Does anyone have tips about how to prepare a commercial awareness story for the “tell us something in the news that has interested you”? In three ACs I’ve never been asked that but I know this firm has asked such a question in the past.
I have been following a few stories for a while and have read what the media is saying, what newsletters like finimize think, etc. I guess what I’m asking is how would you recommend practicing talking about the issue. On the eve of the AC, what can I do to help myself draw out the various angles?
With the stories you have been following for a while, have any in particular stood out to you? A story that you enjoyed reading and following? That would be my starting point.
My approach would be to read as many related news stories as I can about the topic. For example, I would click through any links in existing articles and read all the prior articles on the topic, so you can see how the story has developed over time (if appropriate).
Ideally, I would also read multiple opinion pieces/forum discussions/comments sections as I could to get a sense of what other people think about the topic. You might also want to look for podcast interviews and YouTube discussions on the topic. I would be thinking about what is my opinion on the topic throughout.
Finally, I'd practise summarising the topic aloud under timed conditions. I'd also try to answer questions like:
- Do I agree with how the author has written their article?
- Why do I find this story interesting?
- How does this link to other stories I have read?
- What are the future implications of this story?