Advanced Online Journalism 13.03.15 How to Pitch, Live Blogging workshops

In this weeks workshop we looked at what makes a really good pitch and how do we efficiently prepare. Being quite worried about this sector of the assessment I found this workshop really useful.

I always try to relate what I’m doing in my lectures to real life, as I think that’s what the university experience should be about, and today I realised that presenting and pitching an idea is actually very important to reach out and put your message across. The tech industry is pretty complex, but just by analysing Steve Jobs and how he humorously sparks interest and engagement in his crowd it really did inspire me.

These things need to be considered in my pitch:

• What problem will my idea solve?
• Who is it for? The target audience
• Is it realistic and affordable?
• Why should my investors help me to solve the problem?

It is exciting to be creative and come up with a unique idea. Who knows, it may actually become a real app one day?

Here are some videos I looked at and found interesting

How to present confidently

Top tips for the nervous presenter

Youtube video on presenting

Video on tips of presenting like Steve Jobs – the PRO

So all in al we need to reassure ourselves and the listeners of our ideas and really open up our minds to possible questions. So what will they ask me and answer it before they have the chance to ask me? That will be one of the biggest challenges I feel I will have to face…

Ultimate Seminar

On 22nd November I went to the Ultimate Seminar at Regent’s street campus – University of Westminster. The seminar was free for all students, all we had to do was sign up online to confirm our attendance.

It was such a great opportunity to go along to an inspirational event that primarily focused on educating and encouraging today’s generation to become tomorrow’s leaders in the music industry.

After buying the info booklet I saw a list of all the panel members that would be featuring on the day. There were major label bosses, leading artist managers and heads of A&R to chair discussions about succeeding in the music industry.

It was really insightful and particularly enjoyable listening to Kano and Lethal Bizzle share their journey in the music industry. As I learned on the day it certainly hasn’t been easy for them, but like anything it all requires hard work, persistence and perseverance; with talent only being a small proportion of success for most.

As most of you probably know, these days networking and knowing someone in the industry you wish to enter can definitely help you get through the front door. And this is something every panel brought to light and now even more so hearing from professional’s mouths will I continue to remember that.

NUJ Conference in Eastbourne

The National Union of Journalists held a fantastic event in Eastbourne at the Winter Gardens venue last week. Becoming a recent member of the union I thought this would be a great chance for me to meet the other members, as well as learning new knowledge about the Journalism industry. Getting up at 4am to travel down to the bottom of the country I was looking forward to the ‘unknown’, and despite the tiredness washing over me I kept on smiling.

Arriving bright and early I checked into my hotel across the road from the venue for the conference. Sharing a room with a stranger was something I was used to, and luckily enough we got on absolutely perfectly. We had loads in common, including the fact that she goes to the University of Westminster!

The conference was both insightful and compelling, and from the moment I entered the venue we were all welcomed with open-arms, and chauffeured to the correct location. We listened to some in-depth industry talks – including The Future of Journalism and other speeches from people within the working profession – and we had the chance to ask questions and take notes simultaneously.

I would definitely advise anyone to get involved in the NUJ! You get to go along to great events for free as well as having that forever-lasting support throughout your career no matter who you work for. It’s kind of like an insurance policy, and you have the perfect people within your radar ready to assist you with any challenge you might face. Networking is essential to growth, and it really does make you feel alive when you surround yourself with like-minded people. Finishing the night off swiftly, we all sat down to watch an exclusive stand-up show: Mark Thomas. I can honestly say I have never been so blown away by a comedian in all my life, and I have huge plans to follow him in the foreseeable future. A must watch!

Embarking on new adventures: just what I am all about as a person. It lifts me, gives me a strong emotion that I basically find very difficult to explain. So many people question the fear of challenging yourself and having that courage to just get up and go, but don’t let that override determination to achieve exactly what you want to. We can have and be whatever we wish to; once we are ready.

Facebook Audio Feature 1’30” Package

Facebook Feature Idea – how it has impacted the generation of today

How is Facebook revolutionary relied upon globally?

How can we use Facebook as a networking medium?

How has it changed our life?

Is it a good thing?

Bullying?

What’s Facebook for?

Is it slightly out of fashion? How does it improve/facilitate our lives?

How often do we use it? Reclusive? 

The Internet has been around now for 25 years, and more and more social media platforms are coming out into the open, with Facebook being one of the most prominent.

Due to the fact that Facebook has been around for just over 10 years, it has become an online medium that is often challenged by the masses, as competition heats up.

As a revolutionary form of social media, Facebook has distinguished itself as the alpha way of communicating within the virtual community.