Evaluation

Research into My Future Options

After studying Media at Sunderland College for the past three years, I plan to go on to study Media, Culture and Communication at University. I have chosen this route as I never felt an apprenticeship was the right path for me to take, and upon looking into different University courses and what they offer, it is what appeals to me and my future career goals the most. Throughout my years studying the subject, including at GCSE, I have always been passionate for both the practical and theory side - but the theory side has always caught my eye that little bit more. From researching the history of a topic to analysing its reasonings, it is something I have taken great interest in for many years now, which is why I think choosing this course to study at University will only make my interest in the subject grow, as well as my passion to learn more. 

Looking into jobs in the industry, I felt the best way to locate these roles was to look into large media companies, like the BBC and Channel 4. Currently I am unsure on the specific job role I would like to take on in my future, but I do know the area of work, so from here I began to search for job roles which would appeal to me. Firstly I began on the BBC Careers website, showing every current job vacancy at the company, all around the country. Having an interest in journalism, I searched for job roles to do with this side of Media, soon finding a Journalism Researcher vacancy. From here I was able to find out where the job was based and if travel would be needed, what the role consists of and its requirements, as well as skills needed. Following this, I went onto Channel 4's career's website, finding a Publicist role which I felt appealed to me. Once again, I looked into what the role would involve, the experience and skills required, and what my key responsibilities would be. 

Looking into different job roles has gave me an insight into what this industry requires of you, such as a track record in the specific area, knowledge of media law and of the company, the ability to bring a different perspective and to work independently as well as a team, and so many more. 

Higher Education

Through UCAS, I was able to look into potential Higher Education options - in this case, University courses. To begin with I simply looked for Media courses, and began searching from there. Being interested in the theory side, I tried looking for courses which were more theory rather than practical, leading me to find courses like Media, Culture and Communication, Journalism, as well as Communication and Media. After researching some more, I decided that these were the three courses I would look at in more depth. 

Looking into these three courses in particular definitely helped me in discovering which parts of the industry I would like to learn more about and study in more depth. Using UCAS I was able to see the overall summary of the course and what each year would include, then accessing the University's personal page on each course, showing further information like the modules, assessment methods, and more. Completing my research and being happy with what I had found, I then applied for three University courses:

• Media, Culture and Communication at University of Sunderland 
• Journalism at University of Sunderland
• Media and Communication at University of Liverpool

I decided to apply for Media, Culture and Communication at the University of Sunderland since in summary, the course sounds like everything I take great interest in. I think if I were to take this course at University I would enjoy every second along the way, remaining as passionate for the subject as I currently am. Secondly, I decided to apply for Journalism. For years now, there has always been a part of which is truly passionate for the world of journalism and reporting on new and important topics, this leading me to create a music review blog in my first year of studying the subject at college. Lastly, I have applied for Media and Communication at the University of Liverpool. Since young, Liverpool has always been my favourite city, due to the endless amount of history and culture, from The Beatles to Cilla Black the list goes on, and I think to be able to study in a city with so much incredible history would truly be incredible. 

Currently I have offers from both Sunderland University courses, both unconditional meaning should I meet the required UCAS points, I have a place on the course. As of now I am yet to hear back from the University of Liverpool. 

Undertaking Networking Opportunities

During my time at college, on both the Level 2 and 3 Media course, I have had the opportunity to network with practitioners currently working in the industry, finding out what they do and the responsibilities that come with the roles they are in. In October of last year, we were given the opportunity to go and listen to a talk at The Looking Glass held by Leo Pearlman, who is the managing partner, alongside Gabe Turner, Ben Turner, and Ben Winston of production company Fulwell 73, James Corden also joining the company later in 2017. There we were able to listen to Pearlman talk about the company, the productions they have created - one of those being my favourite documentary, Hitsville: The Making of Motown. It was truly inspirational to hear the journey he has been on to get his career where it currently is now, especially when he discussed the company opening a new base in the University of Sunderland, this then creating new opportunities for students like myself. 

Furthermore, during college we were able to participate in an online seminar with Sam Horton, who is a storyboard artist with over ten years of experience within the animation industry. During the seminar Horton discussed the different projects he has worked on, including Dennis & Gnasher, and Unleashed! Upon listening to the talk I now know more about story-boarding, since beforehand I didn't know much of the context, only how to create them to a certain extent. Before the seminar came to an end, we were told one important rule - to always take notes, and to always ask questions, no matter which part of the industry I end up working in, this is something I should take with me. This has helped me gain further insight into the industry since we were told things that I may never have known

Following this, we had the chance to listen to a talk presented by Andrew Glover in college, who is the programme leader for Broadcast Journalism at Sunderland University. Upon hearing the talk about Journalism at Sunderland University, I most definitely know more about the industry than I previously did. We learned about the three different Journalism courses at the University - Sport, Fashion, and straight Journalism. We also learned more about the importance of networking and how important it is to have trusted contacts. This is definitely something which will help me in my future career, in any area of work, since knowing others in the industry who can help you along the way is definitely a positive thing. As someone with an interest in Journalism, it undoubtedly opened my eyes to future career paths, since graduates from the course have gone on to work for Sky Sports, ITV, ELLE, and more. The talk also helped me with my current projects, as he discussed how nowadays we are all publishers, with one example being when we publish content to social media - In summary, believing in your own work, which helps since I've found I can self criticise a lot. 

Just last month, we were able to take part in a Masterclass ran by ITV, in which we learned about the company as a whole and about specific job roles and what they consist of. Following this talk, I do now think I know more about the industry and ITV in particular, learning about the different networks ITV has and how it has grew to what it is today. It has helped me think more about potential careers, since some advice we were given was try  not to put too much pressure on yourself upon leaving college since there are countless opportunities out there, especially in todays age, and try to take some time to figure out the career path you truly want and are passionate about, rather that choosing the first option. To me this advice was extremely helpful, since I am currently unsure about my future career path, so to be told this by people who are now in incredibly supportive jobs, it in a  way creates a sense of comfort when thinking about my future. 

My Mock Interview

Watching my mock interview back, there are definitely things I would like to improve on - one thing in particular being my pronunciation. Unfortunately when I'm nervous I repeat the word 'like' a lot, which is mentioned one too many times in the interview, so this is definitely a habit I need to try to refrain from as when it comes to a genuine interview in the industry, it doesn't come across as professional. Meanwhile, something I believe I did well was preparing my answers. Going into the interview I prepared potential answers for the planned questions, as well as researching into Channel 4, so there were different topics I could discuss that perhaps others didn't. Researching into the company you are being interviewed for, I believe, is the most important part of the process, since it shows that you have took the time to learn more about the company and its history. I also made sure that I had different experiences in mind which I had faced during college to show how I have gained certain skills which would help me in the role and with my future in the industry. You can watch my mock interview here:

Creating My Brand Identity

Developing your brand is something so crucial and important in the media industry, since it is your first impression to an employer, and you want it to be a good one. I envisioned the route I wanted to take when creating my brand quite early, and I think upon completing it, I am happy with the outcome. Creating my personal brand all began with developing a CV, since this is the document that gives you a chance to show employers who you are and what you have to offer. It sells your skills and experience, and showcases why you're the right person for the job. I did previously have a CV, since when applying for my current job this was needed to show my skillset and any previous experience I had, but while this stands, in December I began my CDF Placement, meaning I had to add a new area of experience to the document, furthering my skills. Before creating my CV, I looked into existing documents and analysed what they included, then writing this into mu blog to show my research. With this is also uploaded both versions of my CV, allowing you to see the improvements and changes made. Completing an up-to-date CV allows me to use it when perhaps applying for future job roles, as well as when I applied for University. 

After creating my CV, I then had to begin working on creating my personal statement, since without this, I wouldn't get into University. Having never created a personal statement before, the first thing I did was research into what they are, and exactly what they should contain. With help from my teacher's I was able to create a plan on what to include in each paragraph, ensuring I only discuss the important points without missing out any information which could benefit me. It took me some time to create my first draft, as at first I was writing parts for separate paragraphs, trying to grasp exactly what I wanted to say and where. Soon enough my first draft was complete, allowing me to share it with my teacher's who could then give me feedback. Attending UCAS workshops during college hours helped me greatly with this process, as it allowed me to receive feedback from people other than my teacher's who perhaps don't know me personally - This way they can read the document and tell me how they think I present myself and if I need to improve on anything. Following this, the feedback I received was greatly appreciated and very helpful, meaning I could go away and make those needed changes and improvements, my personal statement now presenting me in perhaps a more positive and professional way. In the newly updated version, I added things like specific projects I have completed in college which I think are relevant, including my Culture in the Digital Age work. As well as this I also discussed the different software I have used while being in college to show what I have experience in and am capable of using. To add to this, I went on to discuss my work experience at Sunshine Co-operative and the skills I have gained in my time being there. Completing my personal statement allowed me to complete my UCAS application, this helping me apply to University. 

Now that I had applied for the relevant University courses, I now had to create a logo and business card to truly showcase my brand and who I am. I began with looking into existing brand logo's and explaining why I thought they were effective, perhaps through use of imagery or colour. I chose to look at logo's I personally liked meaning I could take inspiration when creating my own. In saying this, my first two draft's took inspiration from those I looked at in that they were of an image surrounded by text, which I soon decided were both too plain and needed something adding to them to make them different from any others. I soon decided adding colour and a new image would be the best option, ensuring the colour I chose represents positivity and happiness, and so my final logo was created. 

When creating this logo, I was able to keep my original idea of my name being wrapped around an image, and was also able to include some colour so it wasn't as dull - choosing yellow due to its connotations of happiness and calmness, which I think when presented on a website or business card would represent me in a professional manner. Following this, I am pleased with how the idea turned out, as I liked the idea of including an image of a film clapper board, since this in itself is memorable and has been for many years. I also think that the simple use of colour gives the overall image a nice feel, while representing me in a positive light, along with the use of text wrapped around the image. I then asked those in my class to give me feedback  on the image, asking what they like about it and what they would improve - The four respondents told me that colour and the simplicity, and they thought there were no improvements to be made. Overall I am glad with how this logo turned out as I believe it is simple yet effective and, with the image and text, would remain recognisable. Since creating the logo I have also been able to use it on my website. 

Just like the logo design, the first thing I did when beginning the process of creating my business card was to look at already existing products, allowing me to analyse what I like about them to then take inspiration. I quickly found a common theme running throughout, which was that most business cards contain just their logo on one side, and on the other, the business' information, contact details, etc. Making them simple yet effective. When it came to creating my first draft, I firstly wanted to create a simple business card to see the outcome, this way I'd be able to analyse what I do and don't like about it. 

When creating my business card, I envisioned something with a simple design that get's the point across, which I believe I have achieved. In my final design there isn't too much going on so it isn't considerably busy, it's just straight to the point while looking quite sleek. When designing the back of the business card, I wanted to keep the text to a minimum since I didn't want it to be overcrowded, as I think the most successful business cards are those with just the necessary information. After including my personal details, I am happy with the outcome and I do think I could use this professionally. I then created a survey to receive feedback from my peers, asking what they like about the business card and if they would improve anything, which they again answered that they liked the simplicity of the design as well as the layout, and that improvements weren't necessary. 

Next I had to create my showreel, once again beginning by looking into already existing versions of the product, discussing what I like about each and at times what I would change. I soon sourced all the footage I could possibly find, dating from my first year of the course to my current, looking at each video and taking out the best parts. Upon creating my first draft, I wanted to see which direction I could take with the footage I had and which order to put it in. After creating the video, I knew instantly which parts I wanted to change and which parts I wanted to keep, such as including more footage I recently remembered I had from my first year of college doing Level 2 Media, meaning that I didn't receive feedback, I just got straight into correcting what I didn't particularly like about the video - this leading to my second draft. Creating the second draft of my showreel, I instantly liked it more than the first, as I included a variation of more footage from different projects, including my short film from Level 2 Media based around the city of Liverpool, as well as clips from a small project we did entering Level 3 Year 1 on the paranormal in Sunderland. After creating my first official draft, I created a survey to collect feedback on what people like and what they would change. When asking what my peers liked about the video, I was thrilled with the positive feedback, which included:

• 'It looked very professional'
• 'It showed a variation of work'
• 'It captured a mix of different things that were all positive'
• 'Shows a variety of different skills'

Following this, when asked what they would change:

• 'A more solid ending'
• 'Small titles to separate each piece'

Receiving the feedback, I then went and made different changes to see how effective they would make my showreel, creating two new drafts and deciding which was more professional. Overall I am happy with the outcome of my showreel and I think it represents me and who I am in a positive way to employers. It includes footage from projects such as our sound editing unit, in which we had to choose a clip and recreate each sound included, using things like Foley and the BBC sound archive online. Something in particular I like is that I was able to include things that also show my main passions and interests, including the ending scene which shows footage from gigs I have attended, as well as close up shots of my records (included in a short film from Level 2 Media). Upon completing my showreel I have been able to add it to my website homepage, allowing employers to see who I am and what I am capable of. 

Last but not least, creating my website. Having created a website previously in my first year of the course, I knew exactly what direction I wanted to go in and what to include throughout. Between December and January I worked on completing my website, creating things like my home page, my inspirations page, showcasing my work, and more. Like previously, I sent the link yo my created website to my class, asking for feedback on what they liked and what they thought I should either change or add. When I asked what they liked about the website, the feedback I received was thankfully all positive:

• 'It is well organised and structured'
• 'I like the colour scheme and layout'
• 'The detail in the inspirations, the amount of content available to view'
• 'It looks professional'

Secondly, when asking for improvements, I received a lot of helpful feedback which then allowed me to make changes to my website to make it look better:

• 'Developing the practitioners statements'
• 'Adding your showreel' 

Lastly I asked if they thought my website was effective as a digital portfolio, to which everyone replied yes, which I was very thankful for since that is truly the main aim of the website. Since receiving feedback, I have gone on to make changes to my website, such as making the practitioners statements on each project longer and more in depth, explaining what the client wanted and what I had created from that. I have also since added my showreel on my home page, since when I added it to a page of its own it looked quite bland and empty, so I feel having it on my homepage makes sense since it is what I would show employers, as well as my homepage not including a lot previous to this. Now my website is fully complete, I am happy with the work I have produced and it turned out exactly the way I wanted it to. Having created this website, as well my previously mentioned music blog, I can go on to use this as evidence in my future, as I think both projects show my skills well and in a positive way. 

In conclusion, I am proud with the overall completion of this project and what I have created along the way. Looking at my position now compared to when I initially began this unit, I feel I have learned a lot about the industry and different paths I am able to take upon leaving college. Personally I believe I am definitely more experienced, and I am thankful that through this work I was able to learn more about things like University courses and what they have to offer, since without it I'm not sure where I would've began looking. I feel that I am now in a position in which I am more confident about leaving college and moving onto University, since I have never been a greatly confident person but tasks like the mock interview especially have helped me gain confidence in that area. I believe creating my website has helped me greatly too as it has given me a platform in which I can showcase all of my work in an effective way, allowing employers to see what I am capable of.