REFLEXIVE REPORT ON GORDON BROWN FEATURE

As part of the MA in Journalism course, we had to write a 400 word feature on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to mark his first 100 days in power for the Central Government module. Not being the most politically minded of people I thought I would have to undertake a lot of research to analyse Mr Brown as a member of parliament and active political figure who plays a key role in the managing of the UK. I suddenly realised the best angle for this story is to analyse Gordon Brown as a person and see how he compares to David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher and his predecessor Tony Blair. I also thought I would compare Sarah Brown and Cherie Blair because the wife is always seen in public with her husband, and I thought the flash and flamboyant Tony Blair with messy-haired attention seeking wife Cherie compares with the family oriented Brown's who shy away from publicity and demure Sarah in comparison to headline stealer Cherie. I also thought that I could emphasis Gordon Brown's tight financial budget with his controlling nature, indicationg that despite not being a "flash Gordon" his public image shows him as strong and sensible, who is perhaps secretley ruthless and wishes to have his public image all to himself and not share it with more famous American political stars such as Presidents Bush and Clinton, in comparison to Tony Blair who liked to generate presence and star quality to increase his public appeal. I am happy with my feature and tried to keep it concise to develop my newsroom skills. The piece successfully conveys Gordon Brown's character, whilst incorporating political examples to support my case.

GORDON BROWN: 100 DAYS IN POWER

IT'S been 100 days since Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair in becoming the Prime Minister on June 27, 2007. After being elected, Gordon Brown quoted his old school motto: "I will try my upmost", because he achieved his lifelong ambition to lead the Labour party to govern the country. He promised: "This will be a new Government with new priorities, and I have been privileged to have been granted the great opportunity to serve my country.'' Mr Brown vowed to improve Labour, learning from the war in Iraq. He backs the decision to join the 2003 US-led invasion because troops need to support the UN. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was a time of low inflation, low interest rates and low unemployment during Blair's reign in Parliament. In public Brown is portrayed as an organised man who maintains a tight financial budget. He has a professional appearance, attractive with a rugby-player physique, rugged dark looks and heavy brows that sometimes give his face a sterner quality. He is unlike Tony Blair, and avoids holidays with American Presidents, possibly in an attempt to demonstrate his own power as a man who worked his way to the top rather than sharing the limelight with more famous global government figures, an indication Brown's character is just as ruthless as his budget. Gordon Brown's marketing campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi reads: "Not flash, just Gordon." Brown is a sensible, quiet family man who generally shuns the spotlight to spend quality time with his wife Sarah, a quiet demure lady, unlike Cherie Blair who created a mockery of Number Ten with messy hair and heavy makeup. Gordon Brown has endeavoured to change Tony Blair's Labour, who had a reputation as a "tax-and-spend party" and keeps tight control over spending, particularly over the National Health Service and other public services. Edinburgh graduate and academic Gordon Brown contrasts against the Oxford educated Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair with his hardworking rise to the top, demonstrating that hard work, patience, perseverance and respect from the British public helped to generate the votes needed at election to select a person to govern the country. A degree from the oldest university in Britain is no guarantee when it comes to the public vote as David Cameron, a bumbling, weak and plain looking Oxford graduate, and leader of the Tory party, showed when Gordon Brown became the Prime Minister.