So it's almost been 4 weeks - and indeed they have FLOWN! It's been a really enthusiastic, intense, and enjoyable entrance into the world of TV. 

I am a researcher at BBC Development Central, a television hub known for creating and developing brilliant television programmes and ideas that have the ability to sell worldwide. 

My day-to-days include:

⁃ Contributing ideas for BBC television programmes; sourcing contacts and contributors; collecting, verifying and preparing information for film and television productions.

⁃ Working on a wide variety of programmes or within one subject area. (Not just in BBC documentaries as I originally thought!)

⁃ The work involves organising, planning and researching everything that will happen during the programme such as who will be interviewed, the location, if the film crew will fit, if the budget will stretch etc.

It's a lot. I constantly have a million tabs open on my desktop. It reminds me so much of when I was in the process of researching and finding loads of sources for my documentaries. The research process has to be well executed, and as the researcher, I have to be confident in ensuring the information I'm passing on is accurate and valid. 

I'm so grateful for everything and it's incredible knowing I was able to make the transition from radio (my traineeship) to news radio & online - to TV! It's crazy when you try to figure out how to navigate through life. Sometimes just let go and let God!

 #Learning

PS. I'm planning to start getting a lot more visual with my own work in the new year; kinda miss doing interviews and I'm currently in the process of finally getting a snazzy camera. Stay locked!

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2014 -> 2015. Same Pudsey? Ha

Working on Children In Need as the main point of call on the Chris Evans breaky show was one the first project I worked on whilst on my traineeship last year. I still remember entering the studio building for 5:30am every single day; and was still completely buzzing throughout. 

A year later? Still buzzing! Still pushing, still never complacent. Working in TV now is like entering another exciting realm. So many ideas, so many plans, so. Much. Research! Full blog post on my new job soon come. Maybe even a vlog actually :)

Stay tuned! Xo

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I read. Every day. Stories that make my eyes widen; shock, surprise, disbelief, empathy, compassion, faith in humanity. It influences how I see people, how I investigate stories, and how I like to tell them.

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple 
Full documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydHRESPjBxg 

One of my earliest memories of stories that I couldn't get out of my head and then did further study on was at the age of 17 when studying Sociology at A level.

Link to story:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34746629

I think what I found so chilling about this story was not being aware of the thousands of cults and sects that exist - all who identify themselves under the branch of Christianity. 

Cults: a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.
Sects: a group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong.

So many survivors from this mass murder spoke about their experiences, many of of these experiences which were strange, and didn't even feel like a religion any more. Their memories were so vivid, and it's clear that it's scarred them for life. One woman lost all her children, and partner, because of The People's Temple founder Jim Jones. The bravery and honesty they have in telling these stories to journalists in documentaries, is truly astounding. That's why I love documentaries, so much. It's quite painful and sad to learn about, but it is important to know about. It's said that religion is one of the world's most biggest separators, especially now. 

The Cleveland Captives: What Really Happened?

I remember reading this news report in 2013, about these young women who were released after being held captive for 10+ years. Not only was it incredibly ghastly to read let alone learn about, I was so moved by the innocence and lack of world awareness these young women, especially in their interviews. 

They were taken by a local neighbour when they were so vulnerable and young, and missed out on so much of life. It's super inspiring to see how much awareness they've raised about abduction and how you can live life after experiencing hell on the little earth they saw. Every interview, article, video - I saw and read them all. So much to the point that I couldn't sleep properly for a few nights. Maybe it affected me especially as a female. It's definitely worth reading about - not just the horror side of it but seeing how each of them learnt to see the light at the end of the rocky bridge. They (and every single person that have been undeservingly abducted) are so, so brave.

Links to stories:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/10/michelle-knight-ariel-castro-how-i-survived
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/nov/05/ariel-castro-kidnap-survivor-strung-like-fish-video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco06q0R5gU
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3100986/Cleveland-house-horrors-captives-Amanda-Berry-Gina-DeJesus-realize-dream-high-school-graduation.html



Police seize possessions of rough sleepers in crackdown on homelessness

My first documentary ever was made on this topic and pretty much explains my thoughts and investigations towards the matter. I felt like not a lot of media outlets were discussing or investigating this problem in great depth at the time of the release (January 2014). It's good to see that there is way more awareness now, in 2015, as opposed to last year when only a few newspaper articles spoke about this action of the police. Way more can be done to combat homelessness, so I feel that making this documentary gave these homeless people of London a voice. 

Watch Homeless in London documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7rz4Vd9FBE

Death Over The Air Jordan

Another documentary idea of mine - inspired through reading a blog post and learning about the shocking statistics of young black teens killed over trainers in New York City from the 90's. Consumerism is a killer, and it still happens today.

Link to stories:
http://bryantcross.com/2013/12/22/death-over-the-new-air-jordan-gama-blue-11-what-kanye-has-been-saying-all-along/
http://uk.complex.com/sneakers/2015/01/its-time-for-michael-jordan-to-speak-up-against-sneaker-violence
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/teen-shot-dead-in-dayton-ohio-in-alleged-clash-over-nike-air-jordans/

Watch Consumerism: In Love With My Jordans documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvkx_BPtEYM

Farkhunda: The making of a martyr - Newsnight

As I was randomly browsing through some Newsnight clips, I genuinely didn't think I'd come across something so horrific. Unfortunately a lot of us are often desensitized to shocking news stories in Middle Eastern countries of violence against women. A young woman being stoned to death for having pre-marital sex, women in Saudi Arabia not being able to drive their cars, and just general oppression and looking at them as inferior. The story about Farkhunda really shook me; hundreds of people watched her being stoned to death and many video recorded the attack which was immediately shared online. 

We as the public needed to see this, see the severity of how extremism is coming, and why it needs to be put an end to. Immediately.

Female Afghan activists carry the coffin of Farkhunda, a 27-year-old woman who was lynched by an angry mob for allegedly burning a copy of the Koran in March

Watch the story of Farkhunda here. WARNING: Graphic and distressing images. 

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It's so important. Dance in that hallway. Smile, be merry, remain hopeful and optimistic as possible. 

What I mean by 'dancing in the hallway' is the scenario of when that door closes, and you're waiting for the next door to open. How are you waiting? Are you repetitively tapping your feet? Are you occupying yourself with things of substance? Are you dreading the wait? Or are you h o p e f u l ?

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Some people say it's fake if you don't openly expose your fears and failures. And I think that's super wrong! FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. So why would there be a need to openly speak about things that could mentally have the power to break you? Overcome it! Speak good things, but also be honest about the journey. 

"Yes I was scared, no I didn't know where my next pay cheque would come from, but I was doing what I love, and knew the reward would come soon, for all of my drive"

⁃ Me. 

They say your faith is truly tested when things are taken away from you. I was only a freelancer for a month, and societal pressure tried to place so much nonsense into my brain telling me who I am. 

I listened to my heart, focused on my strengths and abilities, and persevered. Application, rejection, interview, meeting after meeting. It paid off, and I'm so grateful. 

I danced in the hallway, and loved every minute, I loved how much BBC Africa welcomed me in as a family and appreciated my help video producing and reporting for them, I loved working for Claudia Winkle even if that included walking up and down on her show grabbing guests up to 20 times a day. 

It was all for a small sum of income but the biggest sum of the most warm experiences that I'll keep forever. 

Even if you have 2 left feet like I do, please dance in the hallway. Your opportunity WILL arrive, and it'll be beautiful. 

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