So one of my current projects is a dissertation for my MA Journalism degree.
Showing posts with label journalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journalism. Show all posts
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Monday, 8 April 2013
The Realisation About My MA
It's been brewing in my mind for a while but last night when thinking through all that has happened over the past year, my thoughts were solidified.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Blogruary Day 10: The Semi-Productive Sunday
One of my New Year's resolutions was to limit the amount of alcohol that I drink.
I declared that I would avoid drinking where possible and when I did, I would only have three pints if down the pub and four pints if I were going out-out. So far it has gone well and I've yet to wake up with a hangover or reach a state of drunkenness.
I was close to giving up alcohol all together, however, as I've recently gained a taste for ale and enjoyed exploring the length of breadth of all things ale, I decided not to go the whole hog.
Whilst I went out last night for eight hours, I didn't exceed my limit and once I had reached my golden number I drank two whole pints of lime and soda and a half-pint of Pepsi. This ensured that I woke up today clear-headed and ready to work.
After a well-deserved weekend lie-in, I got straight down to work by reading the Sunday papers. As a journalism student, I think I can get away with calling that work.
I had to act as a taxi driver for my dad and sister at different times in the day but I managed to write a blog, draft a cover letter and finish off my plans for another job application.
As I have another set of shorthand exams on Friday, I'm about to get down to practising my Teeline speed.
Oh, I also did my weekly washing. Aren't Sundays brilliantly boring?
I declared that I would avoid drinking where possible and when I did, I would only have three pints if down the pub and four pints if I were going out-out. So far it has gone well and I've yet to wake up with a hangover or reach a state of drunkenness.
I was close to giving up alcohol all together, however, as I've recently gained a taste for ale and enjoyed exploring the length of breadth of all things ale, I decided not to go the whole hog.
Whilst I went out last night for eight hours, I didn't exceed my limit and once I had reached my golden number I drank two whole pints of lime and soda and a half-pint of Pepsi. This ensured that I woke up today clear-headed and ready to work.
After a well-deserved weekend lie-in, I got straight down to work by reading the Sunday papers. As a journalism student, I think I can get away with calling that work.
I had to act as a taxi driver for my dad and sister at different times in the day but I managed to write a blog, draft a cover letter and finish off my plans for another job application.
As I have another set of shorthand exams on Friday, I'm about to get down to practising my Teeline speed.
Oh, I also did my weekly washing. Aren't Sundays brilliantly boring?
Monday, 4 February 2013
Blogruary Day 4: The Newspaper
I must be one of the few young people who regularly reads a newspaper daily, though I guess this is to be expected seeing as I'm studying for an MA Journalism degree.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
The Christmas Blog
Its Chrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaasssssss!
That's right. T'is the season to be jolly.
I know that it is still three weeks until Christmas but I am very much in the festive mood this year. Since the age of about 14, Christmas has become less exciting as the priorities of the day have shifted away from receiving presents.
However, this year seems to be a different kettle of fish. I attended Kingston's Christmas light switch-on for the first time in ages and I brought a hot chocolate from Starbucks the other day and it came in those lovely festive red cups.
Upon finishing university on Monday, I walked into Kingston town centre to purchase a present and card for my Dad's birthday and I decided it would be wise to begin my Christmas shopping.
I went into HMV and, after much searching, I brought Rihanna's new album for my sister. I expected the shop to be empty at 5pm but I ended up queueing for around ten minutes. And they say that we're in dire economic straits...
In addition to these exciting events, it also snowed in the UK today which really emphasised that Christmas is just around the corner.
Excitement is building, I have my MA Journalism Christmas party on Monday and a big friends of the family meal next Sunday.
Christmas should be celebrated in a jolly manner, so be merry and pleasant over the coming weeks.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Harris1991
That's right. T'is the season to be jolly.
I know that it is still three weeks until Christmas but I am very much in the festive mood this year. Since the age of about 14, Christmas has become less exciting as the priorities of the day have shifted away from receiving presents.
However, this year seems to be a different kettle of fish. I attended Kingston's Christmas light switch-on for the first time in ages and I brought a hot chocolate from Starbucks the other day and it came in those lovely festive red cups.
Upon finishing university on Monday, I walked into Kingston town centre to purchase a present and card for my Dad's birthday and I decided it would be wise to begin my Christmas shopping.
I went into HMV and, after much searching, I brought Rihanna's new album for my sister. I expected the shop to be empty at 5pm but I ended up queueing for around ten minutes. And they say that we're in dire economic straits...
In addition to these exciting events, it also snowed in the UK today which really emphasised that Christmas is just around the corner.
Excitement is building, I have my MA Journalism Christmas party on Monday and a big friends of the family meal next Sunday.
Christmas should be celebrated in a jolly manner, so be merry and pleasant over the coming weeks.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Harris1991
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
The First Week Of My Master's Degree
It's 8:30pm on a Wednesday evening and I'm as tired as a hibernating badger. I don't think I've ever been this drained of energy.
Why? Well, I am halfway through the first week of my Journalism Master's course. In this opening week we have a quick, intensive opening module about journalistic practices.
This has involved creating a group presentation, having lectures around law and ethics, going out into Kingston and finding a news story whilst there has also been the fact that this week has involved meeting lots of new people.
It's been an interesting week and I've already slightly changed my mind about my future career direction. I've suddenly lost all interest in becoming an actual bog-standard news journalist thanks to some pretty depressing lectures about newspapers and reporting. My interest now seems to be magazines, features and online which appears to be the more fun and creative side to the industry.
I naively thought the course wouldn't be too great a challenge or too tiring but it seems like this will be a heavy, intensive year ahead.
I keep telling myself that it'll all be worth it in the long-run if I can achieve my career aims as a result but I just wish I could travel back in time and tell a younger me to take media studies and then study broadcast journalism.
However, that would have resulted in not doing things, seeing places and knowing people that I have had the luck to meet.
Why? Well, I am halfway through the first week of my Journalism Master's course. In this opening week we have a quick, intensive opening module about journalistic practices.
This has involved creating a group presentation, having lectures around law and ethics, going out into Kingston and finding a news story whilst there has also been the fact that this week has involved meeting lots of new people.
It's been an interesting week and I've already slightly changed my mind about my future career direction. I've suddenly lost all interest in becoming an actual bog-standard news journalist thanks to some pretty depressing lectures about newspapers and reporting. My interest now seems to be magazines, features and online which appears to be the more fun and creative side to the industry.
I naively thought the course wouldn't be too great a challenge or too tiring but it seems like this will be a heavy, intensive year ahead.
I keep telling myself that it'll all be worth it in the long-run if I can achieve my career aims as a result but I just wish I could travel back in time and tell a younger me to take media studies and then study broadcast journalism.
However, that would have resulted in not doing things, seeing places and knowing people that I have had the luck to meet.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
The Blog With 30 Facts About Me
It occurred to me last night, whilst laying in bed, that you don't know too much about me. Sure you can see my little profile picture, you can read the description caption whilst I give you little snippets about my life, but surely it'll be more fun for you to read my blog if you knew more about me.
So, here's a chronological list of facts about me ranging the interesting to the bizarre.
1) I live in Kingston-upon-Thames with my parents and two sisters.
2) I go to Reading University where I study Politics and International Relations.
3) I am 6ft 1" tall.
4) I am right-handed.
5) I did A Levels in Business Studies, English Literature and Sociology.
6) I watch a lot of television. My favourite shows are: Eastenders, Doctor Who and Made in Chelsea.
7) Politically, I support the Liberal Democrats... still.
8) I support Fulham FC.
9) My favourite Fulham player is Clint Dempsey.
10) I love music. My favourite bands/artists are: Bloc Party, We Are Scientists, Get People and Marina and the Diamonds.
11) I do love chart music as well. I am quite embarrassed to admit that I love this weeks #1 song, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
12) I am going to study for a Masters degree in Journalism starting in September.
13) I love steak. Hence, I could never be vegetarian.
14) Coca-Cola is the greatest drink ever, in my opinion.
15) I'd love to be a writer in the future. If I could, then it'd be a dream to write Danny Wallace-style books.
16) I played Ultimate Frisbee for about 8 weeks at university. In a surprising turn of events, I found out that it's a really tough sport.
17) My favourite colour is red.
18) My favourite clothing brands are: Hollister, Topman and Superdry. You can call me a douche for that.
19) My favourite film of all time is Hotel Rwanda. I also love Cool Runnings and the Mr Bean movie.
20) I love XFM. It's a great radio station.
21) I think BBC3 is a criminally underrated TV channel.
22) I just spelt underrated wrong and had to correct it. I'm not as clever as I think.
23) I'd love to go travelling. So far, I've only been to Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Cyprus.
24) I think a pub quiz is the greatest thing ever.
25) I really want to live in Brighton at some point in my life.
26) My mobile phone is an iPhone 4S.
27) I have a really small bedroom. It is literally about the width and length of Peter Crouch.
28) I once broke my arm in a drunken incident. I ended up requiring surgery which was a fun experience.
29) I am going to turn 21 soon. It frightens me how old I am getting.
30) I apparently can't think of any more facts about myself.
Thanks for reading and please follow/subscribe my blog. It really would mean a lot to me.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Harris1991
I've also started my own YouTube channel, why not subscribe?
So, here's a chronological list of facts about me ranging the interesting to the bizarre.
1) I live in Kingston-upon-Thames with my parents and two sisters.
2) I go to Reading University where I study Politics and International Relations.
3) I am 6ft 1" tall.
4) I am right-handed.
5) I did A Levels in Business Studies, English Literature and Sociology.
6) I watch a lot of television. My favourite shows are: Eastenders, Doctor Who and Made in Chelsea.
7) Politically, I support the Liberal Democrats... still.
8) I support Fulham FC.
9) My favourite Fulham player is Clint Dempsey.
10) I love music. My favourite bands/artists are: Bloc Party, We Are Scientists, Get People and Marina and the Diamonds.
11) I do love chart music as well. I am quite embarrassed to admit that I love this weeks #1 song, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
12) I am going to study for a Masters degree in Journalism starting in September.
13) I love steak. Hence, I could never be vegetarian.
14) Coca-Cola is the greatest drink ever, in my opinion.
15) I'd love to be a writer in the future. If I could, then it'd be a dream to write Danny Wallace-style books.
16) I played Ultimate Frisbee for about 8 weeks at university. In a surprising turn of events, I found out that it's a really tough sport.
17) My favourite colour is red.
18) My favourite clothing brands are: Hollister, Topman and Superdry. You can call me a douche for that.
19) My favourite film of all time is Hotel Rwanda. I also love Cool Runnings and the Mr Bean movie.
20) I love XFM. It's a great radio station.
21) I think BBC3 is a criminally underrated TV channel.
22) I just spelt underrated wrong and had to correct it. I'm not as clever as I think.
23) I'd love to go travelling. So far, I've only been to Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Cyprus.
24) I think a pub quiz is the greatest thing ever.
25) I really want to live in Brighton at some point in my life.
26) My mobile phone is an iPhone 4S.
27) I have a really small bedroom. It is literally about the width and length of Peter Crouch.
28) I once broke my arm in a drunken incident. I ended up requiring surgery which was a fun experience.
29) I am going to turn 21 soon. It frightens me how old I am getting.
30) I apparently can't think of any more facts about myself.
Thanks for reading and please follow/subscribe my blog. It really would mean a lot to me.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Harris1991
I've also started my own YouTube channel, why not subscribe?
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
The Masters Degree
If you are an avid reader of this blog, which I love you for, then you will know that I am hunting for a graduate job for when I finish my Undergraduate degree at university.
Well, I'm pleased to announce that things have taken a massive change in direction.
I recently applied for a Masters at Kingston University studying Journalism. Whilst it is my dream to become a writer/journalist, I have been lured in by the massive salaries that the graduate schemes offer.
On Saturday, I attended an interview for the Masters. The first part was a current affairs quiz which I scored 14 out of 15 on. A solid effort, I think you can agree. Then I had to write a news story out of a series of quotes and information and finally I had to complete a sub-editing test.
As it turns out, I have been offered a place on the course which starts in September. I am most likely going to accept the offer and hopefully fulfil my dreams of becoming a writer.
I'm pretty certain that I'm probably going to be offered a graduate job now, that'll no doubt throw a spanner in the works.
Well, I'm pleased to announce that things have taken a massive change in direction.
I recently applied for a Masters at Kingston University studying Journalism. Whilst it is my dream to become a writer/journalist, I have been lured in by the massive salaries that the graduate schemes offer.
On Saturday, I attended an interview for the Masters. The first part was a current affairs quiz which I scored 14 out of 15 on. A solid effort, I think you can agree. Then I had to write a news story out of a series of quotes and information and finally I had to complete a sub-editing test.
As it turns out, I have been offered a place on the course which starts in September. I am most likely going to accept the offer and hopefully fulfil my dreams of becoming a writer.
I'm pretty certain that I'm probably going to be offered a graduate job now, that'll no doubt throw a spanner in the works.
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