05 10 / 2012
Playing an instrument: it is never too late to start
Inspired by my latest return to piano playing, here is another article from me, published on the World Record Label website. :)
25 9 / 2012
The Student Guide article
Here is another publication from me. It is a short article about my experience of moving to study and live abroad. :) There’s a little bit of misunderstanding about my university (it’s not the University of Edinburgh, but Edinburgh Napier University), but I am still very happy with it.
15 5 / 2012
Reality check: The Voice UK vs. Britain’s Got Talent
Here is the short article I’ve written for the second edition of World Record Label this month. :)
04 5 / 2012
UK Elections
Following the elections results today on Twitter, made me realize (again!) that the social media channels have really transformed the way traditional media works. They have also changed the way we - the receivers of their message, react, understand, look for more info.
There were a lot of different hashtags all over the place today. Journalists were competing against each other more fierce than ever before… It might be the same old competition between the different media providers, but this time the audience was watching right behind their shoulders… I can’t understand how in such entirely new environment, there are still journalists who refuse to accept that Twitter is the new big thing and that they have to be there, before it’s too late…
02 5 / 2012
My new freelance project
The other day I have started writing some random articles for an online music magazine. Here is my first piece on the music we can expect this summer during the London Olympics 2012: http://worldrecordlabel.com/hot-music-in-london-2012-olympic-games-cms-17
Enjoy! :)
30 4 / 2012
Some feedback
It’s always nice to find out that someone has appreciated your work. Today, I accidentally found this short piece by the community organization Friends of Craighouse, regarding my report on Edinburgh Napier News: http://friendsofcraighouse.com/2012/03/19/article-and-interview-with-local-residents-2/
Thank you, guys, and good luck with the campaign! :)
20 4 / 2012
My work: Radio Tangra Mega Rock, vol.1
I’ve previously written a blog post containing part of my work for the music website MySound. Before my time there, I was a freelance contributor for the online rock radio Tangra Mega Rock. I’ve been writing mainly reviews of new metal/rock albums, and some occasional live gig reports.
Here is a selection of my reviews for the radio. I quite enjoyed my time there, so I hope you’ll feel the same when you read them. (The good thing about this project was also the requirement to write all my materials in both Bulgarian and English, so you can read them here properly. Another thing - sorry for the strange symbols in some of the reviews, but the new version of the website has caused some problems with the formatting. Second and last - these were written in 2007 and 2008, so bare in mind that my English is now better) :)
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands
Folkearth - Drakkars in the Mist
Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant
Helloween -Gambling With the Devil
Primordial - To The Nameless Dead
Children Of Bodom - Blooddrunk
In Flames - A Sense of Purpose
More of my “rock radio” work - in the next posts. :)
26 3 / 2012
News day at Napier
Among the best things in my MA Journalism program are the live news days we’re making this second (and last!) trimester. The whole course is separated in two big groups and we’re working as a team to produce news stories, features, tv and radio packages and bulletins during one day - from 9-10am until 4pm. The experience is stressful, but very exciting. It makes us see how we can deal with problems or issues in a fast paced environment and it personally gives me a lot of material to think about.
Today we’ve nailed our assessed news day - with 45 news stories produced during the day and a lot of effort from the whole crew. Thank you, guys, for being so great today! :)
Here is my main story from today: Man charged for murder in Saughton Park (it’s an awful story to cover, but it has happened in my local area and there wasn’t a better person to follow it during these past three days)
It’s a bit sad that these news days are over. My last 7 months at the university have passed so fast…
06 3 / 2012
The art of accepting
I am surprised by the fact that many people get really frustrated from being edited while working as a journalists… I personally found it difficult to understand some of the changes made by my editors, but is this really a problem? I don’t think so. I think that part of being a good professional is to rely on the people above you - to count on their decisions and to accept them without anger. It is really disappointing sometimes to see your article or package cut to pieces, but that’s the way media organizations work.
Unless you get to the top editing position, you don’t really have a say on the edits… It’s part of the game. I’m still learning how to be a better journalist, but I think that being confident and relaxed even if my material is not going to be published is a good way to start this journey.
We’re not children anymore and we don’t have to act as such…
15 2 / 2012
Challenges ahead
Being a journalist is not only about fame and fortune… Surprise? If you’re looking forward to your first “fight”, your first report, your first article, interview, package, news… be prepared for surprises. It seems obvious, but sometime I’m also forgetting it. There are a lot of obstacles on this road, and you have to face them, before you can start a career in the media business.
There are days when everything will be against you - the weather will be crappy and you won’t be able to create the video package of your dreams, the interviewees won’t show up, arrangements will be cancelled in the last minute, people will run away screaming when you show them your microphone for a simple vox pop, you’ll run out of batteries or the microphone will not be plugged-in properly… That’s part of the job and you have to deal with it. Being a journalist is very exciting, but it is also a dedication and really, REALLY hard work. My lecturers are always repeating that you’re as good journalist, as your stories are, but there are times when that’s not enough. The most important thing becomes your ability to stand up after you have fallen off the rock, to put your smile back on your face and to start the journey again. That’s the only way. Take it or leave it.
