Living the Dream
Ever since I can remember, I have dreamed of being a journalist. I imagined the glitz and glamour, the fame and celebrity of such a job. In my mind, I could see nothing better than standing in front of a camera, delivering the latest news to hundreds of viewers hanging on my every word.
Last week I got the opportunity to realise my dream as part of the BBC's school report project: an opportunity which at once dispelled any naïve notions that I had of the "glamorous" lifestyle of the TV / radio journalist and at the same time made me even more determined to follow through on my life's ambition.
The BBC linked us up with a mentor to provide us with valuable advice and technical support. Our mentor was the esteemed TV and radio journalist Ian Hamilton who has worked over the years to produce many reports for BBC Scotland and Radio 4, covering a variety of programmes including Sports Weekly, Reporting Scotland and Newsnight Scotland.
Early in the morning we had our first major setback when our allocated camera man got called away on a new assignment. However, with the aid of our enthusiastic mentor, we cracked on and began to record the radio piece until a replacement camera man could be found for the film broadcast. Here was my first lesson in journalism - you can plan all you like, but that doesn't mean that obstacles won't crop up at the last minute. You have to have a 'plan B' up your sleeve to see you through - just like a boy scout, a journalist must "be prepared".
Our feature was to be a piece on young quad bike rider Andrew from Carluke. Equipped with a professional camera man, we travelled down to the location to interview Andrew and get some shots of him riding his quad and some pieces to camera for the report.
That day, I discovered the true reality of journalism: the painstaking wait between takes; having to redo a take over and over again because something is not quite right with the shot. But in spite of these setbacks I thoroughly enjoyed the day and I definitely gained some valuable experience which I hope to incorporate into my future in journalism. I learned how to work a camera, how to interview some one 'correctly', techniques journalists and reporters use and most of all knowledge from experts such as Ian Hamilton. Perhaps one day I'll take part in the BBC Report again; only next time I'll be the mentor!
Reported by Callum