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Ramblings of a Media and Publications Bitch 
2007 Media Roundup (Full Report)
By tomworman on
Wed, 19th Dec 2007 at 16:57
First off for those who don't know who I am let me outline my "position" within the university. I am a student, not that many would believe it, but I am in my final year studying Digital Media (and some how doing fairly well at it) at the same time, I live, sleep, and breathe Media mainly revolving around the students union. For the past 3 years I have been the Union's photographer for the night club and major events. Now I am the Union's photographer, part time web designer and graphic designer, pugwash news design editor, video editor, and general media bitch. So what have i been up to since Freshers Fortnight ? Freshers Fair The year started with a bang for me, 2 days of filming and taking photos at the freshers fair. Being harassed by Indian Restaurants and almost ending up in a paddling pool full of Jelly (thanks cannon) were just some of the highlights of the freshers fair. This is the first opportunity for UPSU media to start and shine and of course i wanted to be at the forefront of this so offered to take photos and film the events.
Pugwash News Pugwash News is the new student newspaper, i would hope now 6 issues in most of you would have seen it. If for some reason you have been living on Mars, Pugwash news is what has replaced the old purple wednesdays magazine with an all encompassing paper with News, Features, Reviews and Sports. I ran for position as Design Editor and won, which was nice considering i hadn't planned on running until 30 seconds before the meeting. This has been a massive learning experience for me, learning to put together a newspaper with software i have never previously used. This is a huge learning curve for me and i really hope to be able to share my experiences and knowledge i have gathered with anyone else who is interested over the coming year.
  
  
Alex (our current MAPO) has been working hard to get every issue online. So please check them out, alot of hard effort goes into producing every issue, alot of people don't see that an average paper requires me as design editor to start at 9am and finish at 2:30am the following day for 2/3 days running. I hope the effort that goes into every issue and the associated stresses that go with it are worth it.
See read all the back issues of the paper and the magazine at: www.upsu.net/pugwash
Naked Calendar
Well this has been an interesting start to the year, being able to walk round the union on a wednesday night thinking to myself how many of you drunkards i have seen naked over the passed few months. This years calendar has been one of the quickest selling calendars for some time. With 500 calendars produced we had sold over 3/4 of those in the first week, all of which goes to RAG. I'd like to say thankyou to every sports team i have worked with - everyone was really good sports in getting your kit off for charity.
Sports Photos Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of working with the majority of the sports teams from 7am starts with the equestrian club through to late evening Boxing shows. It has been a great pleasure to experience the highs (and of the very few lows) our sports teams have enjoyed. Below is a selection of photos from the various games and matches i have been too.
Sheila Hancock Vice chancellor Sheila Hancock paid a visit to our students' union and contribute to the Afro Carribean Society debate, I was lucky enough to be invited along with the Pugwash media team to meet her and discuss the work we are doing with the students union. She seems incredibly supportive of what we are doing and was proud to discuss our achievements.
Dodgeball The intra-mural Dodgeball competition was a flying success. However it was very much a game of Dodge the ball whether you were a competitor or spectator. I got hit twice and one girl got a square wack on the nose which must have really hurt. But all in all it was a good day. Well done to Caz Bird for all the effort she put in.
Oxford Freedom of Speech Protest 4 students (including myself) and 2 sabbatical officers headed off to Oxford a few weeks ago for a night of protesting at a freedom of speech march. I must admit, not being a man of the world i wasn't too sure what was exactly going on but it was a real experience and being a photojournalist i made several contacts with other university student news outlets to provide photos for there papers. As a member of UPSU staff i see it as a key part of my position to promote our media.
RAG Ramble Now don't say I do my fair bit for charity, along with the Naked Calendar, Dodgeball Competition and Sportos' Dance Off, I managed to Ramble (most of the way) around Portsmouth until we found a pub and it started to rain. I feel there is alot of stuff the media can do to help raise money for RAG.
Sportos' Dance Off Well, after risk assessments and arguments just to get me a platform in the middle of Lux I managed to survive a night above everyone on a Purple Wednesday to film the Sportos' Dance Off. The teams had been in training for weeks and i know most of the AU Execs dance routines inside out with the amount of time i spend in the Sabb office. There's not much more to say, than what an awesome night and well done AU Exec, here's a video for your enjoyment:
Oh, and you can buy the full DVD for £5 from the sabb office at Darby's desk - guess what? All money goes to RAG !!!
Christmas Dinners
Its Christmas Time, Mistletoe and Wine. Bah Humbug
Pure FM Having my own photostudio is occasionally of benefit to me, photographing hot girls, guys if they want it. and now Pure FM called me into action. Pure are our radio station (www.purefm.com ) is really trying to push its marketing campaign to get students to listen to the station. So I stepped forwards offering a full professional shoot for the whole Pure FM team. Below are a few of the shots, you should be able to see posters and banners coming soon.
The Enemy A certain mobile phone company + Fraggy and Caryss Drinking lots = The Enemy at the union. Need I say more ? Just enjoy the photos:
Purple Wednesday and Orange Fridays Well, this is my usual job; being the only sober student on a Wednesday or Friday Night at the Union. Although its tiring dealing with drunks, it has also been some of the most amusing times - i have met so many good friends and so many people out at the union. In the past 3 months i have learnt so much, and met some awesome people - just one thing. If you want your photo taken please just ask, poke me, pinch my bum (often a favoured technique), hell gimme a kiss! Just don't stand there and expect your photo taken, the people who get pictures are those who ask, who talk to me, who make an effort, hell sometimes it just takes a look and a smile. I think what i am trying to say is I am not psychic.
So a few quick thankyou's, firstly the Sabbs and all the guys in Gun house, next to you guys - the students (memories including boob testing with the swim team and receiving love messages on the text screen) and finally, but not exclusively, everyone else who have been there through the thick and thin.
So, Happy Holidays Everyone and see you in the New Year - bring on 2008.
Tom Worman
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about me"Media and Publications Bitch"
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Okay, so since i last posted back in October alot has gone on. Just a quick round-up as to what has been happening in my world as a Media and Publication whore. But before i start (as this blog could go on for some time) i'd like to wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy new year - see you in 2008 if not before.
Despite my lack of enthusiasm for an over marketed day in the year, it has been another great opportunity for me to meet more sports teams. A few Mondays back it was time for me to work at Tiger Tiger for the Cricket and Equestrian Clubs. Damn the cricket club are noisey, first the womens cricket saw off a competition of eating chocolate cake, without hands or cutlery, then the men started with the chants, god knows what was actually said but it was "inspiring".
Alex Harries -
Thu, 20 Dec 2007
