Monday 28 September 2009

Now I’m sure I got it right

With my second week at What’s Up Information completed, I’m now certain I made the right choice. It’s not like I had expected to think to think otherwise, simply that my foray in to the world of journalism has so far been successful and part of me is expecting something will go wrong. There will, of course be hiccups along the way, but I’m sure I’m adequately prepared for them by now. For now though, I am going to enjoy the situation I find myself in and the work that I do.

New faces

I had my first experience of an editorial meeting this week. It gave me a chance to get to know some of the team I had not yet met, and was a very productive way of making sure everyone is on the same wave length. I think this communication is vital in any organisation to ensure people are working towards a common goal and know their role in reaching it. I’ve had jobs in the past where huge amounts of time and effort are wasted – simply because the workforce is operating inefficiently through poor interpersonal communication.

Tweet!

Just like my Poached days, I’m learning some completely new skills every day. And, just like at Poached, they are useful, transferable skills. Just yesterday I found myself posting event news on Twitter, and replicating the post on a blog and on Facebook with the touch of a button. In addition, I discovered the immense benefit of TinyURL when trying to stick to Twitter’s 140 character limit.

I’m becoming more confident in my ability using the content management system too – and I’ve added plenty more news and events stories to the website. The trickiest part by far is still writing the headlines, but with a little creative, outside the box thinking, I find I’m improving.

User power

Thinking creatively plays an important role in a lot of my work here. A lot of time goes in to thinking up ways of improving the layout, copy, and style of the website. My main ideas so far are around making the site user feel more involved – like they are a part of what makes the site work. Given the opportunity to do this through feedback facilities and a user forum should allow the user more influence over the site’s overall tone. The target teenage audience are likely to rebel against anything they are told do like or do, so creating an environment where they have some say is preferable.

Light relief

My brain was given a welcome rest on Thursday, when I attended a party/gathering downstairs from the What’s Up office. Our building is made up of several units, each housing a different business – from photography to modelling. The party, laid on for all units and in celebration of enterprise in Hackney, included speeches, music, food, drink, and a fashion show. It was a bit of fun – and was one of those moments where I thought ‘how did I get here?’ One year ago I was in rehab, and now I’m a journalism intern in Hackney. And I’m at a warehouse fashion show. Not that I’m complaining – it reinforces my opinion on the drawbacks of long term plans.

That tricky second week... or maybe not

Overall, then, week two has been highly successful – with new people, places, experiences, and skills all contributing to the success. Long may it continue!

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Armed with skills, experience, and the feeling I was almost certainly doing the right thing, I began my post-Poached journalism internship this week.

What’s Up Information is a website dedicated to raising young people’s awareness of what’s happening in their area: be it a gig, show, exhibition, or training opportunity. Following on from my time with Poached, I have started an eight week internship in their office in Hackney.

I have been pleasantly surprised at the level of trust and confidence shown in me – and the considerable responsibility I have. On my first day, I found myself adding text and media content to the website and being asked my opinion on wording and layout. This, and possibly the large desk and impressive leather swivel-chair I had been given, made me feel like a valued team-member. I am heartened by the feeling my opinion is both welcomed and valued – it makes me feel positive and confident and gives me genuine faith in my ability. When this happens I tend to relax more, allowing more space in my brain for creative thoughts.

Self-doubt

My creative streak was certainly required for my task on Thursday. To improve the ‘My Borough’ segment of the site, I had found five little-known facts about the local area, and each one required a snappy headline. Good headline writing is a skill I have always appreciated, but maybe not quite as much as I do now. With more than a bit of assistance from project director Lucy, I managed to conjure up the five headlines needed, but only after some serious doubts over my creative capacity.

Getting to know the place

Delving into vast quantities of information about the surrounding area was of some personal benefit to me. As far as I can remember, I had never even been to Hackney before last week. Being a football fan, I knew all about Hackney Marshes and their continued significance in the development of future professionals, but that was about it. So I was surprised to learn Hackney is twinned with Bridgetown in Barbados, and is the only place in the UK where you can qualify as a professional clown.

New skills

With the possible exception of circus-related facts, I am already finding the knowledge and skills I learn here to be transferrable. I now know exactly how to embed pictures and videos into text, and even understand the most basic of HTML basics. This, along with headline writing, provides assistance in my monthly quest to make the Camden Calling newsletter a more attention-grabbing, professional looking piece of work. One day, eh?

Different, but similar

Like Camden Calling, What’s Up benefits communities and encourages expansion of the mind through new experiences. I have no doubt that making young people aware of the low-cost activities available to them locally is of benefit to society. Organisations like What’s Up mean a significant number of people will find new talents and interests – or find opportunities to pursue and develop existing ones.

Good choice!

With What’s Up, I seem to have found exactly what I was looking for: challenging, beneficial, thought provoking work in a creatively-stimulating environment. I certainly feel I made the correct decision – I just hope my stay here will be as productive as my time at Poached Creative.