October 6, 2010: Back at uni, and over the next few months I’ll be competing to get a decent placement which starts in February next year. Keeping my options open so we’ll see what happens. In the meantime I’ve been able to spruce up the CV a little bit, thanks to being approved to write for Suite101 along with the Demand Studios approval I got earlier in the year.
Uni modules this time around are Interactive Media Project (all about using Flash, the module is almost identical to the web design one last semester, unfortunately), more News Days where we’re learning how to use the TV studio, gallery and ENPS script system, and Journalism & Literature. This final module was worked on months ago when we got the list of novels to read through. The books are Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, Scoop, Picture, In Cold Blood, The Quiet American and Down & Out In Paris & London. I’ve still to get through In Cold Blood and The Quiet American in full but I quite enjoyed the other four. Being able to dissect them and over-analyse is a completely different story though…
August 12, 2010: I forgot about this page! Not been too active on the blog over summer even though I’ve been very bored through a lot of it. The World Cup was, looking back, not that great at all really. I pretended to enjoy it but it almost turned out to be a chore. I’ve also written less blogs, maybe because I have less to rant about, but mainly because I’m writing articles which I get paid for so that takes up greater importance – at least until my student loan comes back in again next month!
I’ve been applying for more writing jobs that I can do from home so we’ll see how it goes, there are a few opportunities out there if you look hard enough. In the meantime I’m working on a few things which I shall keep to myself until I’m confident I can get through them, it’s all potentially very exciting though! Back to uni at the end of next month and, like last year, I just can’t wait to get back into it.
May 26, 2010: Sunnier days, and a sunnier outlook for us all! The exams were fine, the World Cup is almost upon us, and Gordon Brown is no longer lying to us minions behind his stupid robotic smile. I’ve posted a few more articles for websites here and there and, as of today, I’m going to start getting paid for certain articles I write! I’ll divulge at greater length later on when I get into the swing of things – I don’t want to go counting my chickens before they, umm…cross the road.
March 31, 2010: Ahh, I’m so glad the snow is still here. Gah. Anyway, my predictions for the modules this year were pretty much spot on – web design isn’t too complex (except for the actual designing the website part…), UK government is even duller than I was hoping, and the all-day assessment news days were indeed fun and manic. It was brilliant to put into practice what we’d learned during the course so far, and do different jobs in our teams. I’m not often fond of working in a team either so it was a struggle at points but I can have little complaints about how well we did.
In April I have a couple of reports to do, then revision for one (or possibly two) UK Government exams in May. Apart from all that, I’ve totally stalled at trying to do something fun (and profitable) during the summer. Something might crop up but it may turn out that I’ll just have to get another random job while using the rest of my time to continue the writing practice and even try finish some sort of short story. I’ve written some reviews of gigs for the Aberdeen Comedy website so I hope that continues, as there’ll be a chance in future to possibly get involved a lot more and arrange interviews etc.
Oh, and like a true journo wannabe should, I’ve been enjoying a glass or two of fine wine here and there. This is not because I want to, of course. It’s 100% because of peer pressure.
February 4, 2010: Back to uni yesterday after the Christmas break, and it felt like a bloody gap year being stuck in the snow with nowhere to go. Already, however, I’m feeling confident and a little excited to be getting through the course. The only modules going on from now until April are web design (hopefully a piece of piss), UK Government (dry and dull but straightforward) and a broadcast-workshop thingy on Wednesdays which will look towards 3 real-time ‘news days’ that we’ll do in groups in March. Getting to go out and find real news for radio, television and online content on a rotation basis will be fun and a bit manic (especially with the 7am or earlier starts!) but should give everyone a good idea of where they’re going in the course.
I’ve received good marks for all the writing I’m doing, can’t say the same for practical work but at least I’m getting through it. I definitely thrive more when it comes to writing and being creative rather than having to work in teams or take stupid photos in the rain of bloody trees. But I aim to overcome that when we do the news days. If I can be a bit more enthusiastic in my group and make sure we’re all doing as much as we can I’ll be a bit happier.
Along with uni, currently trying to figure out what to do in summer with regards to work experience, and earning some cashitos! It’s not coming along too well so far…
December 11, 2009: Uni has been a bit of a drag, it must be said. Whereas last year we were in classes throughout the day, this time around I’m travelling in for 20 minutes here, half an hour there, then home again. It’s not worth it. It didn’t help that three of the classes are awfully similar to last year (law, DTP and feature writing). The fourth module has simply shown that I’ve no talent when it comes to taking photos, at all. I know it’ll pick up after Christmas but a lot of people seem to have lost a bit of motivation. I didn’t think I’d be one of those people.
Still, there are advantages to the extra time I’ve had during the day. I’ve read a lot more and have started attempting to write my own stories. Short stories at first. I don’t want to be one of those twats that says, “Today, I shall begin a novel and become a writer!” I’d rather be cautious and dip my toes in first, rather than be a fully-soaked twat.
September 23, 2009: I have returned to uni! Modules taking place now up until Christmas include Photojournalism, Desktop Publishing, Feature Writing and Advanced Law For Journalists. There are no official shorthand classes until after New Year so, somehow, I’m going to attempt to force teaching upon myself until then. I don’t mind learning shorthand but I can’t seem to do it at any kind of decent speed, which is obviously the key.
I have also been voted class rep for this year. Going by the guy who had the ‘job’ last year, I will simply just show up late for all classes, never go to any relevant meetings, and shrug my shoulders when asked a question about anything. However if I can do all that in a manner half as hilarious as him, I think it will be a job well done.
I also hope to start actually making some money playing poker. My timetable allows me to go to my casino of choice on Mondays for a generously-priced tournament. And I will cry if I never win it. I will actually cry, and I’ll get someone to take a picture, and I’ll post it here. That’s a deal, brothers and sisters.
