Into week 3,,,,

23 Feb 2011

I was going to write about what I am upto here at ARN and instead I cant help but think about watching the horror unfold in Christchurch.

When the NZ Herald website slowed down, I had to go to skynews website to get my news. The raw video they had on there was just unbelievable. Buildings smashed, cars crushed and with it the loss of life and limbs.

All I could do was stare at the computer screen in disbelief.
I have a couple of friends in Chch, i got hold of one of them and she said she was fine except for the fact that roads around them had literally opened up which meant they couldnt use their cars. Atleast she was safe.

Another mate of mine, is unaccounted for. I pray he is found alive :|

Anyone reading this blog... i see facebook and twitter filled with thoughts and prayers for Christchurch residents.

Thoughts and prayers are well and good.. but they do not put food on the table or mend broken houses. DONATE!

Lots of places available to do that. Every dollar helps.

Day 1 ... ARN

8 Feb 2011

Yesterday was my first day at the Australian Radio Network (Sydney).

I arrived at ARN on Day 1 and met with Bluebell Rae (Executive Assistant to CEO and CFO) who had very efficiently planned out my day which was spent meeting with the National Leadership Team at ARN and getting an understanding of what their role was in the business.

Recently, ARN has gone through a restructure which has resulted in a national approach for the company as opposed to regionalised decision makers.

As big a step as that was, it was only step 1 of the changes that are about to happen here. Not only in the way business is handled but the physical premises itself is getting a facelift and renovations are happening everywhere in the building. This has resulted in a lot of people/teams having to move desks/offices and finding places to sit to continue work.

I walked into this environment yesterday and can feel the buzz on the floor… Very excited about being part of this change.

Working with NZ Mags was an opportunity to be a part of a different kind of change and this will help me not only learn more about Radio and marketing but also how change is applied to different parts of a business.

I will be involved in a series of mini projects starting with assisting Jodie Koning (National Marketing Director) with the branding application of all of ARN’s stations and the company itself. Geraint Davies (National Operations Director) has got each station on each site around the country to send through in soft and hard copy, anything and everything that has a logo on it.

This has now resulted in a big basket of samples from across the country and an itemised list of the same via soft copy.

My job in week 1 is to make some head and tail of all of this and provide recommendation on how we can be consistent and cost effective with our branding and print runs.

Time to start sorting!