Goodbye Asian Network...

Goodbye BBC Asian Network…The battle has been lost and sadly, the station will be tuning out by the end of 2011. It looks like a lot more people couldn’t bare the thought of BBC 6 Music closing.

It will definitely leave a big gap in the British Asian and non-Asian community. It gave a voice to what may have been a voiceless community at times and gave a sense of belonging.

Controversial topics, current affairs and issues were opened up to it’s global listeners; issues such as forced marriages, how Sikhs felt about stop & search initiatives at airports, domestic abuse and the dating scene amongst the 2nd & 3rd generation British Asians. Such issues would normally be brushed under the carpet but the station explored these and presented them in such a way in which all listeners from any background could understand. The station also allowed misunderstood communities to speak out and defend themselves in times of controversy, so it is definitely a useful communication tool. It also paves the way for a new generation of Brit-Asians who carry the best of both identities.

Even though the station is predominantly catering for Asian listeners, it is also very versatile too. I know the station adapted to people with diverse tastes in music, discussions and shows. It’s a vital platform to showcase talent and catapult them into the world of mainstream showbiz industries.

The official ‘Save The BBC Asian Network’ Facebook page attracted 28,352 people who were against its closure. If every person in that group had taken 5 minutes to sign the petition against the closure then maybe the station would have had a fighting chance? BBC 6 music received around 25,000 emails whereas the letters/e-mails sent in to save Asian Network hit the region of around 600 according to a source. It’s good enough having a rant and moan about its closure but actions speak louder than words.

Not everyone sat back and moaned though. Some actions did speak louder than words and will always be engrained in the stations history. Musician Ranvir Singh Verma walked backwards from London to Birmingham and let’s not forget the Bhangra flashmob in which hundreds of supporters descended at the BBC’s HQ’s in protest.

It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise…British Asian talent may now want to push even harder to integrate themselves within mainstream stations such as Radio 1 and could positively shake up the dynamics of the corporations values. In my opinion, talent should be classed as talent, regardless of background. The only thing left for the station now is make sure it’s final year on the airwaves is significant, memorable and leaves a void within the BBC. (Photos courtesy of Ajay Kenth.)

If you haven't got a 2:1...you can do 1...

Thousand of pounds, tuition fees, morning lectures and hazy hangovers….all for what? Nothing.

WALKING into your dream job is about to get harder. Employees are sifting through hundreds of hopeful applicants by turning their backs on grads with 2:2’s or lower. So if you haven’t got a 2:1 your application will probably end up in the bin. As there are more graduates and less jobs, employers are now in the position to be picky.

I don’t think that approach is reasonable. Ok so a 2:1 is impressive but surely the candidate’s personal skills, character, ambitious streak and experience should also be assessed in the selection process.

What if someone got a 2:1 in a ‘mickeymouse’ course but had no related experience in their chosen field or was clueless about working in the ‘realworld.’ What about the candidates who have participated in endless volunteer placements to gain experience but landed a 2:2? I think employers should still consider all qualities. A person shouldn’t be judged or cast aside when they have other traits which could allow them to shine.

There are around 70 grads chasing 1 job, as opposed to around 28 in 2006. The job market is tougher to break into. It's not just grads who are affected; thousands of qualified & experienced professionals have also been made redundant-so they're also floating around in the job market too. With their years of skills behind them, they will always be ideal candidates to also revive the battered economy. It seems the grad-generation are taking what they can just to survive, whether its stacking shelves, pulling pints or answering calls…there’s not a lot of choice out there.

Then when you manage to find employment whilst you still persevere to land your dream job…you always get someone who (innocently) says to you, “How come you’re not working in (enter your dream job here.)?” And so the whole train of stressful thoughts are conjured up again where you start to question yourself, re-asses your ambitions and your own abilities. *Stop asking me that!!!* I thought most people were aware of the shrinking job market? It’s getting smaller and smaller and there’s a desperate scramble to stand out.

Back to square one then, another day, another job search...venturing out abroad seems more and more appealing.

(If there are any editors out there…I would love to get back into the world of media!)

Oink Oink...

THE CIRCUS and its slightly odd contestants are back in town. Yep, it’s Big Brother and as it’s the last in the series, it’s the last time voyeuristic inquisitiveness will be fed.
The show is a catalyst for five minutes of fame for attention seeking contestants who haven’t been to drama school or had a ‘showbiz’ upbringing. So for them, this is their only hope for recognition. It was once a show that analysed human behaviour; it’s now a show where contestants desire to gain fame and will stab each other in the back to achieve it.

A deeper layer to Big Brother is its reflection of animal farm. At the start of the show they are all equal to each other with a fair chance of being crowned the winner. As time passes, the stronger contestants start to outweigh the weaker ones as they become the group leaders. Some become more equal than others from how the public view them; their behaviour starts to change as they realise their popularity. Big Brother is Mr. Jones, owner of the farm/house and the contestants are the animals, trying to rebel. So to sum it up, summer 2010 on our screens will be watching hopeful wannabes behave in animal-like manner by squabbling (over crisps) and turning against each other…until the winner is voted and the magazine deals come rolling in.

This Animal Farm notion is all around us. For instance, there will ALWAYS be someone at work who is more of an equal colleague than you. It’s those types of people who are chummy with management, can take longer lunch breaks, refuse to do some of the tasks & can get away with sitting on their a** doing very little. Oh, & guess what, they have a fatter pay packet than you….