“I didn't go to university. They offered me a job as a junior reporter and I went off to work for the Southern Reporter. They sent me to college to do my NCTJ, which is a professional exam for journalists, and I started work as a print journalist purely because I was just a pest. They couldn't think of anything other than giving me a job to stop me hanging around.” ThinkingGivingJobsCollegeUniversityJournalistPrintSouthernReportersJuniorsExamHanging AroundPests Author:Jill Douglas
“It's a lot of luck and being in the right place at the right time, that's what I think. Obviously you need to be noticed by people to be given the opportunities, and I think you do have to work hard.” PeopleThinkingNeedsHardOpportunityGivenHard WorkLuckRight TimeRight Place Author:Jill Douglas
“You're there right through the match, thinking all the time, making it up as you go along. We don't have anybody write our scripts. You're basically presenting to the people watching at home off the top of your head.” PeopleThinkingWritingHomeScriptsPresenting Author:Jill Douglas
“At the other end of the scale I was there with a whole lot of young British athletes so I was getting to see them take their first steps on the international ladder. I'd like to think maybe in five years time I'll look back and I'll forget all about the lost luggage and I'll forget about the horrible hotel, but I'll remember these wonderful athletes stepping onto the track for the first time.” ThinkingYearsFirstsLooksEndsWholeRememberYoungLostForgetStepsFiveWonderfulFirst TimeInternationalAthleteTrackBritishScalesHorribleFive YearsHotelFirst StepsLaddersLuggage Author:Jill Douglas
“I think it's something that you learn to deal with the more experienced you become. When I first presented live news, which was 12 years ago, I was very inexperienced and probably didn't deal with the pressure as well. I used to breathe very shallow when I was presenting and you could hear it in my voice and see it in my face.” ThinkingYearsFirstsWellsFacesUsedVoiceDealsNewsYears AgoPressureBreatheShallowPresenting Author:Jill Douglas
“If you've done your preparation and you know the team of people that you're working with, then it makes life an awful lot easier. I still get nervous all the time. I think the best thing to do is to take a deep breath, make it simple, know what you're talking about, don't try and be fancy, don't try and be clever and just enjoy the experience.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsTryingStillsDoneEnjoySimpleTalkingTeamEasierBreathsCleverNervousAwfulPreparationBest ThingsThings To DoFancyDeep BreathTake A Deep Breath Author:Jill Douglas
“Leading up to a live event you need to do your homework and go to bed early. Sometimes it's very tempting to go out with everybody else, They're all going to a party or going out for a nice meal and you think 'oh well I'd like to go', but sometimes you think 'no, if I'm going to be sitting in front of a camera under a light in everybody's home tomorrow I don't want big bags under my eyes and not really know what I'm talking about'.” IfsThinkingKnowsWantNeedsWellsSometimesHomeBigsLightEyePartyTalkingNiceFrontsEventsTomorrowBedSittingCamerasMealsBagsGoing OutHomeworkTemptingOh Well Author:Jill Douglas
“I don't know if other people have found it difficult relating to me, certainly that's not the feedback I've had. I don't think of myself particularly as a woman working in sport. I think of myself as a broadcaster, a journalist, and the right person for the job, regardless of whether I happen to be female or male.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsPersonsHappensJobsFoundSportsDifficultFemaleMalesJournalistFeedbackRight PersonBroadcasters Author:Jill Douglas
“I think because I came from a very strong news background and people were aware of me from that side of things, they appreciated me as a journalist. Maybe it was less difficult for me.” PeopleThinkingStrongDifficultSidesNewsBackgroundsJournalistVery StrongAppreciated Author:Jill Douglas
“I think whatever it is you decide to do in life, if you want to be the very best at it, you have to be able to make sacrifices. Not everybody can do that and I think it makes our sportsmen and women that little bit special.” IfsThinkingWantLittlesAbleBitsCan DoSacrificeSpecialLittle BitMen And WomenSportsman Author:Jill Douglas
“I'm not a nosy person, but I'm always thinking 'I wonder why he did that? I wonder why this week he was this much better than last week?' I'm always wanting to ask questions of people. I think my advice would be get involved locally and see where it takes you.” PeopleThinkingPersonsWould BeLastsAsksWonderWeekAdviceInvolvedGet InvolvedAlways Thinking Author:Jill Douglas
