Tag: journalism

June MEDIA WRITING WORKSHOP WARM-UP EXERCISES: perfect pitch

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So, this Friday, then.

It’s round two in the triumvirate of summer writing workshops, taking place this month 10am to 12 noon at the CHIC co-working hub in Chester.

The topic for this session is writing the perfect pitch, followed by individual tuition — bring some work-in-progress writing for the latter, such as a blog post, draft feature etc.

Meanwhile, to start us thinking about this next session, I’d like to offer up two of my recent pitches. Please read the following two pitches and then share your thoughts below.

Do you think one of both have been commissioned? Which one/s and why? How could I have improved on these pitches to secure the gig?

And when you post, please also include a brief introduction about yourself, so we can get to know each other before the workshop and start a dialogue as a group.

1) Ideas / Flanders / art installation in June

The windswept Flanders coast is not the first place you would look for contemporary art.
But the Triennial of Contemporary Art by the Sea has been embedding large-scale public artworks into the Belgian coastline over the years.
The fifth Beaufort Festival of public art opens June 21 and runs to September 21 this year. It takes the theme of Beyond Borders and features a series of giant artworks by a group of international artists, such as the British artist Scott King, at locations including Ostend and Art Deco De Haan.
The ten resorts that make up the 42-mile sweep of the Flanders coast offer a little-known escape for foodies, families and locals seeking a sandy-beach alternative to the Mediterranean stampede.
This year art will be put the region back on the map for European explorers with an eye for art, design and architecture.
I’ve covered Flanders for the section before — see Rubens in Antwerp (Jan 2015, link). More from my portfolio at atkinsondavid.com.

 

2) Ideas / West Sweden / midsummer in June

Midsummer is more than just another day to the Swedes.
The midsummer festival has always been a major celebration in Sweden and, today, it’s more culturally important than ever, a way for the urbane, modern Swede to tap into the country’s ancient mythology and folklore.
It’s a return to nature, a way to connect with ancestors and a celebration of the longest day of the year with food, friends and family. To travel to Sweden during midsummer is a chance to connect with Swedes in a very grass-roots way.
I will uncover the myths and traditions of midsummer with a trip to West Sweden. My journey starts in Gothenburg and leads out into the archipelago, combining city-break attractions with some back-to-nature island hopping.
Along the way will be maypole dancing, public displays of dancing, flowers under my pillow to dream of future lovers and lessons in making my own ‘krans’, the laurel-wreath headwear associated with midsummer.
I’ve recently covered Sweden for Rough Guides — see 10 ways to spend summer in Sweden (link). More from my portfolio at atkinsondavid.com.

 

I look forward to seeing everyone Friday 12, 10am.

Please call or email with any questions.

Media writing May – Homework

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Thanks to everyone who attended last night’s first workshop at CHIC Chester [pictured above].

There was some great debate about the use of interviews (see links below) and thought-provoking examples of the issues we face in our writing.

And there was homework to ponder before our next session in June.

So here’s the brief:

Please interview each other with a view to writing a 150-180 word intro (2-3 short paragraphs) to a profile-style feature (similar to the Kabul cab driver).

Think about colour, description and the use of direct speech. Try to find an angle on the story and bring out the human interest.

Deadline: Friday, May 29, 5pm. Please post your work as comments below this post for feedback from the group.

And to help you reflect on interview skills, check out these links to further reading:

BBC Academy: Interview skills

The readers’ editor on… defining the line between what is on and off the record

I look forward to reading your homework over the next weeks and welcoming some of you back for sessions in June and / or July.

If you have comments about last night’s session, please post then below. Thanks. 

May media writing workshop warm-up exercises: Interview skills

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This Thursday evening, then.

It’s the first in the triumvirate of summer writing workshops, taking place 7-9pm at the CHIC co-working hub in Chester.

The topic for the first session is interview skills, followed by one hour of individual tuition.

Bring a piece of work-in-progress writing with you for the second half – a blog post, a feature, a pitch etc.

But, thinking about the first session, I’d like to kick off a discussion about the nature of interviews. To get our thinking caps on, I’d like us all to read the following story and then post our thoughts:

Rhys Ifans gives ‘the interview from hell’ and exposes a journalistic farce

Why do we conduct interviews? What makes them a success? And what should we do if it all goes wrong?

And when you post, please also include a brief introduction about yourself, so we can get to know each other before the workshop and start a dialogue as a group.

Share your comments below and look forward to seeing everyone Thursday 14, 7pm.

Please call or email with any questions.

Wirral Grammar School for Girls: a talk about careers in arts and humanities

 

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Why chose to study arts and humanities subjects?

That was the theme of a careers talk I led this week for Wirral Grammar School for Girls.

The groups of teenagers aged 14-16 are currently considering what subjects to study at A Level.

The majority opt for maths and science but, over three sessions, I looked at why an arts strand of study is equally important.

I also quoted the recent article from The Independent, whereby the comedian Josie Long took Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to task for her “immense, ingrained snobbery” about the arts.

Arts Emergency, the organisation Long has co-founded to get young people into arts subjects, states the arts are important because:

“Without the capacity to think beyond repetition there is no beyond to crisis.”

I went on to talk about how this area lends itself to flexible working and freelance contracts, a hugely growing sector of the economy.

But freelance has pros and cons as follows:

Freelancing means

  • Be your own boss
  • Greater variety and fresh challenges
  • Flexibility for busy lifestyles
  • Take more control of your own tax and pension planning
  • Chose your own projects – sometimes it’s good to say ‘no’

But freelancing also means

  • Irregular hours and income
  • The need for a military-stlye self discipline
  • You have to keep good records of you income and expenses
  • You cane feel like you’re never off duty
  • You are only as good as your last commission

Here are some of the comments from the group when I asked them to jot down some feedback after the lecture:

“I now know my father should stop laughing at my interest in arts and English. You gave me confidence – thanks. I will also re-start my blog. Very inspiring talk.”

“I found there are more jobs out there that you can go into without the more academic subjects. It was interesting to hear all the different ways you can make money from writing.”

“It is as hard as I thought it would be to get a job in journalism. But, I learnt, blogs are a good way to start.”

“I learnt that a lot more can be achieved freelance than I originally thought. Arts and English are much more valuable than I thought.”

“I enjoyed the simple, honest way it was presented. It has made me want a career in journalism even more.”

“I learnt that you don’t have to study maths and science to get an interesting job.”

GAZETTEER

Arts Emergency: Why the arts and humanities matter

Josie Long: ‘Belittling the arts is not funny, Education Secretary’

Liked this? Try also National Freelancers Day: A talk for Leeds University Media students.

Do you agree that choosing arts and humanities can help secure your future career? Share your thoughts below.