Hello,
This week has been busy and confusing - not only have I had my first deadline for the writing unit of my course pass (I submitted in time, don't worry!) but I've been struggling to figure out whether this is actually week 10!
Academically, this is my 9th week of teaching at university, but it's actually my 10th week at uni including welcome week and I don't want to change it up now, but I might call next week 'Week 10' just so I'm on the right track in terms of being able to carry on after Christmas. I'll figure it out when I've had more sleep.
(update: I've just googled it and I'm right - this is week 9, so I'll go by teaching weeks from now on! I know it doesn't matter really, but it was bugging me a bit!)
Last week was busy and this week is looking to be busier - this is my first Tuesday where I don't get the day off because we have our first News Week. 'Week' is a little misleading, as it's only three days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) but I'll feedback on that next week.
I've said 'week' far too many times.
Planning day for News Week last Wednesday was no different to usual - I was given a story, turns out I was the only one there that was on this story and I enlisted the help of one of my friends without a story and it all started to work out in the end - we went to take photos yesterday and get audio from members of the public. Not my favourite task if I'm being completely honest, but it's got to be done!
Thursday audio was painful, only because I went to see the new instalment of the Hunger Games franchise Mockingjay Part 2 at midnight the night before so I'd had very little sleep. But we were working on writing for radio more and I like the challenge of making something work in a purely auditory situation so it was actually okay! We worked on recording what we wrote in the afternoon and chatted to our guest lecturer Jordan about what we were enjoying about the unit and what we want to work on more. It was interesting that he asked, actually.
Friday photography was another good session as we had two hours of working on our assignments and prepping more ideas and then we had an hour and a half in the studio to practise taking low light photos. It was the first time in a while that all three of my group were there so it was nice to work with them, because it never feels like work.
The weekend was busy with shopping (for both photography assignments and Christmas) and a lot of productive uni work on Sunday whilst my friends played 'Grand Theft Auto' from across the hall! But I got lots of work done, so I can't moan completely - I'm a lot more on track now and I managed to submit the writing assignment I had a day early, so whilst I'll complain at them for sleeping for so long, I'm actually grateful to have had the day to myself to get some work done!
Monday's I've taken to describing as my busiest day - I attended a lecture on press releases and press conferences in the morning and then my grammar lecture was cancelled (thank God) so I went and sat in the university canteen for an hour and wrote a blog post for SophieCountsClouds, starting writing out this post and uploaded another post to my new UCAS blog!
My introductory post is available to read here and the post I wrote on Monday is available here! What I did learn was that not only are there only 7 UCAS bloggers, so being chosen was more of a big deal than I thought! But there is also an option to vote for blogger of the month, so if you like my posts please vote for me! It would be awesome if I could have that title under my belt so soon after starting. The post I wrote was about assignment deadlines if you're interested!
If there's anything about Uni life or the application process that you'd like me to write about, as someone who's been through the UCAS system, please leave a comment or message me - I've got lots of ideas but I'd rather write something that people are actually wanting to find out!
And today, after a 2.30am fire alarm in my halls, I was up and in uni by 9 to finish taking photos for the story we were assigned last week and now I'm waiting for another job to do and filling some time. But I've got enough assignment work to do that I'd be quite happy just sitting here doing my own thing for the rest of the day!
It would mean a lot if you could have a look at my UCAS blog - I'm actually really excited about it so it would mean a lot if I can share it with people and actually get some viewers!
Thank you!
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
Tuesday 24 November 2015
Tuesday 17 November 2015
Week 9
Hello!
Every week is getting slightly more stressful and tiring - this week I'm facing a looming deadline and trying to adapt to not having a half term for the first time in 14 years so I'm very, very tired but let's talk about last week!
Last Wednesday was another live news day - the editor decided that letting people volunteer for stories was a good idea (which it wasn't because no one really knew where anyone was) and I ended up being put on a story, as a photographer, that didn't need photos. So I just hung around in the News Room with my laptop working on my assignment stories (the looming deadline) until we left for this conference trip that some of us were going to in Portsmouth.
The conference wasn't really what any of us were expecting - it was sitting in a lecture theatre listening to how a bunch of local journalists got their jobs and then we were put in a small stuffy room with lots of the same journalists sat at tables answering questions that we already knew the answers to. What we were expecting was a bigger room with national journalists and company representatives offering advice and potential jobs so it was somewhat disappointing and my phone died.
I then had to go to my jazz dance class and I didn't get back home till twelve and a half hours after I left and making myself dinner was a challenge - I was very tired.
Next day was radio and we got to work with Jordan, one of our voice coaches, on writing for radio. We looked at some examples then in groups we were given four stories that we had to write two versions, a headline and a tease for. I got the story about Queen performing at the Isle of Wight festival - writing about music is my thing. It was actually really interesting figuring out what works for radio in comparison to traditional headlines and copy. In the afternoon we were reading our headlines in the studio so it was a fairly easy afternoon.
Friday photography was exclusively assignment work - we were allowed to use the studio or work on the prep and I organised everything a little bit more. I've got some more formal ideas and when my writing assignment is done hopefully mid this week, I'm going to work more on the mood boards and making everything look pretty - I'm excited, I love a good mood board.
Over the weekend my mum was in town and I organised my life a bit more - I got my flat mate to print out a couple of calendars and I wrote everything in pretty colours and I feel like my life is a little bit more on track.
Monday's lectures were somewhat difficult to get through to say the least - we had another lecture on contacts which told us everything the first one did, I don't know if I've actually expressed my hatred for grammar lectures yet but every week makes me consider skipping them and I've never ever been someone who can skip lectures - I feel too guilty, my conscience can't handle it.
In the afternoon we had a seminar with Adam Leitch, the head sports writer from the Daily Echo in Southampton and whilst most of the afternoon was allocated to working on our assignment but we were also given a press release and five minutes to interview Adam to write a feature about his running of the Ironman marathon, race, thing. I recorded the interview on my phone and I should probably write some notes down but I'm more concerned about this assignment than a seminar feature that doesn't mean anything right now!
And today, my wonderful day off, I've been to the opticians, got my lip pierced and bought numerous cuddly toys!
In other news, as of yesterday I'm officially blogging for university admissions company UCAS and I'm excited! I will keep this blog up to date with what happens on that blog!
There is a lot going on right now, but it's all good and exciting.
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
Every week is getting slightly more stressful and tiring - this week I'm facing a looming deadline and trying to adapt to not having a half term for the first time in 14 years so I'm very, very tired but let's talk about last week!
Last Wednesday was another live news day - the editor decided that letting people volunteer for stories was a good idea (which it wasn't because no one really knew where anyone was) and I ended up being put on a story, as a photographer, that didn't need photos. So I just hung around in the News Room with my laptop working on my assignment stories (the looming deadline) until we left for this conference trip that some of us were going to in Portsmouth.
The conference wasn't really what any of us were expecting - it was sitting in a lecture theatre listening to how a bunch of local journalists got their jobs and then we were put in a small stuffy room with lots of the same journalists sat at tables answering questions that we already knew the answers to. What we were expecting was a bigger room with national journalists and company representatives offering advice and potential jobs so it was somewhat disappointing and my phone died.
I then had to go to my jazz dance class and I didn't get back home till twelve and a half hours after I left and making myself dinner was a challenge - I was very tired.
Next day was radio and we got to work with Jordan, one of our voice coaches, on writing for radio. We looked at some examples then in groups we were given four stories that we had to write two versions, a headline and a tease for. I got the story about Queen performing at the Isle of Wight festival - writing about music is my thing. It was actually really interesting figuring out what works for radio in comparison to traditional headlines and copy. In the afternoon we were reading our headlines in the studio so it was a fairly easy afternoon.
Friday photography was exclusively assignment work - we were allowed to use the studio or work on the prep and I organised everything a little bit more. I've got some more formal ideas and when my writing assignment is done hopefully mid this week, I'm going to work more on the mood boards and making everything look pretty - I'm excited, I love a good mood board.
Over the weekend my mum was in town and I organised my life a bit more - I got my flat mate to print out a couple of calendars and I wrote everything in pretty colours and I feel like my life is a little bit more on track.
Monday's lectures were somewhat difficult to get through to say the least - we had another lecture on contacts which told us everything the first one did, I don't know if I've actually expressed my hatred for grammar lectures yet but every week makes me consider skipping them and I've never ever been someone who can skip lectures - I feel too guilty, my conscience can't handle it.
In the afternoon we had a seminar with Adam Leitch, the head sports writer from the Daily Echo in Southampton and whilst most of the afternoon was allocated to working on our assignment but we were also given a press release and five minutes to interview Adam to write a feature about his running of the Ironman marathon, race, thing. I recorded the interview on my phone and I should probably write some notes down but I'm more concerned about this assignment than a seminar feature that doesn't mean anything right now!
And today, my wonderful day off, I've been to the opticians, got my lip pierced and bought numerous cuddly toys!
In other news, as of yesterday I'm officially blogging for university admissions company UCAS and I'm excited! I will keep this blog up to date with what happens on that blog!
There is a lot going on right now, but it's all good and exciting.
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Week 8
Hello!
Last time I wrote an update on this blog feels like months ago, not a week. It's been another super busy week but exciting none-the-less!
Wednesday was another planning day for a live news day this week. I was put on one story that didn't have enough people and ended up being pulled and then I was put on another story that no one was available for and it was all very confusing. The biggest part of this planning day was being told about a networking event trip that's happening next week - a bunch of us get to spend the afternoon in Portsmouth this Wednesday. One of the course leaders said that some third years got jobs from this event when it was in Southampton last year so I'm actually really excited!
Less excited to have to come back and go straight to dance, but excited none the less. Busy day!
Thursday was interesting to say the least - I made the mistake of pulling an all nighter and I felt like my body was closing down. But audio gave us a new assignment to work on and we had something to work on for the afternoon.
Between sessions I went for a nap but in the afternoon we worked with a host from BBC Radio Solent and worked on telling stories - hosting radio alone is hard so he wanted us to work on our voices being engaging and entertaining when we telling an anecdote or a story on our own. We were told to pick something to do with music that we were passionate about and talk about it for 2 to 3 minutes.
I talked about my favourite band of all time All Time Low (see what I did there?) and how they're starting to break through to mainstream popularity without changing their sound and how their tours and sense of performance have grown so much in the four consecutive years I've seen them. I didn't quite manage the full 2 minutes I don't think, but I was still very tired and I was concerned about talking for too long so I cut myself off too soon.
Friday photography was one of the longest, most hands-on sessions we've had - we did some more editing of photos and we got given more themes for our assignment due in January. One of them sparked an immediate idea in my mind and I really want to start working on my mood boards for these photos but time management is something I'm struggling a little bit with - everything has just got really busy really fast and deadlines are rather hastily approaching. But it'll work out.
Hopefully.
After being given new themes, we went into the studio and were told more about the facilities in the computer that we could use and some suggested set ups for still life photography.
It was a long afternoon but worth every second.
From there I had a pretty quiet weekend - I went to see some fireworks on Saturday night and inquired about getting a lip piercing on Sunday. It wasn't quite the productive weekend I wanted but it wasn't a weekend off either because I felt neither refreshed nor ready for Monday.
I was relieved that my grammar lecture had been cancelled on Monday because those are the most tedious hours of my life, but we had a lecture on writing and how important typos and self correction are. I don't know if I'm really the advocate for that - I often get so tired by the time I've finished a blog post that I'm too lazy to reread it and check it over again but it's different with news copy. The most memorable part of the lecture that I took away from it was stepping away from whatever you're writing and coming back to check it later to read it with fresh eyes.
With most blog posts I haven't really got the time to go away and come back to it but I know for a fact it definitely works in terms of writing - creative writing that is.
Monday's seminar was mostly about writing press releases and working on our technique by posting them on the blogs we made in freshers week - hence this somewhat unexplained headline post - to work on our online writing skills. It might sound somewhat cocky but writing is definitely my most confident ability within the course so I'm happy with the writing itself, I just need to work on making sure the newest information is first rather than just going for the 'shock' factor. All good stuff to bear in mind!
Tomorrow is another live news day and then this networking event in the afternoon!
With deadlines approaching, I imagine the next few weeks are going to get stressful!
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
Last time I wrote an update on this blog feels like months ago, not a week. It's been another super busy week but exciting none-the-less!
Wednesday was another planning day for a live news day this week. I was put on one story that didn't have enough people and ended up being pulled and then I was put on another story that no one was available for and it was all very confusing. The biggest part of this planning day was being told about a networking event trip that's happening next week - a bunch of us get to spend the afternoon in Portsmouth this Wednesday. One of the course leaders said that some third years got jobs from this event when it was in Southampton last year so I'm actually really excited!
Less excited to have to come back and go straight to dance, but excited none the less. Busy day!
Thursday was interesting to say the least - I made the mistake of pulling an all nighter and I felt like my body was closing down. But audio gave us a new assignment to work on and we had something to work on for the afternoon.
Between sessions I went for a nap but in the afternoon we worked with a host from BBC Radio Solent and worked on telling stories - hosting radio alone is hard so he wanted us to work on our voices being engaging and entertaining when we telling an anecdote or a story on our own. We were told to pick something to do with music that we were passionate about and talk about it for 2 to 3 minutes.
I talked about my favourite band of all time All Time Low (see what I did there?) and how they're starting to break through to mainstream popularity without changing their sound and how their tours and sense of performance have grown so much in the four consecutive years I've seen them. I didn't quite manage the full 2 minutes I don't think, but I was still very tired and I was concerned about talking for too long so I cut myself off too soon.
Friday photography was one of the longest, most hands-on sessions we've had - we did some more editing of photos and we got given more themes for our assignment due in January. One of them sparked an immediate idea in my mind and I really want to start working on my mood boards for these photos but time management is something I'm struggling a little bit with - everything has just got really busy really fast and deadlines are rather hastily approaching. But it'll work out.
Hopefully.
After being given new themes, we went into the studio and were told more about the facilities in the computer that we could use and some suggested set ups for still life photography.
It was a long afternoon but worth every second.
From there I had a pretty quiet weekend - I went to see some fireworks on Saturday night and inquired about getting a lip piercing on Sunday. It wasn't quite the productive weekend I wanted but it wasn't a weekend off either because I felt neither refreshed nor ready for Monday.
I was relieved that my grammar lecture had been cancelled on Monday because those are the most tedious hours of my life, but we had a lecture on writing and how important typos and self correction are. I don't know if I'm really the advocate for that - I often get so tired by the time I've finished a blog post that I'm too lazy to reread it and check it over again but it's different with news copy. The most memorable part of the lecture that I took away from it was stepping away from whatever you're writing and coming back to check it later to read it with fresh eyes.
With most blog posts I haven't really got the time to go away and come back to it but I know for a fact it definitely works in terms of writing - creative writing that is.
Monday's seminar was mostly about writing press releases and working on our technique by posting them on the blogs we made in freshers week - hence this somewhat unexplained headline post - to work on our online writing skills. It might sound somewhat cocky but writing is definitely my most confident ability within the course so I'm happy with the writing itself, I just need to work on making sure the newest information is first rather than just going for the 'shock' factor. All good stuff to bear in mind!
Tomorrow is another live news day and then this networking event in the afternoon!
With deadlines approaching, I imagine the next few weeks are going to get stressful!
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
Monday 9 November 2015
Second Assignment: Charity advises parents on children’s accident prevention
Almost 2000 children aged between 0 and 4 years were hospitalised in the South East due to accidents in the home, such as burns and poisoning, last year alone.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust have organised Child Safety Week to advise parents about how to avoid accidents in the home, with the theme 'Make a Change. Make a Difference'. The event will run from 23rd to 29th November and Sure Start Weston Children's Centre have activities on Wednesday 25th to find out more about hazards to children.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust have organised Child Safety Week to advise parents about how to avoid accidents in the home, with the theme 'Make a Change. Make a Difference'. The event will run from 23rd to 29th November and Sure Start Weston Children's Centre have activities on Wednesday 25th to find out more about hazards to children.
Tuesday 3 November 2015
Week 7
Hello!
This week's been harder than the others so far but I'm dealing with it better than I expected. Yesterday was my first assignment deadline and now 50% of my Introduction to Audio unit is done! It's somewhat surreal to think that I've already submitted my first formal assignment less than two months in but it's a little reassuring (amongst making all the other assignments feel infinitely more real).
Last Wednesday saw our second live news day - I was assigned to a story about substitute teachers and had to go take pictures of books in the library. But upon returning from taking these photos we were told the story wasn't running as school's were on half term this week and we could get in touch with anyone. The third year I was working with and I then looked for other potential stories but we were sent to take footage of some lanterns outside the library for a video bulletin. By the time we got back the editor told me that there was nothing more for me to do and if my tutor was okay with it I could go.
After telling me it was only because he knows I'm a conscientious student, I was allowed to leave a lot earlier than anticipated. I then went back to my halls for a conscientious nap.
What can I say, it's been a stressful week? I don't think that makes it better. Never mind.
In audio on Thursday we did our first 'as live' bulletin - we had to plan a 5-8 minute show with news headlines, sports headlines and an interview with a guest speaker. We had this guy in our class who'll be giving us vocal coaching this week (I think) and he was acting as the expert for our interview. It actually went really well - my group have been working together for a few weeks now and we're good at radio, to be perfectly honest. Our timing was good and the flow was good and I'm really happy with how it went, particularly since the rest of my class was stood in the room just watching us perform our bulletin, show, thing.
On Friday we had photography and we learnt more about editing photos - we were put into groups and told to turn a before picture into the after picture with some basic instructions to help. I was put in a smaller group and my tutor came over afterwards and said it was to give us a fighting chance, because 'we already had experience with the software'.
I hadn't used the software before the week before, so we were really happy.
Then we started learning about portable, outdoor lighting and I was surprised by how easy I picked it all up - since learning about the lighting in the studio and being in the mindset for photography, I've managed to retain what we're learning better than I thought. I don't want to speak too soon - next week will probably be something really complicated now!
The weekend following was Halloween and my flat mate and I spent the evening making cupcakes and decorating them. It was super fun and they're really tasty so it makes this busy week somewhat more bearable.
This week shouldn't seem that busy but as my dad is visiting on top of all my uni stuff it seems busier - Monday was traditional lectures Monday but I went to see my dad and we went out for dinner and in between all of that we went to the Apple store and he bought me a MacBook Pro!
Not out of nowhere, we'd been planning it for a while but I'm now blogging from a MacBook! It's so exciting, I love it already - I've been setting it up yesterday and today and it's almost fully transitioned with everything from my old laptop. I'm so excited to use better software and really make the most of this machine. I can't explain it I'm just so excited!
Tuesday is meant to be my day off - which is why I allocated this day for blogging on this blog - but I had to go record an interview with my friend for one of our assignment stories and then I met my dad and we went over to Portsmouth to the Mary Rose museum, which was both interesting and intimidating as we managed to go around the whole museum with members of the Korean Navy! They weren't particularly polite but I smiled and let them do their thing anyway - resisted asking their photographer what camera they were using!
I'm seeing my dad again tomorrow before he leaves on Thursday. I'm loving spending time with him and showing him what is now becoming my home - my little corner of the country so far away from his corner of the country. There's a lot of change going on at home right now (as in home home, where my family is!) and I think it's done him some good to be able to step away from it all.
Thursday is looking to be my first real chilled out day this week, I'm looking forward to it - a few of my flat mates and I are going over to the park to watch the Bonfire Night fireworks so I think it'll be a nice way to begin the end of a stressful week.
I'll let you know how stressful this week ends up being in next week's post!
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
This week's been harder than the others so far but I'm dealing with it better than I expected. Yesterday was my first assignment deadline and now 50% of my Introduction to Audio unit is done! It's somewhat surreal to think that I've already submitted my first formal assignment less than two months in but it's a little reassuring (amongst making all the other assignments feel infinitely more real).
Last Wednesday saw our second live news day - I was assigned to a story about substitute teachers and had to go take pictures of books in the library. But upon returning from taking these photos we were told the story wasn't running as school's were on half term this week and we could get in touch with anyone. The third year I was working with and I then looked for other potential stories but we were sent to take footage of some lanterns outside the library for a video bulletin. By the time we got back the editor told me that there was nothing more for me to do and if my tutor was okay with it I could go.
After telling me it was only because he knows I'm a conscientious student, I was allowed to leave a lot earlier than anticipated. I then went back to my halls for a conscientious nap.
What can I say, it's been a stressful week? I don't think that makes it better. Never mind.
In audio on Thursday we did our first 'as live' bulletin - we had to plan a 5-8 minute show with news headlines, sports headlines and an interview with a guest speaker. We had this guy in our class who'll be giving us vocal coaching this week (I think) and he was acting as the expert for our interview. It actually went really well - my group have been working together for a few weeks now and we're good at radio, to be perfectly honest. Our timing was good and the flow was good and I'm really happy with how it went, particularly since the rest of my class was stood in the room just watching us perform our bulletin, show, thing.
On Friday we had photography and we learnt more about editing photos - we were put into groups and told to turn a before picture into the after picture with some basic instructions to help. I was put in a smaller group and my tutor came over afterwards and said it was to give us a fighting chance, because 'we already had experience with the software'.
I hadn't used the software before the week before, so we were really happy.
Then we started learning about portable, outdoor lighting and I was surprised by how easy I picked it all up - since learning about the lighting in the studio and being in the mindset for photography, I've managed to retain what we're learning better than I thought. I don't want to speak too soon - next week will probably be something really complicated now!
The weekend following was Halloween and my flat mate and I spent the evening making cupcakes and decorating them. It was super fun and they're really tasty so it makes this busy week somewhat more bearable.
This week shouldn't seem that busy but as my dad is visiting on top of all my uni stuff it seems busier - Monday was traditional lectures Monday but I went to see my dad and we went out for dinner and in between all of that we went to the Apple store and he bought me a MacBook Pro!
Not out of nowhere, we'd been planning it for a while but I'm now blogging from a MacBook! It's so exciting, I love it already - I've been setting it up yesterday and today and it's almost fully transitioned with everything from my old laptop. I'm so excited to use better software and really make the most of this machine. I can't explain it I'm just so excited!
Tuesday is meant to be my day off - which is why I allocated this day for blogging on this blog - but I had to go record an interview with my friend for one of our assignment stories and then I met my dad and we went over to Portsmouth to the Mary Rose museum, which was both interesting and intimidating as we managed to go around the whole museum with members of the Korean Navy! They weren't particularly polite but I smiled and let them do their thing anyway - resisted asking their photographer what camera they were using!
I'm seeing my dad again tomorrow before he leaves on Thursday. I'm loving spending time with him and showing him what is now becoming my home - my little corner of the country so far away from his corner of the country. There's a lot of change going on at home right now (as in home home, where my family is!) and I think it's done him some good to be able to step away from it all.
Thursday is looking to be my first real chilled out day this week, I'm looking forward to it - a few of my flat mates and I are going over to the park to watch the Bonfire Night fireworks so I think it'll be a nice way to begin the end of a stressful week.
I'll let you know how stressful this week ends up being in next week's post!
Personal blog: http://sophiecountsclouds.blogspot.co.uk/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SophieCountsClouds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieALuckett
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