My Showreel

Throughout my time at the University of Winchester, I have been very fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to undertake a great deal of practical journalism. I have covered news, sports and features, and served as Sports Editor for WINOL.co.uk for one semester.
The following is my showreel, compiled of a variety of clips of my work from my time here, and including some great quotes from industry professionals about the course that I have attended.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPs18ZbQX5I

Cancer changed my life... For the better - Confessional Interview

In December 2012, Sadiah Aalam was diagnosed with breast cancer. It came as a shock to herself and her family, but the disease turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Before I was diagnosed I was rushed off my feet. Between a full-time job, a family, choir practices, bible studies and church services, my week was always fully booked. The only day I had to myself was Saturday, and even that was jam-packed with grocery shopping and household chores. I had almost no time to myself. With all this going on anyone would feel tired, but the cancer in my body, at this point still undiagnosed, was draining me even further. I was trying to keep up with everything I had to do, but my body wasn’t cooperating any more.

As a Christian, my faith is a huge part of my life, and so I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my many commitments to the church. My whole life was based around my faith. I was involved in leading bible studies, I attended church meetings and I even preached at the services, sometimes three times a week. All this was adding to my exhaustion, but I was not prepared to give it up. Instead, growing tired of the rat race, I began to negotiate a four day week, to give me a little more time, as I could no longer manage any more than that. I was growing weak, but I had no idea it was the cancer.

A few weeks before I was diagnosed, I had two different dreams that I was going to suffer with cancer. When the diagnosis came, in December 2012, it came as both a shock and a confirmation of what I had dreamt. This was no longer a dream, I had breast cancer.

Like most people, I had never in a million years thought that I would go through something like this. You never think it’s going to be you. It made me feel as though the rug had been pulled from under my feet, and I was scared. But before long the cancer turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Once I was diagnosed a lot of things fell into place.  I understood why I was so tired and because I had a reason for it I stopped trying to keep on top of everything.  I took long term sickness leave from work and pretty much stopped doing everything else.  I had obviously needed a break from my hectic life, but without the cancer I might not have taken one.

Dealing with cancer was still a struggle of course. Once the treatment began I was bedridden for the best part of 18 months. I was too ill to get out of bed most days, even if I had wanted to. I went through six cycles of chemotherapy, and reacted badly to some of the drugs used, leaving me hospitalised for the entire treatment. I then went through radiotherapy, as well as four different surgeries, before doctors could give me the all clear. It was a long and extensive course of treatment, and it took its toll on me physically.

While my physical health was at its lowest ebb, emotionally and spiritually I suffered much less. My faith was still incredibly strong, but at times I felt confused. I was praying for supernatural healing, praying that I wouldn’t have to undergo extensive treatment, but things didn’t work out that way. Despite this, my faith stayed strong, and if anything it was made stronger by my illness. I understood that whatever was happening to me was not because God was unaware of it but rather it was something that God was permitting to happen, and the knowledge that God knew what I was going through really uplifted me. It helped that I could see how the illness had helped me, by forcing me to rest and take a break from the stresses of everyday life.

I don’t think that I would have been able to see the positive side of my illness without God. I know for a fact that I would not have come out of this relatively unscathed if I did not have my faith.  I often wondered when I was in hospital how people who did not know God got through times like this.  I know that people who don't have a faith also go through the same trials as someone who does have a faith in God.  They also fall ill and get healed, but I found that for me knowing God meant that I had come face to face with death, without fear.

During this time I was worse physically than I was emotionally or spiritually. Emotionally I felt fine, in fact I was able to give emotional support to my mum because she had really gone to pieces after my diagnosis.  I also was very strong in my spirit.  I knew God was with me and that was what got me through.

I’ve now been given the all clear, and I feel fine. I feel contented and full of peace.  I am still suffering from some side effects of the drugs that I was given and I struggle with concentration and sometimes with fatigue, but that is just a phase, it will pass too.

The illness has made me appreciate life more.  Probably for the first time in my adult life I have stopped to look around and appreciate everything that is around me.  I noticed that this year there are a lot more flowers in bloom, but then I realised that before this I have never really had time to appreciate the flowers.  They had probably always been like this but this year is the first time ever I have time to myself to appreciate them and everything else around me.  I have also become more relaxed about things like keeping the house really, really clean, and making sure that there is not a speck of dust anywhere. Somehow these things don't seem that important anymore.  I seem to be grateful for my children being there to make a mess, so in a way I am grateful for the mess. I have come to appreciate my family and friends even more than I did before. I have a deeper appreciation of life but from very different angles.  The things that seemed so important before don't seem so important now.  

My illness has also made my faith stronger. I could see God at work throughout my illness in everything from my healing to my finances.  God has really made his presence known to me in this time.  I have become much more aware of the way that he has been at work in my life and in the lives of others around me during my time of illness. I would not have got through this without my faith.

The whole ordeal has really opened my eyes. Before the cancer I was far too busy to appreciate the most important things in life, but now I feel I have time to enjoy how wonderful my life truly is. Going through the physical trauma of this disease has really strengthened me emotionally and spiritually, I am a happier and more relaxed person than I was before, and my prayers have been answered. I prayed for healing, but somehow God has worked in me at a much deeper level than just physical healing.  He has healed me in many other ways. I trust God even more than I did before now.  My faith in him is stronger and deeper.

I feel truly blessed. Rather than taking it away, cancer has given me the gift of time. 

Innovation: Magazine journalism assignment

The magazine industry is under threat.

Increasingly, the internet is playing host to content that was once the exclusive territory of the printed media, and with internet access seemingly ubiquitous, print is becoming a redundant format. The question of how to combat this terminal decline is the most important issue currently facing those in the industry. For magazine editors, it is a case of adapt or die.

Successful innovation is crucial to the long term viability of printed titles; however, not all innovation is necessarily good. “Innovation’s important, but not panic-stricken innovation for the sake of it” claims Q Editor Matt Mason, “the worst thing a printed publication can do is try to take on online outlets head on.” Instead, it seems the most successful approach for magazines is to embrace the internet, and develop a strong online presence to complement the publication; “The magazine has to play to its strengths and use the website and tablet edition to expand”. Altering the format of a successful publication is not necessary, but engaging in the online world and expanding through this is crucial to continued success.

Online editions offer printed publications a number of options that would be unavailable in the original format. For monthly magazines such as Q, who print two weeks ahead of release, an issue has always been the inability to break news, and attempting to create content that is still relevant when it arrives on shelves. Creating a strong companion website for their publication can allow weekly and monthly magazines to compete in the arena of breaking news, an important extra dimension for such publications.

An online edition can also play host to a more diverse range of content than a printed magazine can, as well as a greater volume of content. Video and audio can be created exclusively for the website, and pieces which did not fit in the magazine can find a home on the website. If the additional online content is directly linked to that of the magazine, it encourages the audience to both purchase the magazine and explore the website. This gives the publication a broader appeal, and can help to retain and strengthen the audience between issues.

Q’s Matt Mason also believes a strong online product is vital in expanding the magazine’s readership. “Increasingly new readers, particularly at the younger end of the scale, will come in via our digital products. So the next key thing for me is to develop our website to ensure it's something music fans feel they have to visit and return to every day.” Creating new, unique content on a daily basis is a challenging task, but signals a shift in focus towards the digital aspect of the publication. The digital editions are clearly the future of the magazine industry, and are essential in retaining and developing the readership of the magazine itself.

When Mason speaks of ‘digital products’, he is not only referring to the website. The development of a mobile app and mobile edition of the magazine is also crucial to expanding into the digital world. The growth of tablet computers and internet enabled smart phones presents the magazine industry with the opportunity to put their products into the hands of the consumer at the click of a button. By creating a variety of digital products, magazines can tailor their services to the lifestyles of the consumer, giving them greater ease of access to the content.

In terms of digital expansion, the magazine industry still seems to be lagging behind compared to most news providers, with The Sun a particularly strong example of digital development of the print media.

While The Sun still produces a daily newspaper, it has also developed a successful website and app, with all the content of the paper itself, as well as vast swathes of additional video, audio and written content. This allows The Sun to report on breaking news immediately, and supplement stories with additional content, giving the reader a multimedia experience. The Sun has also demonstrated that digital expansion can provide an extra stream of revenue. For magazines, physical sales represent an important source of income, and so to make the same content available for free online would be disastrous. The Sun charges a subscription fee for access to the digital formats, meaning that they still earn directly from their content being viewed.

This model is an innovative, ideal way for the magazine industry to move forward. By creating exclusive digital content that supplements that of the physical magazine, print titles can garner new readers, whilst offering a broader range of content to their existing readership. This is the direction in which Q are looking to head; “We’re working hard to expand and improve the website and it's important that we use the tablet edition to provide additional unique content” explains Matt Mason.

Along with creating digital content, it is also increasingly important that magazines engage in the digital world through the use of social media. Websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram provide a platform for titles to promote not just the publication as a whole, but individual articles and pieces of content. Social media is playing an increasingly crucial role in advertising magazines, as they can be used to spark interest in specific items. Used successfully, this can cause a piece to ‘go viral’, gaining great exposure for the publication and bringing the title to the attention of a huge audience.

Whilst digital development is clearly an incredibly important innovation in the field of magazine journalism, there are other methods of expansion being explored. Matt Mason emphasised the importance of intelligent marketing. “Few titles can afford TV advertising these days but there's still plenty you can do to remind the world that you're there. Our shoots and interviews are so good that the national papers will pick them up and run fully credited excerpts. Our festival partnerships underline how much we love and identify great music.” Newspapers running credited segments from a magazine give greater exposure to that title, especially with most newspapers already having a strong digital presence. Q’s festival partnerships give them exposure specifically to their target audience, and this is also a method utilised by NME magazine, who sponsor a stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals. For specialist magazines such as these, such direct marketing is an ideal way to promote their product, and in the digital age, it is easier than ever.

Clearly, all print publications must be looking to digital development as a means of moving forward and expanding. While innovation in this field can be of great importance for any title looking to develop, it is also crucial that the magazine continues to produce the high quality product for which it is known. As Matt Mason says; “We can't break news like a website can. We can't stream music or play videos like a website can. We can do what we've always done better than anyone else though: brilliant, considered long-form feature writing; stunning photoshoots; authoritative, witty reviews; and provocative, agenda-setting opinion”. While their foray into the digital world will allow Q to break news, stream music and play videos, that is no reason to abandon the pillars that have helped make the magazine one of the best known music magazines in the country. Any publication with a strong reputation must, therefore, look to progress, but not at the expense of the original article, which built their reputation and readership in the first place.

The future of these print titles relies upon a combination of intelligent, innovative digital expansion; targeted marketing strategies; and maintaining a high quality, reputable product. Those that manage this balancing act successfully will thrive in the increasingly internet-dominated media market. 

Editor Interview: Q's Matt Mason

Matt Mason is a busy man. By his own account he is “snowed under with work”, and it’s hardly surprising. As Senior Editor of the UK’s biggest music monthly, there is plenty to do.

Every month Q hits shelves and doorsteps packed with news, reviews and features, and making sure that this content is of the highest possible quality is an incredibly important task for Mason. “Like every title, we’re having to deal with a general decline in magazine sales. So we have to ensure our product is consistently strong and compelling” he explains.

But Mason wants more than to simply maintain Q’s own high standards. “The aim is to keep our loyal core readership happy and bring in new readers. Increasingly those new readers, particularly at the younger end of the scale, will come in via our digital products. So the next key thing for me is to develop our website to ensure it's something music fans feel they have to visit and return to every day. I think a lot of that will come through turning the magazine's access to music and artists into unique, compelling online content.”

Mason’s position is clearly a demanding one. Overseeing Q’s transition from a print powerhouse to a multimedia publication, whilst retaining the high quality journalism that has made Q such a successful title, is no easy task. It is the job of a man at the top of his field, and Matt Mason has worked hard to get here.

Mason took his first steps towards a career in print when, on leaving university, he enrolled on a post-graduate course in magazine journalism.  Having studied history and anthropology, he felt that this was a logical progression.  “It was the research, writing and the study of people that really fascinated me, so journalism seemed like the ideal way to carry on doing those things and get paid” Mason explains. Despite the course focusing on magazines, Mason found himself heading in a different direction. “I wanted to be a feature writer but the most valuable thing it taught me was subbing. Knowing how to sub makes you a better writer and when I was starting out, there were more subs’ jobs advertised than writers' jobs.” After taking a role as a TV listings sub for the Press Association, Mason moved into magazines, working as a staff sub/writer. It was a valuable experience for him, and one which he believes had a significant influence on his career. “I definitely wouldn’t have got to where I am today without learning to sub.”

As well as crediting his sub editing education with helping him to progress, Mason also believes his career has been shaped by a fair amount of good fortune. “There's been a lot of luck, lots of being in the right place at the right time. You do make your own luck though.” Out of eight magazines and newspapers for which Mason has worked, he claims he only applied and interviewed for three. The rest of those jobs he got “because someone I’d previously worked with recommended me or someone there had seen my work and approached me.” This, he says, is one of the great things about being a journalist. “Your work is out there, bylined, for everyone to see – so you can quickly build up a reputation.”

This comes with its own pressures, however: “Every single thing you write has got to be as good as you can possibly make it because it could be the key to your next job opportunity. I got offered some shifts as a football reporter at the Daily Mail because the sports editor had read something I'd written as a staff writer for Total Sport magazine. He heard later that day that the magazine was closing, so he gave me a call. It was fortunate that he'd read the mag when he did, but I'd also worked harder on that feature than I had on anything I’d ever written, so I helped make my own luck.” Not that such events always turned out to be a success: “As it turned out, I was terrible at tabloid football reporting so I don't think the Mail would consider it a particularly lucky event.”

His spell at the Mail aside, Mason has enjoyed success in both sport and music journalism. He believes the key is a genuine interest in the subject matter. “Music and football have always been two of my biggest passions so it's always felt like a privilege to write about them – that's why I've pursued those two areas. It’s wise to write about what you know.”

With his passion for music undimmed, Matt Mason has worked his way to the top of music journalism, with Q one of the most popular and respected music publications in the country. He believes there are two reasons why the magazine continues to be so successful. “I think Q really stands out in the music market for its access and variety. No-one gets the time with – and insight into the lives of – rock and pop stars that we do. We’re also broader than everyone else, covering the whole waterfront of music.”

Mason describes Q’s broad scope of coverage as “a double-edged sword.” “You appeal to a wider base of readers but it's hard to make them all feel that everything in the mag is worth their attention.” Mason’s solution is “to make sure our writing and photography is of such a high-standard that the reader knows that Q’s take on a band or artist will entertain them – even if they aren’t particularly interested in that act.” This, he feels, is one of the key strengths of the magazine. “I think Q’s very good at telling the stories behind the music. I want every reader to feel that if Q’s covered something, it's got to be worth reading.”

While Q is a well respected, successful magazine, Mason acknowledges that there are challenges facing the publication, especially in an increasingly digital world. “Music fans get so much online content for free that Q has to be really special to justify £3.99 of someone's money every month. We can't break news like a website can. We can't stream music or play videos like a website can.” With the ever growing number of online publications and blogs, Mason is aware of the need to adapt.

“The worst thing a printed publication can do is try to take on online outlets head on. The magazine has to play to its strengths and use the website and tablet edition to expand.”

Expanding the online element of Q is important in overcoming the challenges facing the publication, but Mason also believes that the magazine must stick to the formula that has made it so successful.  “What we can do is what we've always done better than anyone else: brilliant, considered long-form feature writing; stunning photoshoots; authoritative, witty reviews; and provocative, agenda-setting opinion.”

With an increased digital and online presence, paired with a continued dedication to top quality music journalism, Matt Mason believes that Q is still a relevant and important publication. The proof, it seems, is in the product. “Our shoots and interviews are so good that the national papers will pick them up and run fully credited excerpts. Our festival partnerships underline how much we love and identify great music. We still feel like an essential part of the music fan’s world.”