Alan McGuinness

I spent my second day at Sky shadowing the Home Planning team. It was a relatively quiet day due to the Michael Jackson memorial service, but I still spent some time searching out interviewees and contacts for stories and also looking for any stories that might have slipped the net.

One such story appeared in various papers yesterday was a modeling agency were advertising a job as an adult television presenter on the Jobcentre Plus website. I thought the story had some potential so I suggested it to online, who checked it out.

Today I shadowed a cameraman on various jobs. First up we were at Chatham House covering the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth’s speech on Afghanistan, his first major speech in his new role. Afterwards he was interviewed by Sky’s defence correspodent Geoff Meade.

Then we headed to Sky’s studio in Millbank where we were given our second assignment of the day. I also managed to spot Robert Peston walking down the street. I wasn’t exactly starstruck but seeing someone in the flesh when you’re so used to seeing them on TV is quite weird.

Anyway, Joel Hills, business correspondent for Sky News, was interviewing two city bankers about Alistair Darling’s proposals to reform the banking sector, which were revealed today in a white paper.

This was on the roof of a building right in the heart of the City which offered spectacular views and shots for the piece. Thankfully the torrential rain that had been falling for most of the day held back while we were up there!