Christmas 2014

This week I've had a week off from everything. I needed a break from everything to chill out, but will get back to things next week.

December 20th

This week has been focused on university work, d:one stopped broadcasting on Sunday 15th December with the last SRA chart of the year and I had 2 deadlines this week. I completed my essay on the liveness of television and we handed n our documentary project. Our project looked rather good to say the amount of time we had, which was mainly due to Callum's video editing, and I put together a good production folder. 

The good news was because we handed the project on Tuesday (2 days before the due date) I went home 2 days earlier than expected. So I went home to Leeds on Wednesday which was a great relief, and even managed to surprise my boyfriend when I got there.

Nottingham visit

This week myself and Callum Farmer went to film in Nottingham for our documentary project of student radio. Firstly we went to Fly FM at Nottingham Trent University to interview their manager Rob Lilley and take some shots of the studios. We got a great interview with great content, showed a viewpoint from another student station and it worked well for the documentary.

Then we went to Capital East Midlands to interview Tom Watts and Claire Chambers because they were presenters on Fly FM a less than a year ago and now were professional presenters. We got a fantastic interview about their time at Fly FM, progression to where they are now and benefit of SRA awards.

November 29th

The last two weeks have been very busy with filming for a documentary that I am producing with Callum Farmer for our documentary module at university. We have done a interview with 2nd year presenter Stephen, who was very shy when he joined d:one but his confidence has grown. He is studying a media course and has hopes to work in the media in the future. We also filmed him and his co-presenter broadcasting one of their shows to use as well.

Lawrence is a first year d:one presenter, we filmed him to show what it is like joining the station and why it is relevant to people who don't want a career in media as he is studying a law degree. His radio show was also filmed t give action shots for the documentary. In addition to this we filmed Callum doing one of his shows in case we interviews him for the project.

November 22

Due to ill health I only did one of my radio show's this week, I didn't present the morning show to give me chance to catch up on rest. I have been working on getting members hoodies and onesies priced so these can be ordered, plus I've been looking into d:one t-shirts for the marketing team. The team have decided on purple so I've got acquire these.

Unfortunately I found out yesterday that I wasn't successful getting onto the Women in Radio event, but there is hope. I have been put on the consideration list for the next two events. I'm disappointed that I  haven't been given feedback, but this is because so many people applied. On the bright side, my university deadlines are in December when the event I applied for is and the next ones are in the new year, which will work out better.

d:one training and 1st solo show

On Tuesday we had the first ever d:one training day and it went very well. Members new and old learnt about how d:one works, the SRA, social media and benefits of volunteering. We had great fun doing a team building activity similar to 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' guess the intro round. BUT the best part for me was a talk by Helen Grimes, Assistant Editor at BBC Radio Derby. This was a great insight into getting into radio and what radio stations want, that plus a chat afterwards with her gave me greater enthusiasm for a career in radio.

Then on Wednesday I had my first official solo show on d:one, it was scary starting the show but I finished feeling brilliant. The experience of finding content, practising using the studio and talking without someone to bounce off can only improve my radio skills. I can't wait to do it all again next week.

I changed my twitter handle during the week and spruced up my profile, go have a look @astin1992

First 3 amigos show

Last week was the first The 3 Amigos show. Seeing as Dan was a guest on the Sammi & Samantha show every week we decided to make it officially a 3 person show and eventually today we came up with the name.

Sammi and Samantha

Here's the first podcast for the Sammi and Samantha show on d:one

Radio Ikhlas - Week 10

   I arrived at Radio Ikhlas at 7:30am and did the usual 7:45, 8:15 and 8:45 weather and travel updates. At the end of the show Shabana told the listeners it was my last day, I thank everyone on air and said goodbye in Urdu.
   Next I finished off my recession article, added some images to it and sent it to Shabana. After I finishing my work I thanked Shabana and Tanvir for the brilliant experience at Radio Ikhlas and gave them a present each to show my appreciation. They both said that they enjoyed having me working at the radio station and I am welcome back anytime plus I found it poignant when they gave me a gift and card. I also got a copy of the new Radio Ikhlas newsletter which had both my diabetes and herbal tea articles in, which I am proud of.

Sammi & Samantha

Today I started to do the radio show with Samantha Gelsthorpe, due to Annie's lectures now clashing with the show and her not wanting to continue. It was a fun first so and am optimistic about it.

Radio Ikhlas - Week 9

I worked from 7:30am, reading the weather and travel updates three times during the breakfast show, 7:45, 8:15 and 8:45. Then I went on to do more research into the recession and started to write it up for an article in the Radio Ikhlas quarterly newsletter.

Radio Ikhlas - Week 8

This morning I got to Radio Ikhlas at 7:30am, which was quite a feat when I left the flat late. I read the weather and travel updates for the Derby area at 7:45, 8:15 and 8:45. This morning we disscussed the days weather as usual, Shabana also got me to talk about how the weather has been in Leeds whilst she took a listener request.

During the show today Shabana forgot to take the mic fader down when she started playing a song then began talking to me, I indicated this to her and she resolved the problem. At another point in the programme she forgot to take the mic up when she started speaking, she did realise after a few moments but during the next song she said how everyone made mistakes and that I will have learnt from the experience. This amused me because I did the same thing during my D:One radio show this week.

Radio Ikhlas Week 7

This morning was my first day at radio Ikhlas of 2013. It was cold and icy on my way to the radio station but after the 45min walk I had warmed up. Once at the station I got the travel and weather updates for 7:45 bulletin, then again at 8:15 and 8:45.

From 9am I srarted work on a piece about the 2011-12 recession for next weeks show. I went onto do research into community radio for my Work based Learning module, which this work experience is for.