Last day on the Dominic King show

I've got 2 weeks left as Blast reporter however today was my last day working on Dom's BBC Kent show.

Today we had a body painter whose blog is www.newsfromclaudiabroad.blogspot.com, I think she's austrian I'm not sure, but she did some fun painting on Dom's arm and was lovely too (she even bought her mother along who looked so young Dom mistook her for Claudia, the artist's sister!)

I've had such fun working on the radio. I love the callers we get. Some, in the affectionate sense, are completely barmy! I've got to know some of our regular contributors too.

One of my achievements I think is being accepted generally. When I first started on the phones people didn't know who I was and wanted to speak only to Steve, the producer. It's taken a few weeks but now callers know my name which is nice. I've also got to go into the studio and converse with Dom a bit more these past few days.

I'll still be heard on the radio for the next couple of weeks as I'm currently used by promotions producer/presenter Phil Harrison who likes to use me to record webtrails. I also recorded a special Olympics competiton trail (our only competition in 8 months.) Hopefully they'll use me in future!

At the moment I'm trying to get hold of PR companies for Bestival. We want to interview Alexa Chung because she is going to be DJ-ing at the event and of course Laura Marling (my 'target' so to speak, in a non sinister way! I just think shes awesome.)

Right I'm on a train so I'd better post before I lose signal!

Frank.

4Talent awards

For some reason I have decided to enter the 'multitalented' catagory of the 4Talent awards (deadline is on friday.)

This may seem odd to some who believed I would enter the journalism catagory- and others who might have expected me to put myself forward in a radio capacity.

The reason I have gone for a more 'risky' catagory is because the majority of my writing is blogging. I worry that people will look at my BBC Local journalism and think "What?! She's written a piece about a you tube star and is going to dickens world?!" It's hardly the stuff of Guardian/Observer proportions.

This is not to say I am not proud of it. I believe that my work for BBC Kent has been balanced and carefully thought out. There is a distinct format to BBC Online and I have done my best to fit in with it. This means keeping my work within certain word limits, short paragraphs etc...

You can view it here: www.bbc.co.uk/kent/blast.

I have also become 'Blast poster girl' and on the site my face is the link you have to click on to find out more about the Blast reporter scheme!

Also, I was not sure if blogging counted towards journalism so I decided that journalism and blogging were separate catagories.

I also entered due to my numerous interviews, presenting on screen and on air. I haven't done a whole lot of presenting and my BBC Blast stuff has only been edited into a two minute clip so far (you can find it on my facebook if you're my friend) but hopefully a longer version will be shown on BBC2 at some Godforsaken hour!

I have also entered due to my music. I have a youtube channel, www.youtube.com/frankielovestoday and www.myspace.com/getfrankmusic.

So the recordings/performances might be sketchy (I need a band!) but I'm working on it. I've been playing uke for a month so will hopefully get better. I have classical roots but can't afford the maintainence of singing lessons, so I'm using my voice differently now.

I think I completely forgot to include createdinbirmingham.com in my 'sell' which was very very silly of me as I think my interviews on there are strong...if a little long! (with the exception of my polar bear interview, which was written.) The CIB stuff Chris Unitt has got me to do has used voice, text and video so a nice 360 of formats.

I will be working with 4Talent at Bestival so even if I don't win hopefully I'll get to write for the next bi-annual 4Talent magazine...and even better attend the so called 'champagne fulled ceremony!'

I also wrote to BBC Blast's web team today and suggest they feature a blogger as one of their writing experts (people like Malorie Blackman) as blogging is a great and easy way for young people to get their work noticed. It's got me where I am today, and that's in a short amount of time too.

Frank.

Mental pacing...

...back and forth in my head!

Still waiting to find out If I'm staying as the myspace dj for a second week. It's been hard so far as I've been faced with comments from people 'missing joe' and wanting him back. However he was voted off, it's not my fault (yet people want answers and unsatisfied, they think I am the cause.)

Some people have been really nice however. When people have said less than favourable things I decided to tackle the situation by directly messaging them and asking them how I can improve/ what they don't like. This has actually had a positive response. It's quite scary facing up to people who don't like you! I always get nervous opening their replies but it seems bravado on the myspace page does not carry over into personal messages. This is nice. This is good.

Joe, the former co host, lasted for 6 weeks. I've listened to the first half of his first show and I have to say that mine is certainly not worse. Both are funny (yes I thought my show was funny. Possibly because I have the memories of being there, so maybe it wasn't, I dunno.) I just hope that people listen and actually think, 'Well I miss Joe, but she deserves to stay.' because voting me off won't bring him back.

He had 6 weeks to get better and better, I'd just like another shot, see if people warm to me you know???

ANYWAY

Wednesday sees my first 4talent assignment, an interview with Sunday Best/ Bestival creator Rob Da Bank. I'm not sure what to expect but i'm going to be supervised as I record so its scary stuff. Got to do my research on this one!

Frank.

Myspace radio

Hello!!!

just found out i'm the next Mars Planets DJ....www.myspace.com/frankiesmellsgood

Myspace radio is the 1st of my top friends. 

Can't believe it. I'm a replacement cos someone has had to drop out so dunno if I was lined up or i'm literally a last minute makeshift guest...well never mind!!!

I get to work with Alex Zane as well. So going to try and blag work experience hah!

frank x

underage fest...

Me (left) and Rachel, the Blast Oxford lady.
With Lee and Stef from Gallows on the Gibson bus...putting on an 'ard' face by the way!
Custom gibson encrusted with Swavoski crystals....mental. If you're going to see Gallows at Reading watch out for it, it's going to be on load to Stef for the show.

So underage fest, lots of young people wearing amazing clothes gathering in Victoria park.

Rachel and me were filming some stuff that will hopefully go out on BBC 2's Blast TV. I did some fashion spots with kids from the crowds (including a guy dressed as a hotdog.) Between us we also interviewed members of Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man (Fred the singer scraped lippie off my tooth?!) Gallows, Foals, Dizzee Rascal, Poppy and the Jezebels, Glasvegas and Bombay Bicycle Club.

I found the filming actually quite fun, especially the fashion stuff. Not to say I'm the next Zayzee...hopefully i'm better! haha! Just kidding!

At one point we were setting up for an interview by some hay and MTV started putting up a sign basically to move us out the way. (They were overage which was not the point of the fest. We only got to go because a)I'm 19 so only a yr overage and also because we were escorting a young blast panel member.) As soon as we moved they took down the sign. Bastards.

However...job done. Rachel has the footage, can't wait to see it!

Frank.

Sneaking in...for being overage!

I got a really cool email when I was working at the radio on friday morning...

I've been invited by Time Out mag to the press tent at Underage festival (14-18 years)

I'm 19...actually too old! Yet I guess I'll be one of the younger journalists there. Funnily enough certain bands are going to think I am stalking them as multiple acts I've see/met/interviewed before. Infact Chatham band Underground Heroes have been at the last two festivals I have covered, and yes, they will be there on Friday!

It might seem a bit boring, but I'm actually grateful that the festival is a one dayer, 11am-8pm which sounds pretty heavenly to me right now! I'm even planned my outfit! (Hence the picture on the left!)

Kids nowadays are so effortlessly cool that I have to fit in!!!

Currently I'm researching a piece on You-tuber Ben Loka as he lives in the same town as me andI'm waiting to hear back from a seventeen year old photographer who has had a photo gallery posted on the BBC website.

fingers crossed

Frank.