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How to get on the MailOnline Trainee Scheme:

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My experience and tips to get on to the MailOnline Trainee Scheme:

The MailOnline Trainee Scheme is one of the most prestigious graduate schemes out there, and is known to have trained some of the industry’s finest journalists. Dubbed a “finishing school” by The Guardian, the scheme is a one-year programme, where you work at a regional for 2 months and a news agency for 2 months before returning back to the Derry Street offices. The application process is very competitive and only a select few get picked to go through to the final round.

It was a lengthy and challenging process but I am pleased to say that I have been offered a place on the MailOnline trainee scheme starting in September 2015. I will be reporting in Birmingham for the Birmingham Mail before returning back to Kensington in FullSizeRenderFebruary 2016.

Here is some advice that I have if you’re considering applying to the MailOnline trainee scheme 2016.

The Application

You are required to send a CV, a cover letter and your 6 best writing samples to Sue Ryan, usually by the end of January. The process from Application to Offer takes just under three months so be prepared to take on the challenge.

  • Check your spelling & grammar
    • I cannot stress enough how important spelling and grammar is in your application. In fact, it’s so important, Sue Ryan said she wouldn’t even consider an application with a typo or spelling error in it. So check your CV, re-check it and get others to check it too. They get over 900 applications for only 7 or so places, so they’re looking to cut down as much as possible. You don’t want spelling to be the reason why your application gets overlooked.
  • Sell yourself but avoid clichés
    • This is an obvious but crucial point. They want to see you put your best foot forward but without the cliché, “I’ve wanted to be a journalist all my life”. In your cover letter, start by explaining why you want to work for MailOnline, and why it appeals to you. Avoid focusing on what the Mail can do you for you; show that you’re keen and committed to working for them and what you, as an individual, can bring to the table.
  • Know the Mail inside out
    • Know MailOnline, know the readership and know the style. It helps if you keep an eye on stats as well (these can be found on the last tab of the MailOnline website) so that you can drop those in your cover letter. If a particular article has caught your eye, mention that and it also helps to mention a favourite reporter, if you have one. There’s also no harm in putting in some fun anecdotes but save some of your best stories for the interview!

The First Stage

If your application is one of the ones that have managed to impress them, you will be invited to a first-round interview with Sue Ryan. For City students, Sue came to us to carry out the interviews, (probably because of the sheer number of us) but it would typically take place at the Derry Street office. Mike Watson and Peter Sands from Press Association were also present for the interview. This is more of an interview to get to know you at this stage.

  • Look presentable and smart
    • Though my interview felt like more of a chat and they were really friendly, it was still an interview. It’s important to dress smart so you give off the right impression. You might feel like you look over dressed but it’s better to be over dressed than under dressed. 
  • Know your CV inside out and more
    • They asked me everything from why I wanted to be a journalist to the violin and Indian classical dance (my hobbies) as well as asking me what I would say if another tabloid offered me a job. So make sure you are prepared for some unexpected questions.
  • Take your portfolio
    • Bring your portfolio with you and use it to show and backup every point you make. Also, make sure it’s nicely presented in either a leather or black portfolio folder, preferably with clippings stuck to the pages.
  •  Be personable
    • I didn’t sleep the night before my interview because I was so nervous! But it turned out being myself, being bubbly and confident and genuinely showing them my passion for journalism and for the Daily Mail worked.
    • Ensure you greet each interviewer with a firm handshake when you enter the room. Don’t be nervous because they’ll be assessing you from the moment you enter and are looking for confident individuals.
    • Be personable but not cocky, be bubbly but not overpowering, be chatty but listen as well and finally demonstrate why they should give you the job and not the 900 others.

The Second Stage

The second round is a lot more daunting but if you stay calm and prepare, you’ll be in a better position than the rest. I was invited to an assessment day at the office where I had an interview with a panel of four that included Sue Ryan and a senior MailOnline reporter, some news exercises, a subbing test and a debating session.

  • Know the news
    • Either during your first or second stage interview, you’ll be given a news quiz so make sure you read the paper every day up until your interview. Also, absorb a variety of news because anything can come up. It helps to listen to the Today programme every morning as well.
  • Be prepared for the unexpected
    • The interviewers will be looking for confident candidates who are not afraid to speak up and have an opinion on the news. Be prepared for the unexpected in the interview. I had stats prepared and a list of things I wanted to say but I didn’t get asked any of that.
    • My advice would be to prepare as much as you feel is necessary but don’t stress if you can’t cover everything. Sometimes going with the flow works in your favour. 

The Third Stage

Congratulations! If you’ve got through to this stage, the hard part is over. I was invited for an interview with the Managing Editor of MailOnline. This was more of a quick chat about the role, how they operate and a chance for you to ask any questions. As always, be professional, ask the right questions and show them your enthusiasm.

Good luck!

Flowers, chocolate and VW Vans: Islington welcomes Country Living Spring Fair 2015

For all city locals yearning for a quick escape to the country, Angel is the place to be this weekend. The highly anticipated Country Living Magazine Spring Fair 2015 is in full swing, offering a switch up to the London way of life.

Taking place at the Business Design Centre in Angel, the Spring Fair features over 400 exhibitors from small startups to well-established brands. The exhibition kicked off on 17 March and is on until tomorrow (22 March).

The fair itself has been running for over 20 years and typically attracts a high proportion of locals as well as visitors from across London and the home counties.

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Catherine Gee (right), from Country Living Magazine, has worked closely on the current exhibition. She said:

“We opened on Wednesday and it has been absolutely amazing. The Spring Fair is about 20 years old but this is by far one of the best.”

Anastasia Conti, a first-time visitor to the fair, said: “It’s been great. I live locally but this is the first time I’ve been and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Chef Patrick Le Mesurier, founder of Le Mesurier, which produces a range of natural condiments, said: “We’ve been doing the show for the last three years and it’s a really good platform to show your products to the general public.

“We’ve moved from the usual position upstairs to downstairs and the footfall has been definitely much better down here so quite pleased.”

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Patrick Le Mesurier

At the fair this year, special features include a Country Living Theatre for panel discussions and lifestyle tips from interior design columnist Alison Cork and horticulturist Lucy Summers.

Elsewhere, there are chocolate-making classes in the Craft & Create Rooms and a ‘glamping’ inspired garden which has its very own vintage VW camper van.

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Chocolatier Fiona Sciolti (right), from North Lincolnshire, has showcased at the Spring Fair for the last four years. She said: “It’s fabulous. They’ve brought the food hall down from the top so it’s more light and airy and it’s just a better environment. Customers have loved it and us traders have really loved it as well.”

Ms Gee said there are some challenges with the fair that did not exist before. “20 years ago, a lot of the small producers, particularly the food producers, had to come to something like this in order to reach an urban audience. But they don’t need to do that anymore because there are farmers markets.”

“They’ve got websites, and they can sell to someone who lives on Upper Street via mail order so they have less of a need to come to an event like this. So that’s why we try to add all the other bits so it’s generally a great day out.”

Today is the last day of the Spring Fair 2015. Tickets can be purchased here.

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Top 10 Twitter handles to follow for Islington

islington-ward-map-1Islington has increasingly become more trendy over the last decade, with so much to do and see, its hard not to feel like you’re missing out! Here is (quite a varied) Twitter list that will keep you in the know on different topics and things happening in Islington and may even provide you with some possible leads.

1. @MPSIslington

For every borough, there is a robust police force. Islington’s police are equally as robust on Twitter, providing updates directly to users almost every hour. It’s good to check in with this feed for follow-ups on stories published in the local papers, policing and meetings.

2. @IslingtonLife

This feed gives you news that is otherwise not featured in the local papers. With an impressive following, it’ll keep you updated with views and events in the area.

3. @Islingtongztte

Of course, this is a must-follow twitter handle that every journalist scouting the area should have.

4. @IslingtonBC

This is a great place to search for news as the Council regularly updates the feed with events, announcements and new policies that are being enforced.

5. @creat_islington

Creative Islington is a network organisation for the arts and creative industries in Islington. Visit to find education, arts and cultural issues, events and interesting things in the area.

https://twitter.com/creat_islington/status/516594266291068929

6. @nosey_islington

Though not entirely trustworthy, this feed is perfect for getting in on community gossip, reading reviews and finding opportunities in the area.. (which all could possibly lead to a news story.)

7. @1stofN1

This quirky group is a place where you can find a list of  ‘firsts’ that have originated in Islington and the surrounding area. They constantly update this with new ‘firsts’ (so keep a look out – it may be in your patch!).

8. @IslingtonInside

IslingtonInside keeps you in the know by providing you with a birds eye view of what is happening in the borough.

https://twitter.com/ProjectOneZero/status/506400234571038720

9. @IslingtonPRS

If you are looking to write about any issues related to housing, Islington tenants provides information, support and advocacy for all Islington residents renting in the private rental sector (PRS). It definitely highlights the gap between the rich and poor in Islington.

10. @IslingtonTrib

Had to put this here – another great newspaper where you can find follow-up stories.

For the full list, click here

 

London hosts 43rd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Meeting

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Welcomed by a number of MPs and peers at the House of Commons the previous day, the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers gathered together to attend the 43rd Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) at Marlborough House, London on Friday, 14 March 2014. This meeting involved the nine foreign ministers from the Commonwealth countries gathering to discuss serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.

The CMAG meeting was chaired by Hon. Bernard K. Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was also attended by Hon. Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus; Hon. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana; Hon. Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of India; Hon. Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand (Vice Chair of CMAG); Hon. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security and Foreign Affairs; Hon. Dr. Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone; Hon. Clay Forau Soalaoi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands; and Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, CMAG welcomed the significant progress made in Fiji towards holding national elections by September 2014. Yet the press conference that followed erupted into a series of questions directed at the Sri Lankan, Pakistan and Indian Foreign Ministers, all heads of countries known to have serious violations of human rights.

When asked why Sri Lanka, which chairs the Commonwealth and is accused of serious and persistent violations of CMAG’s values and has recently rejected in its entirety a report by the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, highly critical of Sri Lanka’s human rights performance, was not included on the agenda of the CMAG meeting, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Mr Kamalesh Sharma said, “We agreed on a roadmap of Commonwealth partnership with Sri Lanka when I visited Sri Lanka last year. There are about 10 different tracks and the progress is there for all to see on our website. We are advancing at a different pace on each track. We are tackling difficult issues, such as reconciliation, torture and human rights. We are working in a Commonwealth way. We offer practical assistance and a helping hand and we strengthen national endeavours in the field of human rights and the rule of law.”

This question was quickly followed by Mr Sharma being asked how the Commonwealth is addressing the issue of human rights violations in Kashmir, to which he simply responded, “This has not been a Commonwealth issue, to look into national situations of this type.”

Professor G. L. Peiris was directly asked to comment on the fact that in the same breath, the Commonwealth emphasises its commitment to association and freedom of expression, and their responsibility to encourage and promote those core values, yet the recent revelation that one of the leading campaigners for the disappeared in Sri Lanka, a mother and her 14 years old daughter, was arrested, defeats their rhetoric.

Mr Peiris passionately responded to this, saying, “It is a great pity that all of the progress accomplished in our country during the last four years, at the end of a devastating conflict that spanned three decades, all of that is ignored…Look at the economy of the North, how it is developing; the holding of elections in the northern province after quarter of a century. All of this is ignored.”

“Of course law and order issues are a different matter; we have to look at the evidence, the reasons why action has been taken in a particular case, but the trajectory forward, all the progress, is by any reasonable standard pretty substantial. Regarding the people arrested yesterday, we have to examine the evidence, the grounds on which it is done; that will happen in due course, against judicial scrutiny. I think it is very wrong to come to a conclusion before the facts are looked at objectively and in depth.”

Addressing Mr Sharma again, a question was posed on whether it is the duty of the Commonwealth to undertake initiatives to bring India and Pakistan, which are very important from the point of view of South Asia, together to resolve all the outstanding issues.

Mr Sharma said: “The practice in the Commonwealth and its political work is to concentrate on the reduction and elimination of tension inside a country, whether it is between political forces and parties or for any other reason. That is point number one; point number two: It is at the invitation of the government to work with them in this field. The Commonwealth does not involve itself in inter-state relationships between the Commonwealth members.”

The closing question was directed to Mr Salman Khurshid, asking him from an Indian point of view whether there was any particular issue he had brought to the table at the CMAG meeting. Mr Kurshid, replied saying, “No not really. This is the first meeting that I have attended and I am very pleased to see that right across the board, there is very reasonable consensus amongst all our colleagues. We did not have any issue to bring; we came here to participate in the discussions on the agenda before us, and we were grateful to the Secretary-General that he gave us a very comprehensive and extensive report on his good offices.”

Tanveer Mann for Asian Voice

Asians on the rise in the Cabinet

Cabinet reshuffle abandons white, male bias for ethnic inclusion

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David Cameron’s Cabinet Reshuffle quietly took place on Monday, in both a bid to strengthen the existing power base with the likes of the brightest MPs, such as Sajid Javid and Shailesh Vara as well as aesthetically rearranging to reflect the growing, multicultural population. Last year’s controversial Cabinet Reshuffle in September is all too fresh in people’s minds and thankfully this year, PM Cameron, urged by provocation from George Osborne, seems to have abandoned its mostly all-white, all-male bias. The face of the Conservatives is rapidly evolving with these small but significant steps, in an effort to promote younger MPs from ethnic backgrounds and more women.

With a strong backing from Chancellor George Osborne, the Cabinet reshuffle marks the first time all three main parties rearranged their teams on the same day. Six of Osborne’s supporters were promoted in the ministerial reshuffle, including rising star, Tory MP Sajid Javid, former Parliamentary private secretary for Mr Osborne, who has jumped up two steps to become the new Financial Secretary to the Treasury only three years after his election to Westminster.

The son of a bus driver and a state school educated former banker, Mr Javid has shone out amongst the brightest members of the Tory MPs in a mere three years, proving to be a trustworthy yet defiant leader in the Commons. Mr Javid was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, but was brought up in Bristol. At 25 years old, he became a Vice-President of Chase Manhattan Bank and later a director of Deutsche Bank.

However, his love of Politics flourished under Margaret Thatcher’s premiership and he soon gave up banking to focus on politics. With a penchant for the community, Mr Javid has become extremely grounded with community affairs and has attended numerous events, including the launch of the Asian Voice Finance Business Insurance magazine this Summer. His new position comes as a celebration for the Asian community, after some felt he was given a less prominent position in the Cabinet reshuffle of 2012.

The reshuffle has also welcomed northerners into the Cabinet, in what has been called the ‘flat cap’ Tory reshuffle, to form the strong team that will ‘fight’ in the general election.

The Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Shailesh Vara, has become a Parliamentary under secretary in the Ministry of Justice, replacing Helen Grant, who has moved to the Culture, Media and Sport department.

Vara, who is experiencing his first Ministerial appointment, after being an Assistant Whip in the coalition government, was born in 1960 and qualified as a solicitor before entering Parliament in 2005. He studied at Aylesbury Grammar School and Brunel University where he graduated in law.

He is noted amongst his peers and especially the PM, who he accompanied on a trip to India this year. He remains a long-standing friend of the Asian Voice newspaper.

Vara is also the Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India. His Co-Chairman, Ranjit Baxi said: “On behalf of Conservative Friends of India, it gives me great pleasure in extending our warmest congratulations on the Ministerial appointment of our Co-Chairman Shailesh Vara MP. We wish him every success and look forward to continue working closely with him.”

Tanvia Mann for Asian Voice