Taunted Teen in Housing Hell

For my university newspaper assignment in journalism, I decided to do my own news feature, so in true journalist style I found my own news story. A student attending Coventry university had previously told me of her distress concerning her accommodation, so I asked for her permission to write a piece about her torment. She agreed and I came up with questions to ask her and then I wrote up an article with information solely sought out by myself.

University student forced to leave accommodation after months of abuse

Studying Events Management at Coventry University, Amie Williams moved into the Callice Court in October and was subjected to vile torment by a handful of yobbish students.

  The bullying began during Freshers, when the 18-year-old refused to go out with the group. A roommate chased her down the corridor with a permanent marker, threatening to scrawl inappropriate messages on her forehead. The distressed student escaped and locked herself in her room until they left.

  The following week, other graduates turned the furniture in her flat upside down, including the sofas, kettle, toaster and stereo. The disrespectful youths poured cider under Amie’s door, staining the carpet. An upcoming inspection led Amie to clean the mess before a fine was issued.

  Complaints were brought forward to university staff about noise levels in the building, yet no action was taken. Amie claimed she was “lucky to get three hours sleep” due to the pumping bass line coming from the room below.

  Drunken yobs trashed the flat, threw Amie’s possessions out the window and broke the lift. One boy was in a paralytic state as he began to violently attack another boy with a fire extinguisher. Police were also summoned in to break up a fight in the kitchen.

  Amie, still upset from the experience, said “I always felt lonely. I had to leave; I couldn’t cope with the abuse and peer pressure.”

  “One night my flat mates were drinking in the kitchen with a bunch of random people. They all teased me for drinking lemonade; I felt like a complete outsider.”

  The troubled teenager confirmed her exit yesterday and will move out by the end of the week.

Vox-pop piece - Footballers cheating

For my journalism assignment at university I wrote a vox-pop piece about footballers cheating on their partners. However, understanding news features have to focus on current affairs, I centered the story around Wayne Rooney, who had recently cheated on his pregnant wife Colleen. I questionned strangers of varying ages to get more of a representative sample and conducting vox-pops has given me more experience of the journalism field.

Footballers are constantly in the press for cheating on their loyal, attractive and dedicated partners, and it’s almost impossible to understand the reasons behind their behaviour. The recent scandal of Wayne Rooney cheating on his pregnant wife Colleen with a hooker has sparked even more interest in the subject, so the Birmingham Mail went out to question the public on their opinions… 

  Niall Magennis, 18, a part time chef from Belfast, said: “Footballers have so much power and money that they think they have nothing to lose. They have fame and fortune so they can get away with having an extra bit on the side. It’s what they want.”
  Mark Broadhurst, 32, a gardener, agreed: “The money and the power they have goes to their head and they believe they can do anything they want and get away with it. Being in the spotlight makes it more daring; it’s like a game of cat and mouse. They should know better.”
  However, Jez Collins, 38, from Birmingham, accentuated how it isn’t just famous footballers who are unfaithful: “What people don’t realise is that huge amounts of men cheat, it’s only because footballers are famous that it’s more obvious for them because of the press. They have more access to young women because of their fame, but the paparazzi means they get caught out more.”
  Stella Davies, 45, a checkout worker, believes that star struck females are to blame: “They get a lot of attention from girls; they have lots of fans and people want to be with them, so they get many opportunities. It’s easy for them to cheat.”
  June Pudge, 70, a retired florist from Sheldon, said: “Footballers can afford to go to exclusive places where the media and public won’t be able to find them so they can wine and dine their secret lovers discretely.”
  Amina Saleh, 22, a volunteer worker, said: “I suppose they cheat because they’re really busy and get bored easily. Their partners don’t get the same sort of attention. Footballers have more money than sense.”

Broad Street Story with quotes

This is a feature focusing on Birmingham. Creating content for a local student newspaper, it was important to produce an audience-appropriate piece and as Broad Street has such a reknowned clubbing scene, I felt it would be relevant for teenagers situated in the area. I took the basis of the celebration story from the Birmingham Mail online; http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/01/18/celebration-time-for-staff-at-the-best-of-broad-street-awards-65233-28009051/
but I gathered my own quotes from a local DJ and a local youth to make my piece more original and to gain more journalism-related experience.

Golden Mile celebrated at Best of Broad Street Awards

Hundreds of staff, businessmen and VIP guests arrived at the ICC yesterday for the glittering celebration of Broad Street. The best nightclubs, bars, hotels and restaurants of the past 12 months were recognised at the annual event.
  Running for six consecutive years, the awards ceremony honours the best venues and personalities of Birmingham’s Golden Mile. 
  Avid clubber Tom Bradbury, from Kings Hurst, understands why Broad Street has been deemed the entertainment hub of the West Midlands. “The atmosphere is great, staff are friendly and there’s a wide range of bars and clubs.” 
  The 18-year-old waiter favours Walkabout. “It has an awesome range of music and a great setting.” At the celebration, Walkabout was commended for the Best Themed Venue, but won out to Flares.
  Mitchell Pudge, from Sheldon, has experienced the buzz of working up busy Broad Street. “I have such love for Birmingham! The one and only Broad Street is one of the busiest roads in the city.”
  Mitchell, who has made appearances at Bakers, Dragon Eye and Mishkas, loves the thrill of performing in bustling Birmingham. “Broad Street clubs are always packed. Being in a booth 15 foot above the main room and seeing the crowd response below is amazing. There’s no better feeling when you drop a really popular tune and everybody goes wild!”
  The 30-year-old DJ has been doing sets around the Midlands for 10 years, and loves the variety of the nightlife in town. “I love the range of music, from old school 70’s and 80’s at Flares to hard house at Gatecrasher.”
  The successful venues have made Broad Street a renowned party scene, and staff hope to maintain high standards for next year’s awards.

Christmas Vox-pop Article

This article is a piece written for my journalism assignment at university. I chose to do a topical piece about Christmas because it was going to be produced for print near that period.
 

The end of every year sparks speculation about who will reach the number one spot in the UK singles chart for Christmas, and this December it’s no different.
  Facebook campaigns set up last year saw XFactor winner Joe McElderry lose out to Rage Against the Machine. After four consecutive years of XFactor contestants reaching the top spot, it’s possible that the public are getting slightly fed up of these game show contestants. Recent Facebook pages have been campaigning to get “Surfin’ Bird” to number one, but it’s unlikely another protest will have a major impact.
  Matt Cardle is tipped to win this year’s show, but with contenders such as Coldplay, The Killers and allegedly even Jedward producing Christmas tracks, it’s questionable who will reach the number one spot. UniStar went out to get the public’s opinion…
  Adam Dean, 18, a university student from Olton, said: “I want the XFactor tune to be number one because Matt’s predicted to win and he’s an awesome singer. He’s so laid back, not cocky at all, a real inspiration.”
  Sophie O’Reilly, 18, unemployed, agreed: “I want Matt to win and get the Christmas number one, because he’s just so talented. He deserves to get some recognition because he’s really likeable with an amazing voice.”
  Hannah Jones, 19, a waitress from Cambridge, believes The XFactor is overrated: “XFactor contestants have already had too much limelight these past few months due to the hype over the run up to Christmas. It would be ironically funny if they didn’t reach the top spot!”
  Kelly Beckett, 26, a university student from Birmingham, said: “It would be nice for a classic Christmas song to be number one. The XFactor is far too contrived.”
  Liam Short, 20, a vehicle technician from Chelmsley Wood, said: “Surfin’ Bird” for number one! It’s a very uplifting song with its humorous sound. I have no idea what the XFactor song will be; I’m not interested in that programme.”

Jimmy Spices Article

Here is my piece for the online magazine which will be linked from the production event website. I visited the restaurant itself after gaining permission and I interviewed staff and customers for quotes whilst my photographer took images for the article. I wanted to write about multiculturalism in food, and as an authentic buffet, Jimmy Spices was the obvious place to choose, as it fully embraces diversity in cuisine...

Jimmy Spices offers a variety of foods

What do you do if you fancy Indian food, but your best friend wants a Chinese? Your mother craves Italian cuisine but your brother wants to satisfy his Thai taste buds? The answer lies in a restaurant which has revolutionised authentic dining with its unique concept…

Jimmy Spices boasts an impressive range of cultural cuisine, offering traditional dishes from Italy, Thailand, India and China. The all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant fully embraces multiculturalism, as you can enjoy classic foods from different nations simultaneously.

Authentic food has become a staple part of our lifestyles, and with every takeaway we experience a little taste of culture. Restaurants like this fully appreciate the national notions of culinary delights.

Jimmy Spices doesn’t just provide traditional national dishes. The Indian selection, for instance, offers classics such as Chicken Korma and Lamb Rogan Josh whilst serving specials such as Mutter Paneer and Channa Masala.

Shakti Sharan, 36, the head chef, believes the vast choice of multicultural food plays a large part of the restaurants success: “Everybody believes in variety. We have so much variety under one roof because it’s easier to attract people. We aim to appeal to everyone.”

Food is cooked fresh

The restaurant offers a multi-cuisine dining experience for all needs, as it features a salad station suitable for vegetarians and desserts for those with a sweet tooth. Customer Pervinder Kaur, 39, was impressed with the selection: “As a vegetarian I’m very picky. I look out for the vegetarian options and there is definitely a good variety here.”

The ambience adds enjoyment to the experience. Malgorzata Smolak, 30, a waitress at the Solihull branch, said: “I really like working here; the atmosphere is great.”

So, if you ever find yourself in a predicament about where to dine due to a clash of cultural tastes, head to Jimmy Spices!

 BY HANNAH MONTGOMERY

PHOTO CREDITS - CHLOE JONES

A diner tucks in to the salad buffet

The restaurant boasts a vast array of foods

Interview with a South African student

This is my second article for the website. I chose to interview Alex because he is a fascinating subject; having lived in two different countries whilst growing up. I arranged to meet him to discuss his culture and his interest in playing guitar.

Alex Telfer is a university student with a diverse heritage who enjoys playing the guitar. I met up with him to discuss music and multiculturalism…

Alex talks music and culture

Hello Alex. You are a mixture of South African, Irish, Welsh and English. What culture do you feel you belong to?
“I would define myself as a British South African. I grew up in South Africa but we moved to England when I was eight. My grandparents live in South Africa and my parents were also born there. My mom’s grandmother was Welsh, and my dad’s grandmother was Irish, so I have different cultural elements in my heritage.”

What multicultural aspects are important in your life?
“I absolutely love South African food. One of my favourites is Bobotie, the national dish of South Africa – its curried meat and fruit with an egg topping. I also enjoy Boerewors, which is the traditional South African spicy sausage.”

Do you have any particular traditions of beliefs that are important to your culture?
“South Africans have close family values. Now I have moved I do miss my family a lot. All my family speak Afrikaans - a language spoken by Dutch South Africans – except for me and my siblings.”

Are there any South African values you have maintained after moving to the UK?
“In South Africa, I lived in a close knit community and the whole neighbourhood would join together for BBQs. We still have them here in the UK; we even go to the effort of ordering specific South African food and beer online and get it shipped over. We have BBQs in the snow and rain in the UK because we have such a big braai culture.” (Braai is Afrikaans for BBQ.)

What differences did you notice after moving to the UK?
“It’s different over here in the UK because the houses, to me, are noticeably much smaller than those in South Africa. Houses in South Africa are really big; we used to have maids and gardeners there. There’s a difference of laws as well; playboy is considered illegal in South Africa and they banned a lot of films over there, such as The Exorcist.”

Is your music taste heavily influenced by your culture?
“To be honest, my taste in music doesn’t reflect the culture. I think influence isn’t a cultural thing, it’s more what your exposed to and what you enjoy. I don’t listen to African music as regularly as I would with chart stuff.”

Is there a big difference between music in the UK and South Africa?
“There’s such a thing as Afrikaans music, but I don’t like it that much. There aren’t many artists in South Africa; only the really famous acts tend to breakthrough over there, such as Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Music in the UK doesn’t need to be of a national standard to reach the radio.”

You’ve been playing the guitar for 5 years. What music do you play?
“I tend to play whatever I fancy – mostly rock music by Tool and Metallica. My favourite bands include Muse and Radiohead. I would say my favourite genre is rock and metal; but I do like a range – extending to indie also like Oasis and Biffy Clyro. I have been to an event which combined two contrasting genres of music – it merged reggae with heavy metal which was very interesting.”

Finally, what’s your take on multiculturalism?
“To me, multiculturalism is bringing your culture from home and taking it with you wherever you go; trying to merge values from both together.”

BY HANNAH MONTGOMERY

PHOTO CREDITS - CHLOE JONES

Showcasing his musical skills

Interview with a beat boxer

This is my article for the events' website. It had to focus on music whilst also touching on multiculturalism, so I interviewed a beat boxer about both, merging the elements together so the interview was both informative yet interesting.

Hamza Fletcher met me in Birmingham to discuss his hobby

Hamza Fletcher is an 18 year old with an unusual talent. I met the beat boxing sensation and asked him about his musical hobby and learnt about his struggle to keep his religious family happy whilst continuing his love for music…

Hey Hamza. So, what made you start beat boxing?

“I started beat-boxing 4 years ago. A friend shown me a video online and I was influenced to learn, so I watched an online web tutorial. I’ve played the drums for 4 years also which has helped; the beats stay in my head.”

How did you learn how to do it?
“I learnt from watching others on YouTube. Every beat boxing video that’s been uploaded, I’ve watched it. Over time, I’ve learnt to teach myself to do it properly, but I’ve been making silly noises since I was really small, which has probably helped!”

What songs can you perform?
“I can do a number of covers, such as “My Humps” by The Black Eyed Peas and “drop it like it’s hot” by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell, but my favourite is “Push it”, by Salt n Pepa. However, I can hum anything.”

Beat boxing is connected to hip-hop. Is hip-hop a big part of your culture?
“I listen to a lot of hip-hop respectively, and drum and bass too. Both genres really influence the beats and music of my beat boxing. In terms of beat boxing itself, it’s extending into other types of styles. It’s getting influenced by genres such as dance, house and drum and bass.”

What culture do you feel you belong to?
“I am mixed culture. My mom is Asian and my pa is a white dude, so I guess I sit between – half Asian and half white. In terms of religion, I am a Muslim.”

Do your parents enjoy your beat boxing?
“My mom doesn’t condone music due to her religious beliefs. She hated my beat boxing at first, so did my dad, in fact, my friends didn’t like it either in the beginning! But my parents fully support me now.”

Why didn’t they approve of your hobby?
“Some Muslims are against music. Some Muslims don’t believe in playing instruments, but some do. It’s a split area; people have different opinions on the matter.”

How do you showcase your talents?
“I’ve done a number of shows, mostly fundraising events in Birmingham, Sheffield and Manchester. I also enjoy teaching it - I have video tutorials on YouTube.”

Who do you perform to?
“It’s mostly young people who enjoy beat boxing. Older people don’t really seem to understand it. Teenagers like it because it’s unusual – they’ve never really heard it before. However, my beat boxing has multicultural values. I do shows for different communities and I have done Asian shows, but people of different ethnicities enjoy it and appreciate it.”

What’s your opinion on multiculturalism?
“Multiculturalism is important to me. Being from a multicultural family I think people should value it. My neighbourhood is very diverse – there are Asians, white people and black people.”

What tips would you pass on to those who want to take up beat boxing?
“I honestly believe that everyone can beat box; they’ve just got to learn how to do it. I think anything can be done with lots of practise. I would say be patient; it’s a process which can be achieved if done slowly and gradually.”

Hamza learnt beat boxing by online tutorials 

BY HANNAH MONTGOMERY

PHOTO CREDITS - CHLOE JONES

Interview with a policeman

For our production event module at university I was part of the journalist group. I have written articles for print media (a multiculturalism magazine), an online magazine and our events' website. This article is for the print magazine, and I wanted to do a serious piece focusing on the darker aspects of diversity. I took it upon myself to do extra research and by being persistant with my communication, I secured an interview with a respectable police officer who has specialised in such issues. Here's the finished result:

Kirk Dawes in his office

Working for West Midlands Police, Kirk Dawes has made great impact to the services of diversity. Kirk’s respectable career has shaped him into a highly influential man who has advised Prime Ministers and liaised with Royalty. His hard work was recognised when he received the Queen’s Police Medal for services to the cause of diversity.

Your work focuses heavily on multiculturalism. What culture do you feel you belong to?
“My parents are Jamaican, therefore I have a West Indian element, but I consider myself Black English because I’ve lived in England all my life. I speak Jamaican Patois; my father used to hate it, but you had to speak it to fit in.”

How would you define multiculturalism?
“Multiculturalism has different meanings which can give so much confusion. It may denote the need for respect for diversity. It might be to do with the fact that so many of us have grown up in two cultures, like me. I was born in England (with its definite culture) to Jamaican parents with their own West Indian culture, and I needed to fit in to both.”

Do you feel you were split between the two cultures?
“I was split because I was living in England but I had Jamaican core values. Such values included being very religious; we would regularly go to church. Another difference is the food; West Indian food is full of spice, such as ackee and saltfish, and school food consisted of mash and meat without seasoning. There’s a real shift – with food, respect and religion. It’s a totally different world.”

Is it different now you live in Solihull?
“I would walk down my road and people would look at me. Some ignore me and others say hello, but I know they’ll be thinking “where’s he come from?” but it’s not racism – it’s a lack of understanding. Predominantly white villages don’t know what multiculturalism is. Rural villages are less affected by multiculturalism than cities.”

What work have you done as the lead for the National Black Police Association?
“My work has mostly been to do with gun and gang crime once thought to be mainly an issue for black communities. I see my job as one where the truth is reflected, which is that whilst it does affect the black community, it also affects many other communities in the UK. I’ve dealt with race conflicts in Birmingham; cases of white organised crime gangs conflicting with black gangs – mostly issues regarding drugs. You wouldn’t expect it, but racism isn’t as prominent in guns and gangs as people think; most gang members shoot within their own gang in conflicts over power.”

What impact have you made with your multiculturalism work?

“I sit on the Board of Directors of Birmingham Royal Ballet. People assume ballet is for white, upper class people. However, thanks to our work, people of differing cultures go to ballet now. We gave inner city kids the opportunity to audition for the ballet.”

Do you think Birmingham celebrates Multiculturalism?
“Birmingham has let immigrants here for over 100 years, and statistics have shown that in 2015 there will be more ethnic minorities than white in Birmingham. We don’t get racial disorders here. Nationally, Britain has an ever changing face because of its immigration policies leading to a melting pot society.”

What’s your take on multiculturalism?
“We talk about multiculturalism, but don’t mix as much as we should. People live with people from their own cultures – from a multicultural point of view, its natural.” 

BY HANNAH MONTGOMERY

PHOTO CREDITS - CHLOE JONES

Hannah Montgomery's Portfolio

I am Hannah Montgomery, an undergraduate studying Media and Communications at Birmingham City University. This blog will act as a portfolio; documenting my work as a media scholar.