Showing posts with label Bournemouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bournemouth. Show all posts

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

The Bournemouth Rock (2012)



Company: The Bournemouth Rock, Bournemouth

Editors: Vikki Hutton (Features), Oliver Hill (Opinions), Sam Thomson (News)

January 2012 – two-month freelance contributor






















Contributing to three of the fortnightly student paper’s four sections.

Features

The idea for my contributions commenced as a biweekly ‘living in the life of…’ section. But due to time-constraints amongst other things it led the intended series only lasting for two entrees.


Yes Man

Imagine a world where you can’t utter the word no. This is the curse of the Yes Man. Joshua Saunders recalls his tales living the yes-lifestyle for a week as he confronts Scientology, nearly strips off in public and witnessed things he’d rather forget…

Initial idea taken from Danny Wallace, writer of Yes Man as a way of picking his life up; I thought it could spice up my own, what an understatement that would turn out to be.



Yes Man: How three letters can change your life
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

Yes Man: How three letters can change your life






















Meet the Bournemouth's nude swimmers...

Joshua Saunders bears all to infiltrate Bournemouth’s colony of nude swimmers.

Ever up for a challenge I approached David, founder of the NudeSwim group, asking to write a piece about their uncommon hobby. Openly he agreed, but under the one condition that I’d join in the session and share in the experience.

Baring all with Bournemouth's Nudists. CLICK FOR FULL STORY
Baring all with Bournemouth's Nudists





Opinions

Having always been a man who preffered to entertain rather than astound, my columns tended to be a little less news-orientated and more unconventional as you’ll see below.

The day the ad-man stole your best friend

Bakers Complete brought out the world’s first advert specifically targeted at dogs. Employing high-pitched whistles to draw your canine companion’s attention at key moments could the ad-man have stolen your best buddy?
 
The day the ad man stole you best friend. CLICK FOR FULL STORY

The day the ad man stole you best friend






 

 

 

Frankie Cocozza saint or sinner?

With a nationwide split of besotted fans and enraged hatemongers Joshua Saunders asks how bad is ‘our Frankie’? And is his hedonistic life sexual conquests, drug use and excessive party-going any different from anyone else from his generation?


Frankie Cocozza Saint or Sinner? CLICK FOR FULL PIECE





Frankie Cocozza Saint or Sinner?





 

 

Flatworms could the secrets to human immortality

Scientists believe that they could have discovered qualities of immortality within the humble flat worm. If one is cut into ten sections the sections will regrow into individual worms. But as Ben Parker from Spiderman once stated: “With great power comes great responsibility,” and are we ready for it yet?


Flatworms could give mankind immortality, but are we ready?
Flatworms could give mankind
immortality, but are we ready?














News

This was one of the more challenging sections to write for, eagerly trying to find original stories to directly compete with local rival The Bournemouth Echo. Many of our stories ended up falling through; nonetheless a close friend and myself were appointed Chief Reporters. 

Boscombe in bid for a revitalised high-street
Boscombe in bid for a revitalised high-street


Oyster Card could be set for Bournemouth



Monday, 14 November 2011

BHBeat Magazine (2011)

Company: BHBeat Magazine, Bournemouth

Mentored by Charis Webster (Editor)

November 2011 - Freelance contributions


Fish Pedicures: Novelty health treatment or life-endangering risk? BHBeat investigated how safe the UK's popular enrichment of the moment actually is.

During this investigation I spoke to pediatric surgeon Dr Mike O'Neill and Sophie Dack-Stainer an entrepreneur from Poole who started a Fish Pedicure business.



Sadly BHBeat gradually grounded to a halt after December 2011, ceasing to exist shortly after.

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Bournemouth Echo (November 2011)

Company: The Bournemouth Echo, Bournemouth

Mentored by Darren Slade (Chief Reporter)

November to December 2011 - one month placement


Having worked at the Bournemouth Echo previously, the newsgroup generously took me on for a one-day-a-week freelance basis.

Children's TV legend Neil Buchanan spoke about being a failed rockstar, rumours about his 'death' and inspiring a whole generation to be more creative. This is Art Attack's presenter speaking to Joshua Saunders reminiscing about his career so far.

I managed to clinch this interview after contacting his PR agent about coming to Bournemouth to launch his new collection Hope Street.


Neil Buchanan displaying his new art collection.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
Featured in the print edition of the Echo         






Great fella Neil, happily posed for photographs
with both visitors and over-eager journalists...







Swearing: Is it best to be secretive when using an expletive? A feature considering the debate after Hon. Mr Justice Bean challenges the illegality of verbally abusing police officers at the Court of Appeal. The Bournemouth Echo poses whether 'foul language' can be part of today's society?



Do we need swearing? Joshua Saunders asks.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
Gordon Ramsay swore 243 times during
TV show Gordon's Great British Nightmare.


For an abbreviated version on the
Bournemouth Echo website CLICK HERE.












Controversial comedian Frankie Boyle announced a turnaround tour after vowing never to go back on the road again, with dates including the Bournemouth International Centre.



Frankie I don't give a damn. CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
Frankie announces new tour
The Last Days of Sodom


Shortened version appeared in the online
edition of the Bournemouth Echo
CLICK TO READ

















































 NIBS
Story summaries:
  • Every hour more than 100 people go into hospital and more than 40 people die from alcohol-related problems. The Solent NHS Trust Drug and Alcohol recovery service and other local agencies offer their support to help people with drinking problems to control their addiction.
  • Local dance school Steppin' Out Academy of Dance debuts their Christmas performance 
  • Tips for looking ten years younger were shown at a charity event
  • Bournemouth Choir unveil their comeback show
  • A hospice was looking for bags to trade and sell at a nearby event
  • Artwork to be shown by artists in the area

A selection of NIBs.
READ THE SELECTIONS HERE
Alcohol related problems dominate the United Kingdom local
Bournemouth organisations are there to help.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PIECES


















Wednesday, 1 June 2011

The Bournemouth Daily Echo (June 2011)


Company: The Bournemouth Echo, Bournemouth

Mentored by Darren Slade (Chief Reporter)

June 2011 - Two week placement


Three Monarchs star David Conway toured with Morecambe and Wise to the Black and White Minstrels. The virtuoso harmonica entertainer scaled the UK performing with some of the most prestigious acts, now 50 years since his first summer season in Bournemouth he recalls his life in showbiz. (To read the feature click on the captions below) 



Click on the text for a shortened
account on the Bournemouth Echo's website.



After reading the piece David and his wife Pauline kindly sent a letter thanking me for the write-up.


Letter from David and Pauline.

 

Driving Awareness Courses were set to become the most expensive in the country. Motorists caught speeding amongst other offences could opt to pay the course fee of £105 to negate any points that would have been put onto their license. An average of £30 more than any other part of England. 

 

In this piece I went out onto the streets of Bournemouth to vox-pop the public and spoke to someone  who had previously endured the Driving Awareness Course.


Click on text for online edition
Simon Hibbard, 52, said: "[I found the course] extremely belittling, they talked down to you and constantly tried to make you sound stupid."















 NIBS
Story summaries:
  • Health and safety training plea to farm and agriculture workers after the sector was revealed to have the highest injury rate of any in England
  • Dorset Diadem, a train that ran from Hastings to Purbeck returned after a 40 year hiatus
  • A warning of rising thefts in car parks near surrounding the New Forest
  • Free dance lessons at Bournemouth's Pavillion Centre
  • Dorset libraries appealed for volunteers to help with their children's reading project
  • Bournemouth Orchid Society received 15 awards for their green fingered passion
  • A 'guess the amount of flower heads' competition was launched to help raise money to more Charminster a more attractive place to live



The Bournemouth Advertiser

 Conducting vox-pops to find out the dieting secrets from the women of Bournemouth.


Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Nerve* Magazine (2010)

Company: Nerve* Magazine, Bournemouth

Mentored by Lauren Keith (Features Editor)

December 2010 - Seven months as the Sub-Editor for Features




A profile of Bournemouth's notorious human statue Johnny Goldman, the man with the Midas touch guided Joshua Saunders through his maverick years. As the art of becoming a living statue transformed his chaotically polarized life from one of copious self-destruction to cathartic spiritualism.

Candidly spilling the details of his life John kindly told of his wilder 'maverick' years. FOR FULL STORY CLICK TEXT.

 This was my first feature targetted at lifestyle; exceptional design work by Grant Corlett

Double page spread in Nerve* Magazine
First written feature with a byline
















During the year I also presented the live television launch for Nerve* TV alongside the lovely Maddy Watkins. As well as reading the radio news that was broadcast live throughout the university campus.