Liz's job log: 5
Liz Rawlins
- January 2009.
The story so far... Liz recently graduated from the University of Glamorgan with a degree in journalism. Aged 21 she is living most of the time in Barry, South Wales and working for a local insurance company. Location, location, location… I am writing this blog from a very different location from before - a different continent in fact! I am currently sat in the studios of Vibe FM in Ghana, West Africa. It is ridiculously hot outside and as required I am dressed in a shirt and trousers (and flip flops) - luckily I am in an air-conditioned studio. I have just finished work for the day after reading the 1 o’clock news and recording the bulletins that will be used throughout the rest of the day. I’m just about to start some research for a travel piece that we are going to use on tomorrow’s show - which is called the Sunshine Café and airs between 10am and 1pm Monday through to Friday. Now if you have read my previous blogs you will probably be sat thinking what is she talking about? I thought you were working in insurance?! Well let me fill you in… Projects abroad Just before Christmas I had the chance to take part in a journalism work placement abroad, in the country of my choice, with an organisation called Projects Abroad. I have always wanted to go to Africa, I’m not quite sure why, but I knew straight away that is where I would choose to go should I be accepted on this placement. And seeing as I’m in Ghana right now then obviously I was accepted! As I am more interested in broadcast journalism as opposed to print, Projects Abroad have arranged for me to work at Vibe FM, in the capital city of Ghana, Accra. It is Ghana’s most popular radio station - Bradt guidebook’s words, not mine! I’ve been here about nine days now and working at Vibe FM for about five days - I am already writing and reading the international news! I’m enjoying the fast pace and I like getting truly stuck in, even if I am somewhat treading water at the deep end. Journalistic differences Journalism is very different out here - it wasn’t long ago that saying something that was not liked by the government in power could get you in serious trouble! Thankfully it is a different situation now - but not without a lot of people putting their lives at risk - a concept I can’t seem to quite grasp coming from a free press country.
The difference is people out here care about politics - and football - luckily I’m quite interested in politics - not football so much - and its good to be doing some ‘harder’ news. I have a very BBC voice apparently which I think is a good thing? But I need training - on delivery and stuff like that which I am more than happy to accept.
Journalists out here are not paid very well but they do it because they are extremely passionate about it - and their country. The elections have just taken place and a new government, the NDC, is in power. Vibe FM, as a station, have backed the NDC throughout their campaign - there is a definite bias within the media towards political parties - much the same as in Britain, however, the difference being that in the UK if the party you were backing lost, this would not mean the end of your station or newspaper - but that is exactly what it means out here if you are in support of the losing side so to speak. Vibe FM’s financial position will be significantly altered now that the leadership they support has come to power. The journalists here are very careful to not come across as more in support of a certain party, however, they maintain their professional neutralism at all times - and in a country where politics makes up about 60-70% of the daily news - this can be a hard task! Refreshing I have been told that it is refreshing for them to see a young female journalist and a westerner taking an interest in their country. However, as I replied, it is refreshing for me to be in a country where everyone is extremely interested in politics and what is going on within their country - they are not concerned with the goings on of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or Big Brother! The Ghanaian people are proud to be a stable democratic African country and this is reflected in their journalism. It’s been a hard week in terms of adjusting to the food, climate and the customs but so far so good. This is such an exciting opportunity, not only to expand on my journalism skills in the world of broadcast journalism but also to be experiencing it in a different country altogether. I’m hoping to make an impact here in terms of how the news is delivered and structured at Vibe FM, as right now there is a lot that could be improved - and the team are aware of this. They are interested in my input so hopefully I can make a few changes here that will benefit the station. As a post-graduate, the word ‘experience’ has been directed at me too many times than I care to remember. If this placement is not the experience that future employers are looking for on my CV - I give up! Liz's previous posts
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