I'm a FRQ

In an earlier post about my SPIN1038 work experience I remarked on how I met Andy Clarke. Just to re-cap, Andy is the station manager of FRQ.fm (pronounced 'FREAK'). The online-only station is used as a training ground for budding radio presenters. These presenters may go on to present on one of the Communicorp stations.

I had given Andy my demo and kept in touch with him after completing my work placement in the station. He invited me in to see what happens at the station and to train me in how to use the studio equipment. So last night, I took the DART into the Grand Canal Dock and met Andy at six. I was put into studio with Cally-Ann, who was presenting the evening show. Andy told me that one of the guys who usually presents on Friday evenings was sick, and in a true clichéd radio situation, he told me that I would be presenting the 7 to 9 slot. Wow! - It was a crazy moment, I realised that I would be on air in around 40 minutes. I had never used the equipment in the studio before and I knew little about the station but its name and purpose. Willingly, Andy trusted me to go live at 7!

The FRQ studio

Over the two hours following I staggered through the show. Although the first hour was a bit challenging, I got into the swing of things and was fairly comfortable by the end of the show. There were a couple of technical challenges, but I just about kept the show on the road.

It was an incredible experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm on air again tomorrow between 1pm and 4pm. Listen Live: http://frq.fm/

SPIN 1038/98fm: Day 5

This morning we were tasked with a variety of jobs including making tea and distributing post around the office. I also had to ring competition winners to let them know that their prize was ready for collection in the station.

In the afternoon we wrote a reflection on the week; our highlights, the things we thought could have been improved and what we would have liked to have seen more of.

It was sad to say goodbye and leave the station after such a good week. I'd like to thank Siobhan and Stef for organising such a fantastic week.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 4

The SPINIs

 Today we spent the morning with the Thunders and the SPINIs. They are the promotional crews from both stations and they appear at numerous events across the city including concerts, rugby matches etc.
They brought us to their storage site in which they keep their promotional materials. These range from 98fm mints to SPIN1038 phone covers. We were told about the work they do, shown some of the promotional materials and given a goody bag.
Then we went across to 98fm's 'Big Red' - the large double decker bus which they broadcast from. The bus is equipped with the latest technology including flat screen tvs, computers and an on-air studio.

98fm's Big Red

In the afternoon we looked at a range of newspapers and at which businesses were advertising in them. We listed out each business, which paper they were advertising in and what they were advertising. This was use to the sales team, who could contact these companies to offer them advertising on either 98fm or SPIN.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 3

The highlight of Wednesday was meeting Barry Dunne. He is the afternoon presenter on 98fm, and a true gentleman at that. We sat in on Barry's show, where he voiced links, recorded calls and gave away prizes. He told us how he loved his job and we discussed the Irish radio industry.

Afterwards, I met Andy Clarke. Andy, who used to present on LMFM, is now in charge of running FRQ.fm. FRQ (pronounced 'freak') is an online-only station that is used as a training ground for presenters. DJs are trained in how to use the studio equipment, and are taught how to improve their presentation. After this, in the case that presenters are needed on SPIN/98, they may have the opportunity to be on air. Upon meeting Andy, I handed him my radio demo. A demo is a clip of audio, usually 2-3 minutes long, giving examples of presenter's links. He showed me the FRQ studio and told me about the aims of the station.

SPIN 1038/98fm: Day 2

Nikki Hayes

 This morning we went straight up to Nikki Hayes, who presents SPIN Hits. She is a familiar voice on the Irish radio scene and has been working on-air for over 20 years. Nikki presented on SPIN after it launched in 2002, and left for 2fm, before returning to the Dublin station in recent times. She explained various elements of her job and talked to us about our ambitions in radio.

Next, we met Pat Gill. He is in charge of imaging on 98fm. Though the word suggests his job deals with pictures, this is far from the truth. Pat produces all of the jingles and sweepers that are played between the songs. He played us examples of his work and told us about various techniques which are used to get listeners to constantly remind listeners that they are tuned to 98fm. This becomes essential when the listenership figures are published.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 1

 This week, I am doing work experience in both SPIN and 98FM, which are both located in the Grand Canal. 

 This morning we were set a task by Gavin Ward, 98fm's Music Director. The aim was to compile a list of gigs happening in Dublin in the next 3 months and to write three articles about artists/groups that would be appropriate for 98's website. I really enjoyed researching and writing the articles. 

 In the afternoon, we met with the Caroline, head of Sales and marketing at 98fm. She told us how her team works and about the various promotions that they run on the station. They are in charge of selling traditional advertising on-air, sorting out sponsorships, competitions and outside broadcasts among other things. We were then given two briefs to write ads for both Captain America's and DID Electrical. We scripted the ads, each of which had to be 30 seconds long.

Irish Times: Day 4

Today was my last in the Irish Times. We spent the morning with features. This is the department involved in reporting anything that is not news, business or sport. They produce various supplements throughout the week including 'The Ticket', the motoring supplement and the health supplement. We were told how articles are decided on, and we were tasked with finding appropriate articles in the main section of the paper that could be covered more in-depth as features articles.

Then we looked at different headlines; those that we felt were effective, and those that we felt were not so effective. We were told about how headlines and articles are often changed when they are published on the Irish Times website. We came up with suggestions about how we could shorten a variety of headlines to make them suitable for online.

In the afternoon, we headed to the sportsdesk. We met the editor of sport, who told us about his job, and about how the Irish Times cover sport. We were then tasked with coming up with headlines for a number of topical sports stories.

After that, we went upstairs to MyHome.ie . The site allows estate agents and auctioneers to place houses up for sale. We were told about one of the website's sources of income; advertising. It was our job to design a banner advertisement that would be suitable for the website.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week in the Irish Times. We got to see many of the departments in the newspaper and meet lots of people, all of whom were willing to answer any questions we had.

Irish Times: Day 3 - Film Review

As part of today's activities, we went to see 'Whiplash'.

 Movies are an escape from reality - enough so that they excite us, but so much so that they are within the bounds of possibility. We never believed that Superman was flying through the skies trying to fight Atlas, nor did we believe that our toy cowboy Woody could talk to his friends Buzz and Rex. But there was a sense of reality somewhere - we believed what the characters said, and understood the storyline. This was one of my greatest problems with Whip Lash. The plot seemed disjointed, incomplete and unrealistic with characters that were not credible.

 The film tells the story of Terence (J.K. Simons), a frustrated conductor, and his student Andrew (Miles Teller), who is a young and budding drummer. The film opens Andrew is discovered by one of the conductors, Terrence, playing a complicated rhythm. Soon after, he becomes a member of Terrence's prestigious band, in which performers are pushed to the edge to exceed their ability. In an act of rage Andrew loses his place in the band and has to work hard to earn the coveted position of drummer again.

The psychopathic element of Terence's character is quite prevalent throughout the film, many times he bursts into rages of unprovoked anger. The film often breaks into a melee of hostility and profanity. These are some of the finest scenes in the film; the intensity is quite overwhelming. These scenes are surreal and as a result are the highlight of the film for me. It is no surprise that J.K. Simons won an Oscar for best performance by an actor in a supporting role.

The plot was at many stages was just that little bit unrealistic for me to relate to. Meaning a compilation of bizarre, irrelevant sections which do not add greatly to the overall experience, yet stick out awkwardly as they are placed among some of the most engaging and impressive scenes in the film.

The film has a mixture of great cinematography and engaging acting. While there are a number of very powerful scenes, the irrational elements to the plot and clichéd storyline are lacklustre and largely mundane.

Irish Times: Day 2

 Bright and early, we arrived at Tara Street. A day in the newsroom awaited us. We were soon introduced to Caroline, one of the women who works at the news desk. Her role is to sift through the many emails, faxes and press releases that the Irish Times receives on a daily basis and decide which of them are newsworthy. She then forwards these stories to the appropriate departments in the building.

At 10:30, we went to an editors meeting. Around a conference table sat a number of editors for different sections of the paper. There was a business editor, arts editor, politics editor etc. They each presented the stories that would be going into their section of the following day's paper and the stories that they would be following throughout the day to come.

 Later on in the day, we were introduced to Conor Goodman, the features editor. He is in charge of all of the content in the paper that is not news, sports or business-based. This content is found in many of the features in the paper including the 'Irish Times Magazine', the motoring supplement and 'The Ticket'. He explained that we will be going to see a movie tomorrow and will be critiquing it in our own article afterwards. 

 Following that, we sat in on another editors meeting, this time to finalise exactly what was going to be published. Each editor sat around presenting the stories that were ready to be put in the paper, and those that requires work. 

Irish Times: Day 1

This week, I am doing my work experience in the Irish Times. I am greatly privileged to have such an excellent week ahead of me.

After arriving in the paper's offices in Tara Street, we were introduced to Margaret from HR, who organised the placement. She took us on a small tour of the building. We saw the news desk, the editors, the supplements section and the canteen.

Then we all got into taxis and headed for the National Concert Hall. We were told that we would be going to see an event called 'Music in the Classroom'. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by one of the Irish Times' marketing team, who is in charge of organising these concerts. They have been running for over 25 years. 

Though I am unsure what the collective noun for a group of school children is, I'd say 'a cackle' would be quite apt. Because that's exactly what they did; chuckling and roaring non-stop throughout the 90 minute performance. The show was very entertaining, and it had everyone standing and clapping-along by the end. It featured music varying from the classical strings Tchaikovsky, to the adventurous sounds of Mission Impossible - All performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra.

After lunch, we went to the 'Little Museum of Dublin'. Though it was not my first visit to the museum, I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the history of our capital being presented in such a jovial and rational manner.