with hungry students.
Such was the demand that those helping out had to fetch more napkins from the canteen, as those they had bought had run out. “We hoped it would be popular, but we didn’t expect there to be this many people,” said Jeremy Booth, president of BUCU.
Serving the community didn’t stop there, with a range of events in the evenings designed to have something that would appeal to as many people as possible.
Monday evening saw a special screening of Pixar movie Up in the Lawrence lecture theatre, with free popcorn and sweets. Dylan’s Bar was taken over on Tuesday for a special sports themed pub quiz.
There was an open mic night at the Hub on Lansdowne Road on Wednesday evening. This proved especially popular, featuring some incredible local talent. Tea, coffee and cakes were also provided while the entertainment took place.
The finale of the evening events was Grill A Christian night, which challenged students to ask any questions they had about the faith and get answers from members of BUCU. Mr Booth said he hoped this would allow anyone who had become interested in Christianity after attending any of the other events to ask further questions.
The week’s events were completely free, funded by the university.
Friday 21 January 2011
ZDF Filming - Unplugged at Bournemouth University
On Wednesday 19th January, a film crew from German TV station ZDF - "it's the German equivalent of the BBC" according to one of the crew - came to Bournemouth University to film a segment for their news show about the Unplugged experiment.
Unplugged was a 24 hour experiment where first year media school students were challenged to go without all forms of media and technology. No phones, laptops or iPods were allowed, but to make it tougher still, things such as the radio and newspapers were banned as well.
On the day of the filming, I was filmed first talking with one of my lecturers, Roman Gerodimos, who was in charge of the experiment in the university. Afterwards I was interviewed directly in front of the camera. The hardest part was not looking into the camera as I spoke, instead making eye contact with the woman who was quizzing me.
Once my section was over, I chose to stick around and follow the crew to the library where they were filming an interview piece with Charlotte Gay, another student on my course. I ended up carrying the tripod - "so you learn what it's really like when you go out filming" - and I have to say I woke up the following morning with aching legs that I can only put down to the heavy lifting.
It was a really insightful day though, and I felt I learned a lot from shadowing the crew as well as being in front of the camera. It was the first time I had done anything television related, but it has made me rather excited for my TV module this term.
(Pictures are all screenshots from the news footage. If you want to see it in it's entirety, go to about seven and a half minutes in to see my international television debut.)
Saturday 15 January 2011
Nerve Magazine - December 2010
Earliest Memory
For this assignment I had to interview an elderly member of the public about their earliest memory. I have removed surnames to protect privacy.
Almost eighty years on, Joan can still remember her childhood growing up on a Berkshire farm. Although a far cry from spending her adult life as a nurse in Coventry, Joan credited her first interest in the profession as helping her parents wean calves as a child.
Every spring, she would spend several weeks helping to rear the young animals. “It must have been from when I was five until I was about ten,” she explained, looking thoughtful as if recalling happier days. “I’ll never forget how beautiful they were.”
Once the calves were a few weeks old, she helped feed them with a milk bottle every morning before she and her elder brother made the mile-long trek across the countryside to their village school. She recalled several occasions where they were late after taking too long to complete their chores.
It was this passion for helping the young animals that encouraged her to train as a nurse, something further fuelled by the loss of her brother during the war. Now retired and still living in Coventry, Joan, 84, spends her time with friends and family, who still own the farm today.
On holiday in Bournemouth with her friend Cicely, 80, Joan said she has always felt a natural attachment to rural areas, and explained this as being down to her childhood. “We went where there was work,” she explained sadly, detailing why she moved 80 miles away from the farm. “But it’s nice to be somewhere where you feel happy.”
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