I write what I don't know.

I’m published. Be jelly. Actually don’t. But it feels pretty great. My first okay blog post has been posted on the World Wide Web forever -or until the company takes their webpage down. Anyway, this post daunted me, and ill explain more in a minute. Let me just revel in the fact that I am published, and not on just my own blog – of which I write on because I don’t want to do assignments or my mind is running wild at 3am.

This all began after I had been doing a lot of social media management (I use the term management loosely at this point in my internship) and post research for our clients for a few weeks. I then progressed to editing blog posts, just before they were to be published. It felt good to be given that little bit more responsibility. Then I was given my first assignment, to write a blog post. I was delighted at the prospect of this. That was until I was informed of what I was to be writing about. That’s right, Shotokan Karate. I’m sorry, pardon? My heart sunk a little, I am not even going to lie, I just didn’t know how I was going to write this post, I have never done any martial art in my life, and here I am about to tell people the benefits of it?

I was lucky enough to get a few pointers from my boss. And I didn’t want to let her down, and was determined to find out everything I could about this strange form of exercise. I proceeded to enter the research zone, and after around three minutes, I began enjoying the research. I know right, what? I hate to say it, but I judged this little subject by its cover and was wrong as ever. I found myself intrigued about this martial art, and couldn’t stop researching, wanting to find out more and more. As university students we would all be able to relate, researching is kind of death, I’m just going to put it out there. But this was not death at all; it was interesting. I found myself keen to even give this martial art a try.

Writing the blog post was even more enjoyable. I did it with ease keeping in mind my target audience already had an understanding of Karate. I read the post to a mate at the time, and he even said he would be keen to try it, and liked the information included. So I was left feeling pretty chuffed. Below is the link to the post if you’d like to check it out. I think for a first piece of published work, it’s not too bad.

http://www.thecolosseum.com.au/jujutsu/news/what-is-shotokan-karate-and-why-should-i-try-it/

I guess it’s just interesting how our attitudes can change as soon as we give everything a shot. I am not saying that I had a negative attitude about this topic; I just didn’t think I was suitable to write the piece. I always try to have a can-do attitude and I think that is something we can all use in life. If I had of listened to that nasty little voice inside my head, I probably wouldn’t have a published piece of writing.

Freo Dockers, O-Day, and Cupcakes

As of February 6, 2014, my first media release has been picked up. The article ran in the Eastern Reporter on Tuesday February 18, page 7. It is a fantastic feeling, seeing a media release through the entire process, from finding a newsworthy story, interviewing the subject, drafting the release, sending it off, being informed it has been picked up, and seeing it in print. I have a copy that I will be laminating and adding to my portfolio. I have also had 3 more picked up since, so I am eagerly waiting to see if they will be published. 

My time at the Leukaemia Foundation is going very well. I am picking up valuable skills and experience, and enjoying every moment.

A couple of weeks ago, a group from the LF office, myself included, drove to Pinjarra to the AFL Auskick Super Clinic, an event for school kids to participate in drills with AFL players. We were there for the World's Greatest Shave as 4 of the Fremantle Dockers were shaving their heads. Those players were Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson, Jack Hannath and Michael Walters. There was a 5 year old boy who has been diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia who came and sat next to the players while the shave happened. The media were conducting interviews, and it was good exposure for World's Greatest Shave. I filmed the shave, thankfully able to work out the video camera and tripod thanks to my media classes in high school. It was an interesting day and great to be part of the event.

I have also attended ECU Joondalup and Mount Lawley Orientation days to promote the World's Greatest Shave. We have had a stall and offered cupcakes for a gold coin donation. The focus of these was to increase exposure and gain interested in the shave event.

I have drafted more media releases and conducted phone interviews. My media releases are improving. When I started, I followed the template we had been taught in uni: (name), (age), has _______ to _______. The more I write though, the better and more interesting they are becoming. I am definitely gaining more confidence in my writing and learning new skills.

I am sadly now more than half way through, but I am looking forward to the big Shave events coming up in March.