October 2002

Anthony

It's been a good nine months since we spoke on the phone, so it is really not before time that I'm at last sending you an e-mail to let you know what I've been up to and what decisions I've made in the intervening period.

I've found, during this time, that the whole decision making process is made much easier if you don't think too much about it and let the decision come more naturally to you.

What came out of our conversation and from the personality and natural ability tests was that I was undeniably suited to moving into journalism in some capacity. What with my INFP personality, spatial slant, excellent attention to detail and enjoyment of writing / reporting, it was a pretty obvious choice to make.

Then, unfortunately, realism kicked in and I realised that, in the UK at least, the type of jobs I wanted to do were largely all based in London and the South East. Publishing houses, periodicals, internet news services were all in this area. Having lived in London for three years I had no real desire to go back there.

Also from a practical point of view, the fact that house prices have been increasing at astronomical rates in the London area meant that starting a new career and the resultant entry-level salary that I would not be a position to buy until at least five years or so down the line. Not a position I wanted to be in at the age of 31!

So, my attention, geographically that is, turned elsewhere. I decided to opt for a voluntary work placement with an English Language Newspaper abroad to put my toe in the water and see what opportunities were available elsewhere and in so doing perhaps jump a few rungs of the career ladder.

So, you find me here writing this from Shanghai would you believe, on a three month voluntary work placement with the Shanghai Star, a weekly English Language Newspaper. Only two weeks in and it is going remarkably well. Already I have done the following :-

My first assignment, along with a fellow volunteer, was a memorable one attending a press conference for a new cabaret show in town. Interviewing and photographing scantily clad women, I can assure you, was a pretty good start!! The resulting article in the newspaper pleased the manager so much we were invited to see the full show which we saw just last night.

Since this first assignment, I've interviewed the general manager of the Shanghai Hilton, a British born / Hong Kong raised singer/songwriter, a British woman who has conquered both the North and South Poles and just yesterday the Lady Mayoress of London. Along with these articles which have all been printed, every week we are asked to submit an opinion article. My second one has, unfortunately, been bumped but, I've been assured, will be in next week's paper.

The newspaper, by the way, does have a web site - www.shanghai-star.com.cn - so please feel free to check it out. My first opinion article is still there on the front page as the web site hasn't been updated yet. The other articles, while there, are not so easy to find as for some reason, on the web, the writer's name is not stated at the start of each article.

Suffice to say having no previous journalistic experience, it has been very much a case of 'straight in at the deep end' but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Only two weeks in, I definitely feel as if I've found something that not only comes naturally to me but I also, more importantly, enjoy doing.

I was back in New Zealand prior to Shanghai and while I was there I applied to enrol in a Journalism Diploma in Wellington starting next February. I'm hoping however, instead of going back to university and the resultant financial commitment involved, that I can secure a paid job off the back of this three month placement either here in Shanghai or in Hong Kong. To this end, I have already applied to a travel magazine here in Shanghai who were advertising for staff on my arrival. Fingers crossed something comes from that especially seeing travel, as you know, is one of my foremost interests.

So, that's how things stand at the moment. Thank you again for all your advice - I'll certainly let you know how things progress in the coming months.

Thanks and Regards, Martin