Worse, jobs aren’t even easy to come by. Reed, the recruitment website, reports that they have an average of 19 applications per job, and often jobs are advertised in more than one place. As a graduate, you could be battling against 50 or more people for one post. That’s a lot of standing out you’ve got to do.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of vacancies in the three months to February 2010 was 480,000, up 39,000 over the quarter. There were increases in vacancies in most industrial sectors, which appears to be good news. As the country heaves itself out of recession, the prospects for job seekers look brighter.

Journalism, despite what professionals have tried to tell me, is not impossible to break. Having studied for four years, racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt and a considerable number of letters after my name, I am ready to tackle my burgeoning career. There appear to be a number of entry level jobs around – although I suspect every young hack in the country wants them – so my chances are fairly good. Within three weeks of starting the hunt I have two interviews. No job as yet, but it’s a good start.

So comes the next dilemma: I’ve never had a proper interview before. I’ve had interviews for part-time jobs, but I only had to prove I was nice, not actually any good. This will involve having my work scrutinised, people will ask me what I’ve been doing with my life, why I want the job. I am experiencing a whole new kind of scared.

The only thing to do is tart up my portfolio, buy a new skirt and get on with it. Confidence to talk about what I have done, not what I haven’t, seems to be the key. I’m thankful I’ve got an interview at all, to be honest, so I’m in no position to complain. Dare I say it, this job hunt lark is actually quite good fun.

Of course, I didn’t get here by watching daytime television and eating pot noodles: the last four years have been hard work. Graduates who read the news may be in a constant state of holding their head in their hands, fed by desperate stories of people with degrees in jobs they could have got at sixteen with five GCSEs. It might be the case with some, but there are ways of avoiding such a fate.

Working for a decent mark, throwing yourself into extra-curricular activities, taking on a responsibility in a society, a part-time job or volunteer work; all will give you a fighting chance of cracking the market. Getting a third and doing nothing with your time at university will not. As with most things in life, being a student is what you make of it.

Lauren Cooke, a fashion blogger who writes here about her gorgeous vintage VSL shoes that her boyfriend bought her, and the skirt she picked up in a charity shop, explains that this is something she’s wanted to do for a while.

“I love reading fashion magazines, but I kept catching myself thinking that I’d like a real fashion magazine, where I might be able to afford the things in it.

“The high end stuff is appealing to normal women, but they’re often not realistic. We want a magazine that’s free from airbrushing, and features stuff for everyone.”

With the help of two fellow bloggers, Fi and Emma, Lauren hopes to make the magazine a proper print entity, hopefully with the backing of a high street shop.

“It’s so early at the moment,” Lauren explains, “but we’re looking for a brand to help us out financially. This magazine has to be about people, and what they love.

“We’re not out to make money from it at the moment, just get it off the ground and raise awareness. There have to be other people out there who have similar ideas.”

Lauren is tapping into a market that she believes is, as yet, unexplored. The idea that a fashion magazine can be run on a shoestring is ambitious, and admirable. Featuring real-size models, in clothes from the high street, with tips and tricks from professionals is a great plan. All the girls need now is someone to believe in them.

With jobs getting harder and harder to come by, this trend for adventurous new journalists setting out to make their own jobs is refreshing – there needs to be a move into new types of journalism to regain and retain public interest.

If you are interested in getting involved with Basse Mode, click the link below.

The BBC announced this week that it would be pulling the much loved 6 Music radio station, and the Asian network. This, to me, humble reporter that I am, seems like a travesty, not least because the BBC seems to be cutting a couple of decent stations when it pumps out a lot of trash and repeats.

6 Music provides varied coverage of new music and good oldies. (Emphasis on good i.e. nothing my Dad listens to.) The Asian network reaches a huge part of British society that would otherwise be sidelined by the white, middle class institution we all know it is. As diverse as the BBC claims to be, cutting its Asian programming doesn’t strike me as a brilliant move.

A swift Twitter campaign was set up to save 6 Music, but as far as I can tell, the fact that the Asian Network might become extinct hasn’t provoked the same outrage. There’s that hint of white middle class-ness again. Someone needs to get angry about BBC big guns swiping cultural gems off the face of the earth.

When a channel that current shows programmes titled ‘Snog, Marry, Avoid’ and ‘Hotter Than My Daughter’ wins funding over Lauren Lavern and her brilliant track lists I feel like canceling my license fee. Don’t get me wrong, I like a bit of trashy TV as much as the next person, but I’d rather forgo that than see worthwhile entities bite the dust.

A glimmer of hope was seen today when the BBC announced that it would take the protests into account. But, I don’t want to be in the situation where we’ve saved 6 Music and lost Spooks. Or corset-wearing heroines in dramas. Or Have I Got News For You.

BBC bosses argue that very few people know what 6 Music is, apparently only around 20% of the population have heard of it. I don’t have the viewing figures for BBC3 to hand, but I can’t imagine that many more people indulge in its offerings. Anyway, 20% of the 61 million of us who live here is still a very reasonable number.

I will be genuinely sad to see Lauren, Jarvis et al disappear from my airwaves. I do, however, understand that times are tough. When a talented (ahem), qualified, experienced journo can’t get a job, what hope is there for the lowly niche channels of a huge broadcasting corporation? Cuts are very sad, but is this one just a martyr for the cause?

I think transparency in BBC spending has to be the answer to this. There needs to be more money put into culturally interesting and diverse programming, and less put into trashy reality series. We’re all fed up with those anyway. Let us know how much you’re spending, and where, and why, and we’ll be assuaged. For now.

Not what you'd get in the shops

If you’re feeling adventurous, I’d recommend a good few tablespoons of condensed milk in your mixture, it makes the cookies really sticky and chewy, rather than crunchy. It’s a revelation, believe me.

They’ve got fruit and so, in my book, are officially good for you.

Silly Boris...

Hilarity ensued this afternoon when the Guardian printed this gem of a news story.

Yes, Boris Johnson, mayor of London, intends to slap ministers in the face with his penis if they don’t rule out cuts in spending in London. (See Dave Hill’s definition of ‘blap’.) The floppy-haired fool has done it again.

He used the word ‘blap’, one would hope, by mistake. What was he trying to say, I wonder. He wants to slap them? Still a violent proposal and not exactly behaviour I’d want to encourage from politicians. More appropriate, perhaps, would to engage the ministers in question is a discussion about public spending and the cuts.

If that wasn’t enough, Boris comes out with this amazing statement later in the same article when asked what his proudest achievement is: “”Asking that is like peering into a crib full of octuplets and asking the proud mother which baby will be the brightest,” he said. “It’s just too early to say, and I don’t want to jinx things by boasting.”" Potentially the most long-winded metaphor this week.

This from the man who once said on Have I Got News For You: “I think I was once given cocaine but I sneezed so it didn’t go up my nose. In fact, it may have been icing sugar.” We should hardly be surprised.

Brilliant. No wonder he’s been called the thinking man’s idiot.

Boris’ unlikely use of the word ‘blap’ is almost on a par with David Cameron saying ‘twat’ on Absolute Radio, but isn’t nearly as horrendous as this American politician who called asylum seekers ‘scum’ after confusing them with people traffickers. I despair.

Boris’ knack at coming out with ridiculous public school-type insults highlights the sticky world of politics, where everything you say is scrutinised, and rightly so. Stupidly, he used to be a journalist so should be more savvy than that. Although, he lost his job at the Times after he made up a quote. Maybe he got what he deserved.

Annoyingly, Boris’ intentions appear to be spot on. The Guardian article points out that there are planned cuts from numerous sectors in London and says: “Johnson, who confidently claims that the Tories will win the next general election, stressed his determination to deter anyone from cutting funds for his much-lauded projects for the capital.”

Boris is in the ideal position to renegotiate spending in the capital and ensure that essential public services are maintained and cared for.

But the king of howlers is having none of it. Nope, he intends to pull down his trousers and beat these morons into submission. Someone should call the News of the World, and grab a camera.

The news that Times2, the supplement in The Times, is due for the chop inevitably means more redundancies and the loss of a popular section.

After more than a decade of features, the pull-out will disappear in the next month to be replaced by an in-paper features section. The total pagination will be then less than the combined number at present. As the Guardian pointed out, it’s a cut which ever way you spin it.

British stalwart the Reader’s Digest went into administration late this morning, taking 135 staff with it and affecting the pensions of over 1600 former employees. As far as I can see it, that 135 more journalists looking for jobs. It’s not easy out there.

So is it all doom and gloom, or are these natural progressions in the media industry? A discussion on Radio 4 today (listen again here) suggested that the news compilation concept has had its day, now that news is viable through so many organisations on the internet.

Former editor, Sarah Sands, praised the magazine’s chirpy features and varied content, and said that it would be missed. She commented that if a buyer comes forward it could be bought and saved.

Clearly The Times feel that they can cut Times2 without abandoning features reporting entirely, which has to be a good thing, but who knows what it will mean for journalists entering the profession.

Alexander McQueen, who died today

Along with a reasonable proportion of the Western world I was saddened by news of the death of Alexander McQueen today. Although I’m not a fashionista, or indeed particularly fashionable at all, I appreciate the work and influence that he’s had in the industry over the years.

I was interested to see how the various media outlets broke the news. The Daily Mail was, as far as I know, the first major UK newspaper to have the story, with the BBC following about 15 minutes later.

Approximately an hour later, the BBC unveiled what looked like a hastily thrown-together montage of pictures detailing McQueen’s life. There were only six pictures, and to me this seemed something of an insult. I felt that, if they were going to arrange a tribute of that kind, the least they could do would be to spend a little time over it.

The many heartfelt condolences followed, with news travels at lightning speed through Twitter. The BBC added to their increasing repertoire of stories with a second bulletin, and Sky went one further by broadcasting footage of the ambulance carrying McQueen’s body. Did we really need to see that?

Now I appreciate the speed of news. I use the internet on almost an hourly basis to update myself on the days happenings, but I feel that in such cases there should be some degree of thought and consideration undertaken, not least because McQueen’s death was a suicide. A thought should go to the family.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, released a quote saying how sad she was which added an element of humanity to the proceedings, but I was left with the feeling that the stories were rushed out in order to release the news, rather than considered. I hope tomorrow someone writes something thoughtful and intelligent about the man who died.

It’s also interesting to note how many top media organisations wrongly reported McQueen’s suicide. It’s such a delicate issue, and the Samaritans have a really good guide on what to do here in order to be factual but not inappropriate.

I hope too that a media circus doesn’t descend on his family and friends, and that we can all keep a bit of perspective over the issue. As someone pointed out to me earlier, he designed knickers and blouses, and should be mourned, of course, but without sensationalism.

Hot, cinnamon-y goodness...

It’s a baked apple. Doesn’t it look yummy?! Well, perhaps not, but it tasted amazing. Even better if, like me, you have a penchant for shopping at Lewisham market near closing time and lumbering yourself with six bags of delicious, but over-ripe fruit for £3.

Along with roast meat, baked potatoes and thick soups, baked English fruit is about the best thing ever for winter. What’s more, it’s dead easy and semi-healthy! I’m so proud of myself. It’s even better if you’ve got the oven on already and can have it baking as you do other things. It warms the whole kitchen.

So, I cored this fella and stuffed him with brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon. Then I put him in a shallow pan with enough water to cover the bottom and chucked him in a warm oven for about half an hour. I also scored the skin all the way road so he didn’t explode.

Serve with a dollop of ice cream or natural yoghurt. This kind of comforting fare is perfect for the current weather. Climb into your pjs and stick on the tv because I’m not going anywhere.

Today, Dr James Ohene-Djan, a lecturer in Computing at Goldsmiths College, gave a session on his brainchild, WinkBall. This fantastic site could revolutionise the way we see UGC, as well as becoming an important tool in social networking.

The basic premise is as follows: members of the public sign up to the site and get an account. Then, using cameras, phones or otherwise, shoot videos of wedding, birthdays, family, interviews, whatever. The content is loaded on to the site and other members can view it. Better still, they can upload comment videos in response to other postings.

A video wall

Imagine the possibilities as a journalist: we can hit the streets with our cameras speaking to people about, say, the rising cost of council tax. We upload the content to our personalised video ‘wall’ where we can collate several hundred clips of the public commenting on the same issue. As other people see the comments they can add their own views. Politicians or councilors can upload their own video responses and increase the debate.

James’ inspiring venture has seen designated WinkBall Reporters at the Chilcot Enquiry, Notting Hill Carnival and the SuperBowl. Hundreds of thousands of people have had a lens stuck in their face and asked what they think. And the variations are endless. A video wall could be used to debate anything from the latest Take That single to the state of the nation’s roads.

This isn’t YouTube – it’s a conversational site, not an exhibitional one. It’s like vox pops, but quicker and could be really central in local news reporting where hearing a local voice is vital. The immediacy of the thing is what matters, and as news gets faster and faster thanks to Twitter and the like, this has to be the future of video reporting.

Fortunately, concerns raised about privacy and security were answered. James has a team of people monitoring the site for any suspect content, and all video walls can be made private so that only invited people can view their content. Even the website’s tagline – ‘Communicate Happiness’ – inspires a kind of family-friendly atmosphere.

I can’t wait to get started.

Alas, with this morning’s unveiling came crushing disappointment. The London Weekly is here, and it’s TERRIBLE.

There have been rumours bandied around that it’s a hoax, and I for one am willing it to be true. Surely a self respecting publication wouldn’t launch with a typo in the middle of the front page? Phil Tufnel? It’s got two ‘l’s. Honestly.

The London Paper, and the Lite, to a certain extent, prided themselves on being a light-hearted, informative paper for people too tired to read anything too challenging. The listings and gig recommendations were particularly useful. The shockingly bad design and lackluster content of the London Weekly are a poor substitute, unless of course it is a hoax, in which case it’s not very funny.

ARGH

"Got any news story?" Brilliant.

Look at that front page: anyone with a small amount of newspaper design experience will tell you that a main headline floating in a huge amount of white space is not a professional look. As for that giant arrow on the inner page, well, even my old student newspaper wouldn’t attempt that on a bad day.

The front page story is pants, clearly a promotional job requiring no real journalism and features a staged photo. Not very inspiring. As for the writing, well, let’s just say that I would fail my Masters if I handed something in like it

What a shame that someone can’t step into what appears to be a market waiting to happen. If a company were to put out a free culture and celebrity magazine even once a week it would be a refreshing change from the monopoly that the Evening Standard are currently enjoying.

Until that someone comes along, or the London Weekly collapses (perhaps inevitably) we might be subjected to this rubbish. I’m going to be taking my book on the tube instead.