Photo Update

With my last week in London fast approaching, I've been sightseeing as much as possible. Last weekend I paid a visit to Abbey Road, the street made famous by the Beatles on their album of the same name. Today, I went to the world famous Madame Tussuad's Wax Museum. I managed to get photos taken with a few celebrities in the process. Here is a sampling of the photos from these two trips:

In front of Abbey Road

The gates of Abbey Road Studios

At Madame Tussaud's with Travolta and Jackson

With the glamorous Keira Knightley

Daniel Radcliffe, aka Harry Potter, and me

One Week in London

With less than seven full days left in London, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I want to celebrate Christmas with family. I also want to take all the lessons learned here and move towards the future. I graduate at the end of this year and I will need a paid job and grad school options. That brings me to the second dilemma. London has been my escape. It has been a wonderful option to put the stress of DC life aside and explore new options and new ideas. Even with the hard work I've put into my classes and my internship, it has been nothing but joy to do all these things. I know life is not always as happy and as pleasant. Tough times are ahead. I have to start a career from the bottom, paying my dues to get recognized. I need a master's degree too and they don't give those away for nothing.

I have learned an important lesson though: a positive attitude goes a long way. If I'm going to put in years of hard work, I might as well do it with enthusiasm. I've realized over the past few months that I really do like journalism and politics. They're exciting and valuable fields to be involved in. Maybe I do have a shot at that career after all.

London represents the beauty of trying new things. I never expected to have such a rewarding experience. It makes me think that if I visit various places and try different experiences more and more often I will enrich my thoughts and my views on life. In one month I turn 22. I'm glad I have this outlook on life now and I can't wait for the future.

Obama Chooses His Team, Confuses Everyone

Photo by: Newsday

Obama's first month as president-elect has been nothing short of eventful. Rather than sit and wait for January 21, he has done everything possible to begin his term almost immediately. He has held conferences with politicians and experts alike and has drawn up his first initiatives. Presumably, the purpose is so he can start implementing his policies on day one. The Bush administration has taken notice and they are countering Obama's intended plans by rolling back Democratic-backed policies including environmental initiatives and gun restrictions.

The most notable aspect of Obama's preparation is his Cabinet selection. Diversity seems to be the key word: Eric Holder, former Clinton staffer and now the first African-American Attorney General, General Eric Shinsenki, the first Japanese-American Veteran Affairs Secretary, Bill Richardson, the first Latino Commerce Secretary. There is also some party diversity: Bush's defense secretary, Republican Robert Gates, is staying on the job. Finally, the most suprising and certainly the most important appointment has been Hillary Clinton for State Secretary. Yes, Hillary will hold the third most powerful position in the country.

What does all this say about Obama's goals for his presidency? Does he think racial and party diversity will assure a competent and smooth White House? It can be argued that diversity of thought ensures a more democratic political system but will plurality of thought fix the economy and successfully end the war in Iraq? Do White House veterans Clinton and Gates truly represent change?

What this may tell us is that Obama wants a reversal of what is expected of him. First, he wants to point out that party will not be a deciding factor in his policies. He is willing to work across the aisle. More than simply demonstrating this bipartisanship he wants to ensure it is reflected in his administration's work. Undoubtedly, Gates' conservative initiatives will manifest themselves at some point. Second, it tells us that Obama wants to bring back aspects of the Clinton administration, which was generally a success in terms of the economy and opinion polls. Third, the racial diversity may appeal to many Americans and will set the image of an inclusive and modern day administration. It is also worth pointing out that Shinsenki, Holder and Richardson are seasoned government players and anti-Iraq proponents. Maybe race is a coincidence after all.

Finally, diversity of ideology and thought will set a check against Obama himself. This could be an attempt to decentralize White House power from the president and vice-president to different levels of the executive branch. This could be Obama's way of ensuring that Bush and Cheney's alleged power grasp will not be present this time around. Obama's key to success is to ensure that personality and power do not interfere in his attempts to repair the country.

Updates

I've been given an assignment at the internship that is exciting but will definitely add to my finals workload. The project is to interview the head of a graduate recruitment program at a charity and to do a Q and A with a student in the program. These interviews will be the basis for the launch of the magazine's first Facebook page. The Facebook page will promote and offer information from the Third Sector Job Search website. It will allow graduates and students to access information on job openings in the third sector. The total word count will be roughly 1,200 words which is the same as my BLC and IIC papers.

So far I've been able to contact the head of the graduate scheme at Cancer Research UK and they have begun searching for the right people to speak with me. Ideally, I was supposed to do face-to-face interviews but they told me e-mail interviews will have to suffice. I finally agreed but now I'm concerned they'll stiff me on the information. Luckily, they noted down my word count for each interview so they might be able to pull through with enough info. I set my deadline for next Friday, the 12th, but my final deadline is the 18th. I can do this assignment outside the office too so that helps too.

Well, I'm off to work on my papers for class. I've disappointed lately at my inability to make progress. Two of them are due next Tuesday. I have introductory paragraphs, outlines and some research for both. More work is needed. Wish me luck!

Weekend Updates!

Coming into the first week of December, I'm ready for busy days. I have three final papers due the week after this one and a new project at Third Sector. The papers shouldn't be too much of a hassle, but they are lengthy. My papers are:

1)British Life and Cultures- A 1500 word paper on an aspect of British history or culture. I'm doing an analysis of how Charles Dickens advocated against social ills such as poverty in Oliver Twist.

2)Media in Britain- My topic of choice is to analyze how newspapers endorse government policies based on their readers' political leanings.

3)Internship Seminar- Put the semester's papers into a lengthy analysis of how I progressed within my internship.

At Third Sector, I'm going to work on a long term project to get younger readers to use the website's job search function. The idea was mine actually. I told the web editor that college students and recent grads might find such a service useful when searching for job opportunities. The project will involve creating a Facebook group and interviewing charity officials about their current programs for students and young professionals. I'm really excited. This is reminiscent of the projects I researched and implemented at the Career Center. Unfortunately, I only have three weeks left. I hope to make some progress on the initiative.

In the meantime, I will leave you with these photos from my walk today through Kensington Gardens. Enjoy.
Memorial tree for Princess Diana

Peter Pan statue

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

One Month Countdown: My Top Five Moments in the UK

Now that I'm one month from the end of my semester in London, I wanted to look back on some of my favorite moments here in the UK. They range from sightseeing adventures to plain old fun moments. Mind you, these are the events I'm willing to share with the general public. Enjoy! Oh, and I want to wish everyone in the States a very happy Thanksgiving holiday!

5. Bowling in Northeast London (mid-Sept). (May or not be the actual bowling alley. I got this pic off the interwebs). When in London, do as Londoners do. My roommates and close friends took this to heart when we got bored in wealthy South Kensington and decided to rough it...in a dark shady part of the city. The moment was marked when we got searched by security at the front door of the bowling alley. No problems happened but we almost were stranded afterwards when we realized the Tube was closing. A good adventure all around.

4. Manchester United get heckled (Sept. 21)
(Chelsea fans head towards the riot). Two of the UK's greatest football teams, Chelsea and Manchester United, met in late September for a friendly in the former's hometown in central London. British football fans are notorious for their hometown pride which is why Manchester players ran into trouble when the police stopped their bus right in front of the stadium. Fan frenzy soon turned to hometown pride when drinks and foodstuffs were projected at the team bus. Luckily they had the windows closed.

3. Driving to Wales (Oct. 19)

My fall break visit to Shropshire in West England led to this fun excursion. My friend Bryan was kind enough to take me on a tour of Clun Castle but the highlight came when we crossed into Wales. Where do you go when you have 30 minutes in Wales? You go to a pub of course. Needless to say, the drive back was fun.

2. Greenwich Mean Time (Oct. 10)
What began as a cheap boat tour along the Thames River resulted in a memorable day trip to the town of Greenwich. A must-see for tourists and Londoners alike, this cheerful neighborhood features fun outdoor markets, great restaurants...and the Prime Meridian line. Yes, the line dividing the eastern and western hemispheres can be found at the Greenwich Observatory. I'm on the eastern hemisphere, I'm on the western hemisphere! Of course, the trip was made more fun when tequila shots were added.

1. Auld Reekie (Oct. 22-24)
No trip to the UK is complete without an excursion into the land of haggis, kilts and Mel Gibson... uhh I mean William Wallace. My short visit to Edinburgh (previously nicknamed Auld Reekie for its smell) at the tail end of my fall break was worth a lifetime of memories and photos. Going at it alone allowed for contemplation as I took in the history and culture of this rich city. Edinburgh is excellent for tourists in boasting top of the line hostels and hotels, a variety of food options and best of all, free and inexpensive tours and attractions. Go if you have the chance.

Sightseeing in the UK: Photos!

Due to my busy schedule, I neglected putting up photos from my recent adventures. Here they are, enjoy:

1. Monday, Nov. 17- Bus tour to Oxford, Stratford Upon Avon and Warwick Castle

Standing in front of Oxford University's library.

This is William Shakespeare's birthplace in the town of Stratford upon Avon. He was born and raised here and also started his own family at this home. It is currently open for tourists.

In the town of Stratford upon Avon. They had already put up Christmas decorations!

I opted not to go inside Warwick Castle but it was great to see it up close. It certainly looked great with the cloudy weather.

Saturday, Nov. 22- The Tower of London

Here I am at the Tower of London, the legendary medieval fortress and prison. It has a long history of military action, political scandal and torture. This is where King Henry VIII got rid of his wives!

Here I am trying out an old weapon used to defend the Tower.

Another week finished...successfully

I haven’t updated in a while...been a little busy resuming my sightseeing and of course interning at Third Sector. It’s late afternoon on a Friday and as always the anticipation for the weekend is strong. This Friday is special because I believe it completes my third week at this internship. It’s amazing how time flies during the workweek...it doesn’t help that I only intern Wednesday through Friday.

I made progress on my writer’s frustration. I’ve learned to focus a little more on the important topics rather than the little details like numbers. Those can go below the meaty information that readers need to know. My supervising editor sat down with me on Wednesday and discussed some of the things I should look for when writing. He also weighed in with his own experiences of being a young journalist. He said it’s always difficult when you start at a new publication because you have to learn their style and the content they cover.

This certainly applies to me since I knew next to nothing about the UK non-profit sector when I started here. I know the basics now. One important thing I’ve realized is the strong relationship between the Third Sector and the UK Government. The government even has an influential department devoted to charities and the non-profit. The recent banking crisis put this sector in the headlines when Brown was pressured to devise a plan to alleviate financial losses to charities.

This introduction to the non-profit sector beefed up my resume for spring internships. I don’t want to give too much away at this point but I’m currently in talks to interview for The Glover Park Group. I know this public affairs firm from my work at the Career Center. They are one of the top companies in D.C. and they blend a variety of fascinating subjects: legislative affairs, advocacy, public relations, media and more. It will be great to intern within these fields in a company that is still young but already respected among its clients and power-players in Washington. This semester and this internship has given me the confidence to attack any job or internship with confidence, determination and best of all, enthusiasm.

A Writer's Frustration Part 2

Another issue that has bothered me for a while is my lack of style when it comes to writing. Some of my fellow journalism students can write with wonderful diction and prose. I don't consider myself a novice to writing. My parents drilled penmanship and thoroughness in writing since I started first grade. While most students were struggling to remember how to spell "cat" and "hat," I was trying to compose short stories and personal essays. Nevertheless, I never felt the need to pepper my writing with big words or dry wit. I believe in writing what you mean without inflating your sentences. I know others use fancy words to boost their writing cred (and ego) while others are just reflecting their true thoughts and personality. It's not a bad thing necessarily, but it's not my style.

As I progress into the writing world, through print and digital media, I suspect, however, that I am behind in writing skill. I do envy the columnist who can weave irony, depth and words like "loquacious" into a 300 word statement on knitting or globalization. Part of my problem is that writing is a terrible chore for me. Many people just write and edit later. I edit each sentence as I go along, twisting and turning each word and phrase until I feel it is coherent. As I write this now, my eyes keep scanning to the sentences above, picking out what needs to be changed. Maybe I should consider using a big word like "loquacious" in the third sentence of this paragraph. My obsessive compulsiveness is aggravated when I feel my words are childish, redundant or devoid of meaning. I usually end up trying too hard, using lame jokes and misplaced words to demonstrate my prowess in writing.

As a journalism student, I haven't had the opportunity to write with stylish prose. At The Eagle and in class, it was drilled in our heads that direct and clean sentences were the way to go. It's "A fireman died yesterday in Southeast Washington," not "A fireman exhibited altruism when he sacrificed his life in the fight against a raging blaze." No room for egos in SOC, at least not on paper. But maturity in writing is a strong tool to have and I do have a need every now and then to express my thoughts in a guest column at the Eagle, a blog post or even a cover letter. People, especially employers, often measure another person's intelligence and experience through their writing.

My solution right now will be to read voraciously. How do the pros at the NY Times or Wash. Post do it? I need to expand my world more by traveling, studying history, reading novels, watching movies, anything to stay informed of the world past and present. The more experience I have, the meatier my writing will be. But my ultimate wish is to leave behind my desire to mimic the experts and to finally find my own voice. Only then will I be a true writer.

A Writer's Frustration

The daily output of short web articles at my internship is starting to burn out. Most of my sentences are re-written so when I come in every morning I hardly recognize the articles I toil over for hours. I respect the editor's decision to make those changes but it leaves me frustrated that I can't put together a perfect piece. I've been writing for campus publications since high school but I can't seem to hack it at my first professional news job.

I recognize some of my mistakes. I often don't put the newsworthy information at the top or in the lead. It irks me that I can write and re-write and still end up with these simple mistakes. Fortunately, my editors have been patient with me but I think I'm going to ask for extra help in writing.

Part of the reason I feel so bad is because the problem has humbled me a lot. I came into this internship with a lot of confidence related to my years of experience. I had courage in doing phone interviews the first day and collaborating with my co-workers. I haven't felt ashamed of my American accent or lack of knowledge about the non-profit sector. Now I feel a little smaller. Maybe I am still a student and a novice in the journalism world. My Dad said an interesting thing in an email recently: "Make each day better than yesterday." I will take his advice and learn from my mistakes rather than crumble under the pressure.

OBAMA'S VICTORY: ACCOMPLISHING THE IMPOSSIBLE

America was ready for Obama. Is Obama ready to fix America? (Photo courtesy of State.com)

I have a confession to make. The past two years I had trouble believing Barack Obama could get elected President. I thought a newcomer to politics with an exotic Arabic name couldn’t possibly be accepted in post-Sept. 11 America. Americans couldn’t even trust a decorated Vietnam vet like John Kerry because he seemed, as Bill Maher put it, “too French.” Adding to the Illinois senator's obstacles were the slew of high-profile candidates from both parties: Giuliani, Clinton, McCain and even Law and Order star Fred Thompson.

On the 28th of January 2008, I had the opportunity to hear Obama speak at American University. I waited for an hour and half in Bender Arena after standing in a line that stretched several miles down Massachusetts Avenue. This was the event in which Ted Kennedy gave him his formal endorsement. As I watched Obama at the podium, he seemed tired but his voice was steady as he outlined his goals for America. It was a surreal moment and it was hard to believe that I might be watching the next president of the United States.

As the race continued, Obama cleared each seemingly impossible hurdle from the Iowa primaries to the Democratic nomination to the onslaught of rumors and innuendos from the McCain camp. Nevertheless, a little voice in my head said it was too good to be true. The first black President. A distinguished Harvard Law grad calling for an end to the Iraq War, a more responsible method of foreign relations and a tax system that seeks to bridge the gap between low-income and wealthy Americans.

This explains my subdued reaction on election night. Sitting in my flat at 2 am I watched the electoral votes pour towards Obama. Even as his victory became apparent, I still suspected McCain would catch up at some point. It didn’t dawn on me what happened until the next morning as I picked up the newspaper at my internship. Obama had been elected president in the biggest electoral landslide in modern American history. I saw photos in the newspapers of people in Kenya, Japan and Chicago jumping up and down in sheer jubilation. It reminded me of the ending to Independence Day when the alien ships are finally shot down and people across the world celebrate. Equally as interesting were the long lines of Americans, including working class black and Hispanics, at polling stations. It was the biggest turnout in 100 years.


Obama's half brother Malik is carried in celebration through the village of Kogelo in Kenya. (Photo courtesy of Huffington Post)

I had a tear in my eye at this point. Not only because Obama won but because Americans had come together in a shared belief that he could help our country. The world was nodding its approval, still feeling the sting of the market collapse and the failed War on Terror. Not since Sept. 11, 2001 had Americans and people across the world united to that extent. Something on planet earth has to change and Barack Obama would be the man to lead us into the 21st century.

Sadly, the honeymoon will be over soon and we must use this unity against the Obama administration. With our renewed power as American citizens, not puppet voters, it is imperative to demand the most out of our new president as well as the Democratic Congress. They face insurmountable odds the next four years: repairing the economy, concluding the Iraq War, fighting global terrorism, curbing global warming and the list goes on and on.

Regardless of the outcome, Obama has reminded Americans and people across the world that hard work, determination and unity really make a difference. If we apply these values to terrorism, the environment and the market economy, maybe those odds are not so insurmountable after all. I had desired the elation that other Obama supporters felt for him but all along I should’ve relied on my own courage and hard work. This new perspective can be summarized in a quote from one of his speeches last February:

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

ELECTION NIGHT!

This is the most anticipated evening of the year, possibly in modern American history. In the UK, Brits and American ex-patriates are packing into pubs to watch the coverage on TV. The excitement is just as palpable here as I assume it is in the U.S.

At my internship, co-workers want to know who I'm voting for and what I think of Obama. British newspapers have devoted their front pages and considerable print space to the election. They depict the election as an epic showdown, not only between Obama and McCain but between progressive and traditional ideologies. British people are overwhelmingly for Obama, so much that left-of-center newspaper The Guardian was unashamed to put an attractive photo of Obama on their front page next to an uber-comical photo of McCain gritting his teeth and waving his fist.

My mom's friend, a UK resident, expressed her views bluntly in an e-mail: "...we hope Obama will make a bonfire of the Republicans and burn effigies of McCain and Sarah Palin like Guy Fawkes on 5th November."

News services are reporting that Americans are turning out in record numbers. Over 1,000 Penn State students lined up this morning to vote. Virginia is suffering from polling station problems because of the turnout. In short, this election is historic and the next 10 hours, maybe less, will be nothing less than suspenseful and gripping. Hollywood thrillers be damned.

I'm not sure how late I will be up. Ideally, I would live blog this entire election night. I have internship tomorrow morning and I didn't get much sleep last night due to class assignments due.

I'm in the living room of my flat with some fellow students, watching the coverage on BBC 1. As of now, 1 am UK time, 8 pm US eastern time, Obama has taken off in the initial results. He has around 60 to McCain's 23 in electoral votes. He has substantial leads in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and (GASP!) West Virginia.

Good luck America...



Barack Obama is ready for the fight but...

.
...you can't keep John McCain down.

Two days, Two articles!

The first two days at my internship have been surprisingly smooth. I was anticipating a culture shock but it's been quite the opposite. I was put to work right away yesterday inputing a list of NGO events for Third Sector's website. I have my own corner office space with plenty of room for supplies, papers, even food. Offices in the UK are much more spacious and collaborative than those in the U.S due to the lack of cubicles. In fact, 4 or 5 staffers usually share one long desk.

The editors have trusted me enough to man the phones myself. My first task yesterday was to call several British NGOs including the Institute of Fundraising and acevo and fact-check/get additional info on their upcoming events. Every person I spoke with was friendly and helpful.

Today, I upped the stakes by researching and writing not one but two web articles. One was on "Charity Talks," a year-long lecture series for non-profit workers. The second article was on a contest offering a total of 6 million pounds for two organizations that demonstrate effective social enterprise, i.e. charity or something that benefits society. I conducted a quick interview for each story. Considering I used to loathe interviewing sources, it was a remarkable turnaround and it's giving me confidence that I can continue with journalism in the future. I can't wait to see the articles on the site tomorrow. I will post the links then.

This is the first time in a while I've worked full day hours, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. I really like the whole scheme. Dressing up, getting my coffee, taking the tube, arriving at my desk...The working world is underrated.

The Day Before...

My internship at Third Sector Magazine starts tomorrow. The impression I got from my last visit was mixed and somewhat limited. I liked the professional and polished look to the office. I wasn't able to meet with any of the staff besides the Editor in Chief who I interviewed with. He seemed well in-tune with the issues and current events related to the non-profit industry. I was excited to hear that government policies would play a subsantial role in the editorial content. The Editor in Chief also said I would be able to write small features and sidebars including blurbs about specific NGO actions and ideas.

What do I hope to get out of this experience? Besides the typical office skills, I want to gain an understanding of the relationship between the "third" sector, the media and the government. I want to know about the publication's readers. What are their political leanings? Are they mostly industry professionals? Are their decisions influenced by what they read in this magazine?

A lot of the work I will be doing is similar to my tasks at the Career Center. I will be working mostly with the web editor, I was told during my interview. They are considering revamping their site and I will play a role in developing improvements and producing content. I have noticed that the content on their site is pushed together making the font small and the page seem cluttered. There are almost no multimedia features as well. I hope to work in changing these problems.

Reflecting on my current state in the academic and professional world, I was glad to hear during the interview that this internship will combine government, current events, journalism and new media. I've observed these topics converge and I hope to add my knowledge of it to the editorial table at Third Sector Magazine.

Seven Days, Four Cities, One Duffel Bag: My trip around the UK

I finally returned Thursday night after the hectic, improvised journey that took me to the farmlands of Western England, then to big-city Manchester, historic Edinburgh and for a brief time, York. I can't expand on every detail here but there is a lot I want to discuss. The trip, for all it's ups and downs, made me think about my life past, present and future and what I want to get out of it. The sad truth is: I don't have the answer yet and I'm not sure I will for a long time. However, the trip, which I undertook by myself, tested my ability to survive. It may seem silly to put a lot of weight on a supposed vacation but finding shelter, food and transportation on a daily basis and having little clue on how you're going to end up the next day is a tough chore and it makes you grateful for what you have.

With that said, here is a summary of my trip (with photos!):


^Shropshire is a small county near the border with Wales that encompasses the city of Wolverhampton, traditional villages such as Ludlow and plenty of rolling hills and farmlands. Here is a view of those hills from the front yard of the Kirkup's home. The Kirkups, old friends of my mother, hosted me at their home over the weekend.


^Roger and Vilna Kirkup saw me off at the train station Monday afternoon and posed for this photo.


^After leaving the Kirkups I stayed Monday night in a grungy hostel in the northern city of Manchester. I was able to get some scenic views Tuesday morning of the downtown city.


^I arrived in Edinburgh Tuesday afternoon after a four hour train ride from Manchester. The next morning I was able to take a free tour of the city courtesy of New Europe, a travel company offering inexpensive and free activities for tourists. I snapped this photo of the famous Edinburgh Castle.


^When in Scotland, do as the Scottish do. With that in mind, there was no way I could pass on haggis, the infamous dish made of innards cooked in sheep stomach. It tasted like peppered ground beef! Here you see my plate of fried haggis served with Scotch Whiskey, another true-blue Scottish treat.


^I left Edinburgh Thursday afternoon and made a train transfer in York, a scenic college town in eastern England. I had a two hour wait for my next train so I took a few photos including this one of a medieval fort along the city's Ouse River.

Hello from the West Midlands!

I neglected to mention in my last post that I would be starting fall break last Friday. The break is a week long during which I am spending time in the western English countryside (west midlands) near the city of Wolverhampton and then in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am here in the countryside now with family friends and it's been a pleasant experience so far. I'm getting a feel for how a British family truly lives outside the glitz of London.

The most enriching aspect of my weekend so far has been the enthralling conversations I have with Roger, the head of the household here. We compare American and British politics and culture. There is a strong support for Barack Obama here in the remote farmlands of England. As I noticed in London too, there is a fascination with the current election and the way Americans vote. Topics like the validity of the electoral college, the mix of religion and politics and racism in America come up frequently in table conversation. These topics are not important elements in British politics so they are seen with awe among people here. They want to know why Americans voted for George W. Bush, why Sarah Palin was deemed a good vice presidential candidate for John McCain and why Obama is openly accused of being socialist or a radical Muslim. Needless to say, many Brits are liberal by American standards. It's good to add to the discussion with the knowledge I gained from my recent course in British politics. Hopefully, I can paint Americans in a good light and explain that we have good intentions despite our questionable political choices.

I am using the family's computer right now and I can't be on too long because it's late. I will drop in during my vacation from internet cafes and the such to post updates. On Monday, I will make my way to Edinburgh and hopefully catch a tour to Loch Ness and see if I can spot that pesky monster.

The Interview

The past week has been a busy one. It's midterm time again and I actually had get some work done. Adding to the stress was my internship interview yesterday morning. This wasn't the normal competitive interview as the internship had been arranged beforehand by FIE. However, I still had to sell my skills and prove I wasn't a total nutcase or slacker. Here is a self-Q and A to breakdown what happened.

Did you get there on time?

I had some trouble putting on my new tie and I left later than I had wanted. The location, however, is two tube stops away so I arrived five minutes before my scheduled time at 10.

What was your first impression?

I was surprised at the modern appearance of the office building. Like many places in London, the neighborhood and the building's facade seems traditional and humble but the interior has a modern style to it. The office was one long room, sans cubicles, and there were plenty of new computers clicking away. Overall, the place was professional but edgy. I was intrigued.

The editor in chief, my interviewer, couldn't find a quiet office space so we went to Starbucks for the interview. I thought that was unique and very friendly.

What questions did he ask?

I had heard from other students that their interviewers didn't inquire too much about their skills but spent more time explaining what their tasks would be like. My interviewer certainly wanted me to explain my work experiences and the skills I had. He also tested me on my education history. What is the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and how did I get involved? What is my GPA? He went through each of the work experiences listed on my resume and grilled me on what I did at those jobs.

What are your tasks?

Apparently, Third Sector Magazine is revamping their website to compliment the print version better. The editor told me I would be working with the web editor on some of these projects. I will also be writing small features for the print publication, including profiles on small non-profit organizations.

How confident are you about these tasks?

This work is reminicent of what I did at the Career Center in terms of working on new projects and doing small write ups. I'm more than confident I can complete these tasks well. This is in my comfort zone but it also allows me to apply my skills to the real world. I'm really lucky I can get some clips too.

When do you start and what are your hours?

I start Wednesday, Oct. 29 which is the day the FIE internship program begins. I intern Wed, Thursday and Friday until Dec. 18th. My hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with an hour for lunch.

Internship Placement Meeting

Tuesday was the long awaited day of my internship placement meeting. Before I go into details about the placement, I want to express my sense of accomplishment and also my ambivalence about this moment in my abroad experience. I use these two terms because I'm proud to have assimilated to everyday life in the UK. However, I'm nervous about the second half of the semester. I will finally get a taste of the working world in London, both the positive and negative experiences. I also fear the dreaded end of the semester. I don't want this experience to conclude. I still have two months but the past thirty days comprised some of the best moments of my life. But I also like to think that taking more risks in life and challenging myself will bring me the same joy and a diversity of experiences regardless of where I'm living.

My interview will be next Wednesday, Oct. 15th at 10 am in the Wolverton Gardens area, just a few tube (metro) stops from my flat in South Kensington. Most of my information about it comes from a very thorough packet distributed to individual students at the meeting. Here are the key details.

My possible tasks
-Updating websites
-Daily administrative tasks
-Research for articles
-Organizing information
-Opportunity for writing

Dress code
Business casual.

Days I work
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from Oct. 29 to Dec. 18.

Who reads Third Sector Magazine?
"Many of our 8,000 readers are chief executives, trustees and senior managers in charities, voluntary organizations and social enterprises. Others are Parliamentarians, lawyers, finance professionals and private sector executives concerned with corporative responsibility."

Let's analyze this. The tasks fit the typical intern job description. My favorite right now is “Updating websites.” That suits my interest in new media and hopefully it will teach me a little more about HTML and other web applications and software. Another task that stands out is “Opportunity for writing.” FIE said journalism interns would most likely not do actual reporting. Therefore, I’m cautious about this task but optimistic that I’ll be set loose in London to get sources, gather information and all the other reporting activities. Just kidding. I’m petrified.

It will be interesting to see how much will happen in that month and a half of interning. Will it go by quickly like the past month or will it drag on, weighed down by the stress and rigor of professional demands?

How prestigious is Third Sector? The company description gives the impression that it is an important publication, one with possible influence on top-level players in the UK political and business world. I hope to learn more about the role Third Sector plays in the UK professional world.

Live Blogging an Hour of BBC 1

UK Newspapers: Trashy vs. Traditional

Introduction: My "Media and Britain" professor asked us to do an assignment comparing British tabloids and British newspapers. We also have to ponder why tabloids are so popular here in the UK. Though I don't have all the answers, I thought I might share a brief analysis of this topic. Enjoy!

British media is known the world over for its distinguished bastion, BBC News. The British Broadcasting Company’s news branch is still heralded for its brave reporting during the German blitz in World War II and today for its in-depth coverage of world events. One would assume that all British media, newspapers, radio and TV programs alike, follow the rich standards of the BBC. However, non-Brits may be surprised to discover the supremacy of tabloid culture in the UK.

In fact, the Sun, a tabloid, is Britain’s best selling daily paper with an average circulation of over 3,100,000 per day and a readership of over 8,000,000 per day. Those figures are well ahead of the Daily Mail, a conservative tabloid-light. The Daily Mail has an average circulation of about 2,300,000 per day and a readership of almost 5,300, 000. The Sun is also light years ahead of the more distinguished papers, The Guardian, average circulation: 338,000, and The Times, average circulation: 612,000.



Compare this to the U.S. The national newspaper USA Today leads in circulation with over 2,500,000 copies per day. Following suit are two respected publications, the Wall Street Journal with just over 2,000,000 and the New York Times with about 1,600,000 per day. Keep in mind that the Sun still has a higher circulation than all three of these papers in a country much, much smaller than the U.S.

But what makes a tabloid by far the biggest newspaper in the UK, a feat not seen in the US?

One possible reason is the newspaper culture in the UK. Comparing the population of the UK with the US, it is evident that a higher proportion of Brits read newspapers compared to Americans. In the US, newspapers may be favored by those interested in news topics such as the economy and politics. People interested in celebrity culture will turn to magazines and television instead of forming a daily habit of reading a newspaper. This does not reflect on “American intelligence” or “American priorities." Withholding stereotypes, it may reflect a difference in culture just as more Brits drink tea while America is more of a coffee culture. I hope to explore this topic more in depth later.

UK Media Putting American Media to Shame?

Much has been said about the current state of American media and journalism, especially when it comes to politics. Critics of American news programs and publications say they focus too much on the celebrity or tabloid aspect of elections.

This critical crescendo has been revived during the 2008 Presidential Election. In their respective battles against Barack Obama, the Clinton and McCain campaigns both accused the media of "being in the tank" for the Illinois Senator. Even SNL parodied these claims in a skit where Clinton (played by Amy Poehler) is grilled in a debate while Obama (Fred Armisen) is fawned over. This argument has also been used against McCain’s VP pick Sarah Palin, who many say faced media attention over details in her personal life while escaping questions on her qualifications.


Courtesy of NBC


This supposed flaw is a central discussion point in my classes here in the UK. Much of the UK media is known for being more aggressive than its American counterpart towards politicians and other figures in the news. A UK politician, even the Prime Minister, can be pressured out of office by his or her party. Often such ousters are a result of low support from the public. What political party wants to be associated in the next election with an unpopular candidate? As a result, UK politicians are at the mercy of journalists. Bad coverage has arguably more weight in the UK than in the US.

Another possible reason for the difference is that political figures are less glamorized in the UK. While in the US, it’s important for politicians to “connect” with voters, i.e. through religion or other personal details, the British public is less likely to care about such details. The press, therefore, focuses more on the issues. Though Obama is widely popular in the UK, his strong stance against the Bush administration’s policies is his main pull here. His youthful appearance and unique life story would’ve been of less importance. Palin’s popularity among Republican supporters for her religious and conservative moral views is almost non-existent in the UK, even among conservatives. The majority of UK observers see her as an empty candidate.

A wonderful example of hard-hitting British reporting is BBC “Newsnight” anchor Jeremy Paxman. Here he is in action:

Student Q and A: Fae Patton

Friends and acquaintances of Fae Patton, an AU junior currently in the London enclave program, are familiar with her warm smile and charming demeanor. However, the literature major is also headstrong when it comes to forging a path towards her career goals. Last Monday, Patton landed an internship with Travel Intelligence, a UK-based website offering quality hotel accommodations. She described the experience of interviewing in the UK and what she hopes to get out of her internship.



Q. What was your initial reaction when you were notified of the internship placement by FIE? Was it what you expected?

F: I’m a literature major. I put journalism as my choice [when applying for the enclave internship program] and I had no idea what I was going to get. I interned at a publication company before and I edited there. So I’m happy that I will be doing that.

Q. How did you know editing was going to play a role in your internship?

F: I met with one of the FIE people who did the internship placement and she told me that I was hopefully going to be [editing]. When I interviewed, the man I interviewed with elaborated on that.

Q: What are you going to edit?

F: They give me pieces on hotels and sights for the website. I’m going to be editing over them and finding more information. The man in the interview told me that if I travel at all during the internship, they give interns an incentive to stay at a nice hotel if they write a review on it.

Q. How did you prepare for the internship after you learned about the placement from FIE?

F: They already had my resume or CV. I just went on the company’s website and read about them.

Q. How did this interview differ from the ones you’ve had before in the U.S.?

F: It was really different. Every other time I had an interview, it hadn’t been organized by a company. They already knew a lot about me. This was more of a discussion of what I was going to be doing. It wasn’t so competitive.

Q. How did your view or expectation of the company change from before the interview to after the interview?

F: It definitely did. The company seems really cool and laid back. A lot of people were wearing jeans and sneakers. The office was different than any office I’ve ever been in before. It was one big room with everyone’s desks in there. It seemed like more of a group effort than a boss and big office.

Q. How do you think this will help your career goals or your experience?

F: Well besides the practical experience with editing and publishing, it will be helpful to work in London and compare and contrast differences between the workplace here and in the U.S.

Q: Excited? Nervous?

F: I’m antsy but excited because it’s a good working environment

Internship Offer!

I finally received my internship placement! It's at Third Sector magazine, the UK's largest publication on the voluntary and non-profit sector. Granted, it's considered "tentative" as of now because the organization can change their internship plans before I start in October. The second week of that month I also will interview for the position. FIE assures me that any changes are rare though.

The link to their Web site: http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/

Interning with this publication seems impressive because it combines a variety of communication fields. Journalism comes into play because the magazine, unlike a lot of trade publications, reports rather than advertises on the various UK non profit events and organizations. Public relations officials are important sources so it should be interesting to navigate that field. Also, the publication's topics range from news within the grassroots community to the goings-on with major corporations and institutions.

The one factor I’m looking for in an internship is diversity and Third Sector seems to fit that bill.

I should clarify that last statement. I have no idea what I will actually do at this magazine. Will I report stories? Work on the Web site? Make tea? Whatever it is I do, I think observing the magazine’s work within the different communication fields described above will certainly benefit me. If I’ve learned anything from my time interviewing students for the Career Center, it’s that exposure to the work place is arguably the biggest reward.

I will post more about this as I get more news. I have an internship placement meeting Oct. 7 where I will receive more detailed information about the position and when I will have my interview.

How FIE probably thinks I will react:

Being the professional I am, this is how I will tackle the internship (that's Edward R. Murrow, the renowned TV journalist):

Internships: London Style

On Friday, we had the long-awaited internship orientation meeting to outline what the process will be like. Between now and Oct. 7, I will receive an e-mail telling me the company or organization selected for me by FIE (Foundation for International Education). The second week of October, I will have an interview. It won't be too competitive since the internship has pretty much been arranged. But the employers still want to meet with students to finalize placement within the work place. I should mention that I forgot my portfolio at home. I asked my parents to mail it here, so I'm confident I will have it by October.


Anyway, my favorite part of the orientation meeting was when they explained differences between the American workplace and the British workplace. I'm a fan of the UK version of the "Office" so I was able to nod and agree with many of the points. Here is a short list of differences (according to the FIE people):


1. The British workplace is more casual. "Americans live to work. The British work to live." You will find that British employees are more comfortable socializing during work hours especially when it comes to making and drinking tea. Tea is the British equivalent of the American water cooler. It's also expected for co-workers to spend time together after work at a pub or restaurant, i.e. "Happy Hours" are often a must.


2. Co-workers are more comfortable poking fun at each other. Where in the U.S. political correctness is strictly enforced, Brits are known for being sarcastic, playing pranks and teasing their fellow employees. Here is a fun example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZXfBmwALBE.


3. There is a lot more diversity in the workplace in terms of age, especially in London. This is a young city and it’s not uncommon to find a large number of recent college grads working in an office and holding management positions. My immediate supervisors will most likely be around my age, according to FIE.


4. British offices, especially in London, are smaller. Co-workers will often share a desk and there are no cubicles. This prompts more interaction. This point interests me because it seems there is a high priority on privacy and ownership in the American workplace. Often, the American office worker is shut in his or her own little world for hours. Would a more open office layout lead to less stress for American workers?


Finally, I leave you with some photos from my weekend. I was lucky enough to tour Buckingham Palace but I wasn't allowed to take photos. I did get some pictures at the British Museum and the annual Thames Festival.


People waiting on Waterloo Bridge for the Thames Festival's fireworks

Mummies at the British Museum:

The British Museum:

Hello and Welcome!

Since arriving in London just days ago, I've been taken aback by my experiences here. So far, I've toured my neighborhood of South Kensington, taken a bus around the city to see Big Ben and other landmarks and I've started classes. There is much to do and see in the next three and a half months. I plan to explore this country, not only its physical features but also its culture(s) and its position in the world. How do Brits see the 21st Century? What role do media and political institutions play within these perspectives? How can I use my experiences to benefit my academic and career goals? These are big questions and I'm certainly glad I have a semester to find some answers. Keep an eye on this blog for more posts soon!