Meeting 10

This week my meeting took place on the 31^st of January at half past three at Sparkhouse studios with my editor Daniel Ionescu.

This week we decided in two stories for me to work on-

1. Local dog groomers- In North Hykeham a specially qualified dog groomer has set up a business for pets to be groomed. Me and Daniel have outlined an angle to see if the groomer has any interesting anecdotes about unique animals they have groomed or any funny stories. The key to this story is to find a unique angle and one that doesn’t necessarily come of biased towards the business and a promotional piece.

2. Chris Addison interview- Popular comedian Chris Addison is doing a live show on the 18^th of February and his representation has contacted the Lincolnite asking if we’d like to interview prior to the show. Reporter Elizabeth Fish will contact me later in the week to give me further details, it’s not yet sure of the interview will be over the phone or face to face. The pre-research I’d have to find out about the nature of his tour and if he has visited the city before.

This week the story of the dog groomer presented a difficulty. Geographically the dog grooming saloon is more then an hour away by foot across busy roads. Usually all of my work for the Lincolnite is geographically convenient so this has presented a difficulty. I don’t posses any form or personal transport like a bike or a car so I’d have to rely on public transport namely the bus. This then limits the times I am able to interview the saloon owners so the interview will take place early next week.

This has me to the further of complementary skills or equipment a journalist should have access to a form of personal transport or at least a driving license. Though it’s not an essential it could be viewed by an employer as skill which separates you from the crowd. As mentioned by my editor previously employers use  shorthand as a way of cutting down their interview lists but with a skill like driving or access to a vehicle could help separate you further from the crowd.

Applying theory to this situation some companies are sympathetic on the nature of possessing your own private transport as Chris Frost writes 'Many companies insist you drive a car even in the centre of the biggest and will pay you a mileage allowance for its use.'

Though it's conclusively thought by Chris Frost that 'journalists spend a fair bit of time on the road for their employer' but optimistically 'your company may well have an account with a taxi firm' which implies some companies may not be see driving as a vital skill. So may even insist on so Chris Frost suggests 'keep timetables of buses or trains handy so you can find your way about.'