Blog Session 7: What I hate about the profession

So, this time the blog is much more easier than the last one because being a hater is much easier than thinking about the future.

First of all I want to say that I like journalism, I think is a good profession that can be used for many good causes. I also think it is an important tool that can help the people to solve, or at least relieve in someway, their problems.

That being said, I really hate a lot of things about journalism. One aspect I don't like about this profession is the fact that in most jobs you don't have a regular working day. I remember some guys who worked at a radio station telling me that they couldn't leave a place until they got the news, and that could mean staying until the wee hours of the morning. 

Another thing I hate about my future profession have to do with the endless amount of work and the low salaries. I think journalists are very exploited in their jobs. We have the recent example of Radio BioBio workers who are on strike because of their poor working conditions. This problem is even bigger on independent media who have to struggle everyday for maintaining themselves and not collapse because of the economic pressure. This is another problem that makes being a journalist so difficult. If you want money, you'll have to work on a traditional media or a corporation at the cost of giving up part, or the totality, of your editorial freedom. On the other hand, if you decide to work as an independent, you'll have to face a lot of uncertainties mainly in the economics. 

Sadly, journalism is a profession totally coopted by the market logic where publicity is the main and only god. I really hope, for the sake of the profession and the people, that this change soon. 

Blog Session 6: Postgraduate studies

I know in today's world getting a major is very important and useful. It helps for obtaining better jobs and better payments as the sole degree is not enough anymore.

I haven't really thought about what postgraduate studies I'd like to do in the future so this blog turns a bit difficult for me. I have past the last 10 years of my life studying at the university so now I'm just thinking in ending my career and get lost in the world for a while. But I know this is some irresponsible thinking, in a way, and that I'm neglecting my future.

If is it for me to choose, I would like to do a major in something related to community media or independent media. Something that put the tools I learned as a journalist to the service of the people. I think the media has a lot of power and all this power is coopted by a few, so if I can, in a way, help the people to access this tool for their own interests (and not the interest of the media holders and advertisement) I would feel that I'm doing what I can to improve our society.

Of course if I could choose I'd like to study in another country. I'd choose between Argentina or Brazil. This two countries have great and prestigious universities and also a lot of other attractions that make them interesting options for me. But that's the ideal scenario. If I had to do my postgraduate studies in Chile I wouldn't have problems with it.

The thing is that getting a major means time and money, so I would seen obligated to work at the day and study at night. I know a lot of people do this but I find it so demanding and stressful, that I don't think is that good for health.

I hope you guys have a better outlook of your future than me. Cheers.

Blog Session 5: My Future Job

Thinking about my future job is somewhat stressful to me. As a journalist, there is a lot of uncertainty about how is going to be the labor field in the next years. The media is evolving at every moment and the old forms of journalism are disappearing or are getting obsolete. So, in few words, the prospect does not look so good.

BUT, not all is that bad. When i was on holidays at the patagonia i met a lady who was a journalist. She was working for the Municipality of Coyhaique and the Servicio Nacional de Turismo (SERNATUR) doing polls to the people who travels through the region. She told me that she travelled a lot and that the working hours weren't that much so she got plenty of free time. Her story makes me happy in a way, because it makes me realize that there is options for the journalist besides the typical work at media.

I really don't want to get in a job that doesn't allow me to have time to do other stuff with my life. That is an important point to me but i know is the most difficult to get because journalist don't have defined working hours. That's is why i really like the job of this lady at the patagonia, because it looked so relaxed and she get the chance to travel through a beautiful region and also knowing people.

I think my desired future job would like something like that. With free time, a lot of travels and far away from this chaotic city. 

About the salary, i don't have great pretensions. If it is enough to eat and to get a place to live warm and cosy, i'm okay with it.

Blog Session 4: My Music

So, music. 

I've listened a lot of music through my life. All kind of music. When I was little I listen a lot of Ricardo Arjona because of my mom. I think I know much of his songs... 

Later, when I was at school my favorite type of music was Metal, specifically Thrash Metal and I only listen to this. But as I grow I opened my mind and ears and started to listen other music genres. 

As Today I listen to anything, actually, but I think the two genres that i hear the most are Hip Hop and Reggae. I really enjoy this type of music because of the rhythm, the bass lines, and the good vibes that it gives. Listening to these music makes me chill and sometimes I really get lost in the songs. 

There is a lot of artists that plays this kind of music but the ones that I like aren't that famous. 

BUT, as I say, I listened to a lot of music and there is one band that is a permanent in my everyday soundtrack: the Argentinian band called Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota or shortened as "Los Redondos". I've started listening to them about two weeks ago and they really blew my mind. There is this particular song that I can't stop replaying over and over again. It's called "Todo un palo". 

I don't know why I love this song so much but I think if I keep playing it like I'm doing I'll end up hating it. Like when you put your favorite song as a wake up alarm and then you can't listen to it anymore. But, well, I'll just enjoy it as much as I can. 

The song is about a lethargic state of mind, as the time goes by and you keep there, in the same place. It's a rock song and the chorus just make my wanna sing it at the top of my lungs. 

So, that's it. As a last comment i really recommend to you to hear the NPR tiny Desk Concerts. They are really, really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArSVzfJZto

Blog 3: My Favorite Movie

Hi!

Today I'm gonna talk to you about one of my favorite movies called "Twelve Monkeys". You could say it is a strange movie because of the plot but in all is a very entertaining story about the future. It's a great sci-fi movie and I totally recommend it to you.

Twelve Monkeys is the story of a prisoner called James Cole that, in a post-apocalyptic world, offers himself as a volunteer for a scientific experiment, which goal was to travel to the past for knowing what events cause the situation that made the world as it is in the future (present). 

The movie takes place on Philadelphia and Baltimore in the USA, where all the story happens. 

This film is from 1995 so you'll see the young versions of Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Another main character was played by Madeleine Stowe who was my crush back then when I saw the movie for the first time.

I liked this movie because of the plot. There is travels through time, apocalyptic worlds, dystopic reality and some really good characters (especially the one played by Brad Pitt). You have to be focus to not lose in the story and is not very long too, so you'll have a good time viewing it.

So, if you are interested, go see Twelve Monkeys, you will not regret it.

Blog Session 2: The best concert I've had

It's been a long time since i went to my last concert. It was Roger Water's The Wall tour on 2012. That was one hell of a concert. A truly unbelievable experience given by the ex member of the iconic rock band, Pink Floyd.

The concert took place at the National Stadium. There where thousands of people reunited on the streets along the stadium hours before they opened the gates. I remember the struggle to get in the line, and the lines were endless! I think we all thought in a moment that we wouldn't make it. The nervousness felt in the air. 

Then, the moment came, the gates were open and the real chaos began. It was a every man for himself situation. My friends and I achieving to get in was the first victory of the day. The rest was pure joy.

The concert was amazing. Roger Water and his band played all the concept album The Wall with a fantastic staging. There was a combination of lights, structures, acting and, of course, the music. I remember all of my friends enjoying the music, screaming at every new song, and chanting with the heart. 

When I remember all those good feelings given by a concert I really liked to be on a new one. Then, when I checked the prices of the concerts lately, I prefer not to. 

Blog Session 0: Things I love and hate about Santiago

Hi, my name is Cristóbal and I'm going to speak about the things I love and hate about Santiago de Chile.

I think one of the things that I love the most of Santiago is that the public transport runs at any hour. I live on Puente Alto, a peripheral municipality, and the fact that I can get to my house from downtown even if it's late is something I appreciate.

Another thing that I love is that there is a lot of things to do. There is a lot of museums, parks, places to eat, etc. so is up to you how you want to expend your joy time. There is also the Gam which is a place with a lot of cultural activities, much of them free.

On the other side, Santiago is a very contaminated city, in every way. There is a lot of traffic, the air is awful full of pollute and is a noisy noisy place. Also, the rhythm of life is vertiginous so the people are always on a rush. This city needs to relax a little.

Well, that's my opinion of Santiago de Chile. I may have other things to say but I'll keep it for now.

Thanks for reading.