Toolbox of techniques
High adrenaline, challenging and rewarding. After completing the John Forrest Award I feel equipped to use different media platforms in an effective manner. The course began with introducing yourself, something most people would think is a simple task. However, it was demonstrated just how little people remember when first meeting someone. We were tasked to create more interesting introductions about ourselves and see how much people can remember when they are told something personable, a story. The theme of storytelling to get your message across was intertwined into all the activities over the three days.
After introducing ourselves we began going through the fundamentals of different methods of communication such as written, presentations and photography. We stripped everything back and discussed what made a form of communication effective and ineffective. After establishing this, we were set multiple challenges, a photography competition, written tasks, mock tv and radio interviews and we had to do presentations to the group. Now, this might sound like an introvert’s nightmare, it was extremely hard but after going through it I can honestly say it is not as bad as it seems. Susie teaches you how to change your adrenaline and anxiety from “this is terrible to I love this!”. I never used to be able to talk in front of people but, I actually ended up enjoying the TV interview.
Under the spotlight
The most valuable part of the course was the mock TV interview for me. Susie and Patrick go all out to make it as realistic as possible to the point that you question how actual presenters do this every day. Spotlights are set up, a camera and tripod in front of the interview chair and you even get mic’d up. Before you do the interview, you are given some useful insights into interview techniques by industry experts who have been working in journalism for many years and then you are put under the spotlight. I had to channel my nerves into excitement to get through it and now I can say that it was fun.
One of the big take-aways from the interview is that not all journalists are out to get you, they want to help you get your message across.
