I've finally done my first interview for my dissertation - and it's a corker! I went into London this afternoon, just off Old Street for the chat with Matt Deegan, a guy who seems to know a hell of a lot about radio, and someone I have immense respect for, particularly after today when he took 90 minutes out of his busy schedule to chat to me. I recorded about 50 minutes of discussion with him and his colleague John about RAJAR, and it's alternatives and it was thoroughly interesting. I then sat and chatted with Matt about radio and starting a career and he offered me plenty of advice and people to contact. Unfortunately, the biggest piece of advice he had was offering to work for free, which is now something I'm not really able to do anymore due to the need of making money. However, he was great to chat to and I hope we can do so again. The only downside to this fantastic interview is the ridiculous rule in our dissertation which says we have to have full transcriptions of every interview or focus group we do. We're also supposed to do 4-6 focus groups, and 10 interviews AT LEAST. Unbelievable. This would mean writing over 100,000 words of stuff that isn't even marked. Two words: FUCK THAT! University is bollocks sometimes, well, in fact, more often than not. I love the fact that I will be £27,000 in debt as a result of it as well. AND they want to charge more? Honestly, it's disgusting.
That's reminded me - Barry is set to interview the new SU president that I mentioned last week about his no-alcohol stance, and could very well be taking it to the Daily Mirror on Friday. National exposure is what we need!
A hour or so ago, Robin wrote a rather emotional blog that seemed to come from somewhere deep within him about the end of year broadcast on Smoke Radio and whether or not some of us third years will return to the station. He also mentioned how very good friends that we've become (not me personally, the group of us) which couldn't be any truer. On the return Smoke issue, my position is that I'd love to do a show with either Phil, or on my own, just for an hour a day or two two hour shows as a send off to something that has given me such pleasure during my university life.However, I don't think I fit into the station anymore, I'm not sure I want to present with that music selection (however, I can get past that) and I'm not sure how much freedom I'd get. I also feel as though I should work that week instead of present. So what do I want? Honestly? I'd love an hour a day with a different presenter each day (yes I know it's been done, but to hell with it) and have a laugh like we used to. Quite relaxed and fun. I know for a fact that once the course is finished and the diss out of the way, I will spending as much time in those studios as possible, something that I regret I didn't do in my first two years, just playing around, practicing links and dubbing minidiscs, whilst I still have chance. So, I guess my answer, is, yes, I'm open to a return to Smoke before the end of the year. I'll guess you'll have to watch this space.
I'm a bit pissed off with the fact that the sports journalism module is so heavy right during the critical stage of the diss - I have class tomorrow and a deadline on Friday. Then me and Denis have to go to watch a Harrow game on Saturday and write about it. I can't be bothered and it's very much an unwanted distraction.
I thought I had more to talk about than this tonight but I feel I've exhausted myself now, so I'll call it day.
Until next time, you stay classy Robin Blamires!
I really think that some of the modules that run at the same time as the dissertation should acknowledge that the dissertation is a bigger priority and not force on the workload.
ReplyDeleteIf I was in that same position I would be more stressed than ever although I imagine what you and Den have got is nothing compared to the Work Experience module.