4 - *Star Quality*

I have two friends who have separately interviewed Bill Clinton, since he left office. Both said that before hand, they hadn't really though twice about his actual appeal , his *star quality.*

Both were just interested to interview a world leader. Both came away mesmerized by him. One even joked that she felt hypnotised in his presence! They were bowled over, and that is quite something for hardened hacks.

He was so incredibly charismatic. And that doesn't completely translate on TV, apparently. Both ladies also said he was highly attractive, as well as... well, powerful, I suppose.

One of them had also interview Princess Diana, and said it was exactly the same with her - that both people lock eyes on you and make you feel incredibly interesting and significant, the centre of the room.

What a gift to have in life, to be able to make people feel that way...
Again - interestingly - I am told that one Barrack Obama possesses the same gift in person.

So do you need a proper connection with and interviewee in order to get a good interview? Of course, it helps.

But often you meet the person very briefly. Or they are in grief, or traumatised, or very nervous. So you are taught ways to relax people before an interview, or techniques to get them to open up on camera.

I think it helps to just naturally be a warm person, and engaged and interested in them. Empathy gets you a long way in life, I have found...

Though sometimes you want them angry ... so I just deliberatly ask antagonistic questions and wait for the fireworks. No connection needed.

3 - Seven days a Week

This week, I am working every day. I report for two different companies, who produce very different types of news.

The variety is great; the hours are not. But as the prospect of having no steady "staff job" income looms closer, I find it hard to turn down any extra shifts.

It's just that the more tired I get, the more certain I am that I'm giving neither job my best. And that is tough, because I want to enjoy every moment while I can.

Now, I have friends and family who work 70 hour weeks as Doctors or Police Officers, and who are in the Military serving abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq. I know that by comparison, I have it easy.
Very easy.

All I do is talk for a living, and hope it makes sense! (borderline decision...)
And hey - we have TV's on our desk at work - so it's definitely the job for me.

I can watch the Olympic Closing Ceremony and kid myself that I am actually at home.

2 - Future Leaders

The other day I was sent out to interview Conservative Leader David Cameron for about the 10th time.

I'd like to say he hasn't changed from his early days as a young, fresh faced MP. But being groomed for power obviously makes politicians think about that dreaded thing... "their image."
Understandable, sure. But ironically it seems to make them less and less palatable, the more they worry about it.

It's not that I don't like him.
I may even vote for him and his party, who knows. I have already tried voting for both of the other parties, so why not get a hat trick?

It's just that Cameron always seems very... what's the word I'm searching for...?
Smooth.
Very rehearsed.

Even so, watching him meet the public, and do interviews with me on a whole variety of topics on a variety of occasions, I am positive I am looking at the next Prime Minister.

And he does the whole charm thing a lot better that Gordon Brown, who I have also met and interviewed. He seemed VERY ill at ease, with small talk, with interiews, with it all - hell, even with smiling.

But Cameron doesn't seem to have the same effortless ease that Tony Blair did. Again, I have met and interviewed the former Prime Minister.
I will not use the word "charisma" here, obviously.

Still, watching all three of them up close is a fascinating affair - especially how they act in the off beat moments. When they think no-one is watching, or they are talking to close advisors. When their public smiles and facade slip ever so slightly.

Cameron's hidden body language always seems to say to me, "Did they like me? Did I do that OK? Did I get all the questions right and am I top of the class? Am I the most popular?"

And I always find it hard to really like someone, who makes it so clear that they really want to be liked.

1 -The Headlines

In six months I will have no job.

Even though I haven't been fired, and I'm not willingly resigning. My company is "downsizing," and I will likely be one of many who are squeezed out.

And I don't hate my job. In fact most days I love it.
I'm not burnt out. (And before you lot at the back ask - no I am not old enough to be....)
In fact, I have wanted this career in television and news since I was a child. 12 to be exact. Before that I wanted to be an actress, but the level of loveydome and competitiveness was too much to take, even then.
Ironic, considering the industry I ended up in, dahling.

But I have known that unemployment has been pending for more than a year now.

This Blog is something I have decided to start, so that I can get things off my chest.
Because there are many days when it's hard not to be bitter. Or sad, or hopeful, philosophical or even excited. About changes being enforced on my life.

I plan to chart the final six months of my stable, well paid, enjoyable career into what happens beyond.
(Gosh I *shudder* just writing it. Really must work on that.)

There will be the odd industry story and gossip thrown in for good measure. That's what you all really want anyway.

But I also want to chronicle what happens when I leave the job that I have put my life into, and that I have adored for so long. And when lots of people around me are going through the same sad process.

This is the job that defines me - and not just at dinner parties ("Oh, I'm in television "meedyah" don't you know, yes it is very exciting. You want to know who I have met that is famous? And do I get nervous going live?" etc etc).

The job that cuts to the quick of who I am; gregarious, engaged, interested in people and the world around me, informed and opinionated.
Or rather, a nosey parker with a bloody big gob!

Then, there will be the "what happens beyond" part, which will likely entail a scary leap into the world of freelance journalism, of random shifts with strange hours and cold calls to "sell myself" to strangers.
Or if I am rubbish at that, lets call a spade a spade - full time unemployment.

Leaving this job could be the best, or the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
And I have no idea which.