#orlamcgroarty

1.  “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity”

This has to be one of the quotes that stood out to me in the session.  It’s really important to know your craft, so that you can make the most of the opportunities when they come.  Paul explained that mostly people like to book the same photographers, but sometimes they are unavailable. This is your chance to demonstrate that you are the best person. It’s important to “Always look for anomalies in the system; these are your opportunities”.

2.  “Connect with people on human level”  

One of things that Paul believes is that it’s not just about taking the photograph, but also to remember to connect and talk to your clients. It goes a long way. Just the simple thing of saying ‘How are you?’ can make people’s day better.

3.“Try and be invisible; always wear black you don’t want to mess up any one else’s shot”.

A really useful tip for the next generation of photographers is something Paul explained took him a few years to realise. Your job is to just to take the photographs, so blend in to your surroundings.

 4.“Always show commitment! Don’t expect it to happen in the year it is a long journey!”

Paul explained that having a few photos being published in a magazine does not make you a professional photographer. You need to have regular work and have a book of contacts to be able to do photography as a full-time career, so it’s important to always be reliable and send edited pictures on time. 

5. “Don’t undervalue the boring stuff, do what you have to do”.

Today we had a Q and A with past Media Trust alumni, who shared with us their top tips on how to have a successful career in the media industry. The panel included Fred Bhat a Digital Creative Producer at Discovery, Jordaan Shelley an assistant producer at ITN and Fayida Jailler the founder of Freedom is Mine and freelance Journalist. It was amazing to listen to their journeys and advice. Here are my 3-key learnings:  

 1.  Communication is key:  

One of the key skills you need when working in the media industry is to be able to communicate, if that is networking or working on the job. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Asking questions is a vital part of communication and all three alumni agreed that you should never be afraid to ask questions, as no one expects you to know everything at the start. As Jordaan says “everyone is trying to go through the front door go through the window”.  Always stay in contact, reach out to people, this will bring the opportunities to you.

 2.  Believe in yourself:

It’s very common to feel scared but don’t question your abilities, just believe you can do it.  As Fayida said “Start where you are; Use what you have; Do what you can, you’ll be surprised.”  Fred outlined the importance of investing time in learning basics which really builds confidence in yourself. As Fred said “The job hunter sifted through many CVs and picked you for a reason”.  

 3.  Planning is vital:

What worries me and what brings me joy in this time? 

I woke up in the morning,

Everything had changed,

No more meeting friends and family,

It all felt so strange!

  I wondered what was going to happen next,

My worry started to begin,

So much uncertainty,

I was not going to let this feeling win!

  As much as did not want to be anxious,

I could not let this feeling go,

How will this virus affect my friends and family?

I started to feel low.

  Is my work good enough?

How long was lockdown going to last?

What do people really think of me?

These are all the questions I asked.

  I thought what should I do?

How do I stop worrying in the day?

Do things that bring me joy,

That’s what my family would say!  

  What makes me happy?

Hearing all the birds singing in the trees,

Walking my dog in the park,

Makes me feel really at ease.

  What brings me joy,

Has to be baking,

Cake, biscuit, bread,

Also, cheesecake making.

  I love to watch TV,

At the end of the day,

Comedy, drama, lifestyle shows

It helps my worries go away.

  Lockdown is finally coming to end,

Its rather been a strange time,

I can’t wait to see my friends and family,

I’m so grateful we are all fine!

  What’s the future hold? No one knows,

Well done to everyone who’s helped each other,

Photo Credit: Orla McGroarty

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak many masterclasses and courses for young people who wanted to get into the media industry were going to be cancelled. As the world had to adapt to remote working, many courses and companies decided to do their courses online. The Royal Television society (RTS) have been doing their free masterclasses for young people online using zoom.

On the 9th June the RTS hosted a session on ‘ The life of a presenter’, where five tv and radio presenters shared their journey and gave tips on how to get into the media industry. The panel included Jasmine Dotiwala a BBC Radio London presenter and Head of Youth Engagement at Media Trust, Ade Adepitan a tv presenter and Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, Anna O’Neill  a news reporter at BBC Radio London, Jackie Long a social affairs editor and presenter for Channel 4 news and Anita Rani a tv and radio presenter and co-presenter for Countryfile. It was amazing to listen to their journeys and advice on how to get into the industry. Throughout the session people were able to put their questions in the chat, so Jasmine Dotiwala who lead the session could ask them to the panellists. I was unsure how this virtual masterclass would work but it was brilliant.

Photo Credit: Royal Television Society  

The session was started by Jasmine giving a summary of what a good presenter and reporter needs to be like, they need to have a “nose for stories, be curious, be alert and be impartial and trustworthy”. Here are some of the top pieces of advice the panellist gave:  Anna O’Neill explained that to be a radio reporter you “Need to be able to find stories where ever you are.” She explained how there has been a wealth of stories in her local area that she has been able to tap into during lockdown. She said that you need to be confident, like to listen to people and be someone who doesn’t mind going into any situation. “Everyone has a story to tell if you are curious to listen and find out”.  You need to have the ability to spot the stories, “stories are all around us”.  Jackie Long gave the piece of advice that you need to have the ability to make people feel you care and that they can trust that you will deal with their information fairly. “You must be able to talk to people.”  

Throughout the session the panellists gave advice on the tv and radio industry. Ade Adepitan said that there was “no set rule on how to get into the industry”. The main thing is you have passion for tv. It is a good idea to start making your own content. Make your own YouTube channel or live stream. If you make your own content then you will practice the skills needed for your first job in tv.  As a presenter you have to remember lots of important information “Another tip was never to wing it!” Anita Rani said. You should always know your stuff. Anita does mind maps or build points which helps her remember pieces to camera. Being able to retain information comes through practice.  Jackie added that it’s the same working in a news room. “Do your homework!” Always work methodically. Think about what you need to know. Don’t try and learn everything. She always writes down her questions.  Anna said to try and learn three main things you want to communicate to the audience is a good thing to do.

Ade talked about being resilient, especially if you want to work as a documentary presenter. It is so rewarding but you needed to be prepared for emotional moments.  

The panellists said It’s really important and something people forget is to always research the show you want to work in. Understand the audience they are targeting.  This will mean you will have more confidence to contribute ideas and the tv companies will want to keep you on.

Finally, if you want to work in tv the most Important thing is to consume lots of different types of tv and radio. Listen to podcasts. This will help you understand what makes a good story. At the end of the session the whole panel ended by saying that you need to be yourself, be confident in your own abilities. Working in tv is such a rewarding job and every day is different.  

This was some of the advice the panellists gave during the RTS Life as a Presenter zoom masterclass.  It was such an informative session. The Royal Television Society are hosting more masterclasses.

For more information go to https://rts.org.uk/events

Henrie Kwushue came and did a virtual press junket masterclass for the Creativity Works season ten group last week.

She has achieved so much already in her career, being a presenter and DJ. Her new three-part documentary series ‘Is your area changing?’ has been a huge success.  It was such a privilege to listen to her journey and her advice. Here are 5 top pieces of advice she gave us.  

Photo credit: “Orla McGroarty”

1. Don’t let your challenges stop you.

When she was asked what she loved about presenting the most, she explained that although she saw it as a challenge, she could really be herself. She explained about her dyspraxia and how it can make presenting hard. She also explained that she suffered from shyness but she threw herself into any challenge, to overcome her fear of presenting.  Henrie told us “that the more you do, the better you become”. She was once told because of her dyspraxia she would never make it as a TV presenter. Henrie is a true example of not letting anything stop you achieving your dream.  For me this was one of the highlights of the interview, seeing someone explain how they overcame challenges to do their dream job. It was so inspiring.

2. Treat every opportunity you are given as the best thing you have done.

When asked how to describe her journey so far, Henrie said it was exciting. She talked about how she had done many different work placements, however small they were even if it was only a week work experience, she would tell herself ‘this is the best opportunity I ever had’. This approach means you will never be disappointed and you will get the most out of all experiences and opportunities you are given.          

3. Ask yourself important questions.

When asked what was the best piece of advice she was given, she said that it is really important to ask yourself important questions to understand what you want to achieve.  These questions included:  What do you want do? Where do you want be? Does this make sense? Does it bring value to the brand you are trying to build? Who do you want to impact? Does it fit with your moral values?

4. Stay connected with your friends.

As peoples careers go on, sometimes losing contact can easily happen, but it’s really important to stay connected! You never know when someone might need your skill set. Staying connected with people you know can really help you in the future. Henrie explained how she stayed in contact with people and how they all offered opportunities and help to each other and they are all now achieving great things. A great example of this is the huge success of the radio station ‘No Signal’ which she is part of. No Signal started with people who had shared contacts coming together to create and now it has a huge following. A true example of why staying connected is really important.    

5. The importance of being yourself.

In the world where social media is a huge part of our lives, it can be very easy to look at other people and compare yourself to them. Henrie said that a piece of advice she would give any creative is to be yourself. Find the essence of who you are, that will become your brand.  Make sure that you are confident in who you are and your own ideas. She gave us an example of when she had to create some content for a company, but they refused all her ideas. She decided to go and create the ideas on her own and made a success of them. “If people say no, what are you going to do? not do it?” She is a true example of the importance of believing in your own abilities and being yourself.  If she was not herself, her documentary series would not be as great as it is.    

These are 5 top pieces of advice that Henrie Kwushue gave us.  She is a true inspiration for not letting challenges stop you. You get the impression she will definitely achieve even more great things in the future. I can’t wait to see what her production company produces in the next couple of years and the projects she will be involved in.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wham Weebs Release Podcast Across London

Three Bodybuilders Who Love Anime

WHO: Kwibs, Nate & Max. 

WHAT: Three bodybuilders talking about their love for anime and the gym.

WHERE: Recorded in Central London, released on Soundcloud.

WHEN: Saturday 16th May 2020, 21:00pm BST. 

Saturday 16th May 2020 - This Saturday at 9pm, Wham Weebs will release their podcast across all areas of London. They hope to reach 16-30 year olds and cross over interests from both the body building & anime community. 

Londoners will be entertained through this podcast as friends Kwibs, Max and Nate discuss various thoughts and opinions around anime and bodybuilding. Through this podcast, they hope to shatter conventions around these two interests and connect to a wider audience. 

Kwabena, aka Kwibs, decided to set up this podcast in the hopes of breaking stereotypes around the bodybuilding and anime communities. They are using their time away from the gym to share their views on the anime they have been watching before, and during lockdown. You can find these three discussing everything from bench pressing, to Naruto’s running technique. With Wham Weebs, there is no shortage of banter. 

This podcast challenges current beliefs and stigmas around bodybuilders and anime enthusiasts. People should be able to love fitness and anime without judgment. Many people turn away from these hobbies thinking that they will not fit in with these groups. Wham Weebs changes these assumptions, as listeners can submit their opinions through social media and hear these discussed on a safe, non judgemental platform. 

KWIBS said:

“As a bodybuilder and an anime lover, I say that anyone can be interested in both these hobbies. I myself got into bodybuilding having been inspired by the anime character Goku’s ‘WHAM’ physique!” 

“A lot of people think that bodybuilders and anime lovers are completely different. Anime lovers are seen as quiet and introverted, and the typical bodybuilder is seen as loud and vain. This is not true! Through Wham Weebs, we want to break down these assumptions, and show that people should not be labelled by their interests. We are bodybuilders who love anime; there is no shame in that.” 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Wham Weebs is a new podcast for 16-30 year old Londoners, which gives them the chance to listen to a new, unique perspective on the worlds of bodybuilding and anime. 

The terms Wham and Weeb are frequently used in the bodybuilding and anime community. Wham is a well known slang term used in bodybuilding to describe very muscular physiques. The term Weeb was initially used as an insult to those obsessed with the Japanese culture. Anime lovers have changed this, and reclaimed the term to describe their love for the culture in a positive manner.

Our aim is to give young people a safe space to listen and discuss their love for both interests. There is no judgment at Wham Weebs. Bodybuilders, anime lovers, and people who are just interested in us are all welcome here. 

Each podcast is filmed on Friday afternoon and released on Soundcloud every Saturday at 9pm. Listeners can share their opinions on social media, which will be discussed in every podcast. 

CONTACTS:

For further information about the podcast series or talent, please contact: 

Cheryl Bruce: Publicity Manager

Email: [email protected]  | Telephone: 02074635942

Amanda Skipper: Manager for Kwibs

Email: [email protected] | Telephone: 02065784938

Roshina Ilyas: Manager for Max

Email: [email protected] | Telephone: 02097675587

Orla McGroarty: Manager for Nate

Email: [email protected] | Telephone: 02058648392

#WhamWeebs - SOCIAL MEDIA 

Twitter: @WhamWeebs

Instagram: @whamweebs

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-256798855