Alice provides insight in to her journalism placement to India

Alice went to India with Changing Worlds last year.

She completed a three month placement with us on a journalsim placement to Chennai.

She writes:
'Here is my small advice for anyone planning on the journalism placement...I hope its helpful in anyway!

the Expresso section of the New Indian Express is small, friendly and very approachable. They´ll give you a chance to try subbing some articles and of course to write your own and take photographs. There is a weekly meeting on Tuesdays when it is best to have a few ideas for stories up your sleeve as it is very much a case of you get what you give - no story ideas means you won´t be writing any stories! They will of course occasionally send you on assignments but you have to bug the other reporters to give you assignments as occasionally, given the busy nature of a newspaper, they do tend to forget about the interns! The bottom line is it is up to you how much you do but it´s a great oppurtunity to really get to know Chennai and learn about living and working in a big city as more or less you are totally responsible for yourself.

they are very happy for you to take time off from the newspaper to travel if you haven´t much oppurtunity afterwards. Frustratingly your days off given are Thursday and Saturday which sometimes puts paid to taking a weekend off although they are very relaxed about time off. I managed 2 separate weeks away (one to Kerala and one to Gokarna - both highly recommended!) and a couple of long weekends which were brilliant - save the hill stations for when it gets hotter as they are a great place to cool off away from the Chennai heat! (I would definitely recommend using the trains to get around not buses. and to book trains go and book them direct at Central station in the foreign tourist booth - all you need is your passprt and they make it very easy!)

Back in Chennai, you will most likely be living in the Thirumangalam/Anna Nagar/Mogappair areas. Everything seems a bit of a shock when you arrive but I got really fond of my neighbourhood. Living as a paying guest is great because it makes you feel very independent and also sharing with Indians - there is no better way to understand a country better. Not easy start with of course coming from a totally and utterly different culture but if you keep yourself open it´s very easy to slip into a routine. you get used to using the buses (D70 was the bus that took us to work in the mornings) and share autos and I walked a lot because it was the best way to get your bearings. Nungambakkam (bus M147C goes there from Ambattur Estate Road) is one of the nicest areas if you want somewhere to meet friends at a cafe and a good place to meet other expats. Egmore is also nice and has a great material market on Cotton Street which is just beyond the government museum. Food is good and cheap everywhere (eat where Indians go - it´ll always be best and ask for recommendations!) and making friends with other reporters at the newspaper is great - we got invited to peoples houses for ´proper´homecooked indian food - best way to eat!

Whatever happens it is an experience never to be forgotten and because it really is what you make it even if your not having a great day you just have to think í´m in india´and open your eyes to whats around you. Enjoy!

I hope that´s Ok, if there´s anything else you want me to add in let me know! Of course - I forgot about the cricket. it must be a welcome distraction! I can´t imagine how hot it must be. I´m currently in the highlands in Bolivia where temparatures can reach below freezing at night!

Have you heard from any of the other interns. I hope they´re all doing ok (I hear from Jess and Poppy now and again and it sounds like they are having a great time!). I hope you and Grace are well,
all the best,
Alice'

Alice worked as a trainee journalist at the New Indian Express in Chennai. As you can read this provided her with an excellent insight in to how a real newspaper works.

The New Indian Express is an English language newspaper produced six days a week (excludes Sunday). Most of the volunteers start work in the features section of the magazine before going on to more regular slots in the newspaper itself.