I was recently asked to help a young person in their decision of what to study at university.
Of course, they're only 17 but are being told that they need to decide their future RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE. All rather scary for little old me, who didn't stumble upon my passion, and career path, until halfway through my university career!
Needless to say, the reason she asked me for help is because this student is considering journalism as a possible career path. She's not sure, and she doesn't know what kind, what medium, or even if she'll like it, but she wants to have a look at the wonderful world of the media to see if it's something that brings out her passion, drive, and success.
The problem is, nothing's that simple anymore. When I went to university, a mere 10 years ago, journalism courses were few and far between. In fact, the best advice people could give was to go to university and study a good old-fashioned subject like English or history - something you enjoy, the rest will come later.
Now though, it seems you can get a degree in anything. There's not just journalism on offer, there's broadcast journalism, print journalism, sports journalism and .... hold it ..... celebrity journalism!!!! Forgive the rant, but the next generation of hacks will not have learnt their trade on local papers, sitting in council meetings, doing vox pops, covering local elections. No, they will have spent three years - THREE YEARS - studying the art of "celebrity journalism". Don't get me wrong, I'm all for education, and studying, and learning from university, but is it not an incredible indictment on the world that we live in, that we're going to watch a whole generation of teenagers get into tens of thousands of pounds of debt in university fees, in the name of a course entitled Celebrity Journalism.
I might have to stop there...just can't quite get my head around it!
Monday, 20 June 2011
Thursday, 2 June 2011
A very late update of an amazing trip.....
Posing for photos with my loved one in the middle of a cascading waterfall, surrounded by lush forest while tiny fish glide around us in the cool water, it almost feels like a movie set.
Gone is the sunburn and concerns over whether we’ve got enough insect spray – instead the water splashing into the pool proves the perfect antidote to the hot Jamaican sun.
That moment seemed a million miles from the stereotypical holiday to Jamaica we had been slightly wary of, full of Rastas and rum and Bob Marley at every turn.
The trip to the YS Falls was just one of the excursions we could take on our trip from the Sandals Whitehouse resort on the south of the island, and a great way of seeing something other than the pristine white-sand beaches and azure blue sea.
Part of the Land of Wood and Water tour, my partner and I started our day with a trip down the Black River, taking in the flora and fauna, particularly the crocodiles basking regally in the sun, unperturbed by passing tourists and boats.
After a few hours of education, we were whisked off for lunch – Jerk chicken of course - followed by the falls themselves. Transported in the most rustic of ways, by a tractor-towed trailer, you’re greeted by the spectacular view of the cascading falls. At their foot, natural water pools have been landscaped making them super user-friendly, while you’re more than welcome to wander up the path alongside the falls, stopping at dip pools and rope swings to enjoy the fresh, cool water. Guides will help you up, and take pictures for you – for a small tip of course.
These sights are both an easy drive from Sandals Whitehouse, based on the south side of the island. The Caribbean-based chain aimed at couples has several resorts in Jamaica but Whitehouse sits on its own, miles from anywhere, bringing you pretty much everything you could want.
If you’re used to average all-inclusives, with just one large buffet hall and sugar-high children looking for the next free drink or meal, with guests packed round one, huge pool, this is something that is world’s apart.
Sandals doesn’t even call itself all-inclusive – the company claims to have created its own niche brand of “luxury-included”. This is all-inclusive with style – branded drinks, nice food, and everything – absolutely everything – at the resort included.
It all starts with the arrival. Popstar or pipe-fitter, celebrity or student, you really do get five-star treatment, from a welcome cocktail as you enter the extravagant lobby to a cool towel to mop your brow.
The resort is split into three “villages” - Italian, Dutch and French – ironically the whole theme of Whitehouse is European – it may seem strange to us Europeans, but it a great treat for the hordes of Americans and Canadians who hop down to Jamaica for their holidays.
Rooms all look out onto the stunning two-mile white sand beach. Don’t worry about being pestered by people as you sun yourself – this beach is just for the resort, lending itself to the impression you really are a million miles away from home.
Not ones to do beach holidays, we were slightly nervous about the prospect of boredom with nothing but sand to entertain us. How wrong we were! Keen on our watersports, we’ve often been stung by the extra prices for things like scuba diving, water-skiing, and sailing. But with everything included, imagine the joy of having the option of diving twice-a-day, every day, if we wanted to. Certified divers can literally just book a spot, pick up the kit, and go for an underwater adventure. And if you’ve never done it before there’s options of “resort qualifications” or doing all the certification while you’re there.
As if this wasn’t enough excitement, Jamie had the chance to waterski whenever he wanted, while we also tried our hand at sailing on small catamaran “Hobie Cats”.
Not to leave the land-lubbers out, there’s tennis, a gym, squash courts, and activities laid on through the day. And of course, if you just want a lie-down, there’s two pools, a Jacuzzi pool, the big blue sea, and the beach as far as you can see.
And when all the diving, swimming and doing nothing works up an appetite, it’s hard to know where to turn. Forget one, huge buffet hall serving lukewarm, dried up fare. Here you’re spoilt for choice - for lunch there’s the Italian restaurant on the piazza, Caribbean cuisine on the beach, the buffet if you so desire, or even the “jerk pit” – mounds of jerk pork and chicken, served in a basket with a doorstop of bread and a dollop of hot chilli sauce. Perfect when washed down with a Miami Vice cocktail (my new-found favourite!) - pina colada and strawberry daiquiri mixes with a generous slug of rum!
In the evenings, we struggled to try every restaurant in the one week we had. You can tour the world through food on offer: Italian, Asian, seafood, and Eleanors – Whitehouse’s white-gloved Caribbean fine –dining restaurant. If this isn’t enough, there is a buffet, with fresh salads, cooked-on-the-spot stir fries, and even lobster some nights. And then, yes there’s more, the weekly parties – a beach party with more food than I’ve ever seen, as well as a late night chocolate buffet for us with a sweet tooth.
With no kids around, Sandals definitely has an adult element, most noticeable in its nightlife. It’s a strange feeling quaffing martinis in a bar without having to hand over a penny – needless to say, we didn’t mind it being our round! There’s piano singalongs (massively popular with the Americans), a Cabaret bar with laid-on entertainment, or an outside bar where you can just wile away the hours with a cocktail listening to the sea lapping the beach. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you taking a wander down the sand for an added touch of romance.
We all know we’re in tough times economically, across the globe. But it seems a lot of us just won’t give up their holidays – maybe we all need a bit of cheering up. Sandals Whitehouse boasted a 97% occupancy rate when we were there, with similar figures expected throughout its summer season. And despite its near-full rates, there wasn’t one fight for a sun-lounger or space on the beach that I saw – must be down to clever designing, but it just didn’t feel too packed, an all-important feature when you’re looking for a bit of luxury.
And there’s even room to take it up a peg for those special occasions.Weddings, designed with the help of expert Martha Stewart, are big business at Sandals, as are honeymoons, and the emphasis on romance is clear for all to see. I have to confess to a few moments of wondering if a ring was going to be produced, but no, those romantic moments will just have to be remembered as special treats rather than life-changing questions. Needless to say, it would be churlish to complain about a candlelit dinner on the beach, with a private butler and just the two of us to enjoy the picture-perfect setting, or a couple’s massage in Sandals’ own Red Lane Spa.
Of course, the holiday and the extras themselves aren’t cheap – there’s no such thing as a free lunch and all that. But it all depends on what price you put on transforming yourself from normality to the extravagant, celeb life you always thought you deserved. So just think about it, next time you’re looking enviously at the set on that latest blockbuster. It could all be yours…..
Gone is the sunburn and concerns over whether we’ve got enough insect spray – instead the water splashing into the pool proves the perfect antidote to the hot Jamaican sun.
That moment seemed a million miles from the stereotypical holiday to Jamaica we had been slightly wary of, full of Rastas and rum and Bob Marley at every turn.
The trip to the YS Falls was just one of the excursions we could take on our trip from the Sandals Whitehouse resort on the south of the island, and a great way of seeing something other than the pristine white-sand beaches and azure blue sea.
Part of the Land of Wood and Water tour, my partner and I started our day with a trip down the Black River, taking in the flora and fauna, particularly the crocodiles basking regally in the sun, unperturbed by passing tourists and boats.
After a few hours of education, we were whisked off for lunch – Jerk chicken of course - followed by the falls themselves. Transported in the most rustic of ways, by a tractor-towed trailer, you’re greeted by the spectacular view of the cascading falls. At their foot, natural water pools have been landscaped making them super user-friendly, while you’re more than welcome to wander up the path alongside the falls, stopping at dip pools and rope swings to enjoy the fresh, cool water. Guides will help you up, and take pictures for you – for a small tip of course.
These sights are both an easy drive from Sandals Whitehouse, based on the south side of the island. The Caribbean-based chain aimed at couples has several resorts in Jamaica but Whitehouse sits on its own, miles from anywhere, bringing you pretty much everything you could want.
If you’re used to average all-inclusives, with just one large buffet hall and sugar-high children looking for the next free drink or meal, with guests packed round one, huge pool, this is something that is world’s apart.
Sandals doesn’t even call itself all-inclusive – the company claims to have created its own niche brand of “luxury-included”. This is all-inclusive with style – branded drinks, nice food, and everything – absolutely everything – at the resort included.
It all starts with the arrival. Popstar or pipe-fitter, celebrity or student, you really do get five-star treatment, from a welcome cocktail as you enter the extravagant lobby to a cool towel to mop your brow.
The resort is split into three “villages” - Italian, Dutch and French – ironically the whole theme of Whitehouse is European – it may seem strange to us Europeans, but it a great treat for the hordes of Americans and Canadians who hop down to Jamaica for their holidays.
Rooms all look out onto the stunning two-mile white sand beach. Don’t worry about being pestered by people as you sun yourself – this beach is just for the resort, lending itself to the impression you really are a million miles away from home.
Not ones to do beach holidays, we were slightly nervous about the prospect of boredom with nothing but sand to entertain us. How wrong we were! Keen on our watersports, we’ve often been stung by the extra prices for things like scuba diving, water-skiing, and sailing. But with everything included, imagine the joy of having the option of diving twice-a-day, every day, if we wanted to. Certified divers can literally just book a spot, pick up the kit, and go for an underwater adventure. And if you’ve never done it before there’s options of “resort qualifications” or doing all the certification while you’re there.
As if this wasn’t enough excitement, Jamie had the chance to waterski whenever he wanted, while we also tried our hand at sailing on small catamaran “Hobie Cats”.
Not to leave the land-lubbers out, there’s tennis, a gym, squash courts, and activities laid on through the day. And of course, if you just want a lie-down, there’s two pools, a Jacuzzi pool, the big blue sea, and the beach as far as you can see.
And when all the diving, swimming and doing nothing works up an appetite, it’s hard to know where to turn. Forget one, huge buffet hall serving lukewarm, dried up fare. Here you’re spoilt for choice - for lunch there’s the Italian restaurant on the piazza, Caribbean cuisine on the beach, the buffet if you so desire, or even the “jerk pit” – mounds of jerk pork and chicken, served in a basket with a doorstop of bread and a dollop of hot chilli sauce. Perfect when washed down with a Miami Vice cocktail (my new-found favourite!) - pina colada and strawberry daiquiri mixes with a generous slug of rum!
In the evenings, we struggled to try every restaurant in the one week we had. You can tour the world through food on offer: Italian, Asian, seafood, and Eleanors – Whitehouse’s white-gloved Caribbean fine –dining restaurant. If this isn’t enough, there is a buffet, with fresh salads, cooked-on-the-spot stir fries, and even lobster some nights. And then, yes there’s more, the weekly parties – a beach party with more food than I’ve ever seen, as well as a late night chocolate buffet for us with a sweet tooth.
With no kids around, Sandals definitely has an adult element, most noticeable in its nightlife. It’s a strange feeling quaffing martinis in a bar without having to hand over a penny – needless to say, we didn’t mind it being our round! There’s piano singalongs (massively popular with the Americans), a Cabaret bar with laid-on entertainment, or an outside bar where you can just wile away the hours with a cocktail listening to the sea lapping the beach. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you taking a wander down the sand for an added touch of romance.
We all know we’re in tough times economically, across the globe. But it seems a lot of us just won’t give up their holidays – maybe we all need a bit of cheering up. Sandals Whitehouse boasted a 97% occupancy rate when we were there, with similar figures expected throughout its summer season. And despite its near-full rates, there wasn’t one fight for a sun-lounger or space on the beach that I saw – must be down to clever designing, but it just didn’t feel too packed, an all-important feature when you’re looking for a bit of luxury.
And there’s even room to take it up a peg for those special occasions.Weddings, designed with the help of expert Martha Stewart, are big business at Sandals, as are honeymoons, and the emphasis on romance is clear for all to see. I have to confess to a few moments of wondering if a ring was going to be produced, but no, those romantic moments will just have to be remembered as special treats rather than life-changing questions. Needless to say, it would be churlish to complain about a candlelit dinner on the beach, with a private butler and just the two of us to enjoy the picture-perfect setting, or a couple’s massage in Sandals’ own Red Lane Spa.
Of course, the holiday and the extras themselves aren’t cheap – there’s no such thing as a free lunch and all that. But it all depends on what price you put on transforming yourself from normality to the extravagant, celeb life you always thought you deserved. So just think about it, next time you’re looking enviously at the set on that latest blockbuster. It could all be yours…..
Michelle Obama - a great role model
The last time the Obamas came to the UK, in 2009, I was lucky enough to report on Michelle Obama's visits - one to a Maggie's Cancer Care Centre in London, and the other to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington. I remember then hearing her speak to young girls at the school where many pupils speak English as a second language. She told them the world needed strong young women to pave the way for the future, and told them: "We are counting on every single one of you to be the best you can be!"
That speech moved everyone in the room, and I guarantee would have had a lasting effect on those girls.
And the best part is, the First Lady didn't leave it just there. She's apparently kept in touch with the school, having pupils over to the Whitehouse, and last week she took some to Oxford University for a visit. And if we were thinking she'd struggle to follow her first speech, there were no worries there.
There's something about the way Michelle Obama speaks that surely doesn't just keep me riveted, but must have the same effect on people, young and old, everywhere. There is an honesty and straightforwardness, and a way of expressing things with thought and feeling without seeming like spin, or a pre-rehearsed set of soundbites.
At Oxford University, Mrs Obama echoed her inspiring words of 2009, telling the girls it doesn't matter about their background.
"Success is not about the background you are from, it's about the confidence you have and the effort you are willing to invest...
"You just have to work hard...you just have to push yourselves. This doesn't come easy for anyone."
Those words should serve to inspire all of us - whether we're 13 or 30. It is easy to think our own path is predetermined, that there is little we can do to change it. And in a country where the gap between the richest and the poorest seems ever-widening, where some people can afford a £19 milllion pad in Kensington, while the average person can't afford 173 square feet, the world can seem an unfair and uninspiring place.
But for the time that she speaks, Michelle Obama manages - for me at least, and I'm sure many others - to inject hope that anything is possible, a hope we all need to be reminded of sometimes.
And she speaks from experience: when she tells people not to be guided by their background, the lady who grew up in the south side of Chicago but managed to get to both Princeton University and Harvard Law School means what she says. She speaks of well-meaning people suggesting she may not have fitted in, that it may not have been a good idea, but she listened to their advice then chose not to take it. And now look at her - successful in her own right, as well as being married to potentially the most powerful man in the world.
Regardless of whether you are pro or anti-American, whether you agree with Obama's politics or not, the world does not have enough Michelle Obamas. There are not enough women who will stand up and tell young people (and even older people) to stand up, grab life with both hands, and do anything they want to. She never says it will be easy - "hard work" is a phrase well-used by Mrs Obama - but it is always possible. And perhaps with more people inspiring us, and our youth, in that way, we could see a new generation of people who think anything is possible, a generation of hope where the majority think that we can change the world we live in for the better, rather than relying on a minority to do the job.
Keep going Michelle, even if you just convert a few more people each time you speak, that's got to help. We need more people like you in this world, so bravo!
That speech moved everyone in the room, and I guarantee would have had a lasting effect on those girls.
And the best part is, the First Lady didn't leave it just there. She's apparently kept in touch with the school, having pupils over to the Whitehouse, and last week she took some to Oxford University for a visit. And if we were thinking she'd struggle to follow her first speech, there were no worries there.
There's something about the way Michelle Obama speaks that surely doesn't just keep me riveted, but must have the same effect on people, young and old, everywhere. There is an honesty and straightforwardness, and a way of expressing things with thought and feeling without seeming like spin, or a pre-rehearsed set of soundbites.
At Oxford University, Mrs Obama echoed her inspiring words of 2009, telling the girls it doesn't matter about their background.
"Success is not about the background you are from, it's about the confidence you have and the effort you are willing to invest...
"You just have to work hard...you just have to push yourselves. This doesn't come easy for anyone."
Those words should serve to inspire all of us - whether we're 13 or 30. It is easy to think our own path is predetermined, that there is little we can do to change it. And in a country where the gap between the richest and the poorest seems ever-widening, where some people can afford a £19 milllion pad in Kensington, while the average person can't afford 173 square feet, the world can seem an unfair and uninspiring place.
But for the time that she speaks, Michelle Obama manages - for me at least, and I'm sure many others - to inject hope that anything is possible, a hope we all need to be reminded of sometimes.
And she speaks from experience: when she tells people not to be guided by their background, the lady who grew up in the south side of Chicago but managed to get to both Princeton University and Harvard Law School means what she says. She speaks of well-meaning people suggesting she may not have fitted in, that it may not have been a good idea, but she listened to their advice then chose not to take it. And now look at her - successful in her own right, as well as being married to potentially the most powerful man in the world.
Regardless of whether you are pro or anti-American, whether you agree with Obama's politics or not, the world does not have enough Michelle Obamas. There are not enough women who will stand up and tell young people (and even older people) to stand up, grab life with both hands, and do anything they want to. She never says it will be easy - "hard work" is a phrase well-used by Mrs Obama - but it is always possible. And perhaps with more people inspiring us, and our youth, in that way, we could see a new generation of people who think anything is possible, a generation of hope where the majority think that we can change the world we live in for the better, rather than relying on a minority to do the job.
Keep going Michelle, even if you just convert a few more people each time you speak, that's got to help. We need more people like you in this world, so bravo!
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