… i’m slowly abandoning this blog.
If you’ve got nothing better to do, check the new one http://www.lilyautograph.blogspot.com/
I thank you.
This is brilliant.
I hope I get a bag of rice when I have a baby
Happy New Year!
I always expect new year to be a let down, but this year I went to a friends houseparty in central London, where I met an interesting collection of people, including The Observer’s wine reporter. He was fun. I’m really impressed by people who know lots about wine. We then wandered down to Westminster to watch the fireworks which was so busy. Over a million people had turned up, and the bridges had closed by 11pm. We ended up standing on a street corner with a bottle of champagne, watching the sky change colour and thinking we were in the Blitz. Lots of fun though.
I go on holiday to South Africa tomorrow which i’m excited about. I’ve never really had a longing to go to Africa, but everyone tells me it is amazing so i’m excited. I’m just excited by having a holiday actually. The last big one I had was India, and that seems like ages ago. I’ve got a new journal plus downloaded lots of episodes of This American Life to my ipod to keep me busy on the plane. Then, when I come back from SA I start a new job and my best friend finally gets her very own pub to rule the roost in. Good times.
In case any one is interested, current book/music faves are:
The Kite Runner by someone i’ve forgotten (to read on holiday)
Jupiters Travels by Ted Simon
Daft Punk Alive 2007
Cross by Justice
Oh and I might buy a leather jacket today. I’ve always wanted one, and there is one i’ve had my eyes on for a year but it’s quite expensive and it’s not in the sales. Hmm.
I’ve had a good sleep. Sleep solves everything. This last month hasn’t been the easiest and it’s really affected my rest - I’ve had real problems sleeping. I’m at home now though, and for the first time in weeks I feel like i’m relaxing. I’m so excited to be home. My Mum is hilarious, regaling me with really bad jokes and tales of the Ukranian weather girl next door (a whole other post needed for that) and Dad and my brother are just brilliant. Santa was also very good to me, giving me lots of lovely stuff, including loads of books, which will keep me busy.
Home also means free internet. Woo woo! I’ve gone itunes crazy. Current fave is Sia’s live album, Lady Croissant. Sia Furler is this beautiful Australian singer - she’s done stuff for Zero 7 and an ace song called Taken for Granted a couple of years ago. I love her. Australia has great female singers - another one I love is Missy Higgins. Actually, I think they are both from Melbourne. Aah, Melbourne rocks. I want to go back to Melbourne.
Anyway, Christmas is good. Christmas is peaceful, despite Mum, my best friend and I singing carols really loudly (and probably out of tune) on Christmas morning. But the people in front turned round to thanks us for our efforts, and that’s what Christmas is, isn’t it? Giving rather than recieiving (even if the gift is terrible singing…)
I’m doing a workshop next Saturday to a group of 16 - 18 year olds about being a Christian in the media. It’s basically to inspire them as to why there should be Christians in the industry, and how to cope with the unique pressures it brings.
I’ve had a rough go at it and this is my first draft: all comments very very welcome (formatting is rubbish, sorry).
Media Men of God
Before I start, it has to be said that the media is a battleground. It changes peoples lives, thoughts and opinions on a daily basis. It’s hard to be a Christian and work in the media.
But it is also had to be a Christian and an accountant, or be a Christian and work for a church. This talk is not claiming that media types have the rough end of the stick, it’s just aiming to be a starter kit on what challenges face Christians in the media, and my best efforts at combatting them.
<li>Firstly then - what is the media? What words define the media?
What are the first things that pop in to your mind when the word ‘media’ is said?
(papers, tv, news, scandal, money, glamour, studies… etc)
Why are you interested in the media?
(glamour, fun, opportunity to change things, creative….etc)
ACTIVITY - write up suggestions
I have always had a passion for working in the media - particularly the BBC. However, on telling people of my deep seated belief that this is where God wants me, i’ve had people tell me that it’s an ungodly place, full of lying and drugs, nothing on TV is worth watching, there is an evil spirit pervading it, christians are ignored or misrepresented… I’m wasting my time and should work for Church Times.
<li>So.. if this is the case, why do I, and why should you, bother?
Firstly, work is good – God created man to work.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.Genesis 2:15
Secondly, he’s also given us interests and passions that we should use to serve Him. The old adage of ‘find a job you love and you’ll never work a day of you life’ is incredibly cheesy but actually quite true. If you love what you do, you’ll do it better, and glorify God more.
Thirdly, God is a creative God, and as we are made in his image so are we. I used to feel incredibly selfish that I wasn’t using my skills to help people - that to serve God better I should have become a nurse or nuclear physicist. However on realising that God gave me this skill and desire for a purpose i’ve accepted it’s quite ok for me to work in telly, and my work may have just as much, if not even more of an impact.
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3
<li>So why media?
A few reasons…
1. We have morals and values that inform what is right.
A Christian friend of mine was put on a programme called ‘The Baby Whisperer’, which was about psychics ‘listening’ to babies and telling their parents why they were unhappy. She point blank refused to work on it as it was manipulative, evil and just wrong. She lost her job and her reputation was scarred – but she used her christian principles for good.
I’m often reminded of the verse in Esther: ‘And who knows that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.’ Esther 4v14
2. We have knowledge of a culture that is underrepresented, a chance to clear up misunderstandings and a desire to best serve them.
3. Most importantly, the media is all about telling stories. We are constantly being given thousands of messages and often don’t choose which ones we listen to. Christians in the media need to make sure the truthful ones get through.
What you hear informs your thinking - that’s a massive responsibility when you think of the millions who listen to what the media has to say on a daily basis.
ACTIVITY: Go through papers/ magazines/ music / news reports - what messages can you spot? How many of them are good?
<li>So what pressures do we face in the media?
SHOW - Screenwipe
1. Stress
There is a massive culture of ‘just getting it done’. Tight deadlines, live broadcasts - you have to deliver the goods, even if that means lying. Plus, when you work with the realisation that at least 800 people have applied for your job there is a constant question of ‘Am I good enough?’ It becomes less ‘what is God thinking’ but more ‘what is my boss thinking?’
2.Lack of security, desire for success
Having to look for a new job every 3 months makes you very self reliant and individualistic, not to mention vunerable. It becomes very hard to see God’s perspective and long term timing when you need next months rent. Plus, the media is a very young, and very small industry. People are always fighting for jobs and judging you by your last gig.
3.No work/life balance
Working 18 hour days can often be the norm, making having a quiet time the last thing on your mind. Long periods of time away also means church gets neglected. You may reassure yourself it’s only a short term measure… but then you get crewed up for the next series and committment to church slowly ebbs away.
Plus, when you do get to church, people there doesn’t understand the pressure you are under, and why you haven’t made bible study for the last 3 months. I am very lucky with my church, plus London is pretty good at catering for creatives in general, but many church leaders have no idea - they don’t understand the media or watch TV, and think it’s an bad place for you to work.
Church exists around black and white, but media is a lot more difficult to define - just look at the varied viewpoints and messages found in the stories early. However just because it’s vague doesn’t mean it’s bad - after all, Jesus spoke through often quite confusing parables
4. Media Culture
The social media life is just as, if not more dangerous than the work life. Drink, drugs and cynicism abound and it’s hard to stand up for what you believe.
<li>So how does a Christian survive in the media?
Practical answers to the above:
1.Stress
Realisation that God is your ultimate manager. It’s hard to stand up for yourself – but who are you working for? If you don’t say no, who will? Plus - massively hard to do - but simple things make a difference, watching your language, keeping calm, offering to pray for colleages facing illness etc.
2.Lack of security, desire for success
Accepting being out of work is hard and demoralising but it happens to everyone.How can you use your time wisely? Could you get around to having a quiet time?! Just because you are out of work doesn’t mean you are useless - don’t compromise your principles for money.
3. No work/ life balance
Try to make church a priority - but don’t kill yourself. At the end of the day it’s your relationship with Jesus, not your church attendance that matters.
Subscribe to a regular ‘thought for the day emails’ to keep you on track at work
Keep sermons on an ipod to listen to on the way to work.
Keep in touch with Christian friends - phone calls, prayer triplets, facebook are all great.
Make Christian friends at work - this is crucial as only people in the industry really get what you are thinking! There are several good organisations that work to support creatives and often fellowships in workplaces.
5. Media Culture
Same as above - keep yourself accountable to people.
Don’t be afraid to leave if it gets too tempting.
Be prepared with your conversations and answers - people in the media are generally cynical and very liberal so the idea of an absolute truth is very offensive. However, in an industry that is very insecure and often immoral, the sense of purpose and security a Christian has is very attractive.
Couple of other ideas:
Use your creativity in coming up with new ideas. What is the current perception of Christians by the general public - is it Songs of Praise or George Bush? However, remember the media is not a pulpit. The media has to make many different view points known. God channels have their purpose, but fail in evangelism.
Working at the BBC I have to realise that lots of different faiths are paying my wages – therefore how can I think of a way to represent Christianity that is worth their money too?
Be an active viewer – don’t passively engulf it all. Choose what you listen to and how it affects you. If you see something great then why don’t you write to the producer and say thanks?
You can be a Christian and work in the media by remembering that:
Working in the media is a job. A priviledge, a stress, but only a job.
I went to this last night - http://www.cutandpaste.com/events/london.html. It was fantastic.
I was very cynical to start with as I thought it would just be a room full of geeks, but it was actually the most entertaining Saturday night out I have had in a long time. Basically, there are 3 rounds, each with 4 contestants leading to a 2 person final. They each have a digital camera and a mac complete with illustrator and photoshop, and then have 15 minutes to create some art around a certain stimulus. Last night the categories were currency, olympic rings and poking fun on a cereal box, which lead to the winner - a ’scrum tackular’ effort by this guy (www.tomjudd.co.uk) about missing the rugby to play with photoshop. It’s all webcast, so i’m tempted to watch the next rounds from here.
I also went to Ikea yesterday, in an effort to make my room look less like that of a student’s, and have a massive wardrobe to assemble tonight. Today i’m going for sunday lunch and then watching the F1, hopefully at the cinema. All in all a great weekend. Plus, my web pages that I advanced have all gone up! Woohoo! I’m starting to understand the internet (and loving my new job.)
I have a job! From Oct 1st i’m a researcher on the website, so becoming a web geek. Am very excited, have wanted to do it for a long time. I have no idea how techie stuff works though, so it’ll be a bit of a learning curve.
Saw Prince last night and he was amazing. Just a big (or actually quite small) ball of energy. He played every single hit he has ever had which was fantastic. I went a bit mad during ‘Raspberry Beret’. As it was the last night they gave everyone purple glo-sticks and the venue just looked beautiful. However, I didn’t manage to get to the aftershow and the Winehorse was there. Gutted. I love Amy Winehouse, mainly because she is everything i’m not. She’s the anti-me.
I’m going to see a design show today with Faraz and Hannah, my best friend who is an interior stylist. It’s the edgy show apparantely, so i’m scared Faraz and Hannah will go gaga over a piece of metal that just looks, well, like a piece of metal. They are both far too cool for me. I’m sure i’ll learn something though for whenever I eventually buy my house.
I am no longer working at the BBC. These words slightly scare me. I’ve never wanted to say them and have always managed to avoid them at the last minute, but for one reason or another, this time they are true.
It’s the part of my job that I hate - the endless coffees and chats, the sucking up to people and making them love you, the sending of CV’s to everyone you’ve ever met and selling yourself to anyone who’ll listen - that I really don’t enjoy. But, it has to be done, and that trip to the big bad freelance world must be taken.
I’ve had a fairly cushty start, as I’ve been at the Beeb for 3 years, ever since I left Uni. I could be back there next week, or maybe next year, I may become a sculpter and never work in telly again, but it’s that unknown I dislike having hanging over my head.
What a comfort it is then, knowing that with God there is no unknown. He is the master of all circumstances, creating stuff before it exists and holding my feet as they step off the certain. He knows every decision in my life and has the whole world in his hands (cue tambourine).
I try to trust that despite the many inconsistencies thrown at me, Jesus is my constant. Even when I sin and disobey, he has done exactly what is needed to guarantee my salvation and still has time to watch my every move. He has my past, present and future sorted. Nothing I can do, or situation that presents itself, can change that.
I need to learn how to be in His grip, letting His time and place be ruler over mine.
Oh, also meant to say - I went to Alton Towers yesterday!
It’s a big english theme park that I mentioned in the INSPIRE I wrote for the BBC (can’t remember what I called it, but it’s posted here somewhere). Anyway, my lovely friend David read it and decided to organise a trip. It was great. I was a bit nervous to start, as I was quite scared on the Oblivion ride (a vertical 20ft drop) and thought my fearless-ness and daredevil-ness had disappeared. However I think I was just warming up as I went on all the other biggies and loved it. And I got soaked on the flume. It was such a good day, and probably the only day of sunshine we are going to get this year in blighty.
More photos on Facebook, but this is my fave. How cool are we.
