:: The Buzz Newsletter:: Coventry University- Feb 11th 2009

11 February 2009

The face of the news

Photos: D Cox

T

“A great tribute to

Coventry University where else would we find such media action and comprehension?”

he most recent in a long line of distinguished guests to Coventry Conversations, Jon Snow spoke to a crowded auditorium on Friday. Jon Snow’s visit was a memorable one, not only for those students and audience members who were able to hear him speak but for Jon Snow too. “that was a great session..quite unlike anything else I’ve done...Wonderfully diverse audience in age ethnicity and the rest..a great tribute to Coventry university..where else would we find such media action and comprehension?” He shared stories of his interviews and successes, gave advice to the journalism students present and an insight into the working world of Channel 4. Despite having spent more than 30 years working in the media industry and having interviewed some of the biggest names, Jon admitted that he still gets nervous. He said: “You’re most anxious about interviews that matter. I was very uncomfortable on the television for years, but if you do it enough you can do it with ease.” He added, “The hardest thing is actually to relax and be yourself.” His advice to budding journalists battling with similar nerves was to get into a position where they’re relaxed in interviewing. Recent years have seen the news evolve into a 24 hour-aday, instant access entertainment medium but the changing face of the media is something Jon Snow has become quite familiar with over his long career; his interviews, articles and blog (channel 4’s Snowmail) are all easily accessible online. He can see a future for the industry, though it may be quite different; “The question is; are we a website with a TV channel or a TV channel with a website? I think we’re a website with a TV channel now.”

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Turn over for more

„„ New journalists have been given a chance to shine at Coventry University this month. The Ernest Petrie Prize for Excellence in Journalism is in its second year at Coventry and this year it produced 9 winners. Ernest Petrie, Pro-Chancellor of the university and President of the Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association, has kindly donated £6000 to support the internal competition for 3 years. Winners were awarded £300 each with £100 awarded to second and third places. John Mair is the Chairman of the competition’s panel of judges. “The quality was very good,” he said. “In these troubled times for the media industries, any small help we and Ernest Petrie can offer our students is welcome. Congratulations to all of them.” Announced at the conclusion of last week’s Coventry Conversation, Jon Snow was kind enough to present the winners with their cerificates. One of the MA winners, Patricia Resende, said “I was really honoured to receive my award from such a famous journalist.” An international student from Brazil, Patricia says that the prize money will also come in useful “It’s good because it’s so expensive living here.” „„ Everyone has the chance to be published here at CU - with student publications like the Buzz needing your stories. Send in your stories to [email protected]

Born Eric Arthur Blair on 25 June 1903, George Orwell was a British journalist and author. After a brief career in the Indian Imperial Police he decided to become a writer and moved to Paris where he supported himself with a series of menial jobs. His first book, ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’, described his experiences. He adopted the pseudonym George Orwell, shortly before its publication in 1933, possibly to spare his family’s own name. After a mixed political history Orwell worked for the BBC as a ‘propaganda writer’ before producing two of the most famous novels of the 20th century - ‘1984’ and

‘Animal Farm’. As well as working as an author and for the BBC, Orwell was editor for the Tribune and a prolific journalist. Described by the Economist as ‘perhaps the 20th century’s best chronicler of English culture”, more than 50 years after his death George Orwell s still an important figure in both literature and journalism.

MA winners: Anand Mohan; Danielle Cox; Patricia Resende BA (3) winners: Jason Craig; Daniel Berry; Iain Green BA (2) winners: Joanne Ostrowski; Laura Collier; Sophie Bray

“War is peace.

Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength” - 1984

George Orwell: England’s finest journalist? Professor Richard Keeble, 25th February 13.00 ETG34

The student and staff newsletter of the Media and Communications department of Coventry School of Art and Design Written and edited by Danielle Cox Submissions are invited, please send any articles to [email protected] Thanks to John Mair, Dan Berry and Jason Craig

Pihoto: www.ucl.ac.uk

Our finest chronicler?

2009 WINNERS

Pihoto: courtesy Graham Harwood

On to a winner