Manchester Digital - Talent Day

Day off from uni so I decided to pop along to Manchester Town Hall - Albert Square.  It's Chinese New Year on the 19th of this month - hence the bright red decorations.

Today the town hall was host to Manchester Digital, who provided opportunities for students to meet Manchester based employers and attend 'employability' seminars to help gain jobs in the IT, Graphics and Media sectors.

It was a really interesting and productive day, I learn't a lot and met some very helpful and informative people.  The main piece of advice being 'seek as much work experience as possible'... I'd better get my skates on :).

2nd Semester looming.....literally climbing the walls !!!

It's back to uni on Monday - I'm looking forward to the return - last semester was mainly Radio and now it's Video.  It's been quite a long Christmas break...I've not totally hibernated  chilled out however, I've been back to uni recently - learning how to research and obtain media related work experience.  I found these classes really inspiring and helpful.

Also, feeling rather sluggish after the Christmas break I had a sudden impulse to do something unusual.  Together with Sam, my sister, we decided to go rock climbing...OUCH!!!

Needless to say attempting to scramble up what felt like a never ending rock face, we both succeeded in reaching the top - not an easy task even with matching purple jacket and converse!

My arms and thighs have never hurt so much - THANKS Chill Factor...

Sam and I reckon we'll rock climb again some day - but not any time soon :-

• Hurts too much!
• Humiliating when little kids pass you by, rocketing up the walls like fuel injected spiders!!

Finished for Christmas Holidays :).

I've loved these past few months at uni but it's been hard work - physically and mentally.  I'm happy to say our 20 minute radio show exam went quite well - but I think my group and other course mates are all glad it's over and done with :).

Please click on these links to hear our 'Media City Monday's' magazine style radio show 'Media City Monday's' radio show and my individual project where I created our Shock Radio jingle to introduce Media City Monday's.  I made this by recording my own voice and actuality then edited together using Adobe Audition software Shock Radio Jingle for 'Media City Monday's radio show.

Content Creation and half of Radio Production hand in's are now over, just got to finish my Media Texts and Audiences 2000 word essay and Radio Production 20 minute live show 1000 word critical analysis :(.

I've made a start with both pieces of writing but for now I'm looking forward to a nice quiet Christmas with my family - I'll pick up with uni work after Boxing Day.

Happy Christmas !!!

Christmas with Uni / 20 Minute Magazine Radio Show Practice for 'Media City Monday's'.

Not the usual way I like to spend my Sundays - I don't mind admitting I'm pretty shattered at the moment.  Had to get to uni for 9am this morning and meet up with the rest of our radio magazine show group, so we could practice our programme content in the studio for our 20 minute show/exam scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Surprisingly all went well, our 3 hour studio session passing quickly.  We ironed out a few problems, Luke and Alex perfected their programme presenting skills, while Shannon and I grew more familiar and confident with the studio desks, working the mikes and sound levels plus Cartwall music beds.

On a lighter note, Christmas is only a couple of week's away :), here's a photo of our uni Christmas Tree = PRETTY.

Volunteering for our Salford International 'Next Generation Media Festival'.

Just got back from my 'Next Generation' volunteering.

This is me hard at work inside our uni reception area - helping to welcome/register/and when necessary guide students and media professionals to the various lecture rooms.  An intense 2 days but I gained good experience, met some really nice people and got to grips with portable radio communication - felt quite professional...

Here's a 'Flickr' link displaying more festival images Salford International Media Festival - November 2014.

I managed to catch a couple of the many lectures and presentations in between my volunteering shifts.  I'm really happy I have this chance to study and work within the media industry :).

Getting to grips with Radio Production and Studio Skills :) PLUS CBeebie's filming...

After several 'Radio Skills' lessons I decided to make use of one of uni's studios and practice what I've learn't so far.

Here I am not looking intimidated by our Cartwall and Sound Desk... Learn't a lot today, which is important as later on this semester I have to work as part of a group to create, produce and present a 20 minute live radio show...

On a lighter note, my course mates and I decided to pop across to the Lowry Outlet this lunchtime, passing a BBC crew busily filming Captain Hook's boat for the CBeebies Christmas Panto :).

2 Minute Radio Interview = Radio Production is HARD... :)

My first 'uni' Radio Production assignment is to research, create, edit and produce my own 2 minute radio interview = HARD.

After much 'Googling' and telephoning, I managed to secure Fire Fighter Morris to interview regarding Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service 'Cadet Scheme'.  A project designed to help improve the lives of local youths, enabling them to experience many skills, not all fire-fighting related - increasing employability prospects.

Interviewing Fire-fighter Morris at Mossley Fire Station.

Here's a photograph of Firefighter Morris and myself - using a Marantz 660 to recording the interview.

He was also a great help when I had to record 'actuality', additional sounds to help my interview sound more interesting and realistic.  Actuality such as fire engine noise, tannoy messages and siren wailing being just some examples.  I used Adobe Audition software to put my recorded interview and actuality together, this was rather time consuming but I really enjoyed the editing process.