Filed under: Uncategorized
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BLOG HAS BEEN MOVED – IT CAN NOW BE FOUND HERE
The new web address is; www.benclatworthy.com/blog
N.B. no more posts will be added to this blog.
Filed under: BBC, General | Tags: BBC, BBC Television Centre, Ben Clatworthy, London, Ski Club of Great Britain, SkiTV.co.uk, Work Experience
GCSE’s are over… It feels like summer… and I’m in Wimbledon, during Wimbledon.
I have headed to London to do work experience at the Ski Club of Great Britain which is based in Wimbledon. This is my first ever proper work experience; I’ve been mentored at the BBC in Bristol, written lots of articles, but never had the opportunity to do ‘real’ work experience. Its been great, I’ve had a go at just about everything from news writing, film stuff and even written a press release.
Tomorrow I am off to BBC Television Centre to meet a producer who’s programme I recorded links for in 2007. I will write a more detailed blog about that in the coming days, and i’ve got loads to write about from the Ski Club too.
For more on all that I have been getting up to at the Ski Club of Great Britain then take a look at www.benclatworthy.com
Filed under: Other general life | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Comment, Degree, Journalism
In the past two days an unnamed person has commented on my last post twice. You won’t have seen these comments as I decided, potentially against my better judgement to not approve the comments for all to read. Now I would expect you are thinking they were abuse, but no!
‘i bet u dont av a degree in journalism’ – unnamed commenter
Well, my first response to this comment would be, nor do you looking at the spelling of ‘have’, and secondly, no, I don’t have a degree in journalism, being just 16 GCSE’s and finishing school would probably be the better thing for me to think about.
Anyway, joking aside thanks to everyone that has clicked onto my blog in the past week, and if you would like to make a comment then feel free…
Finally, I have another post coming very soon, and hopefully some good news too!
Filed under: Television | Tags: BCFM, Ben Clatworthy, Bristol Community Radio, Britain's Got Talent, Hollie Steel, ITV, Reality TV, Susan Boyle
or does it?!
10 year old Hollie Steel was chucked head first into the spotlight when see wowed the nation on Britain’s Got Talent singing, but it was after see broke down on stage that the media really got their teeth into her story. Then just days later Susan Boyle, an unemployed Scottish lady was reported to be severely suffering from the strains and stresses of fame. The programme reported that she was just tired, however questions were once again raised when Susan checked into the Priory, London. Do many people head to one of the best hospitals when they are just overtired?!
The magnitude of this years trauma seen on the programme aroused questions from all angles as to wether reality TV had overstepped the line and gone just too far?
The odd person may say yes, however the masses say no. Looking back at the audience viewing figures from that week it becomes apparent that the British public just love watching their nation perform! On the final week of the series this year, Britain’s got Talent claimed the top 6 spots in the audience viewing figures for every television channel broadcasting in the UK. The Final Results programme was watched by 18.29 million people. One has to go back to 2006 to find a programme matching that, which to no amazement is England vs Sweden’s world cup football match.
When looking at the programme ratings in detail from the past couple of years it becomes very apparent that the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent receive the biggest share of the years viewings. Both are broadcast early Saturday evening on ITV 1.
Any television company would therefore not take a second thought at axing these money spinning programmes. It is undoubted that the makers of Britain’s Got Talent love the coverage that their participants receive, but still toady many are questioning if more could be done to check their contestants are in a good enough mental health state before allowing them onto the stage and into the media spotlight.
You can hear Ben talking about this and more on Bristol Community 93.2 FM on Monday 15th June 2009 from 1700.
Filed under: BBC, General, Television | Tags: BBC, BBC Points West, Ben Clatworthy, Bristol, Claremont Senior School, Disabled Education, Exams, News, Radio 4, Redland Green School, The Media Show
Ben Clatworthy, journalist/writer
So, why on earth am I writing one?
Mainly because people have told me I should as my past ones have occasionally been interesting. Those ones though were only for a few days at a time as I mundanely went skiing in Meribel or the week when I headed to 3800 meters ski race training last October.
The real reason I’m doing it though is the challenge of making an interesting and readable one.
If you are with me at the end of it all I’ll buy you a drink or two.
After all if I can’t find interesting things to write about and comment on then I should probably stop considering myself a journalist/writer. If it turns out a dire mess with nothing but rubbish I will pack it in I’m sure.
So, Hello, this is it. My new venture, my personal blog. The idea to give people something to read that covers everything and anything that will interest you, not just a select few people.
As the BBC’s James Cove told me as I set out on my ski race one last year, many blogs are only interesting to, the writer, their family and a few select friends. That said hopefully this one won’t fall into any of the those categories.
It’s been a busy few weeks, firstly reporting on BBC Points West in May about disabled education in Bristol and then last week a quick chat with BBC Radio 4′s ‘The Media Show’ which is broadcast every Wednesday. I’ll keep you posted as to whether I will be appearing on that in the coming weeks.
I’ve just been asked to do an interview for a new outdoor adventure website with this amazing disabled lady named Karen Darke, who became paralysed in a rock-climbing accident on Aberdeen sea cliffs. Since then Karen has built herself back to full strength (if not stronger) and since pursued alternative ways to access the wilderness canoeing, skiing, and hand-cycling.
Karen Darke
Karen has undertaken some truly amazing challenges in the past few years and has even written a book, done hundreds of speaking events and made several TV appearances. Most recently on BBC Scotland.
I shan’t tell you anymore about Karen until after the interview which I will be doing in a few weeks.
And finally, I am the studio guest for ‘The Harriet Robinson Show’ on Bristol Community, 93.2 FM this coming Monday (15 June 2009) at 17.00 PM. So without wanting to give anything away there will be another blog post on Monday with a few thoughts on what I am going to be talking about so do check back then to find out.
More at www.benclatworthy.com
With the planning finished, the graphics designed by James Mobbs, who does all of the branding for Ben and the first post ready and waiting. The team behind this new venture from Ben Clatworthy can now announce that this Friday, 12th June 2009, this blog will launch.
For now check out www.benclatworthy.com and hope to have you all back here very soon!
Filed under: General | Tags: BBC, Ben Clatworthy, Blog, Coming Soon, Journalism
Not long now until the launch on Ben Clatworthy’s own blog, with musings on being a young writer, broadcaster & journalist along with other random thoughts.
For a while people have been urging Ben to write another blog after the success of his ski racing one last October.
Please do check back, and in the meantime why not check out Ben’s website which can be found at www.benclatworthy.com
