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Day: 25 September 2012

“The truth is out today. Justice starts tomorrow”

Written by Dan Jones on . Posted in Sport.

The 23rd of September saw Liverpool’s first home game since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report.  Their opponents, almost inevitably, were Manchester United. It’s a fixture which proves a constant reminder of just how far their footballing stock has fallen.

Gone are the days when Liverpool were revered worldwide as Britain’s most famous footballing export. According to the current league table, they aren’t even the best team on Merseyside.

Gone, also, are the days where the events of the 15th of April 1989 are attributed in any way, shape or form to the actions of Liverpool fans on that day. Gone are the obstacles to the truth, perpetuated by those with only self-interest at heart.

The lies have been exposed and the truth, as unearthed by one of the most thorough inquiries in British judicial history, is that journalistic integrity, corporate liability and policing responsibility were abandoned.

Abandoned in the run up to the game when, despite numerous warnings, the Football Association declared Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium suitable for the FA Cup semi-final.

Abandoned by Superintendent David Duckenfield, whose incompetency led to 3,000 fans being shepherded into a part of the ground built for no more than half that number.

Abandoned by several senior policemen, who refused to allow 42 ambulances onto the pitch as people lay dying for want of basic medical attention.

Abandoned by those who sought to erase the honest accounts of hundreds of rank-and-file officers, a cover-up which began even as the disaster was still unfolding.

Trevor Hicks, to whom the headline quote is attributed, lost both his daughters at Hillsborough. He and all the families have had to endure not only the loss of their loved ones, and a stream of unanswered questions, but an incessant tirade of slurs, lies and fallacies about the actions of the police, the actions of the emergency services and even the actions of the fans themselves.

Thanks to newspaper editors, journalists and senior politicians, the lie has been continually perpetuated that this was not only Liverpool’s tragedy, but Liverpool’s fault.  The self-pity city once again looking for someone else to blame. At last, these fallacies have been put to bed.

At last the world might understand that this isn’t just Liverpool’s tragedy. Nor is it merely football’s tragedy. The families never wanted pity; they waited 23 years simply to hear the truth. They should not have to wait another 23 years for justice to be done.

Dan Jones is a lifelong Liverpool supporter, who regularly attends matches both home and away; his passion has taken him to over ten countries following his team.

Retro Corner: Crash Bandicoot

Written by Andrew Williams on . Posted in Games.

I have never been a gamer. When my housemates disappear upstairs for several hours to play COD, I choose to leave the ‘campers’ and ‘K/D whores’ to it. Instead, I combat the ten thousand rounds of staccato gunfire reverberating through our floorboards by turning The One Show up to eleven in the hope that Gyles Brandreth will drown out the bloodshed.

As a result, a typical confrontation between myself and a gamer consists of a fruitless back-and-forth until we agree that I am a Luddite. The reason why lies in the form of a small but surprisingly resilient marsupial: Crash Bandicoot.

Certainly the best game I have ever played, it is a triumph of simplicity. At the time, Crash had jaw-dropping graphics and a vibrant aesthetic that enlivened the Bandicoot bonding experience. Sixteen years on, Crash looks dated compared to its unnervingly lifelike successors, but the gameplay itself has lost none of its appeal.

The object of the game is refreshingly straightforward: negotiate your cobalt-trousered friend through 32 levels across three islands, collecting as many boxes as you can on the way. Lying in wait are the ‘bosses’: Papu Papu, Ripper Roo, Koala Kong, Pinstripe Potoroo and finally the Doctors – Brio and Cortex. The malevolent sextet variously employ boulders, chemicals, a shotgun and a mace in an increasingly desperate series of attempts to prevent Crash from reuniting himself with his beloved Tawna.

Crash can run, jump, spin and duck, but unless he stumbles across a box filled with TNT he has no real weapons as his disposal. As such, this is not a game that is likely to be completed at the first attempt; progress requires an intimate knowledge of the landscape and an eye for patterns. How fast do the steps move? Which of those planks are the least stable? How many jumps does the dragon at Sunset Vista take towards Crash before ripping his little orange head off?

In some ways it is a feat of endurance, but the investment of time necessary to take Crash through to the end ensures that you forge a relationship with the game and its characters.

Introduced to us in the same year, Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft was gutsy, brassy and kick-ass in a way that Crash wasn’t, whilst comparative characters – take Nintendo’s Mario, for example – are arguably more iconic. But like a good wine, Crash has matured with age. It is an unspoilt game from a time before the gaming market was saturated with Hollywood spin-offs and celebrity cash-ins: quaint, unpretentious, and brilliantly effective.

Experience… Sorrento

Written by Sam Wreghitt on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Fancy some winter sun? Head over to Italy’s West coast and sample the serene town of Sorrento, just across the bay from Naples. It makes the ideal location for a long weekend away.

Arriving

Jump on a bus from Naples airport straight to Sorrento or, if you arrive at an unsociable hour, get a taxi to Naples bus station and head over to Sorrento via one of the buses there. Skirting along the Mediterranean coast through the curving roads provides the perfect prelude to what should be an exhilarating weekend away.

Day 1

Once you have arrived at your hostel, avoid the beaches and head straight over to the pontoons. At only nine euros a day, not only do they give you great views of Sorrento balancing impossibly high above you, and also Mount Vesuvius watching over Naples far across the bay, but they also give you a feeling of privacy and exclusivity in Sorrento where this means everything. From your lounge the degree of activities is up to you but I would recommend at least dipping yourself into the ocean to do a bit of snorkeling to sample the local wildlife on offer. For lunch you have a couple of options, either indulge yourself with a beautiful fish course, where you will be shown the catch of the day for your perusal, or grab a couple of euros and head up the tiny side streets that criss-cross the town to explore the shops to purchase a baton of bread and any one of the variety of cheeses, meats, oils or tapenades. Then sit yourself down on a bench in one of plazas and see if you can spot the rich and famous. For the evening, try one of the many restaurants along the seafront and engulf yourself in the Italian lifestyle with a bottle of vino and a basket of bread.

Day 2

Wake up early and jump on the train (by far the easiest and quickest way) to Pompeii or Herculaneum. Both provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the Romans a yonder ago. Pompeii is the more famous of the two but I would personally recommend escaping the hordes of tourists and heading to Herculean for a relatively more laid back experience. Either way both are fascinating as they provide a snapshot of a time long ago and if you’re feeling up to it you can see both, as they are only a couple of train stops apart. Finish off your day by taking a stroll through Sorrento’s harbour and once again sampling the excellent seafood on offer.

If I have one word of warning it is that this is a holiday of luxury and although it can be done on a modest budget, be prepared to spend a little more than your average backpacker’s holiday. But trust me, this is most definitely worth it.

Stay – Seven Hostel from £7 per person per night

Fly – Liverpool to Naples with Easyjet from £85 return

Banks to give forgetful customers their money back

Written by Hannah Tosh on . Posted in News.

You might find yourself with extra money in your account this week after some banks promised to reimburse customers for money they drew out but never collected from the ATM.

RBS, Natwest and HSBC are saying that customers should be prepared for an £80million windfall.

They are now searching their archives to identify the thousands of forgetful customers that have walked off without their cash and never claimed it back. Previously customers would only receive their money back if they contacted their branch.

Now RBS, Natwest and HSBC are all reporting that they have introduced systems where the ATM automatically identifies who the money belongs to if it is not collected.

Officials are saying that hundreds of thousands of people, including students could be affected. Records dating back from 2005 are being checked to see how many people are owed money.

A spokesman for RBS told the Manchester Evening news: “We are in the process of proactively contacting our RBS and NatWest customers who, according to our records, at some point have not collected all of their dispensed cash.”

“We will be refunding the value of their transactions in full, with an additional goodwill payment.”
HSBC also commented that “they are in the process of repaying £8 million to customers”.

RBS and Natwest suffered a recent hit to their reputation when a computer glitch caused by a junior technician in India resulted in a system melt down.

Thousands of customers were unable to draw out money from their banks accounts. Money transfers were also affected meaning some people had to make late payments on bills. The fiasco forced the banks to extend opening hours and open for the first time ever on a Sunday.

HSBC have also been damaged over revelations that they were money laundering for drug cartels, terrorists and pariah states in a corrupted culture that had persisted for years.

Day trips

Written by Sam Rigby on . Posted in News.

Manchester is a fast moving city and sometimes it can get a little too much to handle. For the days when you wish to escape the bright lights of the city there is a massive amount of things to do in the area around Manchester and further afield. Close to the city and only a short bus journey away is the UK’s longest indoor snow slope at Chill Factore. Ski and snowboarding lessons may be a little pricy but are probably advisable for beginners. Access to the slopes is more reasonable and even better comes with a handy NUS discount.

A fierce rivalry still exists between the North West’s two famous cities but Mancunians would be foolish not to head over to Merseyside to enjoy Liverpool’s revitalised city centre. 2008’s Capital of Culture has enjoyed a boom of late with an influx of restaurants and great additions to its already varied nightlife. A new favourite among locals and visitors is Central Perk taken right out of the iconic US sitcom Friends. The café is almost an exact replica of the famous hangout that was a favourite of Joey and co. and has a number of NYC inspired coffees. Music fans can learn more about the legendary Beatles at The Beatles Story at the city’s Albert Dock. Concession rates start from a reasonable £9. Meanwhile football fans have a choice between the red and blue sides of the city. Both clubs run stadium tours, the more popular being Liverpool FC’s Anfield Tour where you can marvel at the club’s ever-growing trophy cabinet. For those looking to shop head to Liverpool One the city’s shopping and entertainment complex opened in 2008. Shops include John Lewis, Apple and Harvey Nichols (opens Autumn 2012).

York is another city close enough for a short visit from Manchester. At only an hour and twenty minutes away both by car or train, the historic city offers an alternative to modern Manchester. York Minster is one of the country’s most celebrated works of architecture and the scream inducing York Dungeon is great fun. It offers a vivid retelling of York’s gruesome history. Sightseeing buses are a good way to see all the sights in a short amount of time, allowing you to hop on and off as you please. In the evening head to Vudu Lounge a Cocktail Bar and Grill with a great reputation. Food is simple and fairly cheap and the place has a great atmosphere. Or if you want to continue learning more about the city then join a Viking Tour or a Ghost Hunt of York that depart early evening.

Lancashire’s famous seaside resort Blackpool is an hour away from Manchester and served by trains on a frequent basis from Piccadilly. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is as popular as ever. The Pepsi Max Big One is not for the faint hearted but if that’s a bit too much for you then there are a lots of other rides that are less daunting. A trip to Blackpool would not be complete without a trip up the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool isn’t the popular holiday destination it once was but that has a good side. Cheap B&B rates mean it isn’t too costly to stay over night to see a bit more of the town and is suitable for a student budget.

Manchester has green spaces all over the city but none compare to the size or beauty of the nearby Tatton Park. The Cheshire park is a short drive from the city and is a great picnic spot for one of those rare sunny days in the North West. Lyme Park, near Stockport is also a good picnic spot and although it is a bit further away it is worth the trip. It is no wonder the hall has been used on both television and film and it acts as the perfect backdrop to a day spent in the park grounds. Both Lyme and Tatton Park are part of National Trust and therefore a small admission charge will apply. Heaton Park is closer to the city and regularly hosts events such as open-air plays and concerts. The park has a boating lake that has boats for hire during the summer months.

If that’s not enough open space for you then the Peak District is the answer. For the adventurous types it is perfect for climbing, hiking or cycling but it can also be enjoyed in quieter ways too. The views from the peaks are worth the effort it takes to get to the top! Lying between Manchester and Sheffield the Peak District can be accessed by train or National Express coach. Meanwhile, Go Ape! have adventures in Rivington, Lancashire and Delamere, Cheshire. Rivington is a 30-minute car journey down the M61 whilst Delamere is approximately 45 minutes away. The tree top adventures costs £30 per person and take around 2-3 hours.

Getting around

Written by Ben Green on . Posted in Freshers' Guide.

So you’ve settled into your new halls, checked out the local drinking establishments, and loaded yourself up with enough free Domino’s vouchers to last the whole year (bad news: they’re only valid at certain times of the year, and he pizzas don’t freeze well), so now you’re thinking about straying outside of the campus area. You could of course walk, but who wants to do that?

For many students the most common destination away from main campus will be North campus, where such delights as the giant magnets statue and wooden vimto bottle are to be found. The easiest there is via the 147 bus, which is free to anybody with a student card – just make sure to show it to the driver when you get on. You can flag down the 147 towards North campus at the bus stops outside the student union and opposite University Place; it comes through every 10 minutes and will drop you off right outside the Renold Building – number 8 on the campus map). It will even take you back after class from the same spot (on the other side of the road, obviously).

You can get pretty much anywhere else in Greater Manchester by bus too, and the most popular routes are plied by an almost constant stream of these mechanical marvels. Although prices have been increasing at a rate which might see them qualifying for the 2016 Olympics, getting around is still fairly affordable. If you’re on a budget, look out for Finglands or Magic buses which will charge you £1.10 and £1.20 respectively for a short journey; a Stagecoach bus will run you £1.60, whereas First will take you the same distance for £2. If you’re going to be getting the bus a lot, which is particularly likely if you live in a house or halls off-campus, you can get a Unirider bus pass for £199, which is valid on any Stagecoach or Magic bus in Manchester. You can pick one up at the Welcome Fair, or order it online – but make sure to check your bus route first! Get on to Traveline and make sure that your first day won’t kick off with an argument because you’ve blown two hundred quid on the wrong ticket.

Buses will also take you outside the centre / campus area, but if you’re going a long way it might be best to give the tram a try. The network is currently still in its infancy, but it’s useful for getting to certain parts of the city, although there’s no stop on campus – the nearest is in Piccadilly Gardens, where pretty much all of the buses into the city centre terminate. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to hop onto one of the shiny new bright yellow trams, but the dingy old green and white ones will still get you where you want to go. Assuming that you want to go to Eccles, Altrincham, Bury, or Oldham that is; you’ll find a route map on the tram website at Metrolink or plastered onto the ticket machines at every stop (alongside the obligatory ‘buy a ticket or die’ warnings). If trams aren’t your thing, there’s always the train. We are the proud owners of four train stations here in Manchester, the largest and nicest is Piccadilly, which sends out trains to the south, whilst the considerably less well looked after Victoria train station will take you further north. There is also a station on Oxford Road, and one on Deansgate. Train times and information can be found at National Rail.

You can find more information about travel within Manchester on the Transport for Greater Manchester (formerly GMPTE) website, or pop into the Students’ Union where somebody will be more than happy to help you out.

Why I Love/Why I Hate

Written by Helen McCarthy on . Posted in News.

Why I love: Alan Bennett

Without doubt the master of comedy on the stage. From The History Boys to Habeas Corpus, he can make even the printed words in the hard copy hilarious, never mind the on-stage action. And Bennett’s constant collaborations with the National Theatre’s Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner not only means the staging is consistently and simply brilliant, but also the adaptations to the screen. There is literally nothing I would rather do than sit and listen to his flat Yorkshire tones in an interview, never mind sit in a plush red seat and watch his characters knock the theatre dead. His one-liners are on a par with Woody Allen’s, but rather than the ‘neurotic Jew in therapy’ stereotype that Allen has down to a gilded T, we get the Yorkshireman turned Oxford graduate that we find so very addictive.

 

 

Why I hate: Wicked

Hate is a little bit strong, but my brief is ‘love and hate’ not ‘I don’t mind it’ or ‘it’s a bit crap’. In all honesty, I just think that Wicked is ‘a bit crap’. I’m a hardcore musical lover, but I much prefer the classics like West Side Story and Chicago and Cabaret. I like seedy, dark undertones, not a woman with a green face being paraded around as ‘hideous’ when in fact she’s one of the most radiant people I’ve ever seen on stage, she just happens to look like Kermit the Frog. The plot is clunky, the score is instantly forgettable (despite the fact that I re-listened to it on Spotify in an attempt to give it a chance) and it left me stone cold. What makes it worse is the fact that The Wizard of Oz is such a famous and wonderful film, plus it has Judy Garland at its helm. What moron decided that this was a good platform to bounce another musical off? I don’t care that Idina Menzel has a jaw-dropping voice, she can bow down at the mere thought of Judy.

60 seconds with… PINS

Written by Keir Stone-Brown on . Posted in Lifestyle.

This week Keir caught up with Pins’ Lois and Faith at MCR Scenewipe’s ‘All Killer, All Dayer’ event In Aid of Mental Health Research UK.

How did you guys form?

Faith: We just met and started playing music together really (laughs). Went through some band changes as it didn’t work out and then settled on us four.

Some music critics have labelled your music feminist. What’s your take?

Lois: We didn’t really set out to be a ‘feminist’ band. We just found that we worked better generally with girls and that’s how it took off. But at the same time we appreciate the cause. It’s pretty annoying when people describe us as a ‘girlband’ though. If you going to do that then you should probably call all bands with just boys in ‘boybands’ as well then.

Have you got any tips for people wanting to make it big in a band?

Faith: You’ve just got to write lots of material and be prepared to chuck it away (laughs)! Just practice all the time and get as many gigs as possible. It’s not easy that’s for sure and you need a bit of luck along the way as well.

Any up and coming events on your calendar?

Lois: We’ve got a tour coming up in October (Ed – playing Manchester Soup Kitchen on October 13th) which is in the UK and then a couple of dates at the end of the month in France as well.

Faith: We also have our LUVU4LYF ep coming out on October 1st which you can pre-order online.

PINS website is wearepins.co.uk and tickets for their upcoming tour are available now

Ask Keir: Freshers’ weight gain

Written by Keir Stone-Brown on . Posted in Uncategorised.

Ask Keir is a column aiming to answer all your health questions. If you want to know about that funny looking lump that won’t go away, why that student doctor keeps poking you or anything at all to do with health get in touch at

[email protected]

All questions will of course be kept confidential and anonymous.

Question of the Week

Hi, I’m a Fresher and so just starting out at university. My brother gained a ton of weight during his first year and I really don’t want to do the same. Have you got any suggestions?

Most people will have known someone that will have gone to uni and come back a bit on the heavier side by Christmas. The principle culprit for this is almost always the tasty takeaway. As with most foods, moderation is the key but being away from home and not being used to cooking for yourself everyday can lead to takeaways becoming the staple of any students’ diet. To prevent the pounds piling on keep it simple and stick to three meals a day and drink lots of water. It all sounds like common sense but common sense can easily go out the window in your first semester away.

Further help can be found by getting a student cookbook for some quick, easy and healthy recipes to cook on those evenings you aren’t prepared to cook a gourmet feast. I personally recommend “Nosh for Students: A Fun Student Cookbook” which you can get for as little as £6 online. There are plenty of others to have a look at that might suit you more.  Having a good diet can also help keep away the freshers’ flu, which is always a bonus, so get cooking!

Diary of a Fresher

Written by Beth Currall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

A week ago I left a tiny town in the Midlands to go to the big city of Manchester, armed with three suitcases of clothes, 15 pairs of heels and tales from my second year predecessors ringing in my naïve ears. I knew I was in for the most hectic week of my life so far, but I now know that no stories or advice can really prepare you for the carnage that is Freshers’ Week!

I never would have thought, in the moments after my parents had abandoned me and I was quietly sobbing into my alien single bed, that I would spend the night completely wasted in the halls’ bar with a group of people I don’t know from Adam. From that first night I knew that university would be like no other experience; people from all walks of life come together (aided by a bottle of Glen’s finest vodka) and make the best of friends. I found myself dancing on stage to the Cha Cha Slide, which seemed like a brilliant idea at the time; but in the morning, during a cheeky vimto-induced haze, I realised I actually just looked like a complete idiot. But it’s all okay, because everyone is drunk and makes a fool out of themselves – that is the beauty of Freshers’.

From then on it’s been a whirlwind of pre-drinks, flat parties, dancing on tables (and almost getting kicked out of Birdcage for doing so) and painful dissections of the night before with my flatmates at the kitchen table. Forget learning how to cook a healthy meal or remembering to clean my room, my time has been occupied by mastering the art of climbing down three flights of stairs with six-inch heels on, finding the best chicken dinners in Fallowfield and taking twenty minute detours to avoid a head-on collision with the stranger I shared a rather intimate, drunken moment with in 5th Avenue the evening before.

It has been a long and strenuous week, worsened by having to drag myself out of bed while Kanye West and Jay-Z are still ringing in my ears. Catching the bus and sitting through induction talks, while wondering whether anyone would notice if I vomited in my pencil case, have proved to be particularly difficult. One week in and uni has already become a hindrance to me; a second priority to ensuring I get to Boots to buy false eyelashes before Pout. One can only hope that I pull myself together in time to pass the end of year exams.

Now, lying in bed with a box of multivitamins, a free Domino’s pizza and a bunch of everlasting memories, I can finally reflect on my Freshers’ Week. I think that whilst everyone will have their own take on the week I feel we are all united in describing it as one word: unforgettable. Roll on the next three years, and here’s to the many more hazy nights, embarrassing moments and life lessons sure to come!

The naughtiest places you have had sex

Written by Dana Fowles on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Charlie

I had sex under a tree in Hyde Park during the Olympics, while policemen were patrolling the area. Risky business…

Shauna

After a night out, my boyfriend and I couldn’t wait until we got home so he pinned me up against a wall in an alley way. I had to be reminded of this the next morning, I was mortified.

Jack

 After a workout in the gym, I headed to the steam room to relax. I got more than I bargained for when I ended up having sex in there with a total stranger who had had the same idea. More calories burnt, I guess!

Kyle

I once had sex in a library, which felt very naughty. Still to this day, I do not know how we managed to get away with it. Thankfully there weren’t too many people around and we avoided getting caught.

Harriet

I once had sex in a club toilet – not my finest hour.

Tristan

I got chatting to a guy on Grindr, a gay networking app. We decided to meet up and ended up having sex in a suite at the London Hilton. The best kind of room service…

Olivia

While on holiday last year, I had very public sex on a balcony in Magaluf, or should I say Shagaluf. Classy…

John

 My girlfriend and I once had sex in the back of a cinema during a fairly quiet viewing. That was pretty bad behaviour…

William

 I had sex in a lift, which was a pretty interesting experience…

Lauren

During a late night gym session when no one else was around, I had sex in the jacuzzi. There were CCTV cameras, which was quite thrilling.  Some poor soul somewhere has probably had to view the footage!

My week at a national women’s magazine

Written by Zara Zubeidi on . Posted in Lifestyle.

After a long summer of anticipation it was finally time for me to start my week as an intern at a national women’s magazine. As scenes from The Devil Wears Prada flashed before my eyes, I carefully studied the magazine from back to back during the nerve-wracking train journey up to London. As I tottered up the steps at Tottenham Court Road tube station in my high heeled boots and leggings (how do you do ‘smart casual’?) I could only think about one thing, and that was how determined I was to make this in to an every day journey.

As I entered the magazine office I was greeted by never ending rows of Apple MACs, clothes rails, walls covered by magazine covers and draft layouts, and of course, chatter. Everything that I had dreamt of was becoming a reality. The sheer amount of effort and management that is put in to a weekly publication cannot be underestimated- my initial thought on entering this almost fantastic, organised chaos. I introduced myself and before I knew it, found myself talking away about last night’s Olympic Closing Ceremony.

The next few hours were a whirlwind of sourcing celebrity gossip, fashion trends and diet crazes for the magazine’s website. It barely felt like work. The tasks were enjoyable and something I had always wanted to do. And the most rewarding aspect? Seeing your post go live to a reach of thousands, knowing that you were responsible for informing them and generating their opinions around a topic. I was experiencing the power of journalism, first-hand.

The excitement didn’t stop there. I would come into the office each day, unaware of who would walk through the door and what I would be writing about that day. A quick trip to the kitchen became memorable as I passed an interview with Peep Show’s Robert Webb. I put on a few pounds as I devoured complimentary glitter brownies sent to the office in the hope that the magazine would promote a new product. I had a mini heart attack as a topless male model arrived to promote a cooking tool.

I suppose it is surprising to say that my real desire to work in magazine editorial was not awakened by semi-naked models and celebrity spotting, but rather by a meeting. Away from the creative aspect of the magazine, it was time to analyse its success through the Audit Bureau of Circulations media performance report. It soon became clear that magazines were not solely publications, but business empires. Strategies were taken to ensure maximum consumerism. Every step of the magazines journey, from draft publication, to its appearance on the shelves, to being absorbed by the reader, were taken in to consideration.  Every single person had a role in the process, from marketer, to writer, to reader.

 

Dream Job: Football Correspondent

Written by Zara Zubeidi on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Qualifications: Sports Journalism, Journalism, Media Studies, English Literature, Sports Marketing, NCTJ

Location: Worldwide

Salary: 10K-100K

Oh, the joys of being Henry Winter. A job with The Daily Telegraph as football correspondent, opportunities to travel the world and paid slots to talk about football games watched by millions. Fancy this lifestyle? Prepare to work your socks off.

Any job related in sports journalism will entail long hours, a more-than-often low starting salary and often the dreaded requirement of having to work weekends.  Team that with the added pressure of meeting deadlines and many wannabe journalists give up before they have even properly begun.

To be in with a chance of working in this field, early preparation and signs that you can commit are key. Start a blog. Showing that you can write regularly will highlight both your sports terminology and ability to commit to a writing schedule. Next time you’re watching the football, turn off the commentary and see if you can write a match report within five minutes of the final whistle. Cover live matches by researching opportunities with magazines, newspapers and websites. Do not underestimate the potential of Twitter and networking; a polite request to a well-known sports correspondent could land you with your dream placement.

The privileges of working as a sports correspondent are endless. Ultimately, you are getting paid for a job that more than likely feels like a hobby. You may even get the chance to interview a sporting hero. You can never predict today’s news, so working in such a field is unlikely to get boring.

The most important thing to remember is that journalism is competitive. Stand out from the crowd by taking advantage of every opportunity that you can. You should never be short of real life examples in a cover letter or interview that highlight your abilities to be a sports correspondent.

Student 101: Northern monkeys and southern fairies

Written by Zara Zubeidi on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Before I came to university, I found it almost impossible to distinguish between the Mancunian, Liverpudlian and Sheffield accent. It wasn’t until I unconsciously offended someone that I realised that accent and identity had such great importance. After just a couple of weeks at The University of Manchester, another thing was obvious… a clear divide between students from the North and South.

Overseas students evidently find it difficult to understand our rivalry (and our accents!) In all sincerity, if asked, I would not be able to pinpoint the exact source of this unexplainable divide. Assuming it was simply based on old stereotypes, I took to social media to find the real reason behind ‘northern monkeys’ and ‘southern fairies’.

According to my northern friends on Facebook, southerners are stuck up, more competitive, over- sensitive and arrogant. Northerners, according to my southern friends, are unhygienic and borderline alcoholics. What on earth were these views based on? Shameless and the people on Jeremy Kyle ?!  As for southern competiveness, I can quite honestly say that I have never experienced a rivalry as strong as the one I have experienced first-hand between Manchester United and Manchester City football fans.

Fortunately, the majority of these views are said by students in a light-heartedness that doesn’t affect their choice of friends. I have met people over the duration of my course from all areas of the country who I will undoubtedly be friends with later down the line. If anything, students should take advantage of coming across the nation’s ‘mini cultures’ at university, an opportunity that many of our parents and grandparents have not had and thus become ignorant towards ‘the other side’.

With the celebratory feeling brought upon us by both the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympics this year you’d hope that the country’s unity would be stronger than ever. And I’m confident that it will be, despite not knowing where is “rate” good to visit in Sheffield or that “nowt” matters when it comes to your accent.

Craving & Saving

Written by Jake Pummintr on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Craving: Orlebar Brown Jeremy Reversible Jacket – £260

Contrary to the September heatwave that we had this time last year, it is about time we thought about investing in a statement jacket for the winter months ahead. Warm up your wardrobe with shades of orange and this jacket by Orlebar Brown offers just that. The ‘Jeremy’ jacket is completely reversible; the photo exhibits the belize orange block colour on the outside and the inside is a bold chevron print by David Hicks (featured in last week’s issue). The timeless design means you can also wear it in the warmer months. What I love most about this jacket are the visible trimmings of the chevron print that you can see when wearing the solid orange. Blend with monochrome colours, especially hues of navy or grey so that your ensemble is not too overbearing.

 

Saving: H&M Orange Overcoat – £79.99

More formality, less money. Photo: www.hm.com/gb

Whilst this H&M alternative appears more formal, it still prevails in offering the much-needed splash of colour that we are looking for. The collar has a black underlining to correspond with the black buttons on the front that become concealed when the jacket is worn closed. What we love most about this jacket is that it has the potential to be worn in both formal and casual ensembles. Team this with dark-wash denim and a cream coloured chunky knit jumper and you are ready to go. We would love to see this coat around campus rather than the assumed Barbour jacket with rolled up jeans outfit.

Come Have Dinner With Me – Will

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

Will Chambers, a fresher studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics, was first to host The Mancunion’s Come Have Dinner With Me. The night included one tipsy host and his intriguing dance video. We’ll upload it once we’ve bullied it out of Will.

The starter was to be a pea and lemon risotto, the main an Italian-style beef stew, and the pudding a raspberry sorbet fizz. We asked the guests what kind of person they thought would serve this menu. Rachel, a Music student, thought risotto was impressive fare – ‘he’s probably been on a cooking course gap year if he can cook risotto’. Well, Rachel, risotto isn’t that hard. But Ollie, Economics student, was impressed too – ‘what kind of fresher can cook risotto; what kind of fresher wants to cook risotto?’ Linguistics student Catherine said ‘he must be quite a sophisticated guy’.

Will welcomed everyone in, an open bow tie slung casually around his neck as his notion towards fine dining. The table was set, food prepped, nibbles at the ready (Asda Smartprice peanuts; surprisingly tasty) and it wasn’t long before the soothing, mellow sounds of Jack Johnson were flowing through Will’s kitchen. Looking up at a makeshift screen fashioned from a duvet cover and gaffa tape to conceal the kitchen from the dining area, Ollie remarked ‘you’ve thought of everything’.

Will’s innovative duvet divider

A pre-dinner game melted the ice, the first of three stages in a name-guessing competition. Will then reheated the risotto that he had made earlier, stirred in some Parmesan along with some suspect black olives that were supposed to have gone in the beef stew, and served it up to some ravenous guests. We noticed Catherine gingerly pick out her olives. We also spotted leftovers from Rachel; it soon transpired that this small mound was also riddled with olives. Ollie, who ate it all, admitted ‘I’ve never been a big risotto man, but then I found I was quite enjoying it. I shocked myself’.

Pea and lemon risotto, complete with unintentional olives

The Italian beef stew with ciabatta had mixed reviews. Whilst Catherine proudly said ‘I don’t like peppers and I ate them all’, Ollie confessed that ‘it lacked a compliment and it was semi-flavourless -but it was quite nice! Will recognised the seasoning problem and ran to get the salt and pepper, but it was too late’. Oh the woes of under-seasoning. They all questioned the Italian authenticity of the dish and wanted something else on the side, suggesting ‘mashed potato or green beans, even a salad’. We asked if the bread (which was slightly singed under the grill in an overzealous attempt to crisp it up) was nice and Catherine said, ‘Well, Asda did a great job’.

We love the tasteful crockery for Will’s Italian-style beef stew

Raspberry sorbet fizz comprised a wine glass filled with mixed berries nestled under a spoonful of bought raspberry sorbet, topped up with sparkling elderflower pressé. Ollie was happy – ‘there’s a party in my mouth and everyone’s invited’. Whilst the dessert complimented the richness of the starter and main, Catherine pointed out that not much skill was involved in putting it together.

The raspberry sorbet fizz… notice the love rogue in the background, buttons undone, chest out

Overall opinion: The food was nice, but not perhaps as nice as it sounded on the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed and Will was very good at entertaining, despite suffering the throes of a mild fresher’s flu and feeling pretty tipsy after just two glasses of wine.

Scores will be announced when everyone has had a chance at hosting!