Room available to rent at the University of Kent Medway campus

If you’re coming through clearing to join us at CfJ this year and haven’t yet sorted out where you’re living, you might be interested in looking at the super-fantastic space we’ve still got for our house!

Three (soon-to-be) second year students are looking for another journalism student to join us in our house next year after the initial plan fell through, so we're asking any new students starting next year, whether undergrads or MA's, if they'd like to join us and we’d even go so far to say the deal is better than Quays!

· Rent is just £89 a week – that’s over £30 cheaper for a room of the same size.

· This includes all bills, internet and, unlike in halls, a TV licence and our internet is wireless!

· Unlike in halls our bathroom comes with a bath as well as shower, we’ve got a living and dining area and a garden.

· All of the rooms come with their own locks and everything’s fully furnished.

· We’ve also got enough pots and pans to sink a small ship, so there’s no need to splash out on your own kitchen equipment – as long as you wash up after yourself we’re happy to share!

· We’re also closer to university (so you get to spend longer in bed), closer to town for shopping and nights out and a mere two minutes away from a Chinese and Fish and Chip shop!

The house also comes with the added plus of being able to meet the housemates before you decide whether or not to move in and we’re happy to meet you first, have a chat on the phone or give you a look round – whatever really!

Just for the record you'd be living with three other journos; two girls and one boy. Our names are Jem Collins, Lydia Hamilton & Kieran Watkins if you want to Facebook stalk us first.

If you're interested or want some more information feel free to drop us an email at jemcollins@live.co.uk or kdjwatkins@yahoo.co.uk

Or you can comment and ask questions at the bottom of this blog post!

Also free to do viewings Sept 5th!

There's no place like home?

It feels weird being back home after months away at university. There is something quite eery about staying in your room for the first time in months, moulding a shape in your previously worn mattress, putting your clothes back in to old and dusty mahogany draws. It just doesn't feel right. Or rather, it doesn't feel like home.

Let me explain. I have been rather preoccupied since September with my new life at university. A lethal cocktail of work, alcohol, friends and more work has fuelled my independence, even if in the meantime, it has taken up my time. It has completely changed my way of life. I am an independent man now, who respects the value of money, the importance of friendship and the reward of handing your work in on time. I'm more level headed, and definitely more opinionated.

I guess you could say I have found my true calling in life. I love journalism, which is not to say I didn't love it before, but I now view it as my future. Without university, I would still be stuck in Hampshire pondering on my ambitions and dreams.

Which is why Hampshire just feels weird. Like a part of my life I don't want to return to. Seeing family, catching up with friends - yeah, I've missed them but it's almost as if they've become strangers. I don't understand my family now; their routines for example, really irritate me. So much so that even now, whilst writing this, I am confined to my small bedroom to protect my sanity!

I'm not saying I dislike Hampshire. On the contrary, I love it. Give me Marks & Spencer, chardonnay and green fields anyday over Medway's offering of 99p store, Frosty Jack's and shit-stained concrete. But it's different. Somewhere fresh and interesting.

The people are different in Medway, from all parts of the world. The locals may be considered more Jeremy Kyle-like material then say, The Archers-type from Hampshire, but it sure makes for a fascinating environment. Medway is certainly warmer than Four Marks, and the buzz of the thriving town is much more appealing than the chorus of bleating sheep and the twitching of the blinds coming from your nosey neighbour in my cul-de-sac in Hampshire.

So as I stare at my former bedroom walls, scanning my childhood books and the place where I used to store my old diaries,  I ask myself the question; will I ever be able to call this place home again? Maybe. It's always going to be here I guess. There's a certain familiarity of the Hampshire way of life which I've grown to love. Even when I'm away in Medway, I'm forever reading the local newspaper and scanning the East Hampshire District Council planning pages.

But besides familiarity and friendliness, I want new things. And the university life that I'm experiencing in Medway ticks all the boxes. I've even started to refer to it as my home, which six months ago, I refused to contemplate, despite feeling pretty comfortable with it now.

So here's to my new future, wherever that maybe. I might not be able to view Hamsphire as my home anymore, but it's still going to be here, wherever I decide to go.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia/ my own

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Opportunities for aspiring journalists

It is not everyday where I flick through a newspaper and see so many opportunities for a young journalist. But today was one of those days. If you had the chance to pick up a copy of The Guardian this morning, you will have noticed many of the exciting opportunities for young journalists, to not only be inspired and gain knowledge in the field of journalism, but also garner experience through some exciting opportunities. If you did not happen to pick up the latest copy however, I have listed below some of the opportunities I came across.

1. The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition 2012 - this fantastic competition offers a unique opportunity for aspiring journalists to report on key issues in the developing world. The challenge is to write a feature of 650 to 1,000 words by Thursday 3 May at 23.59pm on an aspect of global poverty that deserves greater media exposure. 16 finalists will then be chosen, and flown out to a developing country to write up on a key new issue. Two winners will then be chosen, and given awards in London at the end of the year. The competition is free, and supported by major companies and NGO's. A fantastic opportunity for a journalist with dreams of reporting from abroad.
2. Panorama (8:30pm tonight, BBC 1) - Any journalist should be glued to the ongoing coverage of the phone hacking scandal, and tonight's episode of Panorama looks closely at Rupert Murdoch's news empire, where journalist Vivian White investigates allegations of corruption in tonight's episode, "Murdoch's TV Pirates." Well worth a watch.
3. The Guardian Student Media Awards - Another Guardian-led item, this fantastic opportunity will help kick start a journalist's dream by helping nominate student reporters for awards and prizes. Awards cover photographers to broadcasters, critics to feature writers. These awards are a great opportunity for young journalists to showcase their work, and get a foot on the ladder to success. May as well try your luck!
4. Frost on Interviews (9:00pm tomorrow, BBC 4) - I do not know about you, but Sir David Frost is one of my favourite broadcast journalists, and this exceptional new series sees him interviewing famous chat show hosts and other gruelling reporters, as he delves into the history of the interviewing trade. For anyone interested in broadcast journalism looking to get a few tips on interview technique and style, this is the show for you. A must!

Top Ten for Tuesday: Top Ten News Websites

Now I know last week I decided to post two different Top Ten lists – one for me, and one on something news-worthy. However, I’ve decided to make a small change and instead focus on one top ten list, will provide you with more information about me and the chosen subject.

For this week’s Top Ten for Tuesday, the jourknow has compiled his ten favourite News Websites – where he gets his main news from. These are in the order of the jourknow’s personal preference!

1.       BBC News:  The best objective news gathering in the world, in my opinion. The BBC has been reporting, publishing and informing the public – nationally and internationally – of breaking news for nearly a century. It is highly regarded all over the world, and besides the newspapers of our nation, is the foundations for news in this country. My first port of call when looking at the new. www.bbc.co.uk/news

2.       The Guardian: one of the best online websites, despite being a traditional newspaper, the Guardian has and continues to reveal the biggest and most shocking scandals to rock this nation. It has a readership across the world, and is easily accessible. An up-to-date source for any ambitious writer/ journalist.  www.guardian.co.uk

3.       Digital Spy: My favourite website for showbiz, entertainment and television news, Digital Spy is still unfamiliar with the British public. It provides content on a range of UK and International artists, celebs, movies and television programmes, as well as special features on the Media industry and Bollywood. It’s my number one destination for entertainment news, and one of the best in the UK. www.digitalspy.co.uk

4.       Mail Online: The Daily Mail’s viral website offers many positive articles, as well as negative ones, on a host of news items. Its Femail section provides one of the best sites for fashion and celebrity news, whilst its reader comments allow readers to really get involved in the article. However, its grammar, spelling and facts are frequently misplaced, if placed at all – so watch out for what is true, and what is false! www.dailymail.co.uk/home

5.       Press Association: The press association might not provide you with colourful pictures, vox pops and unnecessary polls and opinion, but what it does provide is a countless supply of news stories. The website is often used for the source of many newspapers and news groups, so why not get ahead of them, and try it yourself. www.pressassociation.com/

6.       Reuters: Another news agency, Reuters is superb for international news. Similarly to the Press Association, it provides information to many of the media outlets – but also is easily accessible to the public. Its Twitter feed is exceptional. www.uk.reuters.com

7.       The Huffington Post: The Huffington Post is one of my favourite international news sites. It’s opinions and blog-style format is really accessible and user-friendly to a growing online audience, and it provides an alternative angle to the conventional news piece. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

8.       The Independent – One of my favourite newspapers, the Independent – like the Guardian and the Mail – has a website with a global presence which is highly successful and professional. Although the website is not the easiest to navigate, it is well worth a read – especially its award-winning opinion section. www.independent.co.uk

9.       Google News: Now I know technically this is not a news site as such, but Google is great at providing the latest articles on any topic; providing you with sources from a range of media and news outlets, which are easily accessible. www.news.google.co.uk

10.   Sky News: My last port of call if I fancy a change from my usual websites. Although Sky is great with Breaking News Stories, and its TV programming is often far better than the BBC (at times), its online content lacks the clarity and sophistication of other websites. You might think differently though. www.news.sky.com/home

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia