|
Interview Copyright/Media Notice
If you would like permission to reproduce extracts from any of these interviews please click
here
for conditions:
|
Interviews
|
|
 |
Anne Mackenzie - Journalist and Broadcaster
Anne is a presenter on The World Tonight and Newsnight Scotland. From the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles, she was a Brownie."I admire professional qualities of originality and courage and personal ones of humour and kindness."
I think I'd choose John Logie Baird and ask him, given the way his invention has completely changed the world, whether he'd kept it to himself.
Bagpipes by a loch sounds nice if you could guarantee no midges. Burns Night does nothing for me I'm afraid since it's not a tradition where I come from (the Isle of Lewis) and I don't much like haggis. Do I get thrown out of Scotland now?
Well I got in by accident - I didn't have any ambition at the time to be a journalist or a broadcaster and I just sort of stumbled into a job. So I'm not the one to ask about a careful career plan I'm afraid.
But my only advice would be to work on the journalism aspect rather than the broadcasting - in other words don't try a career in journalism just to get on the telly. Do it if you really, really want to be a journalist and try to learn your trade in newpapers first, which I didn't do, but should have.
It can be a very cutthroat job and there are a lot of people trying to get in who like the idea because it seems glamorous and the idea of fame appeals. But generally (though not exclusively I admit) the people who really succeed are the good, dedicated journalists.
It's a great mix of intellectual challenge and excitement/terror, and I get to meet some fascinating people. On the other hand it can be frustrating and boring like any other job. And no one ever believes this, but it really is very rarely glamorous. Regrettably.
Who would you love to interview?
Being a lapsed historian I've always been fascinated by Alexander the Great and his ability to achieve what seemed impossible to everyone else. He must be one of the most remarkable human beings who ever lived - I still remember my sheer astonishment after I first read a detailed account of his life. He really was quite a guy.
That's a difficult one since all of the qualities listed are important and desirable. I suppose I'd choose the care and consideration for others one, since selfishness is so much part of society now, as is a kind of innocent rudeness - you know, not even contemplating that it might be right to give up a seat to the elderly person on the bus?
Well I seem to remember I loved doing the Baking Badge. I can still produce a mean apple pie.
In many ways they're the qualities I also admire in male work colleagues - the professional ones of originality and the courage to take on difficult issues, and the personal ones of humour and kindness. I actually don't believe either gender has a monopoly on any of those.
I would say Cancer Research. My father died from lung cancer and I find the statistics of the number of people who contract it really terrifying.
I'm going to be really twee and admit it's my family - just like most people. And I wouldn't be much use without my laptop either. Or, my car since I live in the country. Or my garden. Come to think of it, there are a lot of things I can't do without.
To find out more about Anne please see BBC News
Go to main inspirational women page