"A degree in English is of no use..."

A Jayjay I can only wish to emulate

This week my journalist colleagues and I had a lecture by John Jenkins on the best way to earn money when writing feature pieces.


Everyone was left feeling inspired. One of my class mates even said afterwards that she was "in awe" of the former editor, reporter, millionaire (to name but a few of his previous titles.)

"The difference between an amateur writer and a professional is marketing."


A great quote to perfectly sum up what he was trying to say. You may not have the best writing talent in the world but if you are persistent, determined and know how to sell yourself- then you will go far.


His mantra will be recited as a quiet murmur from the mouths of future journalists, squinting at a flickering monitor on deadline day- and I, whenever I write a piece in the future, will do well to remember the journalist's ABC: Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity.

He has the appearance of a kindly grandfather (maybe helped by being a West Ham fan like mine) but the air of importance emanates from his sweater-vest.

Mr Jenkins (a personal reason why I like him) is also a short story writer, confessing that he once had six bank accounts that were under the names of his various pseudonyms so he could dodge the tax man.

The four main points that will stick with me, should I decide to try my hand at freelancing, are to ask the following questions:

• How many words would you like me to write?
• When is the deadline?
• Which form would you like it in?
• How much dolla will you be paying me?

It pays to be a mercenary, quite literally. 

He is very well read and has a passion for intros, which he collects. The  three best intro styles to use in news writing, when enticing a reader are: The man who, the superlative and the eternal truth.

According to Mr.Jenkins I should be spending 75% of my time concentrating on the intro and final par of anything I write. If that is taken as read then I will be going to bed very late tonight, I keep getting distracted by the Cricket World Cup highlights.

"Do not choose what you write with a splatter gun, imagine you are a sniper."

When selling a piece of work you should try and sell it at least three times. Perhaps one of the most inspiring anecdotes Mr Jenkins told the class was about a rookie hack who managed to fund his way around America through being flexible, subtly changing the angle of a story he wrote so that he could sell it on to various publications... meaning more wonga!

Images are important too, never accept anything less than 300dpi.

In a lesson where I have learnt so much, it is hard to produce a report detailing all the points he covered. He came across as a stern yet forgiving character, always willing to give you the chance you deserve (but maybe for a price of course!)

Finally, from one Jayjay to another, I would like to share his thoughts with regards to getting ahead in journalism:

"A degree in English is of no use. In today's age it would be great to get a degree in low-cunning and a Masters in  duplicity."


John Jenkins, the man who is proud to have bought Bobby Moore his first brown ale, I thank you.



*Also, a big thank you to Emma Nicklin for subbing this for me. She is sure to be a fantastic journalist herself.
(Safe, mate)

Ashley Cole and Amsterdam

I have just returned from Amsterdam. I saw a hell of a lot, but can't believe I missed this back home.

According to some, this is 100% what happened:

--------------------------

Amsterdam with the boys (L-R) Matapuss, Fish, Elwood, O'mac...and Jayjay

The Blues Brothers (a review)

In an attempt to showcase my writing flexibility I have decided to try my hand at a film review. Wossy, eat your heart out.

"We're on a mission from God"

DO YOU LIKE to shake your tail feather? No doubt you will after watching this 1978 cult classic.

The Blues Brothers is being performed on stage in Brighton over the coming weeks and it is not hard to see why audience's keep coming back for more.

This rhythm and blues fuelled musical will get you tapping your toes from the Palace Hotel Ballroom, Illinois to the Jailhouse in Chicago. 

Directed by John Landis, this starstudded cast headed by Dan Akyroyd and John Belushi will take you on an adventure of redemption, car chases and... Nazis. 

It is the story of ‘Joliet’ Jake Blues who upon his release from prison is collected by his brother, Elwood, in a police car. Their car the aptly named ‘Bluesmobile’ becomes the catalyst for one of the most humanising adventures to hit the big screen to date.

 The scene is set by Elwood informing Jake that the Catholic orphanage where the pair grew up in Working Class Chicago is due to be closed down after failure to pay taxes. 

After a meeting with ‘the Penguin’ (a resident nun of their orphanage) the brothers decide to embark on their “mission from God” by reforming their old R&B band to pay off the debt, not forgetting to stop by for a swing with greats such as Cab Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles along the way.

When this film was first released it amassed $57million, making it the ninth most popular musical of all time. Originally based on a Saturday Night Live sketch, Jake and Elwood are never far from trouble. 

Initially engaging in a car chase with the police through a shopping mall (one of the funniest and adrenalin pumping scenes!) the sunglass wearing duo are eventually pursued by the army, Red Neck country singers, twisted neo Nazis not to mention Jake’s ex wife who has more than a flirting attraction with big guns and explosives.

 This film almost nostaligically portrays a fit and healthy looking Akroyd with an alive Belushi in an adventure for all the family to enjoy. This film can bring people of all races and creeds together in the name of music and love in such a way that once you have seen this film you will want to echo the words of Jake Blues himself: “Jesus H. Tap Dancing Christ! I have seen the light!”

"I have seen THE LIGHT!"

My patch stories...

At random intervals I will update this page with links showing where I have been published.

So far my threeArgus stories are:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/communitynews/8836313.Hove_Residents_Pleased_With_Redevelopment/
and:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/central_hove/news/8820760.Brunswick_bike_rack_backed/

http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/communitynews/8869103.Brunswick_resident_creates_anti_drinking_petition/

Thanks to Emma and Rik, and my mother for being an inspirational sub editor.

Also, whilst I'm here I just thought I'd say I want Green Bay Packers to win tonight because
1. They had to beat Chicago (my newly adopted home city in the US) to get where they are
2. They're the slight under dogs and
3. I remember my American Uni pal Billy saying something like "Shittsburg Weiners"

PS...

Whilst I am on my journalism course I have been given the area of Central Hove as my "patch."
Visit me on http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/central_hove/ where I hope to publish what's gwanning in those endz, ya digg.

Also. Follow us on twitter: @ArgusHove
Or if you have any interesting stories, email: hovenews@hotmail.co.uk

Emulating Wayne

        What's going on in my life I hear you ask?
As I write this my head is aching after a quality night out for Rik's birthday, I am getting text updates from my mother regarding Andy Murray's progress in the Australian Open Final (stupid internet won't let me stream from the BBC website) and I am trying to coherently express myself in this blog before I relax into speaking my own brand of vernacular slang... Innit.

       I had a conversation with my dad the other day, and I think it may be worth sharing, about Wayne Rooney.
Wayne's presence in the press these days is fast becoming ubiquitous; seeing prostitutes, handing in a transfer request, trying to find the next street soccer star etc. etc.
But what the old man and I were concerned with is the way he plays football. Or to be precise, the way he used to play football.

On his day Rooney is one of the best players in the world, no one can doubt that. He can play a pass as swift as an Andy Gray sacking (Go me, topical reference!) , he can burst the net with ferocious shots and his touch, as delightfully epitomized against Birmingham last weekend, is second to none.
But he has not taken off to the worldwide superstardom as was fatefully predicted when he curled a delightful shot past David Seaman as a 16 year old to end Arsenal's 30 match unbeaten run.

Wayne Rooney used to play with a "swagga" on the pitch. He used to run at people and not be afraid to pull the trigger and used to have this fearless, raw talent that made everyone who watched him stand up for a closer look, including current club Manchester United who confidently spent 30 million squids on him! But you know all this, right?

Now, he is more mature, he works hard for the team, he is selfless in possession. Credit to him for all these attributes but I have to say, I miss the old Wayne. When was the last time you saw him do this: http://bit.ly/gEfIRK

My dad remarked that Wayne Rooney is not what he used to be after his metatarsal injury on the last game of the season before the 2006 World Cup.

The reason I am saying all this is because I am drawing a comparison with Wayne Rooney and myself.
Not on the football pitch though, my arena is the news room.

I have just started an NCTJ journalism course with Brighton Journalist Works with the hope of getting the qualification to take my first step on the ladder to becoming a sports journalist. I aim to be fearless, a little brash, and put 100% into what I am faced with. Now, two weeks in it has already got in to full swing. The people I have met are great, the course is teaching me stuff everyday and I am slowly getting used to the early mornings. So when the writing form of a metatarsal injury comes along, which no doubt it will, I aim to be the Wayne Rooney of old: hard working, driven and with a slight air of intrepidity.

Ah, crap. Murray lost.

Rooney: Confidence personified

Sorry for the delay...

'Sup peoples.

Yes, yes I know I haven't written anything for a while. Just read this and be happy. And as ever, your feedback is very welcome.


...Right... Where to begin?

Since my last entry I have got myself two jobs, half a driving test, an ex girlfriend and, best of all, an achey liver after a nostalgic weekend in Canterbury. 

I am currently working as an intern three mornings a week for a company called Brighton Journalist Works. They are a very friendly, yet professional company and have put me in charge of all their social media as well as coffee/ odd jobs boy in whatever needs doing. As BJW (as they are fondly referred to) specialise in the training of journalists I am very interested in doing one of their courses in the near future so I can get the necessary NCTJ qualification in order to show potential employers what I am capable of. 
I also work for a company called Premier Sport. Here I football coach and take PPA sport clubs for different schools four days a week. This is challenging yet enjoyable and most of my co workers are always up for a laugh. I really do count myself lucky that I have both these jobs. I can keep the high standard of my writing up with BJW whilst satisfying my need for exercise with Premier.

Erm... What else is new?

It was great to go back to Canterbury and partake in all the student trivialities over the weekend which I had missed and seeing all the faces I couldn't wait to see again. You know who you are! 

I still need a haircut, I have passed my driving theory test (at the second time of asking) and am starting to get organised about planning my future, whether this means I will go travelling or start working full time only time will tell.

Oh yeah, I have a trial date in a couple of weeks which may lead me to coaching in the USA, which'll be awesome.

I promise next blog will be more about my journalistic escapades but this post was needed, if not by you, for me just to get back in to the swing of things. Sorry for the delay.

PS, I have twitter now. @jaywjay1.  You know what to do.