Tuesday 28 April 2015

It's a fight to the death in Portsmouth South - or so it seems...

'May the odds be ever in your favour...' 

The various campaigns building up to general election comes across brutal at times. With potential defamatory references made by one politician on another, anything seems to be verbalised in order to deter voters on supporting one particular party. 

I'm not a huge user of metaphors, but, on this occasion it seems appropriate. The lead up to the general election is one of which many seem to be fighting to their death. Of course, I'm not being literal, but the imagery of the party leaders taking place in what many may call another Hunger Games isn't something avoidable. 

From shadowing politicians, in Portsmouth South, nothing has stuck out more than sheer determination to win. Both Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Liberal Democrat, and Flick Drummond, Conservative are passionate for the south of the city and will continue to strive in order to succeed. 

However we all know that only one will win. Who do you want it to be? 

Below is a list on what I did throughout the day with Flick Drummond. 








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Friday 24 April 2015

Liberal today, Tory tomorrow...

It's all getting heated in Portsmouth South with just two weeks to go

*Conservative's Flick Drummond's shadow report to follow

Politics is currently bombarding our television screens, newspapers, and more. With the general election just around the corner, parliamentary candidates are thorough in their campaigns, determined to win the marginal seat, here in Portsmouth South.

In almost 100 years, the seat has famously belong to a Liberal Democrat or Conservative candidate, with Labour unseen.

On Thursday, I followed parliamentary candidate, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, of the Liberal Democrats, and here is what took place...
An army of volunteers flood through the local office contributing to the campaigning of both Portsmouth North and South candidates: Darren Sanders and Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

I took the opportunity to discuss the reasons as to why those supporting him [GVJ] felt he was right for the job. Mr Vernon-Jackson led Portsmouth City Council for 10 years before stepping down to concentrate on leading the party locally and what he does now. Evidently, many told that his experience and heart for the city is what will lead him to winning. Who knows?
Gerald emphasised throughout the day that he wishes to be a local MP working, and building relationship, with his constituents. He added that he's not interested in gaining power as a front-bencher, but aims to be a voice for Portsmouth South, putting up a fight as and when it is required.


It was a fierce evening at The News' Hustings on Thursday evening, with cross-audience arguments, and much disagreement between the panel.

See my colleague, Miles O'Leary's report here: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/our-education-system-is-not-good-enough-portsmouth-south-election-hustings-1-6707472



With the general election soon to be upon us, I'm curious to find out about what you think of politics, the politicians and policies. Comment away and have your say.

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Sunday 7 December 2014

Mighty meats for a merry season...

It can be a challenge to prevent yourself from eating large consumptions this time of year.  It's okay - it's Christmas...

The season is an opportunity to put that diet aside and indulge in the various flavours that knit it all together. The Christmas dinner is always a symbolic moment; it's where the crackers are pulled,  the discussions take place and most importantly, the feast begins. For some the dinner consists of the traditional turkey accompanied with stuffing, roast potatoes and more. For many others - a seasonal roast is all about the mighty meaty options. 

A choice of three main meats continue to be a warm welcome at my household: traditional roast turkey, mouth-watering beef and gorgeous gammon. It's important not to forget the added extra of pigs wrapped in blankets. 

Traditional roast turkey: 

Turkey is an enjoyable meat to roast as the taste is so basic, waiting to be spiced up by the cook. Not only does it come at a good price - it is practical to flavour. Goose fat, sage and onion butter, cider, saffron, orange or even lemon, there are multiple flavours to pick. Turkey is an interesting meet to prepare; for many of us it leads to stress, panic and some sort of break down, when in fact you should be enjoying yourself. It's okay, dinner wont be a disaster and remember you have other meats to fall back on.

Mouth watering beef: 

Jamie Oliver is a brilliant chef who can inspire you greatly when cooking beef. His recipes can be found online, or maybe you could buy the Christmas cook one of his books as an early present? With any meet, you can do pretty much anything. Although, rubbing horse radish over a beef joint  creates a beautiful layer of spice before the juices burst and overwhelm your taste buds. It is apparent that beef is best to cut half an hour after cooking. Allow it to rest, then cut thinly for a tender texture ready to be slapped on a plate. Never throw away the juices from the meat, use the juice to create a red wine gravy (or experiment with mulled wine if you really wish to be Christmasy). 

Gorgeous gammon: 

A popular meat that is great chilled on Boxing Day with warm crusty bread and butter is exquisite. How do you cook it?
Gammon is a salty meat, so ensure you don't add any more salt (unless you wish to have an explosion of bitterness). Boiling is a nice option to cook the meat; it's contrasting from the two previous roasted options. 
If you fancy trying something experimental with your gammon this year, boil it in full fat Coca Cola. It creates a caramelised coat of sweetness which really contributes to the flavour of the meat. 

Do you like your gammon to fall apart when it's cooked? If so, slightly over cook it. It will just shred to pieces which is enjoyable with other meats at dinner. Likewise, it can cause the gammon to have a dry flavour which may not be so pleasant for the Boxing Day bash. 

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Wednesday 19 November 2014

Is university really worth for what you pay?

'Three-quaters of students won't pay off their university debt'

 If you have been to, are at, or planning to attend university, read on....



It's a topic unwelcome by thousands; the amount of money it requires to attend a higher education institution despises many of us.

2011 witnessed a transformation in the university system. The government approved a legislation to allow any university across the country to charge English students up to £9,000 per academic year. More than three years later, the press continue to concentrate on peoples' concerns on the amount it cost to attend, resulting into heinous debts.

This week, it was reported that three-quarters of university graduates will not pay off their debts. 'University is a good investment'  - some may say - however - if the government aren't receiving their cash back after a 30 year pay-back period - surely this isn't great for the economy?

The university funding system is unsustainable because of the high number of students who will never be able to afford to pay off their loans after graduating, according to a major new report :Quotes the opening sentence of an article written in the 'i' this week (18/11/2014)

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) warned that the average salary of a university graduate would mean that they are unable to repay their loans after the 30 year period. Yes, I understand that a substantial rise to £9,000 a year meant that universities would become less reliant on the tax payer, but all this borrowed cash that would be unpaid surely can't be practical for us all?

I have never experienced university life, maybe some day I will. Likewise, through discussion with graduates and current students, it would be challenging to deny that it is a brilliant experience. It would excite myself to leave home, whizz off to university and understand independent living, but I'd personally not wish to do all of that on finance. Also, the fact that I can become a journalist without a degree is appetising. Potentially, I could walk straight into a full time job next summer debt-free. Who knows..?

I acknowledge and appreciate professions such as teaching and medical related jobs that require a degree. I just have sympathy on the amount of debt incurred by them as students. Did you know the average debt built it £44,035, suggesting that only 45p for every £1 is paid- WOW! 

Is university really worth for what you pay?

I think university is a huge investment that will have a substantial impact on the avenue you will walk. If you're someone certain about what you wish to do in your career that would mean you need a degree - go for it. If you find yourself hesitant or unaware on what you'd like to do as a career, seriously think about where you step next. 

Remember that university debt payments don't begin until you earn more than £21,000. When money is withdrawn from your bank to pay back what you owe, it's likely you wouldn't recognise it. Nevertheless, think about what you could use the money you eventually pay back for. 

Remain positive, keep devoted and be determined to do what you aspire. Maybe university fees will decrease?



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Sunday 12 October 2014

The Newspaper remains a figurehead of my intake of news...

Follow: @shjpoole 

Being a journalist in 2014 is far different from being one in 1914. Many years ago the newspaper was the king of news, people in their millions would buy pages hot off the press in order to be fed information.

These two pictures endure to captivate me by showing the power a newspaper had. Completely different pieces of news relating to each other by being delivered through a paper.

The paper boy/girls would flood the streets with banners which tell information that would loom to people metres away.

It was challenging to escape the presence of a newspaper as they were everywhere. They were a core framework to discussion.

Today newspapers' are relevant - but not dominant. Many may see newspapers' as an unpredictable beast in which individuals in the industry don't know what will happen to it.

Optimists would argue that there is - and will always be - a need for a newspaper thus they will never die. Others may state that through the advancement of the internet and the speed it pours out breaking information, newspapers' are on deaths door waiting to collapse.

As a training multimedia journalist (training at a newspaper), I love all things technology. Although, I love a newspaper too. At times, I would spend £2-4 on various newspapers to explore how they approach different stories.

People question: Why do I buy newspapers when I can get the story online for free? My answer is simple: you can hold a newspaper, it feels more personal to me having my own copy and it presents hard facts that can't be edited once printed.

It is evident that the readership of newspapers is declining, with online readership on newspaper websites cascading through the roof. However, there will alway be a need for a printed copy.

The fact that I'm training at a newspaper allows me to thoroughly understand the operation of it which contradicts the activity of a website, but through devotion and determination in these challenging and demanding times, there will be a way to keep it alive. There is always a way, nothing is impossible.

On the topic of newspapers', I welcome you to check out my most recent stories in The News based at Portsmouth, UK.









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Tuesday 9 September 2014

What does it take to be a Journalist?

It has been a busy but exhilarating week for the journalists' in training at Highbury College. 

For myself, I’m in my element. I positively seek everything we have yet to learn, and the pivotal experience that will mould us into what is by far the best career you could choose (all be it - this is only my opinion). For the next ten months the team will love, hate, argue, cry and laugh with each other as we work towards an NCTJ diploma in journalism at The News in Portsmouth. The picture below is the team I’ll be training with; the chemistry so far seems positive - with four of the them aspiring to be sport reporters. This week I am concisely writing on the prime areas' I feel it requires to be a journalist. 


Attitude:
I firmly believe our attitude towards whatever we do is important. I have alway’s stated that if you approach something positively, you’ll receive great things. However if you look at an area pessimistically, the outcome is unlikely to be great. With the job, it’s about remaining optimistic in everything you do. Undoubtedly there will be times journalists have to report on unwelcome situations, but it’s a competitive industry thus you need to be positive that you can be the best. 

One thing that shouts out to me regarding journalism is devotion. Being a journalist isn’t a career, but a lifestyle. Consistently remain on the look out for new stories to report on, check out literally anything and everything. I believe that drive, determination and devotion would really make you glow in an editor’s eyes. You could argue that having too much devotion can be unrealistic, but if you really want to make a break in the industry, I don’t see what’s stopping you.

Having a high work ethic is serious stuff. If your work ethic is really low and you struggle to raise it regarding journalism, I don’t think it’s the right avenue for you. Remember that journalism isn’t a job for routine and repetition. You never know what will be placed in front of you once you hit that newsroom. Be ready to report on anything. One day you could interview someone celebrating their 100th birthday. The next, you may be breaking news of a murder.

Determination: 
Competitiveness is impossible to avoid. Whatever medium you work for, whether that is newspaper, TV, radio or online, you should aim to be the first one to publish that news. Be determined to be the best. Furthermore, be persistent in what you do; push to interview people, find new angles to existing stories, build relationship with your readers’. 

Being a trainee journalist is an opportunity to show people what you can give. Throw all you strengths at the job and really work to improve what you'd like to be better at. 
Curiosity: 
I believe that having an endless curiosity in the world around you is a great sign in showing that you aspire to be a journalist. If you find that you're questioning yourself on what is happening around you, wishing to have answers, then you’re on the right track. Don’t be a reserved journalist that sits at the back of the press conference trying to get the interviewee’s attention. Be that journalist that is abrupt, challenging and fixated on that particular area you’re reporting on. Fundamentally, do it well.



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Monday 7 July 2014

Mrs Browns Boy's D'Movie: My Opinion

For me, Brendan O'Carroll's Mrs Brown's Boys episodes' broadcast on the BBC are a brilliant opportunity for my family to really laugh. In fact, it has to be told that they are one of my most favourable comedy acting pieces. The film on the other hand (or shall I say Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie) didn't work out for me. The chemistry with the big screen and the laughable triggers of my brain were bewildered.

The film opens with a camera pan around the bedroom of Mrs Brown that really gives the audience an idea on the kind of environment she is living in. With granny pants, tights and slippers scattered on the floor, as well as a beeping alarm clock in which the prime character is oblivious of whilst sleeping, some giggling took place. The mise-en-scene is pivotal in adding effect to some dialogue. I really appreciate how each scene is framed to show us little fractions of the home that often contribute to the principles characteristics.

The acknowledgement of the movie being a BBC film lead me to being humble towards what I was about to watch. I was pleased to be sat there knowing that the content consumed throughout was British. Immediately after Mrs Browns awakening from her pit, it was nothing but cheese. The five or so minutes that felt like a life time were rammed with corny old 'lady' dancing and seriously amateur choreography which the cast delivered. For a second, I turned to my sister with slight hesitation and thought of 'what on earth is this?' Don't get me wrong, I enjoy corniness and cheese, however I wasn't overly prepared for it in the opening scenes. If anything, I'm ready to see it at the end of the live studio episodes broadcast on television each week.

If you're a keen viewer of the live studio performances which are aired, you'll understand that they follow a storyline, although spontaneous mistakes and jokes make it enjoyable and funny to watch. A prime example would be when the actors' forget their lines and improvise along with the cast. The film itself had elements of these, but they seemed attempted and false which in my opinion blew up all the humour of getting something wrong. The D'Movie followed a narrative of a councillor (and a group of Russian's) wishing to close down a market street in order to build, however the local village decided otherwise and were prepared to fight back. It all seemed a little too directed which gave it this predictable feeling - something you wouldn't feel throughout the episodes. The jokes and audio between characters seemed ever so slightly reserves and staged which wasn't my cup of tea.

Another area that really was playing on my mind was a particular moment in the film when Mrs Brown walks up the concrete stairs towards the court rooms. The non-diegetic music of You Raise Me Up by Westlife distracted the comedy and made you feel as if you were watching some poor Eurovision acting.

The character Buster continue's to be one of my favourites. His unpredictable deliverance of what he utters and his background story's revealed are laughable. The horse which became highly symbolic throughout elements of the film was taken well in the cinema. Also, the bloopers at the end were a real laughing stock; they seemed to be real rather than staged. Maybe if a few more of them were implemented into the film, the audience would feel as if they're watching it live.

To summarise, Mrs Browns Boy's D'Movie wasn't my most favourable and was very similar to what I was expecting. Although I could see others thoroughly enjoying themselves, which was great to see. I guess if you're a true Mrs Browns Boy's fan, the film would be right down your street. Remember, regardless of what people may be saying, it doesn't prevent it soaring through the Blockbuster chart.







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