Is fox hunting an outdated institution?

By Mary-Ann Russon and Tessa Watkins

It’s been eight months since the long-awaited hunting ban was put into place in the United Kingdom, yet foxes are still being slaughtered - despite the hunting ban - claim new reports. But is hunting really all that bad?

“I’m against cruelty to animals. I like meat and have tried exotic animal meats like crocodile and ostrich, but I don’t believe in hunting for sport,” said Alan Moore, 44, from Bournemouth.

“Foxes aren’t food animals, we don’t need them,” said Rose Trickett, 48, a charity shop assistant manager, Montgomery Avenue, Easthowe. “Hunting’s not even natural to England – it was the French who brought it over.”

Retiree Daphne Paule, 67, St. Bridget's Nursing Home, Landsdowne said: “It’s wicked. Would you like someone to hunt you? It’s sending the wrong message to children.”

Derek Dinga, 24, a Doctorate in Diversity and Race Equality student, Balfour Road, Wintom, said: “There is no point in eliminating wild life. If this continues in the next 20 years, children won’t know what animals are.”

Single mother Ms. Solange Sira, 43, Puddleton Crescent, Poole said: “It’s a traditional part of English culture – more of a sport for men. If I have to kill an animal I will, but if I don’t, I’d rather someone else did it!”

Not everybody agrees with this point of view though.

“There are so many sports you can do without killing animals!” said retiree Raymond Berland, 67, St. Bridget's Nursing Home, Landsdowne.

Tom Parker, 22, a Bournemouth University student, Porchester Road, Charminster, said: “It may be an old tradition, but that doesn’t make it right. Royals shouldn’t be hunting for sport - it’s an outdated institution.”

“If it’s against the law, you shouldn’t do it,” said Zhou Qun, 23, Student Village, an International Business Administration student from China. “Not many people have guns or hunt in China, but those who do hunt regular animals like birds, not endangered species, and only for their livelihoods.”

“I wouldn’t hunt because I like animals,” said Julia Marcuka, 23, Westby Road, Boscombe, who works in a Bournemouth casino. “In Latvia we only do fishing.”

“I believe in live and let live,” said naturist Chris Langmead, Melvin Road, Winton. “It’s a ban for everyone – royalty can’t say that they can hunt just because they’re royal.”

Nevertheless, former magistrate Hilary Myers, 73, Glenferness Avenue, Poole, begs to differ: “Many butchers’ shops and furriers have been put out of business because of the decrease in hunting and this has had a knock-on effect on countries that are dependent on fur,” she said.

“Not many people are actually that concerned about the issue, it’s mostly just town people who have no idea what life in the country is really like. There is a nucleus of people, which I call ‘rent-a-crowd’, who like to demonstrate about anything. They’re not really that interested in the topic, they’re just up for a fight.”

John Barrow, 52, Calder Road, Poole, a retired NHS worker said: “People in the countryside have a completely different opinion to town people. Foxes are dangerous animals and if they get into a chicken coop, they don’t just slaughter one chicken – they kill them all. If they just killed enough to eat, it would be alright, but they don’t.”

What it takes to work for the Empire

By Mary-Ann Russon

Chris Hewitt - who has met Hollywood celebrities including Jim Carrey and Steven Spielberg - says that top film reporters have to have a way with words.

“It’s all about the writing for us. You’ve got to have talent, a good way with sentences and a good turn of phrase. And of course, film knowledge is fairly crucial.”

It’s not completely essential that you come from a strictly journalism-based background either, says Hewitt, 30, who started out at a small local newspaper in Northern Ireland.

He left did a film degree at York and worked at another local paper before joining Empire five years ago.

“No two people in this office have come into the job the same way,” he says. “Some people didn’t do journalism degrees, some people worked in the film industry and some people came for work experience and have never left.”

But being a good writer is not merely all it takes either.

“You need to be able to get along with people. It’s a job that requires you to go out and interview celebrities and directors like Jim Carrey and Steven Spielberg and liaise with their PR people,” says Hewitt, who travels around the world frequently and earns between £20,000-£30,000 annually.

Having good communication skills is also essential, he said.

“Be polite. I always try to make interviewees laugh,” he said. “You need to be personable, make eye contact and maintain it, not be too nervous, and have a good list of prepared questions.

“I was once told that if you go in and have a good list of questions, they’ll deduce that you’ve done research and are making the effort.”

And for people out there who loath shorthand, there’s hope for you too.

“Shorthand is not so crucial in film journalism – that’s what tape recorders are for.”

News Assignment Two

The Story of My Life

By Mary-Ann Russon

Kathleen Hinton's earliest memory is of her father dropping a present to her as he rode past on horseback during an army parade.

"He couldn't look down because he was sort of regimental, so he just dropped some biscuits on the ground. It's the sort of thing that sticks with you."

The 77-year-old mother of five was born in Swansea but moved around England whenever her father was transferred to different barracks, before settling in Southampton.

She was ten years old when World War II broke out, and like many people of her generation, has vivid memories of the events that took place.

"I caught meningitis when I was twelve and was in hospital for four months. I couldn;t go down to the air-raid shelters because I was ill, so they would put a stretcher over the bed to protect you from bits and pieces falling in the ward," she said. "That was a bit scary, but when you're young, you do as you're told."

Kathleen left school at 14 and stayed at home minding the house.

Her mother went out to work as money was short. Kathleen was 17 when she got a job.

Her many jobs have included working as a tea lady and as an office administrator for the social security office.

But regardless of resistance from family and friends, Kathleen never stopped working until the age of 63, even after having children.

Her husband left her for another woman when she was in her mid-40s.

"In those days you gave up work when you got married, and my ex-husband didn't want me to work, even while the children were at school. But I went against him and went, because when you're short of money, you have to. If there's a way of earning money, you do it."

News Assignment One