July 2nd 2022 will be an influential day. A Saturday, I shall be in London. While I’m sure the day holds many different purposes for individuals, I shall recognise the date because it is when I will truly stop being a Warwick student. My student ID card will no longer work, I will no longer be able to access buildings on campus and my online use of academic materials will rapidly decrease.
In a strange way, I feel somewhat prepared for this. Early on in third year, I recognised a Masters was not for me. While I hope to continue learning my whole life, and would never rule out an Open University course were I able to afford it, I wanted to enter the real world and work after 17 continuous years of education. With my final exam finishing at 11am on June 6th, that was a cathartic, moving moment that made me realise, for now, academia had drawn to a conclusion. However, what I have not prepared myself for is bidding farewell to student media. From July 2nd, I will no longer be able to write articles for my student newspaper The Boar or present or guest on shows on Warwick’s student radio station ‘RAW 1251AM’. Both societies and media organisations have been an integral part of my three years of independence away from home, so I thought writing about what they have meant to me was unavoidable and an important form of closure. I have often used writing - fiction and non-fiction - as a form of relaxation and calm. Ideas that remain solely in my head for too long can make me frustrated and irritable. Constructing them in blog or article form - as I have done on this website since June 2016 - relaxes me. Even if nobody else reads them, having to test my beliefs on the page, make the abstract suddenly concrete, was an important way of clarifying my thoughts to the world. Having been involved with writing and co-editing my sixth form newspaper, I knew continuing this at university was essential. In June 2018, on a Warwick Open Day, I picked up a copy of The Boar, well aware this would be a publication I would love to write for were I successful in my application. When that opportunity arose and I began Warwick in September 2019, the first ever article I wrote was for the lifestyle section on - ironically - trying to live life in the slow lane. Reader, the very opposite has happened over the last three years, with both The Boar and RAW 1251AM. While the Covid-19 pandemic definitely affected everyone’s university experience from March 2020 to September 2021, both the paper and radio station adapted to the challenge, using the online world to ensure individuals could still create content for people to read and listen to. But let’s rewind slightly. For the first six months of university, Covid-19 was not something to worry about. I tried to write for a variety of Boar sections, communicating with editors by email to hone my piece based on what was required. Originally, the paper had a print edition every fortnight, meaning my aim was to have at least one article in each paper. I would go to the same distribution bin of a Wednesday, fish out a copy and hope my work had appeared. This was immensely rewarding. Having just started university, I was able to write about political discourse worsening, the 2019 election and arts funding. Whereas previously, my words had only appeared online, suddenly I was being provided with a space in 15 different sections to voice my thoughts. As they accumulated, my aim of wishing to write for every section grew (something I have only just achieved, with a Boar Sports article on the Commonwealth Games). At the same time, I was becoming gradually involved with ‘RAW 1251AM’. At heart, I am a print journalist. I like the flexibility the written word brings. There is time, usually, to write a duff sentence, delete it and rewrite. In broadcast journalism, especially live coverage, everything must be perfect first time round. No room for slip-ups, errors or constant umms and errs. My first ever appearance on RAW was off the back of a Perspectives article I’d written about Jeremy Corbyn. Thankfully, I documented the specific experience here, but, in short, it’s safe to say I was very nervous and over-prepared. From January to March 2020, I continued my regular beat of writing for different sections of the paper, utilising the availability of the website by sending over more pieces and making guest appearances on RAW news shows. With news, arts, speech, music and sport radio departments, I knew the first one was my true home. Appearances on ‘Insight’ - the flagship show - and ‘The Johnny Jenkins Show’ (now an LBC producer!) became a regularity, providing me with my chance to air my views to respectful challenge. First year had definitely been an adjustment with ups and downs, but I felt my introduction to student media had, on the whole, been a positive one. * Then along came Covid. Perhaps I was wilfully naive, but I genuinely believed that the third term of my first year, from April to July 2020, would take place. Yes, the virus was spreading but I imagined, given the age of students, teaching would be allowed to continue. I was wrong. The cancellation of term three and national shutdown meant student media had to transform. Editors using the Boar offices to lay up a new paper were no longer able to do so. Guesting on shows from the RAW studios could not occur. Thank goodness, both for my sanity and the sake of societies, that student media did not stop. All individuals were affected by the pandemic, but young people were clearly making collective sacrifices of their formative years for the benefit of their elderly relatives. There was a chance and need for student media to document their experiences, while also providing some much needed escapism. It was during the first lockdown that my Boar output really spiralled. I had only a few assignments due in first year, which allowed me to respond to pitches, hone my writing and spend time thinking about a range of topics. I wrote about the joy of ‘This Country’, the impact of the pandemic on education, the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest and whether art should ever be censored . All rich, varied topics, yet they often became - to put it bluntly - the motivation for getting me out of bed. If I had an article to write or research, regardless of readership, it meant I had a purpose for the day. Communicating with editors during such a tough period was also a brilliant way of keeping those connections which can so easily fall apart when a society cannot meet in person. The same occurred with RAW. I was asked whether I would be willing to host my own news show. As the studios were closed, it would be streamed on Facebook and YouTube using some fancy software. As such, ‘Front Page’, every Monday at 10am was born. Unlike most RAW shows, the programme consisted of simply one person (me!) talking for an hour about the news of the week. Though it would be generally related to Covid, there was a chance for other news content. With snippets of the front pages and cultural recommendations of the week, I was immensely proud of what I was able to achieve. More often than not, I wouldn’t be able to include all my remarks in the hour allocated. Alongside my online guesting, it meant I remained a constant fixture on RAW - to the presenters’ joy or despair! In both my writing and broadcasting, anything I’ve ever said or written has only been thanks to excellent editors and guidance. It was this that made me wonder whether, in my second year of university, I could offer others that support for which I remain so grateful. * Every time a new academic year begins, Boar editors are always looking for new deputies. Unsurprisingly, I applied for the Comment team. I enjoy giving forthright, critical opinions and, while still wanting to do this, also wanted to help other writers hone their views. Often, unless you enjoy a prior level of self confidence, delivering your own opinion can be tricky. Far easier to write a short tweet or just focus on objective news. Yet I believe the student voice, given the Boar’s ethos of creating conversation, was absolutely essential. Working with a team, even when meetings were on Zoom and continued lockdowns meant the paper still couldn’t have a print edition, was utterly worthwhile. Simply writing articles can be quite an insular experience, whereas collaborating with others demonstrated to me how the paper came together. I was pleased to come up with the idea of an ‘Open Mind’ series, where writers would construct an article reflecting on an idea where they have changed their mind. With pieces on Donald Trump, veganism and voting, I felt a real range of views were being heard. In the different lockdowns, the routine of pitching and editing was again immensely valuable. As for RAW, the studios still sadly remained closed, meaning pre-recorded shows were the norm. I had long been aware the breakfast show was the most important programme on any station. Waking up the audience, it set the tone and mood for the rest of the day. If I was to have the opportunity to co-present such a show, one day a week, it was chance I was not going to let escape me. And thankfully it didn’t. Signing up as a co-Breakfast presenter with Rebecca Cole (now RAW’s station manager) and Cam Hall (RAW’s former Head of News and my long-suffering housemate), we recorded a show every Sunday evening using the wonders of Zoom. Then, I would stitch the two hours together on Audacity, before sending it over to the programme controller to be broadcast on Thursdays. Ensuring our discussion remained timely and light was essential. The experience was excellent, even if I wish we had been in the studio. Utilising features like ‘On this Day’, First World Problems and going Head to Head on ‘serious’ subjects of the moment, we, if I do say so myself, created a jolly, light listen that was the much needed tonic for me away from the doom and gloom of Covid news. Crafting a Christmas special - Warwick edition - we introduced guests in our second season, including Warwick’s winning University Challenge team. At the time of broadcasting, they had only made it to the semi-finals, but gave nothing away. Indeed, their poker faces would suggest that is another game they should try. As second year drew to a close, I kept writing the occasional article for the Boar to provide an escapism from exam revision. Society was thankfully beginning to open up due to the effective vaccines, which meant the media organisations were starting to return in person. This was a great joy. Though the last year and a half had been immensely disrupted, I was so relived to have kept involved with student media. That would only remain the case in my third year. * I made the decision not to run for a Boar editorial position in third year. Having wanted to devote enough time to my freelance writing and RAW commitments, I felt retaining a distance while also being involved was the best combination. I wanted, however, to try and remain a Deputy Section Editor. Having loved being on the Comment team, I felt a change of section was also necessary. Anyone who knows me well will be aware that one of my all time loves is books. Applying for that section became a no-brainer. Very surprisingly, I was accepted as a Deputy Books Editor. Immediately, things were different from second year. Thanks to Freedom Day in July 2021, editorial meetings could take place in person. The editors I had regularly communicated with online were individuals I could finally meet in person. Indeed, to culminate with the end of Freshers’ Week, I was persuaded to go on my first (and so far only) pub crawl, which was a riotous, iconic experience. Indeed, now the offices were reopened, it meant the joy of InDesign could be used. The software for putting the paper together, it can be slightly temperamental at the best of times, not least when the internet decides not to work. Similarly, PhotoShop, used for cutting out images of choice, could be variable in its decision to behave or not. Yet that was all part of the thrill and ultimate responsibility for putting the paper together. Indeed, an aspect about The Boar I really loved which others could - at best - take or leave was distribution. Once the paper has been put together, it needs to be distributed across campus to ensure the widest readership. Otherwise it remains in the bins behind the SU, with all the writers’ hard work ignored. Alongside placing the paper in bins, there would be a responsibility for editors and their teams to hand out the paper for an hour a week. Normally, the Books team would choose the Piazza - the centre of campus - on a Friday morning. This was a good plan as it involved campus waking up and people arriving from the bus interchange. Where distributors often stand in one place, I would go up to people with their paper, making the emphasis of it being free. If they didn’t want it, they would have to directly cross my path. My involvement with RAW was also far more in-person this year. The studio was back open, all be it with barriers in place and the constant use of screen friendly wet wipes. I was desperate to co-present a show from the studio, well aware that this opportunity to hear my voice behind a microphone could only occur for a short period of time. As such, I teamed up with my good friend Ollie Cranham-Young to make ‘The Political Arena’. Every Friday from 12pm, we discussed the latest news, who was up and down, had a debate on a contentious issue and shone a spotlight onto ignored areas. I remember the thrill of planning the show together over a meal, thinking about the different segments. Again, it was thanks to the fantastic training team that the show got off the ground and ran for 20 episodes, all of which are available on Mixcloud here (alongside the RAW Breakfast shows). Both my Boar writing and editing and my RAW co-presenting proved vital forms of routine when term was rather chaotic. Having become so used to being in my room during the lockdowns, getting used to events returning to in-person was a challenge, albeit a good one. I was able to write for The Boar about the return of Warwick’s Real Ale Festival , different writers who attended Warwick and whether the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee would receive too much attention. The thrill of writing articles and presenting was one I loved, a chance to fully utilise student media opportunities. It was an opportunity I knew however would soon draw to a close. * Leaving a society on a metaphorical high can be tricky. If things are going well, why break them? Because change must occur, new talent must come through and it is time for the status quo to step aside. Chris Evans, when leaving his BBC Radio 2 show, said that, while there may never be a right time to leave, there could be a wrong time to stay. Given that my graduation and departure as a Warwick student mandates the end of my student media experience, that decision was taken out of my hands. Since finishing my exams, it has been excellent to speak to the next generation of Boar editors and RAW presenters (something I realise makes me sound incredibly old!). One Saturday evening, I attended a festival-themed RAW awards, where I was lucky enough to receive a presenter graduation certificate. A light hearted, casual celebration of the station, with some excellent games, it was a moving way to say goodbye. Speaking to the individuals on the executive of RAW next year, it was clear just what a privilege future freshers have to look forward to. The executive team, in place since March, are blooming brilliant and, most importantly, deeply dedicated to their departments. It’s impossible to galvanise others and encourage them to give it a go if you yourself are not motivated. That is thankfully not a problem facing RAW, as it goes from strength to strength in its next 50 years. The Boar Awards soon afterwards were similarly a delightful affair, taking place at the idyllic Saxon Mill in Warwick (yes, Warwick the actual place!). With a formal dress code, wearing my suit, even if the tie needed to be tightened more, was a joyous occasion. I felt very lucky to win the award for Best Finance article, for a topic immensely close to my heart on what finance must stop being socially elitist . With the chance to speak with editors I had been frantically writing for (I went on a post-exam Boar writing spree), it was again a testament to the society’s brilliance that I know the paper will only get better as it celebrates turning half a century next month. As I publish this blog (and well done if you’re made it to the end), there is just under a fortnight where I can continue to write Boar articles. That is a situation I am considering taking advantage of. But soon the final word will be typed, the last article edited, the microphone faded down forever. Yet my memories of student media will not diminish - specifically all the individuals who have helped me and been such a kind support. To them, channeling Dido, all I can say is: Thank You.
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