Page 73 - royal-times-17-18

My Job Shadowing

Experience at Today FM

As part of our Transition Year course, we had to do two
days of job shadowing during the week 9th-13th April.
This is where we had to go with somebody who worked
in our preferred career choice area and watch them
doing their job.
For my two days of job shadowing, I decided that I would
like to work in the media, specifically radio. I knew that
it would not be easy to get work experience in the radio
especially the bigger stations. But then I found out that
my Aunt and Uncle knew Matt Cooper the presenter of
“The Last Word” on Today FM.
The office was busy and the day flew. Everybody was very
My Aunt sent me his contact details and he passed on kind and helpful. By 4:15pm we were getting ready to go into
my email to the shows senior producer Mary Carroll who the studio as the show started at 4:30pm. The running order
called me later that week to confirm dates, working hours, for the show was completed. It included interviews (live and
and wheelchair access for the office. Eventually everything pre recorded) adverts and a news section all detailed with
was finalised. All we had to do then was figure out the allocated times, topics and panel members. While the show
overnight arrangements. My Aunt said she that she would was in progress I was seated beside the Producer manning
be delighted to have me stay for the night while I was doing the WhatsApp phone. I found it very interesting and quite
my work experience (as long as I didn’t mind going to watch amusing seeing the public’s opinions on the topics being
a hockey match!) discussed on air. I was baffled to find out that Matt only had
On the day my work experience was due to start, I got up two buttons, one to talk to the producer and the other to
at 6:30am to leave Cavan at 7:00am to avoid the Dublin turn his microphone off when he needed to cough. The
traffic. When we arrived in Dublin, it was 8:45am so Dad and sound engineer had all the buttons to control the mics and
I went to get breakfast, as I was not due to start my work headphones.
experience until 10:00am. After we ate, we made our way to The second day of my Job Shadowing was a similar format
the radio stations office. When I got inside I told reception but with different topics, and a different presenter standing
that was doing work experience on “The Last Word” at Today in for Matt while he was on a day off called Susan Keogh.
FM. She told us to go up to the fifth floor and wait there. After the show, my mum brought me to a lovely restaurant
After a little wait, I was escorted to the Today FM offices were called Gotham. It was very tasty!!!
I was introduced to the Production Team.
I would like to thank my Aunt and Uncle for organising this
I was then asked to research topics for the show (I could only wonderful experience and everyone at Today FM for being
think about Donald Trump!!!) After a little while Matt Cooper so kind and friendly. It was so much fun!!!
came in and I was introduced to him. Then, he brought me
into a planning meeting around 11:15am. By: Jamie McDowell

Peer Ed.

4 pupils from Transition Year; Carla, Sophie, Daniel and The first training day was on peer pressure, the second on
Michael-James, attended a Peer Education course in Cavan smoking, the third on alcohol and the fourth on drugs. The
town during the months before Christmas along with three fifth day was presenting a lesson to the other students there.
other schools from Cavan.
After we received the training we all had to work in pairs
The course educated us all about peer pressure, self - to teach the first years. The lessons were taught during
esteem, smoking, alcohol and drugs. The aim of this was for four of their SPHE classes. The first was on peer pressure
us to teach the First Years about these topics and to make and self-esteem, the second was on smoking, the third was
them aware of the problems associated with them. There on alcohol and the final was on drugs. These lessons were
were 5 training days down-town in the Bridge Street Centre, a great success and were beneficial to the first years as
before we could teach the first years. they were very interactive, lively and fun. Overall the Peer
Ed. was very beneficial and great fun to do.

The Royal Times 2017-2018 73