Lauren's Journalism Blog

Having watched Channel 4 News for many years, I have finally realised why I find it so interesting, and choose it over the BBC and ITV news. It’s not just the news that I’m  interested in, it is the way it’s reported. I particularly find Jon Snow’s reporting style interesting. The way in which he interviews allows the subject to be revealed entirely, and I hadn’t realised until recently how inspiring he is. I was watching him interviewing a Tory MP during the expenses scandal, who had nothing to say once asked questions that were directly relevant to the whereabouts of the tax payer’s money. In more recent news, Jon Snow reported on the rise of the university fee’s which is particulary relevant to teens of my generation. He dissected the news in a way that was both supportive, but unbiased. This is his general approach to all reporting, which is possibly why he is such a successful journalist.

Here is an interview with Jon Snow by the NUS website on his journalism career:

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/student-life/Student-Lifestyle/Jon-Snow-Exclusive-Interview/

Channel 4 News - Jon Snow’s Profile:

http://www.channel4.com/news/jon-snow

‘Snowblog’:

http://blogs.channel4.com/snowblog/

My inspiration for this article was the controversy in the news surrounding the cap on university fees being removed in 2012. This will affect students across the UK, particularly those who had planned to take a gap year are having to re-arrange their plans and apply for university in 2011. University applications will be flooding in this year, meaning that this topic directly affects me, hence why I chose this subject for my first article.

University is often considered to be the pivotal point in a teenager’s life, and deciding whether or not to go is a difficult decision by any means. This decision has become a lot more traumatic for students all over the country, and the stress levels in colleges in Sixth Forms in the Surrey area are starting to rise due to the government raising the cap on university fees. After a discussion with the students of Heathside Sixth Form in Weybridge, it was evident that those planning to go to university in 2011 are feeling even more pressure to meet the entry requirements of their university of choice, and those who were planning to take a gap year are having to face the realisation that this may not be the most sensible option in the current climate. Students are told that a university education is vital to secure a successful career, which creates a huge dilemma for Surrey’s teenagers. Do they go to university and experience phenomenal debt, or risk not having their desired career?

The raised tuition fees are going to have an enormous effect on Surrey colleges and Sixth Forms, as work experience is in such high demand that there is an enormous struggle for any available in our local area. Those students planning to defer a year may have to pay the 2012 raised fees, which could mean catastrophic debts for students. 19 year old student, Grace, is currently taking a gap year after completing her A Levels at a Sixth Form in Surrey last year. She discussed her views of university with me, ‘I had been debating whether or not to go to university at all, but if I don’t go this year I would be facing thousands of pounds worth of debt’. It is evident that the struggle for university in our local area is going to be a battle, and the debt starts here.

I have been contributing to the ‘Young Journalist Of The Year’ Scheme for the past few months, and having gained some experience my love for journalism has developed even more. Writing for an online newspaper has made me realise that I enjoy all mediums of journalism, not just print. I will upload my articles as I write them, feel free to give constructive criticism!