WINOL: Week One [2/10/2013]

So this was to be my first week on the News Desk - alien territory for someone who spent all of last year on sport. I've been given the Sci-Tech reporting role: anything that is science or technology based is right up my alley.

http://winol.co.uk/2013/10/worlds-largest-minecraft-map-created-in-southampton-5832

My story for this week was on the video game 'Minecraft.' A summer intern at the Ordnance Survey in Southampton had created the world's largest map.

It proved to be quite a talking point in the news conference as some people were unsure whether it counted as news or whether it was just an impressive feat by someone with a little too much time on their hands.

I fought valiantly for my story, arguing that Minecraft is played by 33million people worldwide and as far as student publications go, they could do far worse than reporting on the latest student phenomena.

It's easy for anyone to see that this story isn't hard news but I pitched it as an 'and finally,' and after much deliberation it made the bulletin.

Ian Anderson pointed out a small issue with the sound during the interview where I had the microphone too far away, but was impressed by the story overall, especially the use of natural sound at the beginning.

The main issue I have with the story is that it doesn't have an interview with Joseph Braybrook, the intern who created the map. His manager stepped in as he is now back at university. He hasn't done any of the press for the map and I could not get his contact details. I aim to improve the story by adding an interview with him at a later point, replacing Graham Dunlop.

http://www.winol.co.uk/winolarts/tom-clancy-a-life-in-literature/

This week saw the death of best-selling author, Tom Clancy. I saw a news-peg here and created a feature on the life of the author for the New Winchester Review.