Day 4 – Real Radio – 11th May 2012

This would be my final day at Real Radio. Before I came into the newsroom I already knew work I had to be getting on with. This was chasing up potential interviewees regarding the Man City Man United title chase. 

Unfortunately all the interviews I had arranged fell through. Because of this however, I decided to go and collect vox pops from both the Ethidad Stadium and Old Trafford. I also managed to contact and interview both editors of each fan club magazine. 

I edited all sound clips and mixed them down to the required audio level for the broadcast. This audio would be used during Saturday and Sunday’s news bulletins. 

 

After this I then wrote up a number of different scripts regarding the sound I gathered so that another reporter would know who was speaking and what about. This would also be useful for the presenter. 

Day 3 – Real Radio- 10th May 2012

Today my first job was to chase up someone I would be interviewing the next day. I then assisted another reporter in calling a number of people which they were also trying to interview later in the day.

I was then sent to record sound clips in Manchester city centre of people involved in the union strikes. I collected a number of vox pops for the same story.

Back in the newsroom I edited the sound clips using Burli ready for a later news bulletin.

I then made a number of phone calls to try and arrange an interview for later in the day however I was unable to contact the person I wanted as no-one would give me his number.  

Day 2- Real Radio – Wednesday 9th May 2012

Today my first job was to go out and report on a story involving Manchester’s Metrolink. I went down to Trafford and recorded around 6 or 7 different voxes. I then edited these using Burli and stored them in the “Ready for Air” folder on the content management system.

I then wrote up three different presenter’s script for this story each one including a different vox pop and equally a different angle of the story.

I was then asked to arrange two different interviews. One was with a football finance expert and the other with Manchester City Fan Club’s chairman. I will be doing these interviews later in the week.

I was then given a press release which I had to re-write so that it could be included in a live news bulletin.   

Day 1 – Real Radio – 8th May 2012

Today I began my week of work experience at Real Radio. 

I arrived at 9 o’clock and was shown round the newsroom, shown how to log onto a computer and then taught the basics about the stations content management system. 

I was then given chance to play around with the editing programme so that I am now confident enough to import and edit sound without assistance. 

Around 10am I was introduced to a freelance reporter called Jenny who I would be working with most of the day. She firstly showed me how to call an outside line from the newsroom and similarly how to record this. 

We then travelled to Wilmslow, Liverpool and St Helen’s in order to record interviews for the day’s bulletins.

Jenny then showed me how to edit this on a laptop and send it back to the newsroom so that it could go on the next live news bulletin. 

 

One Direction vs. The Beatles… really?

It has come to the media’s attention recently that One Direction have taken over the world.

Photo by British One Direction

 

This is a band that were put together on the popular TV show The X Factor for the sole reason that they weren’t quite good enough as individuals. Fair play to the lads, they came third. Even better play is launching a career twice the size of both the winner and runner up of said competition. Boy band JLS achieved the same feat over 2008 winner Alexandra Burke having more chart hits, bigger tours and even their own condom range. But anyway, nobody needs to be told how boring, tacky and most of all how naff the X Factor is.

I came across this Daily Mirror article not so long ago which tries to illustrate why One Direction are better than the Beatles.

Photo by beatles maniac11

Despite coming across a tad “tongue in cheek” and sarcastic in places it’s still ludicrous and furthermore easy for me toexplain why…

1. The Beatles have never been on the X Factor- First of all this is wrong. Paul McCartney has appeared on the X Factor on a number of occasions to perform live for the studio audience. Although not the full Beatles line up it still no argument to be throwing out there.

2. The Beatles might have produced a few alright songs, but they also foisted some right howlers on us, like that walrus rubbish- Alright songs, 55 of which were singles, 30 of which were top ten hits in the UK and “I Am The Walrus” being part of a number 1 selling single and album.

3. One Direction only became a band after Nicole Scherzinger suggested it on the show- and? Didn’t her former band make more soft porn “music” videos than actual music?

4.The Beatles rushed to deliver their first album, bashing out ten of the fourteen tracks in just one day. One Direction have spent nearly a whole year on their debut, so it’s obvious which will be the superior recording- Most people would consider recording a full album using traditional methods in a week pretty impressive.  Even if the sound quality of the album is inferior, it was recorded nearly 50 years ago and still sounds just as good. To be fair to One Direction though, they do have to wait around for their songs to be written, played, choreographed and then auto-tuned before they can be released.

5. When One Direction are apart they always text and tweet “I miss you” to each other. The Beatles didn’t even like each other enough to stay together- Ha! Of course they do. Don’t they also share each other’s clothes? The Beatles were active for 10 years. We’ll see where One Direction are in 2020 when they’re all much older, fatter, balder and still unable to sing.

 6. One Direction call Simon Cowell “Uncle Simon.” John Lennon never even met Simon Cowell!- Uncle Simon? That’s creepy and weird. Yes John Lennon never met Simon Cowell but why would he want to? John Lennon had established a music career (a career far superior than what “Syco Records” could ever offer) before Simon Cowell could probably read. Similarly, there is nothing about Cowell’s personality that seems particularly redeeming in any way that if I were to meet him would benefit me.

7. The Beatles tried other names like Johnny and the Moondogs, Long John and The Beetles and The Silver Beatles before becoming The Beatles. One Direction have always had one direction about being called One Direction- Yes this is true. One Direction failed to recognise however that direction, is easily rhymed with erection. Nice one lads! They also failed to recognise another band called One Direction who are currently, trying to sue them for copying their terrible, terrible band name.

8. One Direction’s Zayn went out with Rebecca Ferguson, who is much classier than Cynthia Lennon- Rebecca Ferguson was a teenage mother who got bullied in school because her family were poor. Sounds harsh but doesn’t exactly ooze class to me. She was also ridiculed constantly during her relationship with Zayn due to the 6 year age difference. The papers made sure she looked anything but glamorous.

 9. The Beatles were famous for their hair. Yet, no Beatle had better hair than Harry Styles, right-  Perhaps not, but surely that’s down to personal opinion. Also, can Harry Styles or any of the other goons in One Direction grow a beard like The Beatles did between ’68 and ’70? Do any of them even have facial hair?

 10. One Direction are the ambassadors for Pokemon. The selfish old Beatles were only ever ambassadors for themselves- Worst point of all. Why is this even relevant? As a musician you have to be an ambassador for yourself, otherwise no-one would know who you are. More to the point didn’t Pokemon go out of fashion like 10 years ago?

The Ultimate Guide- The Best Way To Start Your Day

Whether your alarm goes off at 6am for work, you give yourself a lie in, or even if you rarely see day light; there comes a point in everyone’s day when they wake up from that precious vitamin we call, sleep.

There’s a popular myth that a good night’s sleep can cure anything: a common cold, hangover, an argument, a general bad day. It’s probably where the idiom, “Sleep on it till the morning” derives from. It’s nice to think that decisions made in the morning are less likely to end in disaster.

An interesting and scientifically proven fact is that people perform better in Maths exams when they are sat in the morning as sleep increases your brains ability to memorise information whilst enhancing the perception of your senses.

We can all agree, sleep is good and we benefit from plenty of it. However, what a lot of people seem to forget is that your body can only benefit from sleep if it’s accompanied with its best buddy…Breakfast!

It’s certain; breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it’s horrible to think some people choose to miss out on such a blessing. Many people skip breakfast because they literally don’t have time. This is somewhat forgivable; however, if the reason was because they overslept, then it’s overlooked as its clear they didn’t get the sleep they needed. Tut.

Those who skip breakfast because they’re trying to lose weight should know that is categorically the worst thing to do if you hope of shedding a few spare tyres. First of all, studies show that breakfast eaters often weigh less than breakfast skippers because it reduces your hunger throughout the day. This means less snacking and also smaller portion meals for dinner and tea.

If you’re concerned about weight loss, then you should be aware of your metabolism and how it must be maintained in order for your body to run properly. No breakfast means your body’s off to a slow start and will be unable to break down later food efficiently.

Having said this however, it’s probably not wise to wolf down a fry up every morning. Treat yourself on your days off by all means but take it steady with the grease and red meat.

Many people struggle with breakfast because “they can’t eat first thing in the morning” or “it makes me feel sick”. If that’s the case, just wait a bit longer before you eat. Sit back, have a brew and think about what you’re going to make yourself. This should spur your body on for some well needed fuel, especially if you prepare it ready for when you are eventually hungry.

Breakfast is the key to staying healthy. But what is the best way to start your day?

Cup of Tea and a Cigarette

Here’s Jonny; he’s a 19 year old music student from Rugby, Warwickshire. He starts his day every morning with a cup of tea and a cigarette. Now we all know, cigarettes are bad for your health but each to their own. Live and let live. It doesn’t seem like the most substantial kick start to the day either but Jonny insists it does him the world of good.

Tea leaves contain over 700 different chemicals, many of which contribute to human health. One thing it’s full of is antioxidants; these protect your body from ageing and equally destroy micro bacteria which could otherwise make you ill. Tea contains caffeine, but much less than coffee. This means you get a similar energy boost but without the indigestion, shakes and insomnia. Now unless you like a lot of sugar, fluorine in tea leaves can help prevent the build up of plaque on teeth and combined with milk helps to strengthen bones. It’s also calorie free and helps raise your metabolism, brilliant for keeping in shape.

Cigarettes contain nicotine. Once in the bloodstream this causes a simultaneous release of glucose and adrenaline within seven seconds of reaching the brain. This creates a relaxing sensation which also raises awareness. More importantly, nicotine prolongs the effect of dopamine. This is a chemical released in the brain which enhances sensitivity to other chemicals such as the caffeine provided in tea.

With a combo of tea and a cigarette it’s no mystery why Jonny feels fresh first thing without a bite to eat.

Cereal

Another popular breakfast and one which we unintentionally see advertised everyday is cereal. Frosties, Coco Pops, Golden Grahams, Weetabix, Bran Flakes, the list is endless and quite frankly who cares. With huge companies like Kelloggs and Nestle it’s never about the cereal, especially when you’re under 10. It’s always about the free toy. Anyone recognise this conversation?

“But you don’t like Sugar Puffs.”

“Yes I do, I had them at my friends house.”

“You only want them for the free Power pod.”

“No Mum, I honestly really like them.”

“You can have them if you promise to eat them all.”

“I will, I will. Promise.”

Come on, we all did it.

It’s quite annoying in fact that most cereals taste exactly the same nowadays. Take Frosties and Corn Flakes for example. Sprinkle a bit of sugar on your Corn flakes and hey presto! Cheaper Frosties! But then again, people seem to like the idea of a big gay tiger on their cereal box.

Unless you’re one of those people that can’t face reality, we all grow out of the likes of Sugar Puffs and switch to sultana bran or muesli. Let’s be honest they taste nicer and keep you regular.

Cereals are the most economic and most efficient foods available to our bodies as they provide fibre, protein, carbohydrate and depending on your desired choice, varying vitamins and minerals which are hard to find in other foods.

As a breakfast food, cereal is a great choice. It provides enough energy for you to feel alert but also acts as a slow release of energy, meaning you’ll be satisfied for longer during the day.

If you’re not a fan of breakfast cereal then fair enough but it’s fun to experiment with if you’re a lover of food. Often the concoctions you make up yourself are the ones that taste nicer and they usually cost less.

For example, take a plain flake (of the bran or corn variety, you could even try it with Special K flakes if you have a sweet tooth) add some fruit (raisins, apricots, strawberries, blackberries etc.) then lather it in freezing cold fresh milk.  Fit for anyone that is.

Eggs on Toast

For those food lovers who wake up in plenty of time to ensure they’re getting a decent breakfast, this classic dish is often on the cards. It’s not as though it even takes that long to prepare and this all depends on how you choose to cook your eggs.

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Scrambled? Poached? Boiled? If you’ve ever watched the first Rocky film, then you see Sylvester Stallone down five raw eggs. He does this because eggs are full of protein which is essential for the growth and repair of muscles.

One egg contains 6 grams of pure protein and 9 essential amino acids. They are also one of the only known foods to contain natural sources of vitamin D which is great for your bones and skin.

19 year old graphic design student Joshua from Blackpool has eggs on toast for breakfast most mornings.

“I normally scramble my eggs but sometimes I might fry them if I have bacon too. I have them with wholemeal bread which I toast and butter.”

“Eggs are cheap, tasty and I don’t feel hungry for ages after which is brilliant on a busy day.”

Bread is the main carbohydrate in people’s diets and supplies our body with a high amount of energy. Wholemeal bread is generally better for you and also presents more fibre but if it were up to most people they’d use good old thick white slices.

Oatcakes

North Staffordshire Oatcakes, now there is a breakfast. In fact, a delicacy and not just in the eyes of those from Stoke-on-Trent (where they are considered a speciality).

For anyone who is alien to oatcakes then the best way to describe them is a type of pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast which are often heated and filled with a mixture of cheese, tomato, bacon, sausage and egg before being folded over into a wrap. Some people prefer to use sweet fillings such as chocolate spread or syrup but this is very uncommon and personally a bit weird.

The filling of the oatcake is usually personal preference but it’s pretty clear amongst locals that the favourite is bacon and cheese.

Traditionally oatcakes were homemade in the Potteries and were sold to customers through the window of a house. This was the topic of much controversy and upset in March 2012 when the last remaining traditional oatcake shop called “The Hole in The Wall” closed see story

Forget bacon sandwiches, these guys are a different class and superb in every way.

It would be unfair on the nature of the oatcake and its sanctuary within Stoke to rip into its nutritional value considering it’s extremely average and its innards are quite fatty. This is unless you eat them raw which it that case is quite fine fasting food.

Nevertheless, this isn’t about breakfast anymore because one could quite easily appreciate an oatcake at any point in their day. Most people could probably squeeze one in even after a 6 course dinner and still finish every crumb.

Follow this step by step guide and you sorted:

Bacon, Cheese and North Staffs Oatcakes

Grill Cheese

Fry Bacon

Add bacon and fold

And again...

Bacon and Cheese Oatcakes

Success for Cabaret for Cancer

A CHARITY event set up by actress Morag Siller raised nearly £20,000 last night as Manchester Royal Exchange hosted a star studded “Cabaret for Cancer”.

Compeered by Coronation Street stars, Antony Cotton, Sally Dynevor and Julie Hesmondhalgh the event raised just under £20,000 for The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Appeal and Beechwood Cancer Care Centre.

The sell out fundraiser included dance acts, live music, comedy, magic from Peter Moran and celebrity guests such as Mark Addy (The Full Monty), Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) and Dean Andrews (Life on Mars).   

Actress Morag Siller, 42, organised the event after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year and decided to raise money for cancer during her 6 months of treatment.

She said:

“Apart from being shocked and completely devastated I knew I had to do something. It was a distraction at first because I didn’t want to just lie in bed and be ill.

“I had to do something for this cause especially with the phenomenal support I was getting and it hopefully means other women don’t have to go through what I and many others have.

Having also previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, Sally Dynevor, 48, who plays Sally Webster in Coronation Street said,

“To think Morag organised this massive event whilst undergoing treatment is just amazing because I don’t think I could have done anything like that.”

“She’s a real inspiration and it’s brilliant to see so much money raised.”  

Antony Cotton, 36, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street said:

 “It’s been a lovely evening which has raised a load of money for two brilliant charities and it’s been a pleasure being part of it.”

With a grand total just short of £20,000, Morag hopes she can put together another fundraising event next year.

“It’s been fantastic and better than I ever imagined. I hope I can do something like this again next year because it’s fund raising events like this that help further research to find a cure and I think in our next generation we can achieve that.”

Student Showtime at Salford Carnival

GRAPHIC design students at the University of Salford showcased their work yesterday in a special networking event at Islington Mill studios.

The carnival themed event saw both undergraduate and post graduate students display their designs across four floors of the old cotton mill in an attempt to attract potential employers.

With 70 industry members attending the event, academia from Design Northern Alliance (DNA) held talks and portfolio surgeries with experts from a variety of high profile agencies.

The event hoped to celebrate the best of northern creative industries whilst generating a platform for talented students who hope to graduate in the next few years.

Graphics lecturer at the University, Joanne Greenhalgh organised the carnival.

She said:

 “There is a massive need for students at university to be able to bridge the gap between education and industry.

 By organising these networking events between industry, educators and students, students get a better feel of how to get through that void of breaking into the industry.”

Despite attracting the attention of many big names in the design industry, Salford Carnival is just one of many future networking opportunities for Salford students as lecturer Joanne hopes to host another similar event at the newly built MediaCityUK, located at Salford Quays.

“We’ve done three or four similar events previous to this and they’ve been really successful. In the future we hope to do a similar event at Media City.

What we hope will come of it is students getting placements. Last year 15 students got placements from that night alone. We expect we’ll get a similar amount this time.”

Photo by Diana Gioara

Students were also asked to get involved in decorating the famous mill, creating themed accessories such as tarot cards, strong men, wheel of fortune and a wall of wonder.

Photo by Diana Gioara

Gemma Davidge, 19, a second year (BA) Graphic Design student took part in the wall of wander, she said:

“I feel honoured and proud to have my work on display in a place where people will appreciate it properly. It’s a wonderful place full of creative’s like me and hopefully they’ll like my work.”

Paige Forbes, 20, is also a second year who was hoping to gain some work experience:

“Islington mill is the perfect place to do something like this because of the relaxed atmosphere going on. It makes it really easy to talk to all the people from the industry.”

Guests were able to take part in “Moustache Mahem” by wearing a fake moustache provided in a free goody bag, all in good humour of the occasion.

Today I discovered…Chairlift!

Beautiful voice

I’d never heard of this electro-pop due before yesterday when I “Shazam”ed one of their songs which was playing about half 8 on Xfm Manchester. It was; “I Belong in Your Arms” from their 2012 album Something.

Great tune which is more than worth a listen, especially for anyone who’s a fan of Blondie and 80’s bass.

A track you’ll instantly fall for, even the 34th time.

One of my favourite songs of 2012, lets hope I can see these guys live!

http://www.myspace.com/chairlift

Miles Kane- The First of My Kind Review

Considering Miles Kane had never really made anything past a debut album with whatever set up he’s been with in the past; as a fan it’s nice to see him release a new E.P less than a year after his first solo album The Colour of the Trap.

Can always rely on Miles for a decent outfit

 

As for this tune, it’s pretty similar to the stuff on his album, decent sing along and can imagine it being brilliant live.

Verse is very James Bond theme esque (similar to that of  Last Shadow Puppets) and by far the best part of the track. 

The chorus is very repetitive but works well with the build up in the verse and it’s good to see a cheeky bit of a brass section in their. 

Let’s hope he can carries on and we see another Miles Kane album!