Before Twitter, there was Facebook.  Before Facebook, there was MySpace.  This is where I came in.  Four years ago I became a user of Facebook.   In terms of social media platforms, Facebook is great for keeping in touch with friends and family around the world.  You could say I was addicted, checking friend’s profiles on a daily basis.  Throughout my first two years at University, I spent more time on Facebook than I should have, and I think the majority of students would say the same.  Although social media platforms such as Facebook are relevant in today’s society, they can cause hindrance to what is really important at the time.

I have recently been forced/ persuaded to use Twitter and at first, I’ll be honest, I did not enjoy it and didn’t see the point of it.  Once I got used to the social media tool, there was no stopping me.  Well, 29 tweets later, followed by 76, and following 46 people, I am starting to see the benefits of using Twitter.  Twitter allowed me to find out what was happening in the world, finding out information that was only relevant to me and my interests.  In a recent News and Journalism assignment, I found how easy it was to gain (free) information and just to see the response from normal people ‘tweeting’ posts sending their respects to people living in places hit by natural disasters.

Along with the twitter, came the revival of my second year blog.  I enjoyed the process of writing blogs, although I didn’t receive comments.  This was possibly because 30 other people on my course were blogging the same stories, or because my stories weren’t interesting enough to reach a wide audience.  I’ll go with the latter of the two.  This is something else I found out… Social Media applications like blogs and Twitter are used by so many people in the world; it is often difficult to get your voice heard.  I’ll have to have a good, long think about a niche subject.

 

A news feature defined? 

“They retain the urgency of news stories, and are written to be published as soon as possible, often in time to accompany the news story which created their promotion” (Smith, 2007). 

With the definition out the way, I turned my attention to an interesting feature titled ‘Orchid care for beginners’ to gain an insight into all the elements that make for a good feature.  I was firstly drawn in by the personal element of the feature.  This is what I like about features.  Every feature should have this.  The writer paints a picture for the reader, in more ways than a news story could ever discuss.  When reading a feature, it becomes apparent the amount of research put into topic at hand.  Similar to a news story, a news feature divulges into all possible angles of the story with greater detail.

So before I write my news feature, I am taking on board all the essentials needed for writing a good feature.  I will need to become an expert on my subject.  From sifting through a range of different features, I have realised a feature must provide research, facts, statistics, and most importantly, interviews and sources.  I must capture the conversation effectively.

In the first few paragraph of a feature article, the story/topic must be clearly set out.  Just like a news story, this is important to attracting the attention of the reader.  It is also useful to consider a standfirst! A standfirst is a line before your main lead.  It is not always needed, but if used, it sets the scene for the rest of the story to take hold on the reader.

I think the main difference I have found between news features and news stories is how the writer begins and ends the feature.  News stories take the format of inverted pyramid – the most important information at the top and so on, eventually tailing off at the end with poor endings!  A feature must end as well as it begins.  The main point to take from this is that feature endings should make the reader better informed on the topic.

If you asked me yesterday what I knew about media law for journalists, I wouldn’t know where to begin but having sat through the first hour of my News and Journalism lecture I’m beginning to gain an insight into some of the problems which occur for journalists reporting in the courts of law.

The four legal areas that journalists must adhere to are intellectual property rights, defamation, contempt of court, and privacy.  I’m mainly interested in the final three as I haven’t been taught about intellectual property rights yet…(a possible post for the future).

Contempt of Court

Journalists must ensure that they do not publish any bias information on ongoing court cases.  Similarly, they must remain fair and balanced in their reporting so as not to create a substantial risk of serious prejudice.  The contempt of court act 1981 stops journalists reporting infromation that could potentially change the outcome of a case.

When someone has been arrested, the journalist is only allowed to report certain infromation such as:

• Name
• Address
• Age
• Job and,
• The crime for which they have been arrested.

However, if the person to be arrested is under the age of 18, then it is against the law to report the childs name.

Essentially, we must answer the question why have a law against these ‘so called’ criminals.  The simple answer is that everyone must be treated to a fair trail!

Defamation

The Defamation law is much the same on the internet as it is when physically published.  The act of defamation, slander and libel is the communication of a statement, implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, govenrment a negative image.

Privacy

Journalists have to be carful when reporting and writing up news stories. One of the main complaints made against them, is that they invade people’s space and publish private infromation that people do not want to be published.

The privacy law concerns protecting and preserving the privacy rights of individuals.  My understanding is that journalists reporting for the court of law should respect the private and family life of the individual.  For if any reason they do publish unfair information, a seperate publication will be needed to justify the intrusions taken into someone’s private life.

Today, in my lecture, I also learnt that publics are freely invited to visit a hearing/court case.  I shall be attending soon to see what takes place.  I might leave the reporting part out, so I’m not in any danger of getting fined as my student budget doesn’t allow for this.

With over 100 tweets a minute, it becomes apparent the amount of support going out to those affected by the earthquake in Christchurch, NZ.  Mia Freedman, a Christchurch resident, tweeted “Dark, raining and 13 degrees.  Around 200 still trapped and missing under rubble.  Thinking of you Christchurch”.

The vast number of posts flying in on social media websites show similar support and sympathy to that of Mia.  With only a few weeks past since neighbouring Australia was hit hard with severe flooding, it is now New Zealand’s turn to take the brunt of nature’s wildest forces.

The earthquake reached 6.3 on the Richter magnitude scale, damaging buildings, injuring people and so far killing 65 people.  One News‘ breaking report on the earthquake sums up the destruction in a way that words cannot

With people now in the position of no home and having to sleep rough in Hagley Park, they are being urged to make their way to certain evacuation points before night falls. The help of Aussies has been greatly appreciated by Christchurch locals in this time of panic and desperation.

My thoughts go out to those affected by the earthquake.  Extensive news coverage to keep you updated at any news source.

The Go! Team

It is hard to imagine an evening in your local student union without a wet sticky floor, and piles of plastic cups at your feet but this evening proved it is not just a venue for the typical Friday-night drunk student. 

The Go! Team, who performed their new album ‘Rolling Blackouts’ at the Firestation in Bournemouth are an English, Brighton-based sextet, with two previously strong albums to their name.  Known for their individuality, and something my mother might describe as pure noise, they offer an eventful evening showcasing some of their most played songs over the past decade.

The band joyfully ran out on stage (a loud entrance) with the second track of their new album: T.O.R.N.A.D.O.  To be honest, I stood this one out with my pint at the bar.  Waiting a painful two minutes I began to enjoy what was probably the best part of my evening.  They mixed in a few tracks off their earlier albums.  This is why I came tonight.  Ladyflash and Huddle Formation spring to mind.  I stood in the centre of the crowded half of the room and enjoyed myself.  The annoying introduction to Ladyflash was unnecessary, but I enjoyed the earlier songs very much.

Overall, worth a watch, but I won’t be buying their new addition, and possibly won’t see them at any upcoming festivals this year.  Thanks the Go! Team but I think I’ll become a bedroom supporter and listen to you on Spotify.

2010/2011 saw the introduction of course semesterisation at Bournemouth University. I approached BU students asking them the all important question: Semesterisation? Are you for or against it?

Walking round an empty University campus on a Friday is not the best time to pick out individuals to ask them their views on Semesterisation. I did, however, come across a young man called Tom Oliver studying Advertising and Marketing. So after introducing myself quickly he said “I like semesters but I also dislike them quite a lot”.

“So why do you like them”

“Well I had an exam in January on what I studied in the first term. This is better than waiting to sit an exam at the end of the year when most of what you have learnt has left your head by then”

“Understandable, so why do you dislike them”

Tom laughed and replied “Well, I’m a disorganised person and I have left my dissertation to what feels like the last minute when I should have been doing it in the first term”

I am all for semesterisation. I am a third year student in Communication and Media Studies. I guess I have been one of the lucky guys. I had two modules in my first term, which meant I could focus more on the execution of my dissertation. 8,000 words later, and the majority of my coursework piling up…and I’m laughing, because my dissertation is in such good order. I think semesterisation works well with an organised person. If you keep on top of your work load, you won’t have any problems. Trust me!

Before choosing to come to Bournemouth University, the list of possible jobs and Uni courses running through my head seemed endless. Information Technology? Is that a good profession? Hmmm…..Nottingham seems too far anyway. I searched the southern coast of England, looking for a course , coming across Bournemouth University and Communications and Media Studies. Having studied communications at A-Level, I thought this would be a good path to take. The course looked well constructed tapping into a range of areas including professional writing, media, journalism and interpersonal communication. Two years later and I’m sat in a small lecture theatre on campus and you ask me why Journalism?

Well I didn’t originally choose Journalism as one of my third year modules but as I sat in Writing, Editing and Publishing listening to the enthusiastic lecturer, I quickly felt the realisation that this was not a good choice. So, here I am in Journalism and you again ask me why Journalism?

I suppose I have a key interest in the media, as everyone should, and with what is going on in the world. With powerful stories coming from Afghanistan and now Cairo I feel Journalism is very important. The following quote puts Journalism into perspective.

“Journalism is the first rough draft of history” (Philip L. Graham)

So, with this at the forefront of my mind, I look forward to getting stuck into Journalism and write each piece of work as Graham suggests.

 ‘Give me a moment’, Laurie shouted as she went back in.

I sat in the car and waited for Laurie to say goodbye to her kids and Mike.  It’s still early.  The birds had given us an early wake-up call and continued to sing with pride.  The car was so full it was about to explode.  She always does this, I’m always waiting for her.  It’s surprising the amount Laurie has managed to get in, but I’m sure we won’t be needing it all.  A four day camping trip and we’ve got everything from a collapsible water carrier to extra thick socks, and it’s not the coldest of English summers.

‘Right, job done, let’s go’.

‘Brilliant. Have you got Mother’s ashes?’

‘Of course I do, right here at my feet’. 

The fields meeting the motorway stretched upwards as the morning sun peaked through the trees, brightening the vast countryside.  As I drove, the colours changed from green, to yellow, red, purple and back to green again.  I was already stressed as Laurie couldn’t stop talking about things we could do and reminding me of our childhood days of riding donkeys along the beach.  I just wanted to get this trip over and done with.  Our destination was Woolacombe bay, I knew the purpose of the journey and that was that.

This is the just the opening but if you would like to read more follow this link.  ‘The art of setting up a tent full’

credit controller radio play FULL

Right, now I had trouble inserting my screenplay into a post so you can view it in pdf format on the link above.  It seems that wordpress doesnt allow for the format of screenplays.  This was an assignment for the professional writing module on my course.

Once again, all comments are welcome.

Thanks

In professional writing I found myself attempting to write a radio screenplay.  Along with it, an analysis of an existing radio play was needed. For this I chose a radio 4 play called ‘Legsy gets a break’.  Please feel free to make a comment below.

Screenplay to follow. Scene by scene

‘Legsy Gets a Break’ by Phil Gladwin

Directed by John Drydon

‘Legsy gets a break’ was broadcast on 15^th February 2010 at 2.15pm adding to the extensive range of afternoon plays suitable for all ages on BBC Radio 4.  The play shows a 17 year old boy recently out of the care system and is given the decision whether to follow in his brother’s footsteps in the criminal world or break free and start a new life.

This play employs key elements which make it a professional piece of work.  The characters are well drawn, believable, and built up relatively quickly to ensure the audience knows who is involved in the play.  This process is carried out very effectively as from the beginning the audience understands the background information of the main characters, especially ‘Legsy’, with the use of switching the narrative between the past and the present.  Using this technique was effective as the audience are able to relate to the characters more easily if they are given an indication of the characters background.  We are introduced to Legsy through narration as he addresses the audience and begins to tell a story.  Immediately, the audience is engaged and want to carry on listening to the play.  The use of music here is effective as it draws us into the narrative.  The same piece of music is reinforced throughout the play to indicate a flashback or some sort of danger is taking place.

This leads on to the key question of is the narrative fluent and engaging?  It has already been shown that the beginning of the play draws the audience in.  The use of music, tension, flashbacks and dialogue all help to make up an engaging and fluent narrative.  The serious tone of the music brings the listeners into the realisation that we are in looking back on the past when the main character is speaking.  The audience are then brought back to the present when the music is faded out.  The audience also engage with Legsy through the use of dialogue with his social worker.  We understand that Legsy has had a bad upbringing, which is not his fault, and therefore give sympathy to the relationship between him and his social worker.  The play is also pushed along by Legsy’s narration.  For example, he says ‘you don’t have to say nothing, I can feel it, you don’t like me quite as much as you used to’.  Here, we can only understand his situation and sympathise.  This shows a good build up of character.  The fact that the audience can connect with the characters and understand what is taking place as a result of the flowing narrative proves that this piece of radio drama is professional.

The same music is also used to build up tension and dramatise a certain sequence.  Also, the constant use of SFX helps the audience in seeing what they are listening to and getting a good picture of the story in their mind.  The play is set in Brighton, so for example, the sound of the sea and seagulls are used to alert the audience the scene has moved to the seaside.  Similarly, the sound of car alarms helps to describe the situations that the protagonist gets himself into.

The time of broadcast indicates that this play is suitable for any type of listener i.e. age.  The concept put forth is, I believe, original as a piece of radio drama because it takes the views of one individual in his quest to deciding his future.  The topic of problems in youth and family life/upbringing has been focused quite a lot on television and in the film industry, so it is a different approach to an ever existing subject.