Inspirational aspirations of stardom ★

Reporting Royalty, it's done.

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:30:18 -0400

These past few weeks have been hard. When I say hard, I mean that they have been the most testing few weeks of my life - every final year student who has had to do a dissertation will agree with me. Late nights in the library - sometimes not getting in until 8:00am the next morning, all I can say is thank God for 24 hour McDonald’s. Amen.

However, today it all came to an end. That’s it. It’s hard to think looking back that i’ve been working on this project over the past academic year. My dissertation was about the Royal Family, they’re a subject I’ve been interested in for a very long time now and I wanted to do something interesting and a quirky:

Reporting Royalty: Celebrity Gossip or Public Interest?

In a nutshell, the concept was to look at whether British newspapers write about stories that are important to readers, or something they just find interesting. It’s been a gruelling task but it feels amazing to have the copies in my hands now.

I think it’s best to leave this post with the acknowledgements I wrote in my dissertation. Keep smiling x

Peter Smith. No cup of tea is big enough to show how eternally grateful I am. Your guidance as my supervisor has helped me create something that I will forever be proud of.

To Jennie Bond, Camilla Tominey and Joe Little. Thank you all for your time and valuable contributions.

My family and friends, I express my heartfelt thanks for your continual support and encouragement.

Finally, to my other family at the Lincoln School of Journalism. Thank you for being there yesterday, here today and there tomorrow.

Without you all, this dissertation would not have been possible.

Thank you.

Undercover blogger.

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:59:55 -0400

The first thing I have to say is; sorry. When I first started this blog back in 2010 I made a promise to update it regularly and that really has not been the case… However third year has definitely taken its toll. I’m not going to bore you all and tell you how much work I have to do (reserved for Twitter), but at the minute it’s completely consuming my life. Right now, I’m sat at my computer staring at the penultimate chapter of my dissertation - the end is in sight - then the real work begins!

It’s quite scary that in less than two months time that’ll be it, my degree over - three whole years gone like that. If I’m honest, what I’ve experienced so far has been the best three years of my life. All of the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the things I have learnt are going to stay with me for the rest of my life.

There are so many exciting things lined up and I’ll be sure to fill you in… I promise this time.

Until then, it’s back to the dissertation! Wish me luck.

Found this photo on my bedroom floor. Wish I’d found it a...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:23:50 -0400

Found this photo on my bedroom floor. Wish I’d found it a lot sooner.

Night out in Liverpool! I’ll be sure to put more photos up...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:28:13 -0500

Night out in Liverpool!

I’ll be sure to put more photos up later, but for now..

"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:26:35 -0500

““Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.””

- Unknown.

It seems like the snow has gone!

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 06:51:58 -0500

It seems like the snow has gone!

Hello Lincoln, it's good to be back.

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:16:00 -0500

My nose is cold, my feet a numb and my hands are finding it difficult to write this. Winter has well and truly arrived. Like many Brits, I am one of those who turns hysterical as soon as the first flake of snow falls on the floor - usually out of excitement. However, I feel it’s a little too late. A month earlier and Christmas may have felt even more Christmassy than it was.

It feels good being back in Lincoln! Yesterday was my first lecture, but seen as how the tutor failed to show, it meant an obvious Starbucks trip was in order. My first workshop of 2013 did go ahead; The Journalist on Screen. I was probably a bit optimistic to be hoping for The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Sex and The City. Saying that, our first film was The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest which was surprisingly good. I’m thinking I’ll pop the reviews up on here once my tutor has looked at them. Films about journalists really are quite good, even if it isn’t Sex and the City.

Speaking of films, I saw Les Miserables on Monday and oh my word, it’s one of the best films I have ever seen. Having seen the musical in summer last year I was sceptical as to whether it could live up to the stage version. But it did, and them some. It’s definitely going to be the film of the year, everyone is talking about it and singing the songs… You just have to go! Oh, and if you leave and don’t feel compelled to learn every song, lyric by lyric, there is something extremely wrong with you.

Possibly the best thing about being back in Cathedral City is seeing everyone. A lot of my family and friends back home have said how much I’m going to miss Lincoln once I graduate. I don’t see it that way. Instead, I know I’ll miss all the amazing people I’ve met and Lincoln just won’t be the same without them.

If you’ve never been to Lincoln before, you have to visit. Seriously. It looks stunning in the summer, with an array of restaurants that sit along the Brayford (big river thing), the quirky shops and beautiful architecture. Despite some city’s which look ugly in the winter, Lincoln is the complete opposite. It takes on another life of its own.

I should be thankful I live in one of the best cities in the world. At least in my eyes anyway.

Starbucks - The experience: Changes

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:36:00 -0500

People who know me usually know that I love Starbucks. Not just because of the coffee, but because of the atmosphere they provide.

I’m sat near the window gazing out at the people rushing from A to B. There’s a lady with her head down walking out of Lakeland layered with bags - shopaholic, a business man crosses the road clutching a briefcase and a small McDonald’s bag - business lunch, and a young couple sit on a bench as if they’ve been apart for a year. Ok, I sound a bit pervy now.

Yet, here I am, sat in that warm writing this. What part am I in the equation? If I’m honest, I don’t know. It’s partly why I come to Starbucks; to be inspired. 9/10 out of 10 it works, if it doesn’t, it means I need an extra shot of coffee in my latte.

There’re two ladies sat on the table next to me. I’d say they’re in the late thirties and one of them is getting scared about her job interview. The other reassures her that everything will be fine - from what I work out, it’s her first job interview in a long time. I guess it shows that no matter how old you are, there is always time for a change. If you’re in a situation that you don’t want to be in anymore, you can always change it.

I could probably sit here for hours, but I’m approaching the bottom of my mug, I’ll probably have to make a move soon. Or maybe time for another? We’ll see.

Here’s to more Starbucks experiences.

Starbucks. I think I’m set for the next hour or so.

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:29:10 -0500

Starbucks. I think I’m set for the next hour or so.

I think I’m a little bit addicted to this brand…

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:07:16 -0500

I think I’m a little bit addicted to this brand…

Challenge Austen.

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:29:00 -0500

As the new year begins I’ve decided to set myself a little challenge. As I’ve said before, I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions so this will have to do. I want to broaden my knowledge, specifically chick-lit which is a guilty pleasure that takes up the majority of my book case - shameful I know.

After I’ve finished ‘One Perfect Summer’ by Paige Toon, I’ve decided to read all the Jane Austen novels that were fully published. This includes:

Sense and Sensibility
~~Pride and Prejudice~~
Mansfield Park
Emma
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion

The reason Pride and Prejudice is crossed off is because I chose to study it at A-Level. Unlike some English Literature students, I quite enjoyed it. Thinking about it, I actually compared Bridget Jones’ Diary to Pride and Prejudice. That’s another story.

So, the first novel I’m going to start on is Sense and Sensibility. I’ll make sure I review them on here, that way, you can either make up your mind whether to take on the same challenge, or discover whether I’ve helped you avoid a complete waste of time.

Here’s to Austen.

Waking up to this, makes getting up in the morning that little...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 06:59:13 -0500

Waking up to this, makes getting up in the morning that little bit easier.

From the fortune cookie…

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:44:00 -0500

From the fortune cookie…

Jane-a-Day. This happens to be one of the best Christmas...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:40:25 -0500

Jane-a-Day.

This happens to be one of the best Christmas presents I received last year. Every day, for five years, I write a little passage - no longer than three lines - about what I’ve done that day.

It’s going to be interesting to find out where I am in five years time. Watch this space.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:48:15 -0500

““All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.””

- - Walt Disney

Something I shall start living by today, and for the rest of my life.

Burning of The Dreams. The following letter was written with...

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:44:07 -0500

Burning of The Dreams.

The following letter was written with dreams and ambitions for 2013. At the stroke of midnight on 1st January, they were set alight in hope that one day this year, they’ll become true.

Channelling my inner Bridget Jones. There really is something...

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:40:51 -0500

Channelling my inner Bridget Jones. There really is something quite delicious about writing the first words in a journal. I wonder what story it will tell over the next 365 days?

Happy New Year! 2013 has arrived.

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:32:12 -0500

My mind is a bit of blur. Did everything over the past year happen? Because it sure was a good year. A lot of people complain saying that time goes by so fast but I don’t always understand that theory. The reason being, when you sit down and think about everything you’ve done over the past year a lot of things start to come back to you. At least that’s what happened to me.

Last night I made a list of everything I’d done over the past year and all the achievements, places I’ve been and events I have been a part of. Looking back, I now realise how important 2012 as a year was to me. From going to Rome, to winning an award for my academic work. Seeing the Queen in Nottingham and getting a part-time job. Then there was that 24 hour radio show… Trust me, if you sit down and start thinking about it, 2012 was a busy year for all of us one way or another.

There are those parts of the year that we would all like to forget. Possibly the biggest thing would be the loss of my doggie; Ben. At 14 he was an old fella, but his sudden passing came as a shock to myself and all family. To those who have never owned a pet, you probably won’t understand the sadness one goes through when a pet dies. For me, Ben was more than a pet, he was part of the family, someone I had grown up for the past 2 years. He put a smile on your face when you walked through the front door. It’ll be things like that that I’ll miss.

Looking forward, there are a lot of things I want to do and achieve. Some of them include graduating, getting a job in the journalism industry and visiting New York City amongst other things. Having written all my goals and aspirations that I want to achieve this year down in a letter, at the stroke of midnight they were set alight. In hope that they will inspire me over the next 365 days

I’m not sure I believe in New Year Resolutions. What I do believe in is adjusting your attitude not just for the year, but something that changes you for the better for the rest of your life.

Here’s to wishing you along with all my friends and family health, happiness, love, success, wealth, motivation, determination, PMO, laughter, and peace.

Happy New Year. x

Happy New Year everyone. I hope it treats you all well.

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 10:37:49 -0500

Happy New Year everyone. I hope it treats you all well.

My Dad and I.

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 06:03:30 -0500

Many people I expect have this conversation when they leave their house.

Me: Did you lock the front door?

Dad: No. I left it wide open.