EMMA BROCKES

Programme aims

Aims

To raise awareness:

• that there are different types of journalism that suit different types of people
• that you will be participating in history by documenting it
• that it is a high-pressure job with constantly changing deadlines
• that journalists have a very exciting and active work-related social life

Curriculum Relevance

This programme can be used and discussed in conjunction with courses in media studies, sociology, psychology, history, law and ethics, drug and crime issues.

• England & Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland

Programme outline

00-01.07
Introduction to Emma Brockes: she defines personality types who pursue journalism - interested in other's business, meeting different people, working to deadlines. Emma works for broadsheet paper 'The Guardian'. She goes on a journey to explore other areas of journalism: television, magazines, tabloids, sports, and celebrity. Emma earns £46,000 a year.

01.08-04.20
Emma covers the Glastonbury music festival, a classic journalistic assignment. Emma details process of finding an angle and putting a story together. She meets tight deadline. It's a front-page story.

04.21-07.39
Emma visits Lucie Cave, an editor at 'Heat' magazine. Journalism is never frivolous even if the magazine is. At the end of the day it's fun and glamorous but very hard work.

07.40-09.45
History 1: Emma talks about her early passion for writing, and her first break at 15. She wanted to make money from something she would have fun doing. She reads out her many rejection letters - most told her to bugger off but she finally scored her first contract writing for a broadsheet. Emma explains that once you get work, even if it's a small job, you are perceived as infinitely more employable. Don't be fussy - take what you can get. And write to any and everyone you can.

09.46-13.38
Emma follows Sue Turton, Channel 4 sports corespondent. She discovers telly deadlines are even tighter and rapidly changing even down to minutes before broadcast. Sue reveals how television sports casting is an ego boost - the feeling you're involved in history in the making. Sue covers a football match then takes us through the process of pulling clips from matches, editing and voicing - putting commentary to picture. She then takes her 'sports package' live from the studio. Being on television, you must care what you look like.

13.39-16.54
Emma relates her proudest story about a gangland killing revolving around a graffiti artist. She explains important skills journalists need. Because of her ability to gain confidence, Emma creates a major break in the story.

16.55-20.12
Emma visits Victoria Newton's 'Sun' newspaper to discover how the tabloids work. With 3 million sales every day and 10 stories a day needed to fill the showbiz pages it's constant work. Victoria also addresses the pressure of dealing with celebrities. There is also the element of performance in the job.

20.13-End
Emma gets an assignment to interview Richard Attenborough for his 80th birthday. She's fearful she can't find an angle on the story. But she meets the deadline - another front-page story. Part of job satisfaction is seeing your name in print and an endless variety, from hard news to celebrity gossip. If you love the sweat of a deadline and being nosy, this job's for you.