I have the attention span of a goldfish

I have learned from this assignment that I really am suited to journalism, mainly because I do have the attention span of a gold fish. Yes, I did change my topic yet again... although it really has a lot to do with one of my ideas I originally had.

On Tuesday I was still following up with various refugee agencies and people I was researching on the internet. The lady from Companion house rang me late in the afternoon on Tuesday but by then I had largely abandoned the idea because I had found the source of many a journalist's happiness - the media release. If any journalist says they don't rely on media releases on occasion, they are lying. Sure, media releases are designed to spin the author's opinion etc, but I think you can get some good stories out of them occasionally.

In this case, it was a community event in Queanbeyan, and although it may not have sounded too newsworthy on first notice, I immediately saw the potential to turn it into a good health story. It was about the owner and founder of these fitness clubs in Queanbeyan which are specifically designed to help the health of people over 40. I am a regular to the gym and I know how intimidating it can be, and my mother also just went to hospital due to an illness that was very much life-style related, so I felt it was a good opportunity to maybe raise awareness on health problems for over 40s. Especially, since both my sources agreed that it was a very much neglected issue. If you think of all the attention, say child obesity gets, the health problems of over 40s and how they can reverse the damage is often ignored.

So I emailed the man behind the media release, and he emailed me back in less than 30 minutes, saying he would be glad to help. I was very relieved, I can assure you. He said that he was willing to talk to me the very next day. Phew. I began frantically emailing nutritionists as well - hoping to get an email back. My angle was basically at that point the health challenge that the man was running, but also how these health problems could possibly be extended over generations. With child obesity so topical, will Australia's trend towards obesity ever be solved, particularly as we face a burgeoning recession?

The next day I had my ediroll ready for the drive to Queanbeyan and I contacted my talent to confirm, saying I would see him later that day. He then gave me a shock saying he was actually in Coffs Harbour, setting up a new gym, and asked me to conduct the interview over the phone! That was my mistake - I forgot to even check that I would be able to physically interview him. So I quickly arranged with Simon to use the recording facilities, and arranged to interview my talent the next day.

During this time I was able to make contact with a nutritionist who has authored several books, written for magazines, and is a regular on channel nine. It was a great moment for me, i can assure you! She was very happy to help, and I was assuming, very media saavy. I arranged to pick her brain on Friday, and because she was based in Sydney, I had to again rely on the phone interview.

I know that Simon said we should use this as a last resort, but in my day job, I do interviews via phone more often than I do physical interviews. I understand that you create a better relationship with your talent, but sometimes you just can't help but rely on the phone - and I'm guessing with time constraints in many radio newsrooms, this is a practice that is more than common.

I was a bit nervous about using the phone recording facilities, because I was positive I would stuff up. Luckily there was this guy Matt in the labs who helped me through the whole thing - he was doing the same assignment as me and he was lovely - he basically stopped his assignment to help me. I found the recording booth relatively easy to use. It was just a pain having to wait for people, knowing my interviewees had busy schedules and I was keeping them waiting. But what can you do?

The interviews I felt went well. I liked the fact I could just talk and listen, and didn't have to type quotes like in print journalism. It was a relief not having to think and type at the same time!

I am planning to record my stories in the labs on Sunday, it's late I know but I am working on Saturday. I am going to try and cut my audio in audacity tonight though and formulate my scripts so all I will have to do is walk into building 9 on Sunday!

Will keep you updated!