'Whiteness' - My Interesting & Inspirational Key Concept
This short section sets out to explain the concept I found most interesting from the Race & Ethnicity module of Term Two.
December 18th 2008 saw us take a seen exam paper for MSVC205. One question that I answered was regarding the concept of 'whiteness' and how it takes us the position of 'ordinariness' (Dyer, 2007).
Sometimes, I believe, this ethnic category is overlooked as the norm, as it is never usually categorised as something like Afro-Caribbean or Asian. I enjoyed lectures that attempted to make us think in a different way, and analyse this concept as an ethnic category within itself.
Race boundaries seem to be blurred in modern times, as there are now a lot more options regarding how race is seen. For example, recent arguments in society include residents of Cornwall wanting their own 'category', however this has yet to be agreed to. In the Western world, 'whites' have always been seen as white, middle-class, heterosexual males/females, which seems to be rather a hegemonic view on the category. It is suggested that anyone not fitting into these labels should be seen as 'The Other', meaning anything that is not associated with the Western race or Western hegemonic is out of the ordinary according to racial ideologies.
The area that I found interesting and inspirational, was that it is apparent that even though maybe subconsciously, the 'white race' can also become hybrid. For example, the Indian diaspora of dress and make-up and food has seemed to permeate British culture, which makes more of a mixture within the races. If this worked on a conscious level, I believe, and people realised that these diasporic groups work well together to form a huge culture, there would be much less racism and hegemonic values would be overturned. This binary opposition can be very problematic (Strauss, 1979), as the discourse can create much trouble. White is always seen as dominant against 'black' races, much like masculine is over feminine and cultured is over savage.
All in all, people of the modern world still need a discourse to compare ourselves to. Pluralism seems to be an ideal, where everyone would get their own say regarding culture and the world would have a huge multi-cultural view. However, we in Britain still live through a hegemonic existence and due to the acts of the media and other ethnic groups, this does not look like it is going to change anytime soon.
MSVC 206 - Assignment 1 (3k words 100%)
Reflective Diary - Identifying Areas of Interest in Media Employment
The following blog post comes in the form of a reflective diary, whereby we are asked to think about the area of the media we want to venture into once we finish our undergraduate degree at students. It will include the area of the media that interests me, what the particular job entails as well as how it contributes to a media organisation as a whole. The blog will also explore the skills I may require to attain such a career and the stereotypical representation of females in this area. It also includes a short section on where to find vacancies in media jobs sections of broadsheet newspapers, for example. Finally, the blog will attempt to summarise what I feel as an undergraduate student that I need to improve on, skill-wise, in order to gain such a career as well as how I feel learning about public speaking techniques has helped me and will continue to as I venture into the world of media work.
The following blog post comes in the form of a reflective diary, whereby we are asked to think about the area of the media we want to venture into once we finish our undergraduate degree at students. It will include the area of the media that interests me, what the particular job entails as well as how it contributes to a media organisation as a whole. The blog will also explore the skills I may require to attain such a career and the stereotypical representation of females in this area. It also includes a short section on where to find vacancies in media jobs sections of broadsheet newspapers, for example. Finally, the blog will attempt to summarise what I feel as an undergraduate student that I need to improve on, skill-wise, in order to gain such a career as well as how I feel learning about public speaking techniques has helped me and will continue to as I venture into the world of media work.
Since a young age, I had always wanted to be an actress, as every young girl wants to be at some stage. After taking part in numerous stage shows at secondary school, I eventually decided to audition for drama courses in further education. Unfortunately I was not offered any places on such courses, and I began to open my eyes to the fact that this was going to be a very difficult profession to gain entry in to; not only because thousands of people enter for the opportunity of only a few places, but because of the financial factor, also. I therefore realised that I needed to broaden my media career aspects, and that is the point that I am at today.
The world of media is huge, from journalism to advertising, acting to photography. It was not until going into my second year at UWIC that I got the urge to look into one particular field - of mixing sport with television. My interest in sport came from competing as an athlete until the age of eighteen. Then, when moving to Cardiff and having the feeling of such a close-knit community addicted to sports like rugby, it heightened my interest in becoming more of a sports fan. Like most people, I watch television, and most of this comes from watching sport being broadcast on either the BBC, ITV, S4C or Sky Sports. I started to realise what my ideal job would be earlier this term, when we had guest speaker Kim Marks come in to lecture. I realised that from her life story, anything is possible, and for someone who studied 'honey bees' at university going on to present the news for the BBC, thought that this would also be possible for myself to achieve. This year, I have been watching much more coverage of sport on satellite channel Sky, and have began to identify more with wanting to work for the company and gaining a job presenting sports news.
Sky Sports News (SSN) is a 24-hour sports news channel in the UK. It is broadcast by BSkyB, whose sports channels include Sky 1/2/3 and Xtra, as well as Sky HD1/HD2/HD3. It describes itself as having 'the best sports coverage from around the world, covering football, cricket, golf, rugby, WWE, boxing, tennis and much more...'
Sky Sports News (SSN) is a 24-hour sports news channel in the UK. It is broadcast by BSkyB, whose sports channels include Sky 1/2/3 and Xtra, as well as Sky HD1/HD2/HD3. It describes itself as having 'the best sports coverage from around the world, covering football, cricket, golf, rugby, WWE, boxing, tennis and much more...'
Any job in television is sought after, but it seems that regarding females and sports jobs, working for Sky seems to be the ultimate. Working for the corporation in this particular role entails skills in not only presenting sports news from around the world, but having background knowledge in sporting areas in case questions are asked or unusual situations arise, for example the loss of an autocue. The channel focuses predominantly on football, but reports on a wide range of sports, even sports to which Sky do not possess broadcasting rights, such as Formula One and baseball.
The programming is presented by two reporters in the studio who read the news or introduce short clips featuring highlights and interviews covering a variety of topics. Tabs at the bottom of the screen give unrelated information on a wide range of sports, while a sidebar also shows unrelated league tables or other information. The content of the main studio feed generally repeats depending on the amount of news at a given time, varying from 20 minutes to an hour.
The role of the presenter on this channel is compulsory to Sky delivering what they are known for - sports news around the clock. All in all, Sky presenters manage to complete many tasks all at the same time - delivering breaking news, updating scores and interacting with fellow presenters. Without the presenters, the organisation would have no empathy to their audiences. They are used as a catalyst to entice viewers, which may suggest why many of the presenters are well-spoken, good-looking and well experienced. With attractive hosts, it helps Sky to live up to a more glamorous side than the BBC or ITV1, for example.
The sports presenters rarely leave the studio to go on location. The company employs reporters who interview guests in the field, then use the studio to feed back information to the audience. This means that the hosts are truly committed to their studio time and feel comfortable in their surroundings. Sky (see Fig.1), as a corporation, has many different sub-channels - SkyNews, Sky One, Sky Three, Sky Movies, amongst many others. It is an extremely successful company with many well-known employees. Sky Sports News however, is seen as one of its most successful channels and the people that are employed to present the sports news are used as a representational tool for the corporation.
The programming is presented by two reporters in the studio who read the news or introduce short clips featuring highlights and interviews covering a variety of topics. Tabs at the bottom of the screen give unrelated information on a wide range of sports, while a sidebar also shows unrelated league tables or other information. The content of the main studio feed generally repeats depending on the amount of news at a given time, varying from 20 minutes to an hour.
The role of the presenter on this channel is compulsory to Sky delivering what they are known for - sports news around the clock. All in all, Sky presenters manage to complete many tasks all at the same time - delivering breaking news, updating scores and interacting with fellow presenters. Without the presenters, the organisation would have no empathy to their audiences. They are used as a catalyst to entice viewers, which may suggest why many of the presenters are well-spoken, good-looking and well experienced. With attractive hosts, it helps Sky to live up to a more glamorous side than the BBC or ITV1, for example.
The sports presenters rarely leave the studio to go on location. The company employs reporters who interview guests in the field, then use the studio to feed back information to the audience. This means that the hosts are truly committed to their studio time and feel comfortable in their surroundings. Sky (see Fig.1), as a corporation, has many different sub-channels - SkyNews, Sky One, Sky Three, Sky Movies, amongst many others. It is an extremely successful company with many well-known employees. Sky Sports News however, is seen as one of its most successful channels and the people that are employed to present the sports news are used as a representational tool for the corporation.
Fig.1
Careers in media come about through experience, determination and luck. There are many skills required to undertake a job like sports presenting. After the lecture from media professional Kim Marks, it became more clear at what these skills are. Pronunciation, breathing and posture are all very important in being a successful presenter. They represent the whole broadcast company; viewers do not see the editors or directors, only the presenters, and so it is vital to achieve the correct first impression.
As with all jobs in every field, determination is key. News presenters must be aware that they are thrust into the public sphere, and along with getting recognised in the street, must be prepared for both praise and scrutiny.
The Sky studios are based in London, and so potential candidates for jobs within the company must be prepared to move away from their home city and set up somewhere that may be unfamiliar, having to make new friends and new contacts. This can be just as hard as starting the new job, but the determination of wanting the job should carry one through.
The way a SkySports presenter presents themselves is very important; the male hosts wear smart suits and are seen as tidy and immaculate, the same goes with the female presenters like Georgie Thompson, who is mentioned more below.
Background knowledge and a keen interest in sport is also very important for undertaking this job, I believe. Passion is key in any occupation for it to be successful and vibrant. Even though sports news presenters are meant to be impartial to news stories and just present the facts, it is important that Sky viewers see their personal interest and are confident that they are pronouncing names and places correctly. For example, if Georgie Thompson's autocue disappeared, she should be confident and knowledgeable in her role to be able to know who the stories are surrounding and be able to carry the show solo.
As with all jobs in every field, determination is key. News presenters must be aware that they are thrust into the public sphere, and along with getting recognised in the street, must be prepared for both praise and scrutiny.
The Sky studios are based in London, and so potential candidates for jobs within the company must be prepared to move away from their home city and set up somewhere that may be unfamiliar, having to make new friends and new contacts. This can be just as hard as starting the new job, but the determination of wanting the job should carry one through.
The way a SkySports presenter presents themselves is very important; the male hosts wear smart suits and are seen as tidy and immaculate, the same goes with the female presenters like Georgie Thompson, who is mentioned more below.
Background knowledge and a keen interest in sport is also very important for undertaking this job, I believe. Passion is key in any occupation for it to be successful and vibrant. Even though sports news presenters are meant to be impartial to news stories and just present the facts, it is important that Sky viewers see their personal interest and are confident that they are pronouncing names and places correctly. For example, if Georgie Thompson's autocue disappeared, she should be confident and knowledgeable in her role to be able to know who the stories are surrounding and be able to carry the show solo.
Before undertaking any role in the media, I think it is very wise to gain as much work experience as possible. In order to learn skills before being offered a job at a company like Sky, working in different sports departments and media outlets could be very useful. This means that as a presenter, you would be more confident and not 'learning on the job' as such. It is also key that as well as being able to work as an individual (by way of preparing reports and having a coherent and cogent way of writing) interaction with fellow presenters and audiences are also important. One does not get to choose who they work with, and as Sky has only two presenters in the studio, it is vital that this relationship is professional and the two connect well.
The most obvious skill that needs to be obtained is the confidence in talking into a camera and to an audience if millions. No swearing or inappropriate behaviour is extremely important also. Sports presenters cannot be shy or retiring and need to exude confidence and passion for their job in order for them to be successful and retain their seat at such a successful corporation.
When one looks at the past and present presenters of SSN, it could be argued that there seems to be a stereotypical look of the female hosts. Millie Clode and Georgie Thompson (see Fig.2) are attractive, blond women, as well as Kelly Dalglish and Gabby Yorath is recent years. It seems as though Sky employs these females for a host of reasons, including talent and experience, but also for their look on camera. Sky needs to uphold its glamorous image, as said before, and so it is important that they hire women with whom their regular viewers can identify with.
Gabby Yorath (married name Logan) has recently moved to present sport with the BBC, and happens to be one of only a few female sports anchors. This suggests that women in this role is still fairly new, and for male viewers watching a football or rugby programme, seem to prefer a fellow man feeding the sporting information. Equality in the workplace has been brought to the forefront in recent times, and it seems to be unclear whether such sports channels are hiring females through desire and talent, or proceeding to follow equality guidelines and employ due to need and sexism issues. 'Women are only used in televisual sport to make up numbers' (Unknown, 2008) is a phrase that should be seriously looked in to, in my opinion. Women anchoring the main news has been a common trait for many years now, and has become a thing of the norm, having previously been seen as very out of the ordinary. For example, female presenters now anchor the BBC 6 0'Clock News without a male co-host, as well as doing 60-second updates alone on camera. However, it seems female presenters in the sporting arena are given much more criticism regarding knowledge and understanding of sports like football, rugby and Formula One.
The look of a female sports presenter seems extremely important in order to carry them through successfully. For instance, if the woman is criticised for having a lack of knowledge in sport, but appears extremely attractive on TV, it seems to prolong her stay on the channel, it seems. Being well groomed and dressed as a female seems crucial in any area of television, but trying to appeal to a mainly male orientated gaze in the sporting area means more attention may be given to what the candidate for the job is eventually employed on SNN.
The most obvious skill that needs to be obtained is the confidence in talking into a camera and to an audience if millions. No swearing or inappropriate behaviour is extremely important also. Sports presenters cannot be shy or retiring and need to exude confidence and passion for their job in order for them to be successful and retain their seat at such a successful corporation.
When one looks at the past and present presenters of SSN, it could be argued that there seems to be a stereotypical look of the female hosts. Millie Clode and Georgie Thompson (see Fig.2) are attractive, blond women, as well as Kelly Dalglish and Gabby Yorath is recent years. It seems as though Sky employs these females for a host of reasons, including talent and experience, but also for their look on camera. Sky needs to uphold its glamorous image, as said before, and so it is important that they hire women with whom their regular viewers can identify with.
Gabby Yorath (married name Logan) has recently moved to present sport with the BBC, and happens to be one of only a few female sports anchors. This suggests that women in this role is still fairly new, and for male viewers watching a football or rugby programme, seem to prefer a fellow man feeding the sporting information. Equality in the workplace has been brought to the forefront in recent times, and it seems to be unclear whether such sports channels are hiring females through desire and talent, or proceeding to follow equality guidelines and employ due to need and sexism issues. 'Women are only used in televisual sport to make up numbers' (Unknown, 2008) is a phrase that should be seriously looked in to, in my opinion. Women anchoring the main news has been a common trait for many years now, and has become a thing of the norm, having previously been seen as very out of the ordinary. For example, female presenters now anchor the BBC 6 0'Clock News without a male co-host, as well as doing 60-second updates alone on camera. However, it seems female presenters in the sporting arena are given much more criticism regarding knowledge and understanding of sports like football, rugby and Formula One.
The look of a female sports presenter seems extremely important in order to carry them through successfully. For instance, if the woman is criticised for having a lack of knowledge in sport, but appears extremely attractive on TV, it seems to prolong her stay on the channel, it seems. Being well groomed and dressed as a female seems crucial in any area of television, but trying to appeal to a mainly male orientated gaze in the sporting area means more attention may be given to what the candidate for the job is eventually employed on SNN.
Fig.2
When looking through broadsheet newspapers such as The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and The Times, there were no jobs listed by SNN or Sky as a whole organisation. Nor were jobs listed by the BBC, my second most desirable company to work for. This may suggest that because jobs at these places are so sought after, they only advertise in places where serious candidates may look, for example media-based magazines or on their own websites. Sometimes, it may be the 'who you know, not what you know' concept regarding getting work, and knowing somebody already in the company always helps. However, if I were to be wanting to apply for a job at Sky now, I would contact them directly through email or letter asking for a list of vacancies or any work experience placements they may be offering for recent graduates; this shows determination.Sometimes it is simpler to get jobs at Sky etc, by moving around within the company. For example, I could begin making tea, then progress to runner, then eventually land my dream job....Alternatively, I could be offered a job with them if I interview well as a candidate. There are many factors before getting accepted onto the career ladder at somewhere like Sky, but trawling through newspapers to search for their job vacancies, is certainly not the best place to look.
I believe I have to make many improvements within my structure in order to be an appropriate candidate for gaining a job at an organisation like SSN. I hope to gain a 2:1 or better in my degree in Media Studies, whilst at the same time gaining valuable work experience. The main area i need to improve upon is my public speaking skills, which we have all worked on in lectures and presentations. Performing 10-minute long presentations, as nerve-wracking as they are, have deemed invaluable to me at gaining confidence and learning to speak in a concise and professional manner. However, I still think I need much more improvement and need to continue giving confident talks to my fellow students and peers.
I also need to keep in close contact with most sports, and keep on top of important happenings within different sports. When it eventually comes to me having to find a media occupation in my chosen field, it will benefit me by having this knowledge to allow me to stand out above other characters. Knowing facts surrounding the sporting arena also improves confidence and allows for questions to be thrown at me at the end of presentations.
When I finish my degree at UWIC in 2010, much effort needs to be made straight away to secure jobs at such companies and make my name well-known as wanting such a post. I may have to settle for a less glamorous job at a smaller, less successful company before such a big organisation like Sky would employ me, especially as I would only be 23 and just a graduate, but this is well worth the experience and allows me to build on my skills, confident and experience before doing what I really want to do.
The skill of public speaking is the most important skill that I am going to need to gain employment, not just my dream job, but anywhere. Interviews are key to securing a job and being able to publicly speak about myself to a potential employer or maybe a panel of people is very important. I am currently part of a modelling and actring agency, where I have recently acted on the set of BBC1's Casualty. This part, set for airing in the summer, helped me gain contacts as well as confidence in performing in front of the camera. The set was extremely professional and fast-pace for the BBC and helped me gain knowledge of studio work as well as location filming. I hope to have more opportunities to work on such programmes as this, as well as Doctor Who and Torchwood, in the future.
To conclude this reflective diary, it is important to point out that even though working for SNN is the ultimate for me as a media student, I realise that a job like this is very unlikely to be given to me at such a young age and lacking so much experience. Any job within the media is a learning platform for the individual, and I am currently contacting the BBC regarding work experience this summer. I also know there may be an opportunity for me to visit the Sky studios in London for potential work experience, but this rests on me making the best of my connections and seeing if I have time during my dissertation period in 2009/2010.
Sport is one of my passion, and so is working in television. I am lucky that there are jobs available in the media world that can combine the two, but I am also aware that being a female may also hold me back at certain stages. This is a problem in the workplace that is still suffering, however it is slowly changing to try and become a job on level terms regarding both sexes. My undergraduate skills need much improvement and my determination and commitment to using the skills I have to find work experience this summer, as well as searching for media based opportunities when I graduate next summer.
Bibliography
Hesmondhalgh, D. (2007) 'The Cultural Industries', London: Sage
Sky Sports Website - http://www.skysports.com/
UWIC (2009) Blackboard 'Your Career'
Images - [Accessed 04/05/09]
Fig.1 - Sky Sports Screen Grab en.kingofsat.net/channelhistory.php?ch=700
Fig.2 - Georgie Thompson http://www.somethinelse.com/talent/profiles/georgiethompson.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
