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!