A surreal week for Jenny

Jenny writes about her work experience in RTE.
I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go on work experience to RTÉ last week. It was the most amazing experience and made me even more realise how much I really do want my dream of becoming a journalist. I made loads of great new friends and met some of my idols aswell! So here's a shortened version of an account of my week, because we did far too much for me to even remember!

Monday:

We didn't have to be in until 9:30, which was perfect for Meg and I as the bus stopped literally right outside our houses and then right outside the RTÉ studios so getting to and from was no problem. When we got there we met 16 other TY's who we were going to be with for the week. We were all very excited but a little quiet, but that soon changed and by lunch we were all chatting as if we'd known each other for years. That morning we were given an introduction to RTÉ and then a tour, where we saw all the studios like The Late Late Show, Prime Time, The Frontline, The News, etc. We also went out to the the Fair City set and met some the cast. We also visited the radio studios where we met Pat Kenny, Marty Whelan and Joe Duffy. At lunch we went to the canteen, where we all sat amazed at the fact that we were sitting in a room full of people from the telly! After lunch we went to Publishing, where we saw how the RTÉ Guide is made and how they use photoshop.

Tuesday:

We arrived as excited and enthusiastic as the last day and we couldn't wait to see what our day in radio had in store for us! In the morning we worked with two presenters from Lyric FM where we made our own radio show. I was the Director and we made a show with movie theme, so we played songs from the movies. In the afternoon we went to meet with the producer of 2fm who showed us around the whole studios and we got to be on Rick O'Shea's show. We also met Miriam O'Callaghan!

Wednesday:

We had been told that we wouldn't be finished until 5 so we were expecting to be tired but no where near as tired as we were. We were making our own TV show which was an experience and a half! We were split into two groups and in the morning we had to come up with our story line, write our script and pick our locations for shooting. I was the production assistant! After lunch we began shooting our show, which very long, tiring and cold! We didn't finish until nearly 5:30 and even though we ran we missed our last bus so it meant that we had to get a bus into town which decided to stop so we had to run to another bus and then wait for ages for a bus in town back home. We didn't get home until nearly 8 but it really gave us the full experience of TV and how much hard work is involved!

                                                                                   

Thursday:

After our tiring day before, we maintained our enthusiasm and didn't have to be in until 10. At ten we set off to the National Concert Hall on the bus, to watch the National Symphony Orchestra rehearse. It wasn't our most exciting part but it was a nice rest! At lunch we met Dara Quilty and Ryan Tubridy who we actually ran after to get a picture! After lunch we had a talk on Saorview which was good cause I had no idea what it was about! And we thought of marketing and advertising ideas for them.

Friday:

We were all very sad that our week was ending but we had no idea what an exciting day was ahead of us! In the morning we were in news, which I loved because that's where I want to be when I'm older. We wrote newsletters later that morning in groups. Towards the end of lunch we headed back to reception to have a look and see who was arriving for The Late Late Show rehearsals! We met Susan Boyle and The Wanted while we were casually waiting there! I also met Charlie Bird who just happened to be passing by. I had been waiting to met him all week as he is my idol and I finally did and got a picture with him! We then went to watch our TV shows that we had made together and we had some laugh! Then to our surprise we were told that Susan Boyle was prerecording her interview on The Late Late Show and they had tickets for us. So off we headed to the studio and got to sit in on Susan Boyle's interview! It was some day and I still can't believe all that happened.

So even though it doesn't seem like it that's my shortened version of my week in RTÉ, trust me there is loads more that I could talk about! 

It was the most surreal and amazing experience that I have ever had and I can't express how grateful I am to my school for this opportunity!