Bath Chronicle Day 1

On the first day the Bath Chronicle placement, a group of four of us were given a different example of a rough copy of an article for this weeks magazine and website. Firstly I was given a story about the importance of apprenticeships for the younger generation, we were asked to include key facts and quotes however make it more interesting and readable for the audience. This is my finished article:


Norton Radstock College is no stranger to the West of England Rural Network, the local Enterprise Partnership and Bath Spa University considering they have been working alongside each other on the Connect-VET project for about one-and-a-half years, they share good practise with partners across seven different countries including Finland, Italy, Spain and Estonia. Norton Radstock College appreciate the work from the other networks, which was demonstrated by Rosaleen, “It’s been really good to learn from other countries and to come together to move forward.” She then added: “It’s all about building links between the college, the university and businesses to help develop the local economy.”
Andy Jeffery, owner of Farrington’s Farm Shop also illustrates his strong views on the importance of colleges and education, “Our experience is that most rural businesses don’t realise how much help the local colleges and training providers can be to them.”
Employers are due to participate in yet another business breakfast on Wednesday, April 22 at Newton Farm Village Hall, Newton St Loe.
For further information, get in touch with Project Leader Rosaleen Courtney at Norton Radstock College, email rosaleen.courtney@nortcoll.ac.uk

After businesses from engineering, computing, tourism and service industries were informed how apprentices can boost the local economy, Norton Radstock College and Bath Spa University took action.

Staff from the College and University indulge in a business breakfast at Farrington’s Farm shop with more than 25 company representatives to discuss the benefits of apprenticeships and work placements. The event was part of a European project called Connect-VET, which aims to develop innovations in the vocational education and training sector. Connect-VET aims to maintain a strong bond between employers and students during their studies and increase their readiness for entrepreneurship.

Rosaleen Courtney, the project leader and colleague at Norton Radstock College, “We address funding issues and spread the word on how apprenticeships and work placements can fill any gaps.”

When we had finished that we were given a second press release, my second one was similar to the first because it was about why bushiness should employ apprentices. This is the finished article:

Report reveals five million consumers would prefer to do business with apprentice employers.

Endless opportunities for the younger generation have arisen due to the Benefits of Apprenticeships to Businesses study which has illustrated that offering apprenticeships were perceived by three quarters of consumers in the South West. An amazing five million consumers nationwide are more likely to make a purchase from an apprentice employer. More than one in four consumers in the South West say they would go as far as even paying more for goods and services offered by companies that employ apprentices.

National Apprenticeship Week starts today with events across the country to celebrate the success of apprenticeships that have been transformed over recent years. The report, launched to mark the start of week, is part of a national drive to promote the benefits of apprenticeships that have made a difference therefore they are more responsive to employers.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “In launching National Apprenticeship Week we are celebrating the 2.1 millions apprenticeship starts since 2010 and the positive impact they are having on businesses around the country.”

Businesses employing apprentices can enjoy a number of other financial benefits, such as increased long-term productivity. Typical apprentice delivers productivity gains of over £10,000 per annum, this is almost double the construction and planning, and engineering and manufacturing sectors. Luckily for some, even if an apprentice is not fully qualified, many businesses will see economic benefits of offering apprenticeships.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “This research is further proof that apprenticeships deliver for businesses as well as providing life changing opportunities for young people.”

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, employers are being encouraged to share their reasons for employing apprentices on social media, with #100reasonswhy.

To find out more about National Apprenticeship Week, search for apprenticeships on www.gov.uk.

The Bath Chronicle Day 2

After finding an article in the national news that I thought would be interesting to cover I went into the centre of Bath and took part in a vox pop. I covered a story about David Cameron sending his youngest daughter, Nancy, 11 to a state school. When I had received the research I needed I wrote up an article on the subject:

David Cameron sets out to be the first serving Conservative PM to send his daughter to state school.

From September, the youngest of the family, 11-year-old Nancy will be attending The Grey Coat Hospital school in Westminster, which was founded in 1698 and is now a Church of England academy.

Grey Coat Hospital is thought to be the second choice for the family after another church school in West London. The decision to accept a place at the school just down the road from Downing Street is a bold decision by Mr Cameron which is likely to be seen as an indication that he will remain Prime Minister after the election in May.

Nancy, amongst hundreds of thousands of other children found out whether they got into the school of the their choice, luckily for Nancy there was no doubt she would get into the school which was rated "outstanding" in its latest Ofsted inspection.

Reports in the national have said that Mr Cameron has been paying regular private visits to the school over the past couple of years, it is clear that he was impressed by the school.

Head teacher Sian Maddrell describes the school as being "committed to ensuring that each student is known as an individual, develops the knowledge, skills and personal qualities to lead successful and fulfilling lives, and is empowered to do so."

Students from Bath College ask the people of Bath what they think of David Cameron’s decision to send his daughter to state school.

The first Prime Minister to send their child to a state school and since the country has been informed about David Cameron’s latest decision to send daughter, Nancy, aged 11 to state school, Grey Coat Hospital Academy the reactions are mixed.

Whitehall Garden Centre employee, Abbie Nelson, 17 said: “Good for him, why should David need to send Nancy to a private school”

“He isn't doing this for votes, I strongly believe keeping his reputation up is not more important than the well being Nancy.”

Jill Pearce, 68 from Bath said: “I’m not surprised by this at all.”

“Of course he is doing it for votes, every decision he makes is to improve his reputation.”

Anne Wilmot, 72 from Bath said:

“It’s fine, why shouldn't he send his daughter to a state school.”

“The school is well known.”

“He definitely isn’t doing this for votes, this is his personal life and it is nobody’s business.”

James Marcelle, 19 from Frome said:

“This is yet another publicity stunt.”

“I am no longer surprised by David Cameron’s attention seeking tactics.”

“Of course this is to gain votes, he is trying to demonstrate that he is not stuck up.”

Work Experience Day 5

On our final day of work experience, the group of four were determined to complete the work we had been working on other the week.
Firstly I updated my recent article about Thicke and Williams stealing Marvin Gaye's hit son Got to Give It Up.

Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams plagiarised their hit Blurred Lines from Marvin Gaye's 1977 song Got to Give It Up and have been ordered by a court to pay $7.4 million to the singer's children for infringement of copyright.

Nona Gaye, daughter of Marvin Gaye wept as the jury read the verdict and was hugged by her attorney, Richard Busch.

“Right now, I feel free,” Nona Gaye said after the verdict. “Free from… Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s chains and what they tried to keep on us and the lies that were told.”

Thicke and Williams had denied copying the hit and Williams told jurors that Gaye’s music was part of the soundtrack of his youth. But the seven-time Grammy winner said he didn’t use any of it to create blurred lines. Meanwhile, the Gaye family's lawyer said he wanted to stop the sales of Blurred Lines. “They fought this fight despite every odd being against them,” Busch said of the Gaye family outside court.

Williams, 41, signed a document stating he didn’t use any other artists’ work in the music and would be responsible if a successful copyright claim was raised as Thicke testified he was not present when the song was written, despite receiving credit.

An expert for the Gaye family said there were eight distinct elements from Got to Give It Up that were used in Blurred Lines, however an expert for Williams and Thicke denied that those similarities existed.

Bath College students played both songs to 20 shoppers in Bath and after hearing both songs, 80 percent said that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams’ hit Blurred Lines sounded the same to the 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. The remaining 20 percent recognised the similarity however did not understand the issues raised.

When asked is it fair for the artists to pay Marvin’s family the large sum of money the reactions were mixed, with around 60% agreeing they should pay. However the remaining 40% say it is too extreme.

After that I wrote up an article about the Zimbabwe and contemporary classical music combination event the day before:

New hybrid genre is brought to City of Bath College when Zimbabwe and classical music is combined.

Professor of Music at Bath Spa University, Amanda Bailey organised for Zimbabwe musician Chartwell Dutiro and dancer Denise Rowe, members of Mbira Academy to collaborate with Exeter Contemporary Sounds string quartet, Julie Hill, Andrew Gillett and Jane Price.

The group was welcomed into City Of Bath to take part in a workshop with performing arts and music students, demonstrating their individual heritages and meeting in the middle.

The workshop started off with an introduction to the two different genres of music and a demonstration of each which familiarised the students with the work of the professionals whilst they prepared to be split into two groups. One group took part in dancing, Denise discussed her inspiration from contemporary and African dance. “I am interested in the connection between person and planet that is pivotal in traditional African dance forms and essential to our understanding of what it is to be alive.”

The other group were joined by the string quartet trio that showed students the art of contemporary classical music. The students played their individual instruments whilst being introduced to an unusual type of rhythm.

Chartwell explained how he met Amanda Bailey when doing a performance 18 months ago which was when she suggested it would be a nice idea to do a collaboration with Exeter Contemporary Sounds.

Director of Tolo Ko Tolo dance company, Denise Rowe is a movement artist, choreographer, dancer, musician and creative producer drawing primarily from traditional and contemporary pan-African dance forms and non stylised/environmental movement.

Amanda Bailey’s research interests are based around the idea of performance and analysis; processes of composition, rehearsal and performance in contemporary music; string quartets; and ethnomusicology. The professor spoke about the importance of the contrast of cultures: “Separate curricular enables them to combine ideas together.”

Work Experience Day 4

A politician from UKIP came into the college to be interviewed, firstly we prepared some questions to ask him which were:

• Why did you decide to join UKIP?
  
  
• What are the main policies for UKIP?
  
  

• Why are you perceived as a racist party?

• A lot of students do not live locally therefore have to catch trains, buses etc which can be expensive, is there a system you will introduce which means students can get cheaper travel?

• How do you aim your policies to the younger generation?
  
  
• Teenagers from the ages 14-17 have a limited amount of socialising opportunities for example they can’t go to a pub if you’re under 18 and they are a bit too old for youth clubs? What could you introduce?

• What is your opinion on Nick Clegg’s recent change of decision about legalising drugs?

• It is difficult for young people leaving home, what could you do to support them gaining independence from their parents?

Two people filmed the event the other two asked the questions. We will be editing the footage and then send it to the Bath Chronicle.
The response we got from the politician was very interesting and he was great at answering our questions in detail.

Another task that we took part in was doing a box pop around Bath, I asked 20 people what they thought about Robin Thicke and Pharrell Willliams paying Marvin Gaye's family $7.4m after they were accused of copying Marvin's song Got to give it up. I then wrote on article on the subject: 

Marvin Gaye’s children awarded $7.4m by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over Blurred Lines.

On Tuesday A jury decides Marvin Gaye’s children are the rightful owners of nearly $7.4m after singers Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied Marvin’s 1977 hit Got to Give It Up to create Blurred Lines, the biggest hit song of 2013.

Nona Gaye, daughter of Marvin Gaye wept as the jury read the verdict and was hugged by her attorney, Richard Busch. “Right now, I feel free,” Nona Gaye said after the verdict. “Free from… Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s chains and what they tried to keep on us and the lies that were told.”

Thicke and Williams denied copying the hit and Williams told jurors that Gaye’s music was part of the soundtrack of his youth. But the seven-time Grammy winner said he didn’t use any of it to create blurred lines. Meanwhile, the Gaye family's lawyer said he wanted to stop the sales of Blurred Lines. “They fought this fight despite every odd being against them,” Busch said of the Gaye family outside court.

Williams, 41, signed a document stating he didn’t use any other artists’ work in the music and would be responsible if a successful copyright claim was raised as Thicke testified he was not present when the song was written, despite receiving credit.

An expert for the Gaye family said there were eight distinct elements from Got to Give It Up that were used in Blurred Lines, however an expert for Williams and Thicke denied that those similarities existed.

Students played both songs to 20 shoppers in Bath and after hearing both songs, 80% of say that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams’ hit Blurred Lines sounded exactly the same to the 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. The remaining 20% recognised the similarity however did not understand the issues raised.

When asked is it fair for the artists to pay Marvin’s family the large sum of money the reactions were varied, around 60% say it is fair to pay up. However the remaining 40% say it is too extreme.

Work Experience Day 3

Bath Spa organised a workshop for the college involving music and performing arts students. African musicians performed with classical musicians. The hybrid event was put on to inspire the students, whether they wanted to involve themselves in dancing, acting, singing or playing a musical instrument. The media students involved in the bath chronicle work experience were asked to film the performance which will be made into a 3 minute film of highlights. After filming we interviewed the musicians, this will be made into an article.