My Work Experience

The idea of this post (today's school task) was to talk about where I'd like to go on work experience through Catch-22. But yesterday I had a feedback session with the guys at Catch-22 and they told me where they've put me forward for. So I'm going to talk about them.

Yeah. That's what I thought. I must be doing something right if they think I can hack it at such a prestigious title. But what would a guy like me, get from a publication like The Economist? After a chat with my mentors, we decided: a hell of a lot.

The Economist is one of the most, if not the most revered weekly paper in the world. Since its inception in 1843 it has reported on free trade, globalisation, government spending and intervention around the world. It is unique as a publication in that everything reported is reported by The Economist. There are no bylines. It speaks with a collective voice, which Geoffrey Crowther (editor from 1938-1956) keeps the editor "not the master but the servant of something far greater than himself. You can call that ancestor-worship if you wish, but it gives to the paper an astonishing momentum of thought and principle."

The Economist is half owned by the Financial Times and half owned by independent shareholders, which include members of staff. The editor's independence is guaranteed, as he is appointed by a board of trustees and cannot be removed without their permission.

Despite The Economist catering for a readership of highly intelligent, highly influential people, with high incomes, its circulation is surprisingly high. In 2009 it reported an average of 1.6 million per issue. The UK makes up 14% of this, continental Europe 19% and the USA over 50%. It is a truly global publication reaching more than 200 countries around the world.

The Economist's competition comes from The New Internationalist and The New Statesman. However these titles do not exactly provide the same content or editorial stance as The Economist. The New Internationalist was formed in the 1970s when the charities Oxfam and Christian Aid wanted to encourage people to learn more about development, its strapline is: 'the people, the ideas and the action in the fight for world development'. The New Statesman provides a similar theme of development, but from a left-wing point of view, which keeps "true to its heritage of radical politics" according to John Kampfner its editor in 2006. Neither of these titles however have circulations anywhere near The Economist, posting 75,000 and 23,000 respectively.

The Economist is in the process of a major subscription increasing marketing drive. 600,000 copies of a sampler edition are being handed out for free on the London Underground in an attempt to bring in new readers.

Maybe this is what I'm more suited to. As a straight twentysomething male I can't help but fall into the cliche of being obsessed with girls and gadgets. Well, I'm not obsessed with girls and gadgets, but I am a big fan of pretty girls and I do enjoy new technologies. Ah cock it, go on: I am a cliche.

Stuff provides more than the average titty magazine, as it actually has content about things. Shiny, expensive things. And the amount of sexy ladies in the magazine is kept to minimal levels. It seems to be more of an eye catching device. Yes feminists, us men are that stupid. Owned by the Haymarket group, which produces titles such as Autocar, Autosport, Autocar, Classic FM, F1 Racing, FourFourTwo, Gramophone, Practical Caravan and What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, it's not exactly surprising that their expertise and focus lies in the technology as opposed to the softcore that Loaded, FHM et al provide. The Stuff is consumer electronics, gadgets and lifestyle products. From hi-fis to fast cars, computers, cameras and phones, through in depth features, product reviews and previews, Stuff promotes everything the modern man needs.

Stuff posts a circulation of 100,000 per month, which makes it the sixth highest men's monthly in the UK despite its niche focus. Stuff's biggest competitor in the market is T3, which provides the same mix of gadgets and goods with the occasional girl. T3 has a circulation circa 60,000 per month but has recently head hunted Stuff's former editor Michael Brook to catch up.

But which title will be best suited to me? And which will provide me with the best opportunity to develop and prove my journalistic skills? We'll find out when I come back from the interviews with either my tail between my legs of a grin like a Cheshire cat.

30 Seconds In The Mind Of...

Stephen Isaac-Wilson is a fellow cohort on the Catch-22 academy.



We recently spoke about the most inane things that came to mind...

Not Yosarrian: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Stephen: I can't remember... When I was young I wanted to be a doctor, but then I got into swimming so I wanted to be a swimmer.

N.Y.: What's the scariest situation you've ever been in? Have you ever feared for your life?

S.I.W.:Not really, I've had quite a secured kind of life.

You can follow Stephen's own Catch-22 blog Catch Me If You Can by clicking that line just there. He's on Twitter too @Isaac_01

N.Y.: Living or dead, who would be at your dream dinner party?

S.I.W.:Naomi Campbell, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley




Stephen would have an awesome party on his hands with these guys

N.Y.:If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

S.I.W.:My memory, it's terrible.


N.Y.:Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?

S.I.W.:On a yacht. No, I should say working somewhere. Actually, no, I don't want to be working. I want to be on that yacht!

Mr Isaac-Wilson's Vital Statistics:

Favourite website:

Favourite tune:




Favourite YouTube video:

That's Right, I'm Not Yossarian

Sorry to get your hopes up. Although I am involved in a programme called Catch-22 which is helping me through a Catch-22 situation, my name is not Yossarian.

Please do not confuse this man:



With this man:



One is a fictional American bomber pilot. The other is not. The other is an English writer, me.

This blog is about the latter. Not many people have written about me. I'm not the protagonist of one of the greatest books of the 20th Century. No matter how much I'd like to think we have in common.

The man:

"Who is this non-fictional man talking to me?" I hear you ask.

My name is Tim Horner. A London based Cornishman pursuing a career in journalism. I studied Journalism BA (Hons) at University College Falmouth where I achieved a 2:1, now it's time to prove my skills in the real world. You see? I'm nothing like Yossarian.

The mission:

Catch-22 has offered me the chance to put my skills to work in a learning environment which focuses on the end result. Basically, it's a route into journalism for those who can't or don't want to take the university route or don't have the required financial background to allow for an indefinite amount of time doing unpaid internships.

• The academy is teaching me things that my degree didn't


• The academy won't leave me with £xx,xxx's of debt


• The academy has better links to the industry I want to get into


• I don't have to write a DISSERTATION. I eventually enjoyed writing my dissertation at university. But I don't have time to write another. This is a good thing.
  

As a media graduate, I'm getting the best of both worlds. From the course I'm learning to better the skills I've already learnt, whilst feeling a little smug about already knowing things on the course curriculum. It's not all big headedness either, as it turns out I didn't learn everything at school. Even if I did, there's a fair chance some of it has slipped from my memory. (I am not saying I learnt everything at school. I got a 2:1. Remember?)

One of the course's strengths is that it gives students a chance to work on different areas within journalism. This allows us to get an idea of our strengths and weaknesses. So far on the course we've dabbled in interviewing and transcribing, pegs and angles, ethics and legalities, as well as my swotty favourite: subbing.

Can you guess what this week's tasks are focused around?



My experiences of journalism have yet to reach the heady heights of those that inspired me. But then, I'm not an employed journalist so I can't expect it to be as exciting as these guys have got it, yet:







So I invite you to keep up with the Heller task I've got on my hands. It's not going always going to be pretty. But I'm going to escape this Catch-22. Wait a second. Yossarian managed that (sorry to spoil the ending). Maybe we do have some things in common.