30 Seconds In The Mind Of...

Sandra Townsend

She All So Natural

Sandra Townsend, 22, is a Brighton University Graduate who has fallen in love with journalism and has interned at the Catch 22 Academy. Her proudest moment came in 2009 when she graduated with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. Since graduating she been globe trotting but has finally settled her interests and time in pursuing a career as a journalist.

What couldn't you live without?

I probably couldn't live without Coco Butter. I couldn't survive without it.

What would you say is your worst habit?

I have quite a few habits - I would say leaving plates in the sink.

What do you find really annoying in other people?

Just fakeness - when people lie and pretend to be nice. It's just irritating, they think that it makes them a better person but it doesn't.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I still watch Spongebob.

Most treasured possession?

All my old birthday cards.

Sandra's Favourites

Song

Over by Drake

Video

                 

Website

Apricot Tea

You can follow Sandra on TWITTER or check out her BLOG

30 Seconds In The Mind Of...

Alison Awoyera

A Fab Black Women Only Drinks The Best

Alison Awoyera, 22, born and raised in London is a passionate young journalist. She graduated in 2009 from Kingston University with a degree in Media & Television Studies. Since graduating Alison has been on a mission to conquer the world, she has interned with several big names in publishing and she is now about to wrap up her intern at the Catch 22 Academy.

What couldn't you live without?

This is gonna sound really cliche but I couldn't live without God.

What would you say is your worst habit?

Being abrupt, it's in between being abrupt and talking too much. I've got a lot - I haven't quite figured out a balance.

What do you find really annoying in other people?

Clinginess - excessive clinginess. There are times when I just like my own space.

What is your guilty pleasure?

(Laughs) That sounds really naughty. Pretending I'm in music video - it's quite fun.

Most Treasured Possession?

My heart.


Alison's Favourites
Song
At the moment - Come To The River by Parachute Band


Video
                


Website
Hotmail - not very exciting but I like to check my e-mails on the go

You can follow Alison on TWITTER or check out her BLOG

DesignTwoThreeSeven

2...3...7...Vogue

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre is host to some of London's hottest businesses - Creative Engagement, Martine Rose and of course there's Catch 22.

Fehintola Betiku talks to Ahmed Akashar, founder of Design 237 to find out more about the man of Unit 18.

“When you're a creative your inclination is to be in control of your own destiny,” says 33 year old Ahmed Akasha, the creative director behind the graphic design company Design 237.

From a young age Ahmed had his sights on doing something big, his initial plan for life was to become an architect but after studying Architecture at uni for two years he realised it wasn't for him and found his calling in Multimedia.

Once he had his hands firmly in graphic design he figured it was time to expand and start his own business and in 2003 Design 237 was born.

Ahmed describes his job as being a combination of two things, “As a graphic designer you're somewhere in between art and science - it's a challenge trying to find the balance between beauty and form.”

Design 237 is located in the neighbouring office to Catch 22 and similar to the founder of Catch 22, Tokunbo Ajasa-Olluwa, Ahmed knows of the struggles that young people face when starting up their own businesses.

His advice to young business men and women is, “Have goals set in place, manage your expectations and research”.

Continue to follow Ahmed and check out his MySpace

Today We Join These Partners In Money Matrimony...

One Ring Too Short?

When my intern ends in five weeks I'll have the opportunity to begin a work placement at one of Catch 22 media partners. Their partners are amongst the UK's biggest publishing houses, such as Redwood Groups, Haymarket, John Brown Groups and Trinity Media.

Below I have chosen my top three partners that I would be honoured to work with...

Conde Nast 

"We create buzz. Build brands. Break boundaries." 

At current Conde Nast own 15 publications and their circulation is 1,539,661 (per issue). Vogue is Conde Nast flagship magazine, the magazine is sold worldwide and is renowned for its innovative fashion shoots.

If I were to work for Conde Nast, I would like to write for GLAMOUR because it is a women's fashion and lifestyle magazine, but unlike Vogue the fashion presented in GLAMOUR is more high street than straight off the catwalk.


Recent News
The managing director of Conde Nast UK, Nicholas Coleridge, has predicted that more publishers will be creating Apps for Apple's iPad.
Read More...

Bauer Media Group

"Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Media Group, Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group."

Bauer Media Group is a UK based company which operates on two platforms - Magazines & Radio. The company has a circulation of 2,814,745 (per issue). Grazia is Bauer's most recent publication that has been adopted by the UK with arms wide open.

If I were to work for Bauer Media Group, I would like to write for Grazia as it attracts a similar audience to Conde Nast magazine GLAMOUR, because it is a women's glossy.


Recent News
Bauer Media launching Grazia TV online.
Read More...

National Magazine Company (NatMag)

"NatMag publish some of the most admired and well-established magazines in the UK"

NatMag has a circulation of 3,050,689 and produces consumer magazines.

If I were to work for NatMag, I would like to write for their men's magazine Esquire. Although Esquire is very different from Grazia and GLAMOUR I think it contains similar content but obviously for the opposite sex.


Recent News
Jeremy Langmead, the editor of Esquire magazine after three and half years.
Read More...

Nonetheless I would be more than happy writing for any of Catch 22's partners, so hopefully there's no hard feelings. 

30 Seconds In The Mind Of...

Savrina Joseph

It's Savrina Not Sabrina

Savrina Joseph, 25, was born in Leyton but raised in Essex and she's the oldest of three children. She graduated in 2007 from Thames Valley University with a degree in Journalism. Since graduating she has interned at various organisations and been an administrator on a youth project. Savrina is currently embarking on one of her most challenging interns at the Catch 22 Academy in North London.

What couldn't you live without?

My phone.

What would you say is your worst habit?

When I talk I use my hands - I'm doing it right now.

What do you find really annoying in other people?

Rudeness. I can't stand rude people.

What is your guilty pleasure?

It's quite lame - I'm a Saturdays fan. It's not something I go around telling people.

What is your dream job?

To become a fashion journalist for Elle magazine.

Savrina's Favourites

Song

Bang, Bang, Bang by Mark Ronson ft. Q-Tip & MNDR

Video

Website

ASOS

You can follow Savrina on TWITTER or check out her BLOG

Goodbye August, Hello September...

This Post Is Dedicated To My Beautiful Sister - Happy Birthday!

The Struggle To Get Out Of Bed Is One That I Face Regularly

Waking up this morning my first thought was "Oh my gosh, tomorrow's the first of September!" It's official summer's over and it's back to school season but before that season blooms I have a feature to write for Catch 22 Magazine.

Interning for Catch 22 is by far turning out to be one of the most challenging experiences of my 20 year life and as I attempt to write a feature about illegal immigrants living in the UK I'm wondering whether I might have bitten off more than I can chew (again).

As an intern at Catch 22 I'm being taught all the skills I need to make it in the world of journalism; so far I've written a profile, deconstructed a magazine, been sent out to find a news story, signed up to Twitter and as my latest assignment I've create this very blog that you are now reading. 

This intern has really made me question my skills as a young journalists because as a journalism student I really thought I'd be in my element but boy oh boy was I wrong - five weeks into the intern and I'm struggling to spin a news story on its head.

At Catch 22 writer's block is a no no as tasks are set frequently and there is no time whatsoever to slumber. With seven weeks still to go I'm hoping that my inner critic will die and life will be restored to the journalist I know I am.

The mission to write my first feature has began...