Ideas for the Video

Ideas for the Video:

University of Hull English Society:

Promotional video, promoting what the society does to possible new members and the public.

Advertising video, to create awareness and an identity for the society.

From a journalistic point of view – cover it as an outsider looking in. What it seems to be, what the society does, reasons to join it etc. A review based video.

Set up a Wordpress/Blogger to put updates, latest news, events etc. Have the video on there to promote the site, and a Twitter feed from the English Society.

I could also incorporate a Facebook icon and other networking interactions onto the site.

I could keep the website running, and update it for the society as an on-going thing if required. Having the basic topics and agendas sent to me in Email, and I would update the site as appropriate. This would cover more journalistic content on the required fields.

Ideas and Plan structure

Video Project, Ideas;

Structure of Portfolio:

·         Front-sheet; including student name, I.D, Title and module number etc, Blog Link, Any other website Links

·         Contents Page

·         Introduction page with Assignment Brief

·         Initial Stages; thoughts, ideas, examples of work and videos I have looked at

·         Planning stages; Predictions of project and targets

·         Production Phase; including; discovery phase, mood-board, behind scenes footage and photos

·         Final product; Video, slideshows, possible updated website

·         Analysis; How it went in comparison to targets

·         Communications pages

NUJ Code of Conduct

NUJ Code of Conduct

1.       At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed

2.       Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair

 

3.       Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies

4.       Differentiates between fact and opinion

 

5.       Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means

6.       Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest

7.      Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work

8.       Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information and takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge

 

9.       Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation

 

10.   Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed

 

11.   A journalist shall normally seek the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child for a story about her/his welfare

 

12.   Avoids plagiarism

 

The NUJ believes a journalist has the right to refuse an assignment or be identified as the author of editorial that would break the letter or spirit of the code. The NUJ will fully support any journalist disciplined for asserting her/his right to act according to the code.

Japanese Theory of Journalism

In the first session of DMCC, we discussed the book Tokyo Vice. There is a section in this book, Ansei Inoue's, and his eight rules of being a good journalist.

8 Rules:

One. Don't ever burn your sources. If you can't protect your sources, no one will trust you. All scoops are based on the understanding that you will protect the person who gave you the information. That's the alpha and omega of reporting. Your source is your friend, your lover, your wife, and your soul. Betray your source, and you betray yourself. If you don't protect your source, you're not a journalist. You're not even a man.

Two. Finish a story as soon as possible. The life of news is short. Miss the chance, and the story is dead or the scoop is gone.

Three. Never believe anyone. People lie, police lie, even your fellow reporters lie. Assume that you are being lied to, and proceed with caution.

Four. Take any information you can get. People are good and bad. Information is not. Information is what it is, and it doesn't matter who gives it to you or where you steal it. The quality, the truth of the information, is what's important.

Five. Remember and persist. Stories that people forget come back to haunt them. What may seem like an insignificant case can turn into a major story. Keep paying attention to an unfolding investigation, and see where it goes. Don't let the constant flow of new news let you forget about the unfinished news.

Six. Triangulate your stories, especially if they aren't an official announcement from the authorities. If you can verify information from three different sources, odds are good that the information is good.

Seven. Write everything in a reverse pyramid. Editors cut from the bottom up. The important stuff goes on top, the trivial details go to the bottom. If you want your story to make it to the final edition, make it easy to cut.

Eight. Never put your personal opinions into a story; let someone else do it for you. That's why experts and commentators exist. Objectivity is a subjective thing."

Ansei Inoue in Jake Adelstein's Tokyo Vice.

Inoue is the author of Thirty-three Years as a Police Reporter.

I will compare these rules to the NUJ's code of conduct, and draw up and conflictions and similarities that occur.

Writing Exercises

My Obituary (300 words)

 
HE was a young man with a bright future ahead of him. Messages of condolences have poured in for 22 year old Jason Russell, a student from Hull.

Jason was studying to be a Journalist at Hull College. He was also studying to be a teacher of English, of which he had planned to travel across the summer, and teach school children across Europe alongside his partner.

His past achievements include reaching Black Belt in Karate. He attended Trevor Welburns D.A.K.C karate clubs, and competed in the sport for over 12 years. He had also previously been a Gymnast, and he competed in various competitions wining a collection of medals. His Mother is a Gymnastics coach, and had taught Jason gymnastics from a young age.

Sport has always been a mainstay in Jason’s life. He was a fanatical Hull City supporter, and he loved the sport of football. He had also successfully completed many sporting qualifications including a lifeguard, a fitness instructor, and he was also a qualified masseur.

Jason had ambitions to compete in bodybuilding competitions. He trained consistently, and bodybuilding was big part of his life in during his early Twenties. He trained at Total Fitness Gym, in Willerby.

His bright future was epitomised through his past achievements, and he had planned to travel the world with his partner after his studies. He had aspirations of becoming a successful author and journalist in sport and travel writing.

Jason was noted for having a colourful personality, and an enthusiasm for life. He was someone that loved to achieve new things, and he strived to be successful.

Jason was pronounced dead at his home in West Hull on 12 January 2012. The cause of his death is yet unknown, but is not been treated as suspicious.

Self Initiated Project Brief Idea

For the Self-Initiated Project, I have been asked to produce an assignment brief, consisting of my own ideas, incorporating various different aspects of Digital Media Journalism. This would also cover the base of the project for the Module Writing for Purpose (Two).


- I will explore a wide range of concepts and job roles surrounding various aspects of journalism in relation to Sport.



LO. 1 - Explore a professional behind the scenes of their work, producing a small written based interview, and a log report of activities undertaken.


EV. 1 - Log of visit(s) and experiences undertaken, small written interview on professional.


LO. 2 - Undertake and explore various journalism based activities in sport.

·         Photojournalism

·         Video Production

·         Interviews

·         Reports

·         Interactive Media i.e. Twitter Feeds/Storify

LO. 3 - Produce a portfolio of various Sports Journalism job roles;

Of the activities undertaken for LO. 2, I will write a brief report/evaluation on the experience with each style, drawing advantages and disadvantages, likes and dislikes for each, and also produce a piece of each style as an example.

EV. 2 and 3 - Portfolio of different activities, and Evaluation of each experience chosen in the portfolio. Blog Entries.

First Lecture

The first lecture of this module has outlined the expectations and requirements of the assignment. I will be required to compose my own brief, and produce a scenario for a Video based document appropriate for the web, of a minimum of Two and a half minutes.

In doing this, I will need to glean and contact an external client to base the Video around.

This will include a purpose built Video that the client would require, alongside a pre-production project plan, and any other research and equipment planning.

I will produce evidence of the contact or clientele documentation, and begin to find and contact possible clients in the coming weeks.

How is an Audience Built Online?

How is an audience built online? Effective traffic generation strategies for news orientated websites.-

Through research, analysis and factual opinion, an academic argument will be compiled, analysing key factors on website trafficking, how online traffic is generated, and how audiences are enticed to news orientated websites. This will be achieved through drawing evidence based from specific examples of news orientated websites and organisations, using a wide variety of sources and through connecting applicable similarities in each discussed fragment of the argument.

These sources will include a range of text books, internet websites, audio files, and video files from selected universities. I will use these to explain and underline the models and methods of traffic generation, and to provide evidence to ways that this is altering the way the news communicates with its audiences.

‘The world wide web remains the single most popular application since the creation of the internet.’                                                                                                                                                      (Crovella 2006)

This creation has since developed a profound existence and is prominent in the way news is gathered and distributed.

‘Not only are more people going online, but they can now instantly access news from all across the world, instead of waiting for scheduled reports on television or radio.’                                                                                                                             (Papper: 2000; pg. 134)

This has generated a new audience for news websites to provide for, and therefore, these audiences need to be identified and maintained to provide purpose for their existence.

Online audiences can be built and maintained through using website trafficking effectively. The strategies deployed by news websites to monitor the frequency and usage of their sites, must be carried out efficiently to ensure the accuracy of the information gathered. Due to the expansion of the internet, online sources of news have become more sought after, therefore meaning there is a new audience to supply for and a target market to approach.

People are no longer using the traditional methods of gaining news as a primary source, such as watching television, and listening to radio frequencies.

‘Online audiences are dominating; traditional news organisations have lost their privileged position.’                                                                                                                                            (Fenton 2010)

News orientated websites must therefore set a target audience and a style approach to suit, in order to build a rapport with their users, and generate a wider based audience over the internet.

The face of the news has reformed as a result of the increase and expansion of the internet. All aspects associated with the news have altered, such as strategies and directions in enticing new audiences through online mediums.

‘The internet features in many accounts as the decisive driver of change in the news environment and is marked out for its transformative potential.’                       (Fenton 2010)

This transformation has given the need for news websites to expand traffic growth to their websites through the recent years in which web trafficking has expanded and developed in conjunction with the growth of the internet.

‘Throughout its history, claims have been frequently made that internet traffic growth has been exponential.’                                                                                            (Crovella 2006)

As this increasing market is dominating, news associations must expand their influence online, to direct internet traffic to their specific websites. In order to do this, certain strategies need to be implemented and used.

News websites must analyse data and traffic flow through their websites to maintain suitability for the ever-changing audience, and insight into how their sites are being used.

‘The most fundamental tool for traffic analysis is packet capture, what is also called passive traffic measurement.’                                                                                             (Crovella 2006)

This can give useful statistics on how websites are being passed through, such as the clicks on links, and how the user interacts whilst on the site.

‘Packet train traces are a broadly useful summary of traffic: they can be used for monitoring basic network activity, monitoring users, and applications.’                                   

These packets are split into three sampling sections to use in a variety of states.

Random sampling packets are chosen for sampling with some fixed probability,

Deterministic sampling packets are chosen periodically, and the final, Stratified sampling, is divided into multiple steps. This process starts through packets firstly being divided into subsets, and then sampling is applied within each subset.   

(Crovella 2006)

This is a precise form of traffic monitoring. The accuracy of the detail of information on each individual user gives news websites a clear indication as to how traffic is coming to, flowing through, and leaving their websites.

Third party internet usage data is also a method of traffic generation. This activates from a user connecting to the internet, and an action such as ‘clicking the mouse’ will generate behavioural data. This includes site specific variables, such as how long they spend on a website, what pages they visit, and the destination site when they leave.                                                    (Roberts 2003)

This is an important factor when receiving this data, as advertising can then be marketed effectively to the user. The behavioural data can be used to market and advertise products and services to the specific websites. An example would be for a sports news website to advertise on a sportswear website, as the user behaviour of sites visited would trigger advertising through other associated websites visited.

‘In the U.K, the BBC online news dominates website traffic to online news sites.’

                                                                                                                                           (OECD 2010)

This has been achieved through the organisation already having a T.V and radio presence, (Cushion 2010).The BBC would have also recognised a new target market, and therefore approached it through using data and figures based around their offline audience, and transferring this online with an accurate style.

The BBC would consistently use beneficial tools to monitor traffic through their sites to glean useful information about where they are succeeding and failing.

One of these tools is Google Analytics. This tool is employed to give insight into website traffic, and the effectiveness of marketing strategies. It allows the users to see and analyse their traffic data, and to aid them to create better advertising and marketing techniques, which enables the capability to draw audiences to their website.                                                   (2010, www.lynda.com)

A high majority of news websites now include figures of online audiences in their total audience rating. In the U.S, the high majority of news websites have accumulated an attractive base of audience, and have succeeded in drawing audiences to their news sites, as well as their usual Television programming.

CNN (2009) is one of these news organisations that include the online audience in their cumulative audience reach figure. Fox news of the U.S, is also one of the top visited news sites in the country. In comparison with the BBC, ABC news of Australia has made a transition from television to online news delivery seamlessly. As these organisations are already trusted and established, they have developed into one of the top visited news sites in each of their countries.                                                                                                           (Cushion 2010)

As part of being able to draw traffic to their sites, news organisations must also be a visible location on the internet. They must be easy to find, and broadly accessible. A way they could do this is by optimising their websites through search engines.

‘Few people understand specialized functions of search engines. They are considered highly effective in drawing traffic to a site.’                                                                              (Roberts 2003)

Search engines are a highly powerful tool for news websites, as they are a means for connecting with users of the internet without them being a specifically desired location for the user. The more optimised the news site is within the search; the more likely it is that it will be a greater discernible result on the search engine.

Search engines have revolutionised the discovery of online content, but if news sites fail to design their website effectively for the search engine to read, they will not unlock the potential value they have already invested in developing their site.                                (HS Talks, 2007)

Keywords connecting their websites with search engine words are a fundamental tool to ensure a high return in a search engine, optimising the results for their pages in a search.

‘They focus on how many unique visitors come to their websites and design their websites for search engine maximisation.’                                                (Cushion 2010)

This would occur through the keywords appearing as frequently as possible on the home pages and entry pages of a website.

News sites have to consider two target audiences when optimising their website; the target consumer, and the search engine, to enable the page to be found.                                                                                                                                            (HS talks, 2007)

The search engines used would provide a high amount of traffic towards news websites. Directories are search engines that create ‘hierarchal directory to a subject.’ Search engines that are deemed directories, using the hierarchal structure, would therefore provide a result that gauges the frequently popular websites and sets them as the priority in the search.                                                                          (Roberts 2003)

Search engines find and read different websites through using a programme called a ‘web spider’, or otherwise known as a ‘web crawler’. This reads the specific content on a web page, and by being able to understand how this reads websites, news organisations can generate the right content in the right format to enable and maximise success in a search engine.                                                                                                                         (HS talks, 2007)

‘Figures in the U.K show that 25 – 35 % of traffic to news websites comes from one single prominent search engine alone.’                                                                                  (OECD 2010)

Thus reiterating the message of how important it is for news organisations to understand how search engines work, and how effective search engines are in directing traffic to news orientated websites.

The increase in news websites online has profoundly changed the form of how news is delivered, and has influenced audience habits such as the need and accessibility of 24-hour news:

‘By following the on demand 24 hour news approach, news websites have encouraged their audiences to also be news grazers and have succeeded.’   (Cushion 2010)

This has impacted the way audiences interact and want to receive their news. They want it now, and they want it consistently and conveniently.

‘The 24 hour news approach the broadcasters developed has profoundly influenced the shape of online news.’                                                                                               (Cushion 2010)

A way they can do this is through Social media, or networking. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter have distinctly changed audiences approach to receiving and even delivering their own news.

‘The citizen is able to use new media, to challenge mainstream media and provide alternatives.’                                                                                                                     (HS Talks, 2008)

This use of social networks has influenced news to be a form of entertainment, rather than a need or a public interest. News is changing to maximise its audiences, and to engage in keeping the audiences whichever way is necessary.

‘The way that mainstream media has worked for decades is no longer sustainable.’   (HS Talks, 2008)

Changing media is altering the processes that the public go through to attain their news. The public are becoming more aware of the ways they can assemble, create and share their own pieces of news with each other. There is a notice by Sunstein, (2001), cited Fenton (2010), that; ‘a market dominated by countless versions of ‘‘daily me’’ … will create a high degree of social fragmentation.’

The mainstream media techniques of old are seemingly becoming less useful in an internet free world.

‘The audience is changing, it’s fragmenting and disappearing. Consumers are now more educated and individualistic; they’re finding their own data and news for themselves.’ (HS Talks, 2008)

News organisations, as a whole, now depend on online news publishing as a source of delivery. They can no longer sustain an audience solely built on old form such as television and radio. As discussed, ‘they’re picking and choosing, and sometimes leaving mainstream news altogether in favour of social networks and other activities.’                                                                          (HS Talks, 2008)

The role of news organisations will continue to evolve with the ever changing audiences and ways of delivering news online. Audiences are becoming more aware of ways to interact, and more media savvy, to challenge the traditional media notions. ‘The internet itself is accelerating that process.’                                                                                                                                (HS Talks, 2007)

Journalist’s roles in news and connecting with audiences are changing. It is unlikely, as assembled from areas discussed, that the old models will ever rekindle from the past.     

‘The internet is most certainly disrupting existing news business models, but it is likely that, if organisations continue to invest in Journalism, the priorities and personalities that shape today’s news will play a prominent role in the news of the future.’  (Fenton 2010)                                                             

Ethics in Journalism

Ethical procedures in journalism are altering the approaches and consequences of practitioners’ actions within the field. Regulators responding to public reactions are constantly changing and evaluating what is ethical and what is good or bad practise. From recent highlighted events in the media such as the recent Leveson enquiry, professional journalism procedures and ethics have come into question, and gained an extensive quantity of attention. This has occurred through a misuse of information, and what is deemed to be unethical procedures being employed. These events have been highlighted, and continue to be exposed for the general public to view. This has therefore impacted on the views and opinions of media, and the representations of particular organisations and professionals, whom have come to be scrutinised and challenged in the public domain.

Two particularly controversial practitioners within journalism that have come to be questioned regarding their ethics are Piers Morgan, and Jeremy Clarkson. To look at these two practitioners in particular, the problems and issues relating to journalism ethics in the modern society and the public domain will be highlighted, and thus compared to evaluate the ethical issues encountered. A range of questions that confront and challenge ethics and ethical procedures in journalism will be discussed, using appropriate comments and files that document these in relation to both practitioners.

Remarks have been made by both of these journalists throughout their careers that may be deemed insensitive, offensive, and unprofessional. But at what point does the barrier between journalists being offensive, cross to them being unethical? Do the two practitioners in question have a particular style that influences them to be depicted as unethical, therefore generating an approach that could challenge ethical issues. If the styles of both of these practitioners have ensured they disregard any ethical procedures, it may ask a question posed by Berry, (2008); ‘What is so special about journalism, that ethics becomes invalid?’                                                                           

Journalism is such a broad spectrum, and provides such a varied amount of personalities, styles, and roles, that it therefore could be insurmountable to impose one particular ethical rule for all to abide. ‘Most journalists if pressed to identify the strictly ethical aspects of ‘good journalism’, are likely to display ambivalent, contradictory and confused attitudes.’                                                                                                                                (Keeble 2009)

In relation to the two practitioners in question, their styles and roles within media and broadcasting, allow and require them to be factual, but also be entertaining. ‘There is no reason that journalism should not have further aims as well, such as entertainment,’ (Belsey 1992). This requirement would assume that they need to entice the public with a style that would be compelling and to sometimes border what may be perceived as rude or distasteful in order to entertain. In 1998, Clarkson reportedly referred to BMW workers at a motor show as ‘Nazis,’ of which a BBC spokeswoman later replied that; ‘Jeremy's colourful comments are always entertaining, but they are his own comments and not those of the BBC.’

                                                                                                                   (1998, news.bbc.co.uk)

In February 2009, he also referred to the Prime Minister at the time, Gordon Brown, as a ‘one eyed Scottish idiot.’                                                           (2009, guardian.co.uk)   

This was also condemned by Scottish ministers, and the institute for the blind, of whom called for Jeremy to be fired by the BBC. Remarks such as these were made in reference to a category of people of whom Jeremy disregarded in terms of respect, but in doing this, and causing offense, it could be argued that he was purely commenting for entertainment value, rather than being unethical in his phrasing.  The representation of Clarkson when saying these comments could have overemphasised the comments, of which he may not have aimed directly to cause offense, but as they were portrayed, it did indeed cause a section of people to be offended.

As journalists, remarks can cause offense to groups or individuals of whom are commented about, but does the questioned taking offense necessarily mean the journalist is unethical? If journalists have a separate ethical structure to everyday ethics that people not associated with journalism have, due to the nature of their work and the responsibilities they have within it, ethics within journalism could remain separate from what is considered ethical by the general public. This could be a reason for discrepancies between morals and ethics in the public and the exampled journalist’s comments. Could Jeremy’s comments still surpass both ethical structures regardless? A theory by Keeble (2009), states that; ‘Ethical issues have little relevance for journalists.’  He further states reasoning for this in that, ‘there is not enough time for them and journalists have little power to influence them.’

If this theory were to be applied to Jeremy and his comments, this would present a representation of unethical balance between a journalist, and the public. In an article by Bowman (2008), Ward (2009), states that; ‘modern journalism ethics was built upon the twin pillars of truth and objectivity… today; the pillars of truth and objectivity show serious wear and tear.’ This emphasises the fact that the truth may indeed be second to journalists of whose nature is first and foremost to entertain, rather than to deliver the truth or be factual.

In comparison to Clarkson, Piers Morgan has a figurehead role that requires him to seek the truth, in what could be deemed as old fashioned journalism. His portrayal as someone whom demands attention and to seek the truth, regardless of the nature of what he seeks, may also represent him to be unethical. Piers has a role of an entertainer in his style of journalism, such as in his book Misadventures of a Big Mouthed Brit, he makes various comments and suggestions that are to a similar nature of Jeremy’s. He refers to several celebrities in what could be perceived as a derogatory manner. He refers to Madonna’s marriage in a section that states, ‘and purely on the back of her firm denial, I’m going to have a few quid on a Madonna divorce by Christmas.’ He has also reported on actor Hugh Grant in this book, as he states, ‘serial whinger Hugh Grant – who has never forgiven me for buying up the story of his Los Angeles prostitute friend.’ This he reports was when he was editor of the News of the World. He makes several remarks on the other practitioner in question too, as he refers to Clarkson on various occasions, one being; ‘Jeremy Clarkson has been spotted on a Barbados beach sporting the biggest pot belly since Vanessa Feltz was last pregnant.’

Some of the above examples are remarks that each journalist has made, all in the name of entertainment. It is these undefined roles that these journalists perform, that can exemplify means of unethical actions or behaviour. ‘Many segments of the modern media are stripped of almost all ethical concerns.’                 (Keeble 2009)

To define a journalists role further, could justify how these comments would be perceived, as their journalistic role as an entertainer, would provide them with the platform to suggest the comments made with justifiable means. Although this may moderate reaction to comments made, it is an undeniable fact, as both of the practitioners have since found, that ‘ethics is inseparable from journalism.’

                                                                                                                          (Belsey 1992)

These remarks are made in a presentation that is purely for entertainment value, but as Piers has had several other roles during his journalism career, one being editor of the News of the World, he also has a role as a journalist to report the truth. 

This is an alternative side to journalism, of which the ethical structures and procedures followed may lead to different consequences and reactions, to those of a more entertaining nature.

The journalist’s role as an entertainer in both of the practitioners discussed has exampled interpretations of unethical behaviour, but in both journalists, there lies a different level of unethical. A statement by Belsey (1992) argues that, ‘Journalists… do not even need to be bribed to behave unethically.’

It could be argued that this alternative role that journalists can provide is a ‘public interest role’. Piers Morgan has been subject to the aforementioned Leveson enquiry in regards to his ethical and legal behaviour whilst working for the Daily Mirror. This enquiry has delved into and discussed ethical procedures in relation to Piers’ actions, and has reported insight that gives Piers’ own interpretations of ethics. One exchange with Lord Leveson came as Mr Morgan described using information gathered by an individual named "Benji the Binman" who collected celebrity rubbish. Mr Morgan replied to this part of the enquiry with; “Did I think he was doing anything illegal? No. Did I think it was on the cusp of ethical? Yes.”                                                                                         (2011, news.uk.msn.com)

This comment by Piers implies that although he did not see the actions as illegal, he did state affirmation that this could be perceived as unethical. Other parts of this enquiry discussed a more in detail example of intrusion of privacy, in relation to two other celebrities and their marriage. Piers published a story that suggested affiliations were strained between the two, but it was the recording that he had listened to in order to acquire the story the posed concerns. (2011, news.uk.msn.com), reported that; ‘Mr Morgan refused to give any details on the grounds that it might compromise his source and claimed that listening to the tape was not unethical.’              

Here is a video link in regards to Piers discussing ethics relating to the voicemail. http://video.uk.msn.com/watch/video/morgan-unaware-of-hacking/2i4klzpa

The fact that Piers see’s the detail of listening to the tape not as an unethical practise, thus ensures that the whole reasons of which he acquired the story through doing this, were also not unethical. Actions such as these in relation to Piers could pose the question, is a good journalist someone who seeks the truth or seeks to exploit it? A statement by Frost (2007) implies, ‘don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.’ Counteracting this, although a journalist should follow the above statement, a government report into Press Standards, Privacy and Libel (2009), also states that; ‘the press should be allowed to publish stories that are in the public interest subject to the proviso that ‘they are acting in good faith in order to provide accurate and reliable information in accordance with the ethics of journalism.’  

Piers’ actions were not in unethical in his own mind, therefore suggesting he believed that he would be providing a story that was in the public interest without subjecting himself to be questioned regarding his ethics. This whole debacle could be supported by a statement and grounds that ‘if reporters get too ethical, they will produce ‘wishy-washy’ journalism. They will be so concerned about hurting someone’s feelings or doing the wrong thing that they will not pursue the truth aggressively.’                                                                          (Smith 2008)

Piers Morgan’s ethical concerns regarding the enquiry refer to quite a different style of unethical questioning in comparison to his comments in his book, Misadventures of a Big Mouthed Brit. The same could also be said regarding Jeremy Clarkson and his comments of which he was also condemned for, in comparison to the series of events uncovered regarding Piers in the Leveson enquiry.

Clarkson has recently been subjected to a more serious debate in reference to comments that he made on the BBC’s One Show. Whilst being interviewed regarding a widespread public matter, Clarkson said the following in regards to public sector workers striking; ‘I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.’                                                                                                       (2011, telegraph.co.uk)

This comment was criticised widely, and in obvious correlation to offense, it would reason that this comment would be regarded as unethical by the section of people that complained and were outraged by the comments. The ethical concerns surrounding this remark are difficult to ascertain and distinguish. It is possible, that some remarks may be light hearted, and taken out of context to over emphasize negative issues, that surround journalism ethics. Even so, ‘Most newspapers and television stations have policies limiting what reporters and editors can say and do even when they are not at work.’                                                       (Smith 2008)

But, as evidenced, the BBC of whom Clarkson works for, have already stated on occasions that his comments are ‘entertaining.’ It would be naïve to suggest that the remarks would be acceptable if they were made by other public figures or the general public, but would they be as interesting and generate the amount of scrutiny applied to them comments if they were?

It is a notable fact that Clarkson’s comments could be considered offensive, but in the name of entertainment, the interpretations of the comments could generate an interest in the person that has made the remarks, enticing people to comment further on the matter. It is stated by Keeble (2009), that; ‘Profits are the root of all journalism.’ This could be the principal factor in journalism, that ethics, although inseparable, are also not the primary objective of journalists.

In the two sections of ethical debate, both Piers, and Clarkson, have been subjected to a different type of ethical investigation. The first, an entertainment role as a journalist, and how those comments, although not completely ethical, do first and foremost supply what they intend to achieve, which is to entertain; the second, a more intrusive insight into the considerably more prevalent ethical concerns, such as actions that provoke illegal or highly unethical phrasing in the view of widespread publicity. In exploration of the analysed sections, it appears that there is an ethical imbalance between what is considered a journalistic quest to entertain, and a journalistic quest for the truth. Kovach (2001), cited Bowman (2008), argues ‘there is little doubt journalists believe themselves to be engaged in pursuing the truth.’ The two journalists in question may therefore challenge ethics in journalism, and their actions thus shaping and moulding how ethics is monitored and regarded. It appears however, from the perspective of a journalist such as Piers in regards to the Leveson enquiry, he pursued the truth in a manner he did not interpret as unethical. ‘The notion of journalistic objectivity is intrinsically tied up with the purported journalistic quest for ‘truth’.                                                                                                   (Bowman 2008)

The pursuit of stories in the public interest, and the remarks that generate a public interest, are somewhat different in their consequences in regards to ethical structures within journalism. The approaches of the two practitioners, motivated through entertainment, seeking the truth, and generating a public interest, have lost all connections with moral judgement. This journalistic practise of seeking the truth, could have banished all connections with moral judgement. As Freud (1933) cited Sigelman, (2009), insinuates that the moral judge, of which he refers to as the ‘super ego’, is an individual’s own personalised moral standards. Freud also implies that at some stage, there will be conflict between a person’s moral judge, and their ‘id’, which is the persons own personal goal which they seek. This confrontation it seems is intensified in the common journalism role, as all moral judgement is dismissed in place for the admiration and requirement for the truth. 

The most underlining factor for journalists is to abide the law in all circumstances. Piers’ actions confronted the law, in a case of which his ethical behaviour challenged what may be considered illegal processes. As Clarkson has also discovered, his ethical behaviour will also not be tolerated nor accepted, regardless of the nature of what he says. It is a person’s own choice to carry out actions, of which they see as ethical, as a proclamation by Glover (1992) states;

‘ethical principles are not, and cannot be, handed down by an authority, but have to be discovered through the ingenious interplay of human reason and human experience, a process which while producing results of great value in both science and ethics is both fallible and endless.’ 

The approach of ethics it seems must therefore be determined by each individual, but the consequences no doubt, will be determined by the law, as supported by (Kovach 2001), ‘while the law is far from infallible it is also hardly inept.’

The fallible lines of both the law and ethics will continue to provide journalists with an undefined line of uncertainty regarding what is deemed as ethical, but the search for the truth, to provide entertainment, and to produce stories in the public interest, will always be defined by what is determined as legal.

Report for BBC Visit

BBC Sports talk visit 16^th December 2011

My experience in going into the BBC building was very insightful. I sat in on a live radio sports show being broadcasted on BBC radio Humberside.  This was set up through former chief sports editor David Burns, and also current editor, Matt Dean.

The show lasted one hour. My aim within that hour was to gain a useful contact, and glean information, and ask questions regarding the way the BBC sports team operates. As one of my aims in my career is to become involved in broadcasting sports journalism, I thought that this may be a valuable experience, although only brief and informal. Upon arriving, I was asked questions regarding my course and my aspirations within journalism. This was something that opened a conversation regarding my career so far and my learning at university, and how this has impacted my aspirations within the field. We discussed how he (Matt Dean), first became involved in journalism, and where and what he studied. This was extremely beneficial to me as it was the first time we had met, and it made the experience comfortable, and enjoyable.  The activity itself for me was not practical, but rather an observation, and an insight into how to conduct particulars such as operate the studio, and to talk live on air, and how to assemble a broad range of topics to discuss. His personality on the show was professional, and he asked good questions to the listeners. He made it look easy and enticed interaction with the audience. Upon reflection, the way he conducted himself on air and the whole experience of the show was something I could see myself becoming more involved within. Before going in for the show, I was not sure if broadcasting on the radio would be something I would have been as interested in, in comparison to television or writing. This experience definitely allowed me to see myself in that position, live in the studio, even though it was only for a short period of time. It is something that I could be enthusiastic towards, such as presenting a broadcast radio show, and being informal and chatty towards the audience, which is something I would personally find more comfortable, rather than a corporate and formal business approach. Although only a small portion of what I would like to do, I would like to develop a further experience within radio, and I will also make more contact with the BBC sports desk, about the possibility of becoming more involved in a practical manner. 

I would have however liked to have already achieved some practical experience, but I have encountered a very problematic route in gaining this. I have gleaned that as with the nature of the working environment in journalism, it is not always easy to be accommodated, and there are not a wide range of practical experiences that I was opened up to. As the area is so sought after, I feel that the capacity for want is more than the availability that is on offer, therefore meaning a narrow bracket of opportunity for valuable experience.

In light of this, that is why I decided to gain the experience that I did. Although not an immense amount of experience, it was something I was unsure about before entering the sports department at the BBC, but from doing so, it has helped me understand further areas I wish to develop within, and I wish to continue to build upon this.

In the near future, I am hoping to set up more experience with the BBC Humberside sports team, and possibly go to matches with them, and see how they operate. I have also made contact with a local amateur football club, after applying for a student position. This is at Scarborough Athletic F.C, as they are in need of a reporter, to conduct interviews, do photography, match reports, and also to commentate on their station ‘Seadogs live.’ This opportunity would meet the majority of my experience requirements in the areas that I am interested in. I will pursue this, along with other similar opportunities, to gain as much experience as possible. I am also hoping to attend other amateur sports such as Ice Hockey, and Rugby league, to conduct short match reports, and interviews with players, as part of building up a wide portfolio.

My future career aspirations are to top up my current degree and specialise within an area, or possibly go into broadcast journalism. I am currently seeking universities that will accommodate a top up to my current degree, in preparation. I am also hoping to attain a TEFL qualification, which would enable me to teach English as a foreign language. I am hoping to qualify in this in the beginning of 2012. As part of this, I can also travel to other countries to teach, and therefore start to build a portfolio of travel writing whilst also working and gaining some experience. This would be something I would carry out over the summer period, and also the following year, as I aim to travel for at least a year. Within that time I would hope to accomplish a vast portfolio of sports, and travel journalism work and also any other experiences that I venture across.

I am preparing for all of this, and planning to experience as much as possible throughout my career in journalism. I would like to attain as many contacts and local experience as I can, as I plan to move abroad, and expand on my experiences already gained within the filed. My aim by that time would to become self-employed freelancing in travel and sports journalism, and to have a column in a national newspaper in whatever country I would be living.

I feel the experience within the BBC sports department was successful for what I wished to achieve, and for what was possible within the opportunities that I was offered. I have gained a contact for future reference, and also I have explored an area that I was unsure of, and become more assured about a path that I may wish to pursue in the future in my career.