Part 3 Tapescript
Int:
Today we’re looking at careers in
journalism. My guests are
Jenny Langdon and Peter Sharples,
both regular columnists on
major publications. Jenny, you made
your name really young,
didn’t you?
F:
Relatively, yes. I was a raw recruit
on the local paper when
a scandal broke concerning a
celebrity living nearby. Out of
the blue I found myself with a scoop
on my hands. Basically, I
found the guy, interviewed him, then
hid him someplace where
reporters on rival papers wouldn’t
find him. When the story
broke next day, the editorial team
had actually cobbled the
front-page story together from my
notes, but it was attributed
to me by name. Before I knew what
was happening, I’d been
headhunted by a national daily. It
was a turning point alright –
but I can hardly claim it as a
shrewd career move or anything!
Int:
And the editor at that national
daily was a notoriously bad-
tempered individual...
F:
Well, there’s no denying he deserved
that reputation! I mean,
having landed a dream job, I was
really thrown in at the deep
end! My desk was right outside his
office, so I was first in the
firing line if anything went wrong –
even stuff I’d had no hand
in! But I knew better than to argue,
and was thick-skinned
enough not to take it personally.
Anyway that’s what the paper
was like, always on the edge, and I
really flourished in that
environment.
Int:
Eventually getting your own daily
column...
F:
... and that’s where I really came
into my own. I mean, I’d done
stints on the sports desk, been
celebrity correspondent – the
works. Actually, I only got offered
the column as a stop-gap
when my predecessor left under a
cloud. But I was desperate
to hold on to it. And it came at
just the right time – if it’d been
earlier, I’d never have had the
nerve or the experience to make
it my own.
Int:
Let’s bring Peter in here. You
started off on the celebrity
magazine called
Carp
, didn’t you?
M:
I did. Ostensibly thanks to a
speculative letter to the editor
when I was still a student.
Actually, I’d been doing stuff for a
student newspaper all through
university. Skills I learnt there
stood me in good stead. When
Carp
Magazine
called me for
interview, my approach to college
news convinced them I
was in touch with reality – you
know, budgets, deadlines, all
that – that’s what swung it in my
favour – it wasn’t just having
my finger on the pulse as far as
youth culture was concerned –
important as that was at
Carp
.
Int:
Can I ask you both whether you’d say
courses in journalism are
worth doing? Jenny?
F:
Well, I wanted to write and a
journalism course seemed
a reasonable enough starting point.
Journalism is at least
paid up front – unlike some forms of
writing, and there’s no
denying that was an incentive. So,
yes, I did one. And, you
know, if I hadn’t, who knows if I’d
have been able to handle
the stuff thrown at me when I first
arrived at the newspaper
– it does give you that grounding.
But I wouldn’t say it taught
me everything I needed. Fortunately
a stint on the student
newspaper filled in the gaps.
M:
... as is so often the case. They’re
often criticised for taking too
strong a line on issues, but they’re
invaluable because they give
you that free rein, and you’re
generally writing from the heart
rather than for the money. I’d say
by all means do a course,
theorise all you like in the
classroom, but just bear in mind that
it’s no substitute for getting out
there – for developing your
own style.
Int:
Now you’ve both recently published
novels – is this a change of
direction?
F:
People keep asking that. I like to
think that, much as I rate
myself as a journalist and feel I
have nothing left to prove, I’m
still up for the next thing that
comes along. I’ll never be a prize-
winning novelist, but having a go at
it keeps me on my toes. It
would be easy enough to get stale
doing a column like mine,
but that does remain my grand
passion – I don’t know about
you Peter, but I’m hardly thinking
of moving on.
M:
Well, I expect there’s people who’d
say we should stand aside
to give up-and-coming writers a
chance. But, no, I’m not. I’d
go along with the idea of
diversification keeping you nimble
though, and I’m not making great
claims for my novel either.
But I would take issue with the idea
that journalism itself holds
no further challenge. I wish I had
your confidence Jenny – I’m
always telling myself that I’m only
as good as my last piece and
there’s no room for complacency.
Int:
And there we must leave it. Thank
you both... Coming up now...
Part 4 Tapescript
Speaker 1
PAUSE 2 SECONDS
After college I worked in a bank to make money. It’s a great job
if you like sitting at the same desk every day, surrounded by the
same familiar faces. I got plenty of annual leave and the work
itself was quite demanding, but one day I woke up and realised
that it didn’t amount to much, and was really pretty pointless.
Handing in my notice was the next logical step. I set up as a
freelance photographer – a job I’d always dreamed of. After the
first six months or so of sheer panic, I feel much calmer; this
will always be a risky job, but ultimately a far more rewarding
one – not financially, mind you!
PAUSE 3 SECONDS
Speaker 2
PAUSE 2 SECONDS
The family car sales business was the obvious and safe career
route for me, even though we didn’t always see eye to eye.
I’d no complaints about the money, but that didn’t stop me
looking at what other people were doing and thinking ‘Now
that’s something I’d really like to get my teeth into’. And that’s
how I got into rally driving really. I went to rally school part-
time, then got signed up by a rally team. That’s when I left the
motor business, not without a bit of soul-searching! I miss the
family, but looking at myself now – travelling the world, maybe
even having the chance to make millions, living on the edge –
what’s not to love?
PAUSE 3 SECONDS
Speaker 3
PAUSE 2 SECONDS
I’ve always worked in the music industry – but was never
made to feel very welcome in the marketing department.
I guess my face didn’t fit, although I was doing well enough.
Then by chance I heard a band playing in my local venue and
thought they were great – I got them signed up and suddenly
realised this was exactly the type of work that suited me and
my abilities – searching for talent, giving kids a start in the
business I loved. So, after a while I left the company to do
just that – on a freelance basis. Pay’s not bad – it’s possible to
negotiate good percentages – but that’s not why I do it.
PAUSE 3 SECONDS
Speaker 4
PAUSE 2 SECONDS
I worked in a busy studio as a radio copywriter – it was
challenging and fun, but frustrating because it wasn’t leading
anywhere career-wise. I was spotted by one of the radio
executives – he liked my way with words and gave me the
chance of a presenting slot on a general interest show.
I jumped at it, but underestimated the skills involved – without
training it’s proving a steep learning curve! It would’ve been
better to work as an intern for free for a while to learn the
ropes, but it’s all about seizing the moment – too good an
opportunity to miss. Now I’ve got a foot in the door, I’m pretty
optimistic about making a go of it.
PAUSE 3 SECONDS
Speaker 5
PAUSE 2 SECONDS
I had a responsible job that I’d worked hard for – most people
would consider being an eye surgeon pretty rewarding, both
financially and emotionally. I wasn’t keen to leave, but the
long shifts and the sheer volume of patients got me down.
I wanted to use my knowledge and experience in other ways.
I did some research on the effects of sunlight on children’s eyes
and eventually started up my own business. We manufacture a
range of sunglasses designed to protect children’s eyes against
harmful rays. I’m my own boss, so I call the shots, which suits
me down to the ground. I have to be strict with myself about
taking holidays though!
