No day like a news day

by Emily Smith

Everyone has an opinion on journalists. Everyone has an opinion on students. Robert Gordon University certainly has an opinion. Journalism students are kept underground. In a room with no windows, questionable music and worst of all, the phones have broken.

One of many news sources exhausted by the end of the day. (Image by Andy McLaren)

Second year journalism students are submitted to examinations called “news days”. Three days spread over three weeks and a seven o’clock start. That’s seven in the morning. It’s a wonder how they cope. Staggering in while it’s still dark outside. Never has there been a sadder sight than this morning. Around thirty students cowering away from the snow and cold waiting outside the doors of university begging to be let in.

Amongst the quiet chatter and occasional bickering between teammates, a sudden noise disrupts the production. It’s the noise of a phone slamming off the desk. Surrounded by technology, most of it failing, and Internet videos of the Harlem Shake being played by lecturers. It may paint a rather chaotic, disorganised and, let’s face it, completely insane picture. The students continue to work. Stories are written and uploaded, radio bulletins are broadcast and television packages are edited.

So, these students are kept below ground, armed with nothing more than temperamental computers, dwindling technology and dancing lecturers. The biggest complaint of the day has been the inability to use the phones. Not to mention losing their basic human right to have mobile phone signal. It’s half past eleven and the total number of “phone beatings” has reached five.

The newsroom has a continuously revolving door of people coming and going. A procession line of cameras, tripods and rosy-cheeked students. The end of the news day approaches. Feelings of exhaustion mix with feelings of excitement at the prospect of walking out the door and returning to bed. 

Whiteboard markers are laid down, cameras returned to their cases and the sounds of computer keyboards disappear. An empty newsroom appears rather tranquil. There is barely any evidence of the hectic and busy day.