Annnnnd that's a wrap: I graduated!

Four years ago I clutched my Leaving Certificate results in my hand, hoping and praying all my hard work had paid off.

I desperately wanted to study Journalism and New Media in Limerick but, with the points set to increase, I had an agonising wait to see if I had got it or not. A few days later I happily clicked ‘accept’ on my CAO form. I was officially Limerick bound!

Officially a qualified journalist.

Four years later and it’s hard to believe my college experience is over. As cliché and all as it sounds, time really does fly and last week I graduated!

I spent a lot of time in fourth year wishing the year would hurry up and end. I couldn’t wait to be finished my final year project, assignments, exams and all the stress that goes hand in hand with it. I was more than ready for the stress of college life to be over. I was ready to go out into the real world and be an adult.

But the night before my graduation, with the big day literally only a few hours away, I had a scary thought. I suddenly realised there was just one small problem with my single-mindedness. Once I donned my cap and gown that was it; the safety net of education, which I have known for the last 18 years, would suddenly be gone.

And with the economy still looking more like a rollercoaster and less like smooth sailing it’s no wonder I’m slightly anxious. I have nothing concrete lined up. I’m all dressed up with no place to go. No place to interview.

Every so often I find myself thinking these negative thoughts, which are made all the worse by people constantly asking me what exactly I’m doing with my life and when am I going to get a real job and stop working part-time pulling 99’s. The truth is I don’t know. I’m really not sure. I’m still figuring this whole life thing out.

When the not-so-positive thoughts don’t creep in I’m confident. Confident I’ll get a job in my chosen field and confident that things will work themselves out. I’m pretty sure something will come up. In some shape or form. I’m just not sure how long it will take…

Waving goodbye after four great years.

The President of UL, Professor Don Barry, reminded me of all this during his speech at the graduation. He reminded us how proud we should be for getting this far and achieving a third level qualification and, more importantly perhaps for those of us with nothing solid lined up, reminded us that things always have a way of working themselves out. He said we must “never, ever let anyone tarnish our spark”. Wise words from a wise man.

So, with that in mind, I’m not so much nervous about the future as I am curious.

College life was (so far!) the best four years of my life, but I’m ready for the next chapter now.

All I can say is bring it on!

Leaving college for the real world

They say time flies when you’re having fun.

As my final semester as a third level student fast approaches I find myself increasingly worried about things I never even had to consider before; preparing CV’s, applying for jobs, my FYP and the gut-wrenching thought of my college life soon becoming nothing but a distant memory.

The dreaded question seemingly on the tip of everyone’s tongue ‘So, what exactly are you going to be doing after college?” instils the fear of God in me and the perplexed look on people’s faces when I tell them I’m not entirely sure is enough to almost send me over the edge.

 My ever-changing emotions about leaving the comfort zone of uni life and going out into the big bad world is giving me whiplash. One minute I’m excited about what the future holds and the opportunities and prospects it undoubtedly has in store for me, both personally and professionally. The next minute I’m genuinely wondering how I will function as a fully “growed up” human being in the real world with a real job. It’s all oh so confusing. I’m sad that I’m finishing. I’m happy that I’m finishing. How can one be so happy and yet so sad at the same time? That bittersweet emotion tastes so strange.

Here are the five things I’m feeling as the final semester edges closer:

1.   A burning desire to never have to complete a college assignment again

This all too common thought is repeated again and again throughout final year. Now that I’m half way there and one semester away from completing essays, final year projects, presentations and all nighters I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

2. The motivation to apply for every single job going

 

The sheer panic and fear that you might not get a job after four years of hard work is enough to make you apply for every single job you come across. Sure a degree in journalism might not be equivalent to a degree in engineering but what’s the harm in applying…

3.   The temptation to punch anyone who asks you about your future 

Jobs, masters, post-grad programmes…if one more person asks me what I’m planning on doing once I leave college I may not be held responsible for my actions.

4.     The idea of hiding under my duvet and never surfacing again seems more appealing every day

The thought of getting a real life proper job is overwhelming at the best of times and some days staying in bed in my own little bubble and never ever ever ever leaving it seems like a good plan.

5.    Shock that this is my life

Sometimes it's all a bit much to take in; I’m about to graduate, with an actual degree. Life is about to start happening. I’m just going to let that sink in.  

Limerick Voice comes to an end

And that’s a wrap!

The Limerick Voice has finally been put to bed. After several disagreements, numerous late nights and too many cups of coffee, the 2014 edition of The Limerick Voice is finished. And what a journey it’s been.

There have been highs and there have been lows but I am extremely proud of what we have achieved in this edition of the Limerick Voice. The dedication, talent and commitment shown by my classmates in both the BA and MA class, combined with the guidance and assistance from our lecturers, has to be commended and I feel honoured to work alongside such creative and talented people.

The experience of researching, investigating, interviewing, reporting, designing and publishing a newspaper has been invaluable. It is an experience no classroom or no lecturer could ever teach. I have gained experience I know will stand the test of time and build on making me a better journalist and for that I will be forever thankful.

My previous work placement in The Munster Express definitely helped me as I set out trying to make contacts, organise interviews and schedule photographs. The buzz of searching communities for stories, speaking to local people and visiting new places was all part and parcel of my Limerick Voice experience and one I enjoyed and benefited from very much. The thrill of putting pen to paper, (or perhaps keyboard to Microsoft Word as the case may be) and finally seeing my stories come alive on a page is a just reward for weeks of hard work.

Working as deputy news editor proved slightly more stressful than I had imagined but, in hindsight I am glad I accepted the role. Assigning stories, keeping track of different people’s articles, watching stories develop or fold, subbing copy and giving a helping hand has been an honour and an experience I know will make me a better journalist.

At times the production of The Limerick Voice was challenging and frustrating and, as with all group projects, there are always people who pull their weight more than others. This project (unfortunately) was no exception.

As is the nature of journalism there are times where you will work hard and put a significant amount of time into a story only to find out it has been cut. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed when I scanned through the newspaper last Thursday morning and failed to find one of my articles. It was a story I had assigned myself from the very beginning of the project and I was committed to getting it done. It took me weeks to get in touch with the source I needed to speak to and when I did (eventually) write up the article I felt it was a solid news story. To put time and work into an article and to then have it cast aside is disheartening but I am aware that this does happen in newsrooms.

As we neared the end of the Limerick Voice tensions were high and, at times, there was a lot of negativity both in the newsroom and at meetings. Although this is understandable I found it stressful and discouraging working in a negative environment. In saying that, no teamwork project would be complete without a couple of arguments. Coming out the other side of these disagreements is the main thing and, thankfully, we made it! Despite maybe wanting to throw the Mac out the window in frustration or scream at the top of my lungs when things went wrong, I wouldn’t have wanted to work with any other group of people. Although things seemed touch and go for a week or two, everything worked out perfectly in the end. As it always does. And we produced a pretty amazing paper too!

To next year’s class: I don’t envy you trying to top this edition of the Limerick Voice. It’ll be a challenge that’s for sure but a little bit of determination and a lot of hard work can go a long way. Best of luck!

A learning curve

As the end of the semester creeps ever closer I have found myself wondering where in the name of God the last ten weeks went? It seems like only yesterday we were sitting in the newsroom, without a care in the world, reminiscing and catching up on all our summer adventures. But time waits for no man and now, here, we find ourselves knee-deep in the production of The Limerick Voice.

Although things got off to a little bit of a slow start, the pace is gradually picking up and the newspaper is finally starting to come together.  

What I love about journalism is that you’re always learning and there’s always room for improvement. The Limerick Voice has, most definitely, been a learning curve. I have learned so much about this beautiful city of Limerick that I never knew before. I have discovered people and places I never knew existed and I have had experiences I know will strengthen me as a journalist. Most of all I have learned from the people sitting beside me in class who have worked alongside me on the paper. As a group project I have worked closely with a number of people on different issues who I have learned a lot from. I've learned how to handle myself in certain situations, how to portray to people what we are all about and what we want to achieve in the best possible way, how to get the best answers out of people and how to look for that all important unique angle. I have learned that the best way to get a story is to physically go out and about and talk to people; old-school style! With all the advancements in technology and social media, sometimes we forget that there is a world outside our laptop and mobile phones where we can actually go out and speak to people face-to-face. I have definitely found that this is the best way to get the information and story I want.

One of the main difficulties I have encountered is waiting on people to get back to me but I guess that’s part and parcel of the job. Constantly emailing and calling people can be disheartening when the person on the other side of the phone or the laptop is not responding. But for every person that doesn’t reply, there’s probably at least 10 others that might. A lack of attendance and a general lack of interest from some people has also been discouraging. On the other hand, the enthusiasm expressed by many others must be commended.

As with any journalism project we have met with barriers and I have no doubt we will continue to meet them until the paper is put to bed. Overcoming these obstacles has been a strong learning curve too. With less than two weeks to go before we hit the shelves there is a lot of work left to do but I am positive it will be done.

I am so proud to be working with some of the most talented people I know and I am so confident that this is going to be a fantastic newspaper.

Watch this space!

Nightcrawler

Every so often a film comes along that leaves a creepy, spine-chilling feeling in the viewer. It leaves the mind wandering, questioning, doubting.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s intense performance in Nightcrawler is hard to shake off even hours after the final credits have stopped rolling and the cinema has been emptied.

The movie opens with Gyllenhaal roaming around grimy night-time LA as Louis Bloom, an ambitious but haunting character. Gyllenhaal’s appearance is noticeably different as he transforms himself physically for the role of Lou by losing 30 pounds and appearing bug-eyed and pale.

Lou stumbles upon a car crash and, transfixed by the TV news crew filming the tragic footage of a burning car and injured woman, Lou sees an opportunity. He gets hold of a cheap camera, a police radio and, before you know it, he’s crawling the streets of LA seeking out the worst crime scenes the City of Angels has to offer. He sells his footage to Nina (Rene Russo), a local TV station news editor who tells him quite honestly; “If it bleeds, it leads”. After receiving his first pay check Bloom is like an addict; unrelenting and determined to do whatever it takes to feed his addiction.

As Bloom becomes increasingly obsessed with his new-found passion the film gears up a notch as he races to crime scenes before the police can even show up. He is ruthless in his profession as a camera man and is prepared to sacrifice everything to get the best angle and footage he possibly can. He recruits an assistant in the form of Rick (Riz Ahmed), a nervy homeless man who displays morals Bloom is incapable of.

Rick and Bloom crawl the city’s streets by night eagerly anticipating the next gruesome crime scene they can record. As Gyllenhaal’s character becomes increasingly consumed and equally infatuated with manipulating crime scenes and capturing the most gruesome footage he portrays a blatant disregard for ethics or morals of any kind.

Writer-director Dan Gilroy raises important questions about media ethics when tabloid journalism comes under fire as Bloom disregards the rules and embodies everything a journalist should not be.

Gyllenhaal is captivating in his role as the cunning Lou Bloom. He is the determined, albeit ruthless, antihero we love to hate. Credit must be given to the powerful acting skills of Gyllenhaal who manages to keep the audience on his side even as his character steps up his merciless and relentless tactic, resulting in appalled admiration from the audience.

Nightcrawler delves into the seedy, sleazy side of journalism and exposes a side to the media we sometimes choose to ignore. But this is Gyllenhaal’s show and he well and truly steals it with a brilliantly dark and cold-hearted performance depicting the often cruel and callous nature of modern day journalism.

Nightcrawler is in cinemas now. Check out the trailer here:

What to say when you have nothing to say...

It’s like running a marathon; you don’t go in unprepared. You train. You go running with the club, you do what you’re told, you practice outside of training. You eat the right foods; stocking up on carbs and saying goodbye to alcohol. You do all the right things and take all the right steps, but sometimes it’s just not enough. Every distance runner’s worst fear is ‘hitting the wall’. It can happen anyone, at any stage of a marathon, no matter how diligently you train and eat. And, sometimes, there’s absolutely no reason for it.

Writing’s like that sometimes. At least I feel writing’s like that right now. I’ve been struggling with what they call writer’s block for the last few days and I just can’t seem to shake it. I’ve well and truly hit the metaphorical wall. And, right now, it seems ten feet tall. I’m wondering will I ever get over it.

It’s not that I have nothing to say; in fact it’s the opposite. I’ve plenty to say but I just can’t seem to transport it from my brain on to paper.

I sat down yesterday to write and I had nothing to say. I literally had nothing to say. For anyone that knows me, really knows me, then you will know that this is quite unusual. I always have something to say. I love debates and people challenging my opinion. I love justifying why I think or feel a certain way. I thrive off stimulating conversation. But yesterday the creative juices refused to flow.

I had loads of potential things to blog about. I agonised over a couple of different issues making the news at the moment wondering which one I would go with. The ongoing debacle over the Irish Water charges, the irony of wifi outage at the Web Summit, Eva Longoria’s much-publicised trip to Dublin and the Anti-Victoria’s Secrets Runway Show that took place in New York last weekend were all topics I toyed with whilst staring at a blank screen.

The cursor blinked back at me from the screen willing me to type something, ANYTHING. I closed my eyes and magically wished that when I opened them there would be 500 words dancing across the screen. Of course there wasn’t. But I at least hoped I would have been struck with some sort of inspiration. Like the animated light bulb going off inside my head.

For someone who (hopefully) anticipates a career centered around reading, writing, reporting and investigating, this is a weakness I really can’t afford. Writing my way through writer’s block is a work in progress as I try to figure out the best ways of overcoming this tricky and oh-so-inconvenient situation. I’ve learned that the best written blogs come from articles you’ve read, stories you’ve heard or things you’ve experienced. Forcing yourself to write something for the sake of it, on a topic you’re not particularly interested in, is a recipe for disaster. I learned this the hard way after forcing myself to write an excruciatingly soul destroying article on a topic I had zero interest in.

I also find that literally stepping away from the laptop is a good idea. Writer’s block is often symptomatic with stress and sometimes you just need a break. Taking your mind off the task at hand by going for a walk or meeting up with a friend is a really good way of refreshing and re-energising your mind. If you have a deadline to meet though you may not have that privilege.

Sometimes the well really is dry and I have nothing to say. But, deep down, of course there’s always going to be something to say. There will always be politicians making controversial decisions, celebrities dominating headlines and events taking place that need to be covered. There will always be something to write about. I’m a journalist after all, isn't that what I do.

Speed vs Accuracy: The Importance of Getting It Right

According to the Reuters Handbook of Journalism; “Accuracy is at the heart of what we do. It is our job to get it first but it is above all our job to get it right. Accuracy, as well as balance, always takes precedence over speed.”

Unfortunately in the case of author and journalist David Monagan this could not be further from the truth. In one of his regular blog posts for world-renowned media conglomerate Forbes, Monagan made a crucial error that ultimately led to his resignation.

Mistakenly referring to President of Ireland Michael D Higgins as an “acknowledged homosexual” instead of his electoral rival for the position two years prior, David Norris, is an unacceptable inaccuracy and an error which led to, what he described as, a “journalist’s worst nightmare”.

In an age where print media is fast declining and digital and social media platforms are where we now look, it is easy to see how such a blunder could occur by a journalist. However, how such a noticeable and clearly defamatory mistake could be approved for an online platform without so much as a second glance from a second pair of eyes is not so easy to fathom.

Although his mistake was genuine, and taken down from the internet within minutes, it still went viral and the damage was done. How can such a wrong be righted? How can something so defamatory be corrected? It is obvious through Monagan’s very article, published on Independent.ie, that he is truly sorry for allowing such a mistake to occur. The article itself is almost an apology to Michael D Higgins for ever allowing such a fault to appear in his article. His resignation from Forbes is another acknowledgement that he refuses to work within an organisation that doesn’t double-check copy and allows room for such errors to occur. These actions alone show how Monagan has attempted to vindicate himself and his actions.

As regrettable as this incident is, Monagan highlights for us, as aspiring journalists, how imperative it is to double and triple check your work. If he had not been under pressure and in a rush maybe he would have given his work one last crucial glance. However, there is a lot to be learned from Monagan’s experience and the moral of the story is simple; don’t submit your work online, in a newspaper or on radio without making sure everything is in order and your facts are correct.

Reuniting with an old friend

It was like maths class all over again. I could never do it properly. Never quite get it right. I tried. But I never grasped it fully.

I thought my days of maths class were over when I started university and they were. I would never have to do algebra or geometry again. I was delighted. However, that was short-lived. Although maths was already long forgotten, it had been replaced with a different class. Indesign. All the same feelings I had about maths in secondary school came flooding back. Those feelings of despair, helplessness and pure and utter frustration. Maths was gone but Indesign was here to stay.

Maybe that comparison is a bit dramatic. Ok, I don’t particularly like Indesign and I never have. I thought when I passed my exam on it in first year that was it. But here we are. It’s like reuniting with a long lost friend. Someone I haven’t seen in a very long time. I’m a bit reluctant. I’m slightly cautious. But I’m willing to sit down, have a coffee and get to know them all over again. And hopefully even better this time.

Although Indesign has never been my thing, this year I am ready and willing to try my very best at improving my skills with it. I may never be brilliant at it, but I’m confident that with a nice bit of practice and patience anything is possible.

This time round I am optimistic and excited about the Limerick Voice. Two years ago I worked as part of the sport and news team. Although it was stressful at times and I felt a lot was demanded from us, it was a great experience. Going into the project this time round I am far more confident than I was in second year. Having completed my Co-op and Erasmus last year I know I have so much to offer the paper and I am really looking forward to it.

Working with the MA students is new to me but I view it as a welcome change and feel we will all work very well together.

Although I have only had one class so far, JM4017 has been great. I know the module will demand a lot of hard work and time but I’m ready and willing to take on the challenge.