Workbook Arabadzhieva

13 May Workbook Arabadzhieva

March 18^th,2019 Live News Day

At about 10:00 in the morning on March 18^th 2019 we were given a list with topics that need to be covered by reporters for the live show. Reporters were also given the chance to go out and cover their stories in couples. Me and Moona Poppal choose to go to Blackfriars Crown Court and cover a sentencing case.

When we walked in the court building we immediately started looking at the daily cases listings and found the case of Louise Cross. Miss Cross was convicted of smuggling cannabis, four mobile phones and their chargers for an inmate in Pentonville prison on October 8^th, 2017. She was also found in possession of keys of stolen Mercedes parked outside the prison. Unfortunately, we were told that we are going to be allowed in the court room because the hearing of her sentencing was already in process. So, we had to talk to the usher to find out more about the case, who did not really know anything about this case. Then I saw across the hall a young lady barrister and decided to try my luck and see if she knows anything about the case. Luckily, that was the defence barrister and she was nice enough to give us a summary of the case and tell us the defence side of the story.

However, as we needed more information we went back to the usher and asked him if he knows anyone who might be of help. The usher told us about the prosecution barrister and described us the way he looks. So, me and Moona Poppal set to wait for him outside the court room. When he walked out the court room and we approached him he was kind enough to give us the rest of the details on the case, and even let us in the court room for the sentencing.

Miss Cross was sentenced with a suspended seventeen months prison sentence and 100 days of unpaid community work. Once we had all the details we needed, we left the court building and went across the road to do a short PTC court report on the case. I reported on the case while Moona Poppal was shooting. We were done and back at the newsroom by 12:30-1pm. We uploaded our footage on the relevant Dropbox folder and told Vanessa all about it.

Sourcing and preparation for the award/competition application

11-16 May – I have been researching and contacting potential interviewees for my multimedia feature competition application. The feature is about the impacts the Heathrow’s third runaway would have public health and wildlife. The competition I would be entering is The Online Journalism Awards 2019 in the small student category.

• In the past month, I have found many studies and a lot of information suggesting that air and noise pollution, produced by airplanes is extremely dangerous not only for the public health but for the wildlife was well. It is important to note that Heathrow are planning to change the system of aircrafts routes, in a manner that would significantly increase the amount of aircrafts flying over certain areas. Resulting in a significant increase of air and noise pollution in those areas, one of which is Richmond Park.
• Apart from its historic meaning, Richmond Park is a home to one of the largest varieties of solitary bees in Britain. It hosts at least 150 solitary bee species which represents more than a half of 250 solitary bee species recorded in Britain. Just for a comparison – one Red masson bee (type of solitary bee) is 120 times more efficient at pollinating, compared to a honey bee. And in a state like the current when we keep reading and finding out how endangered bees across Britain are, working towards preserving pollinators should seem like the only sensible action. However, a third runaway would only decrease their chances of survival, especially when built so close to their home.
• A third runaway would also result in a significant overall increase of the aircrafts from and to Heathrow.
• These are just some of the studies and articles I read on the topic:
• https://www.aef.org.uk/issues/health/
• https://www.aef.org.uk/issues/air-pollution/
• https://www.aef.org.uk/issues/airports/
• https://www.aef.org.uk/issues/biodiversity/
• https://www.nhs.uk/news/mental-health/study-warns-global-warming-could-drive-suicide-rates/
• https://aviationjustice.org/impact/aviation-and-air-pollution/
• http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/air-quality/data-and-statistics
• https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate-change/why-were-fighting-against-third-runway-heathrow
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24103537
• https://news.psu.edu/story/416642/2016/07/06/research/bees-ability-forage-decreases-air-pollution-increases
• I also found and an analysis of the third runaway proposal letter written by a former aircraft pilot, who has also carried out post graduate research into biomass fuel projects, amongst others:
• http://www.teddingtonactiongroup.com/2019/03/25/analysis-of-third-runway-proposals/

I have been trying to find out his name and contact details, so I could find out more about his reliability but unsuccessfully for now.

• In the past month I have got in touch with Robert Barnstone from No 3^rd Runaway Coalition. The coalition members include a variety of MPs and NGOs fighting against the third runaway. Unfortunately, although he has promised me on a few occasions to talk with me and tell me more about the case, I still haven’t managed to talk with him.

24 – 31 April – I was calling wildlife organisations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, as well as Friends of Richmond Park with the hope of getting and interview and finding out more about the effects Heathrow’s expansion could have on wildlife in Richmond Park. However, they all failed me saying that they just don’t have enough time to talk to students. FOE send me a press release.

So, I slightly changed the angle of my story – it’s now about the impact this potential expansion would have on the local communities, and the current impacts of the airport. I contacted a few people on Reddit and pretty much all groups and people against the expansion on Facebook. Charles Burke from Slough and District Against Runaway 3 replied back and we arranged an interview.

6-10 May – I went to Colnbrook to talk to Charles. A few days later I was suppose to go back with an equipment and get my footage and pictures. However, the kit room didn’t have any equipment I could shoot with so I had to use my HTC M8 to shoot and record everything included in my multimedia feature. Never mind! It’s always better when you have to improvise!

10-13 May – Well, I was working on the feature and video. Spent quite a lot of time struggling with WordPress because honestly is a dying platform. Don’t just take my words – ask for a feedback. But please don’t recommend it to the next generation of journalism students because it’s a waste of money and a BIG disappointment.