On Day 5 of YJA, we took a break from the usual indoor Training Centre and had a mini tour around London.
Our first stop of the day was at Bloomberg News Headquarters in Moorgate. Here we attended a session led by Mark Gilbert, a both well known and respected Journalist, who shared with us the essential characteristics needed in the Journalism profession. These features included; inquisitiveness, reading with an analytical mind, consuming all types of writing forms et al.
Shortly after Mark’s mini lecture, he provided us with a task to find out a unique attribute about someone else in an interview, to then write an eye-catching headline about it. Following this, the whole group read out their headline and explained the story behind it. Consequently, Mark gave each of us constructive feedback on what we had written.
Thereafter, we headed down to Tottenham Court Road for a session led by author and Journalist Mick Hume, hosted at the Google Headquarters. Here, Mick spoke about the topic of opinion writing and listed three points that contribute to getting a reaction from your readers; the subject matter, the angle and the way you present or express yourself in the article.
The interactive part of this session involved writing an opinion piece on the recent uprise in Syria concerning chemical attacks and the proposed question of whether Britain should intervene. Below is the short piece I wrote during this 10 minute task:
The recent uprise in Syria concerning chemical attacks, prompts the predictable question- should Britain intervene?
This question always forms a mix of responses regarding how to deal with the issue. The common mainstream argument tends to take the pro-intervention side. Unashamedly, I too agree with this view, as I have empathy for the Syrian citizens who are experiencing this horror. If I were in such a position, I would like to think that someone in an able position to do something would, well, do something- or at least an attempt to do so anyway.
As part of the western world we are in a position to try and help in one way or another. So whats the solution? How do we intervene? Send some troops? Provide arms? Perhaps a gentler approach? All of these suggestions at least act as a step towards helping Syria. Honestly, right now I don’t know which form of intervention we should take. However, I do know that the question we should really be asking is how as oppose to should we intervene. *End of Opinion piece*
As a light way to finish the session, Anthony House spoke about his career at google and subsequently opened the floor for a Q&A. We were also promised a tour of google to take place at some point in the future.
Look out for my next blog post about YJA!
