Blog the week

I've reached the end of an incredible week. It started frantically try to play catch up with the media campaign, and a 3 day exhibition for work meant I couldn't start to make in-roads until Sunday, when I drew up an plan and called upon everyone and anyone I knew remotely related to the media. I had some help with Media Training with Lee Peck Group and by Tuesday my social media pages were up and running I was ready to take on the press, or so I thought.



Watch on Youtube

For those of you that don't know, I made it to the last 25 for one of the 'Best Jobs in the world', an initiative by Tourism Australia, they advertised six dream jobs one in each state from Lifestyle Photographer in Melbourne to Outback Adventurer in Northern Territory. There were approximately 600,000 entries and 45,000 took the next step of submitting a 30 second video explaining why they should get the job, please take a look at my application video.

It was a huge challenge to squeeze in my life achievements, best qualities and key skills into 30 seconds, whilst showing some personality and a sense of adventure, but I'm assuming they saw something they liked! I submitted the video and didn't think anything of it, I remember when Ben Southall won it in 2009 there were over 60,000 video entries, so it felt like a long shot. When I found out I was equally shocked and excited, but I tried to keep my feet on the ground, I was also away at a work conference where you barely get time to breath let alone kick off press activity, nonetheless once things got started they really snowballed...

Out of my depth

So after getting back late Saturday last weekend, Sunday was spent planning, emailing and begging for help, support and contacts, and creating social media pages. Monday was a long working day but I found time to crack on with Press Releases with a little media training. As Tuesday developed certain online stories popped up in UK Local, Opodo and IPR and I started to hear back from a few sources, including having a list to chase up. It appeared there may be some interest in me and the Daily Echo suggested something may go in tomorrow's (Wednesday) paper, result. Although I am a little worried about the paper getting passed around my head office, as so far I'd managed to keep this quiet amongst my colleagues as I didn't think it looked great to brag about being shortlisted for a job in Australia - especially as it has just been announced I was in line for a new role!

With Kirstie & Reggie at Marwell Wildlife

Like I mentioned in my last blog I was front page in the Daily Echo and had a crazy day on the Isle of Wight, I reported on two great campaigns please check out the Isle of Wight youtube video (apologies for the poor sound my microphone broke!). Thursday I had annual leave which gave me a chance to spend the whole day at Marwell Wildlife near Winchester to learn about and support the Go! Rhinos campaign, something I first heard about through work as we sponsored a Rhino. I was really keen to involve myself in such a ambitious project for a great cause. Go! Rhinos is a public art event in Southampton, from 13th July to 22nd September a herd of Rhinos will take over the streets and parks of the city. Each Rhino has been sponsored by a local business and is painted by a local artist, and at the end of the campaign they will be auctioned off so we all have a chance to own our very own Rhino! Visit the workshop in the Marlands Shopping Centre, Southampton to see the artists in action.

Please watch my Go! Rhino's youtube report

After a long day at Marwell I also had an interview with Wave105 to be played on Saturday, listen to the full interview. I think I'm a natural now after all this radio work! Back to work on Friday where I found out the office have been handing round my front page news so the cats out of the bag, I think everyone has been understanding and showed support, well maybe not everyone. Friday night gave me a chance to edit and upload my Isle of Wight video, and despite the sound problems I am quite pleased with it.

Finally on Saturday (today at the time of writing this) I concluded my Go! Rhino story at the Marlands with help from Luke and filmed referee number two ready to be added to my 'Referee Challenge' video - the second task set by Tourism Australia. A few rendering problems on Saturday night meant hours editing the Go! Rhino report but I hope you'll agree it was worth it. Much better sound quality than before. Here's another link to the video!

So all in all its been a busy, exhausting and yet thoroughly enjoyable week, and tomorrow is set to be the toughest yet. I'm recording the 3rd referee in the morning, and my abseil down the Spinnaker Tower is booked for 2:30pm, I've invited the local press, and due to my networking skills I have my own photographer coming along, thanks Mike Foyle. Please check out his excellent blog. If you'd like to sponsor my abseil I am raising money for Naomi House, you can donate online.

 

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