{"id":2271,"date":"2012-09-11T19:23:54","date_gmt":"2012-09-11T19:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dalelane.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2271"},"modified":"2012-09-12T05:33:17","modified_gmt":"2012-09-12T05:33:17","slug":"my-inevitable-media-stardom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dalelane.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2271","title":{"rendered":"My inevitable media stardom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BBC<\/a><\/p>\n

I went to London today to be interviewed for a radio programme on the BBC<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The topic was a project that I’ve been working on over the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’m not a typical spokesperson, certainly not for something the size of IBM. I’m definitely happier as the behind-the-scenes geek type. The prospect of going on the radio to represent the project, let alone IBM, was more than a little terrifying. <\/p>\n

But my best efforts to get someone more able to talk coherently failed horribly, and this afternoon I dutifully got the train up to London to go to Broadcasting House<\/a>. <\/p>\n

It was quick. Very quick. <\/p>\n

I arrived, and had enough time for a quick tweet-of-fear<\/a> while waiting for the producer to come down to meet me. Then he showed me to the studio, and before I knew it the microphones were on and we were recording. <\/p>\n

Almost as quickly, it seemed to be all over. I’m told that the interview was 10-15 minutes (although edited down to a few minutes for broadcast<\/em>), but it felt like seconds – blink-and-you’d-miss-it fast. <\/p>\n

I don’t remember much of what happened in the middle. As far as I can remember, I spent most of the time alternating between looking at the microphone in front of me (suspiciously – like it might jump up and bite me at any moment), and panicking (realising that my mind had gone blank and I couldn’t remember a single thing that I’d planned to say). <\/p>\n

I was interviewed together with someone from another organisation – a director of External Affairs, who appeared to be an old hand at this stuff and instantly at ease. This is probably a good thing, as he was able to happily do a lot of talking while I had my quiet meltdown. <\/p>\n

And that was basically it. I don’t remember what I said, but I’ve heard it on the radio<\/a> now. Not only do I not remember saying any of that, it doesn’t even sound like me… or at least what I think I sound like. It’s a bizarre feeling – like an out-of-body sort of thing. <\/p>\n