Analysis of Sports Clubs Work

 For my Self-Initiated Project I undertook a range of journalism based work to explore. My aim was to document these in relation to Sports Journalism, and to build a portfolio of many different styles and areas.

For much of the experiences, I have not had past knowledge or experience in partaking in the types of journalism that I would be conducting, nor have I had much experience in doing live journalism work with exterior parties and clients.

This aspect was something that I was looking forward to building, so that I could gain contacts for future reference, and to help me build a professional reputation as a good Sports Journalist.

As Sports Journalism is one of my particular interests, I wanted to build a wide scope of various works including articles, interviews, photography, video, and interactive based.

I researched and selected various clubs of which I identified as possible targets for my work, and contacted some based on my particular interests. I also had some of my own contacts of which I used to ensure that I could carry out the works I intended to, if I was struggling to gain alternative contacts to carry out particular works.

In ranging the portfolio, my aim was to experience a varied amount of vocational and topical journalism works that I could use or distribute and gain publication.

I delivered two pieces of journalism, of which used similar formats, for a professional newspaper, as part of an Olympic feature. This was very advantageous in gaining this opportunity as it gave me a platform and an outlet to get my work published and also it builds upon contacts, and as part of developing a style and professional portfolio of work.

Through using Sports Journalism as the area of work, it enabled me to use a section of media in Interactive, that is developing into a more common and useable medium in delivering sports stories. This is not yet a common everyday practise for local journalism professional bodies or organisations, so it was a fantastic opportunity to deliver and showcase an area of journalism that can be used as an alternative to writing articles that will not be published until the flowing day or even on the Monday after the Saturday sport in a print newspaper.

The Interactive based sports story was the area that I was most sceptical but most surprised by exploring, as I had created a live Twitter feed, and Storified this using professionals reaction, fans reaction, and my own comments, and also incorporating pictures, whilst delivering the story in full in only minutes after the game itself had finished.

A feature I found in doing this was that I had created something so quickly, and precise using professional sports persons comments and Tweets that I had essentially scooped the local newspaper to a story that they did not report until two days later.

In journalism, that would have essentially made their story old news, as it was already out there in the public domain, delivered by a trustworthy source in a sports professional.

The works I have undertaken have given me a platform of a portfolio to develop and expand upon in the future, and it has also given me confidence in my own ability as a journalist to develop and deliver stories that are in the public interest.

This has been done whilst retaining the old fashioned journalism styles of articles, but also exploring a range of new media storytelling techniques, of which I can develop and pioneer into a personal profession of delivering sports journalism to the audiences.

The sports journalism portfolio that I have created will continue to expand and develop as I create and gain more works in the profession, and I plan to undertake as many opportunities as possible in gaining the experiences needed to become recognised and published as a reliable and professional source.

Review of Sports Journalism work undertaken

The Interview:

For three of my sports journalism pieces I have conducted some sort of interview. The interview to me is a form of gathering information, of which doesn’t necessarily have to follow a flow of questions, although I had some prepared in the event that conversation fell flat.

I first conducted an interview for a Boxing piece of which I later wrote up for a print medium. This was an informal interview, and I found it to be quite relaxed and chatty, and the interviewee gave all the information I could need, and more.

The second interviewee was based around gaining facts, rather than gaining a story. This was a more formal style of interview, yet it was shorter, and much more focused on specific details.

The third interview I conducted was for the podcast. This was with a weightlifter, of whom I wanted to express the information freely, without me having to prompt too much. The interview was very relaxed, yet difficult to conduct, as I found that the interview became more about what was expected to have been said, rather than what he wanted to say.

The interview itself is something that I would like to develop. If I had not done a specific type of work such as sport, I would have liked to have challenged myself to a more intense interview, using different styles such as incorporating a bit of Jeremy Paxman, and a badgering interview; possibly with a politician.  

The other style I would have like to have done is an intensified life story with close camera angles such as what use to be carried out by John Freeman.

Photojournalism:

The one piece of photojournalism I did was for the Gymnastics club. I too photo’s over a few nightly sessions, and tried to cover as many angels, types of shots, and focuses. I also used two alternative camera settings which were T.V, and Sports, which were both appropriate for use and had their different advantages. The camera I used was a Cannon 40D.

This was the first real piece of photojournalism work that I have done, as I have not had much experience on the camera. For the first part I felt that I was nervous and missed some shots that would have been good for use. As I became more familiar with the camera I relaxed and began to try different setting s and angles to gain the best shots possible.

Overall I think the photojournalism work was to a decent standard, although I would like to develop it for future reference particularly within sport.

Written Articles:

This is probably the area that I have the most experience within. As a general thing, writing is something I practise each day with journalism work. I wrote two specific sports articles for a daily newspaper, of which are due to be published as part of features.

These incorporated pictures, and a set layout of which I had to follow; a lead, and introduction to the sport, pictures, and a fact file on the sports club I visited.

In producing these pieces, I had not written for a specific purpose of audience that had to be to a set structure before. I have done work of set words, or set topics, but not set structures, and this I found to be quite difficult in keeping to the word limits, and ensuring each part of the vital information was included. To do this successfully, I used tips I had learned in writing techniques, as to write in a reverse pyramid, to keep the important information included, to then disregard the least important.

Article writing is a part of journalism that I am aiming to develop as much as possible through my degree and post study. I would like to have built a portfolio of many different styles and types of journalism that exhibit my skills.

Video journalism:

The video journalism piece was one that I did not get to carry out. I wrote the script, and identified the club, and people that I would speak to, but weather permitted that that I could not conduct this, as the scene was supposed to be at a training session.

My idea with this was to set a scene of a session, of which I would have introduced it like a sports show, and continued this on to the interview on camera, with the training session as a backdrop. The sport was American Football, so I had a great opportunity to try and probe some interesting questions as to why it is becoming so popular here, and what the participants enjoy so much about it.

I gained lots of information from one of the contact of which I could use to interview, or in the future if I can carry out the intended video piece. This is now a priority to develop my V/J skills, as I have not had much practice in doing this.

Interactive Journalism:

This is the most current piece of journalism that I have used and come across. I have used micro blogging such as Twitter, and other social networking sites, but the idea of this was to incorporate this and develop it into a story, live.

I used Twitter whilst live at a football match and I Tweeted events and match updates using a hash-tag. I also re-Tweeted any relevant Tweets to ensure I had these for future reference.

The idea of this was to then move my live commentary feed into a Storify, and create a live story, incorporating the events, the professional pundit’s reaction, the fans reaction, pictures, and my own thoughts.

I picked the Hull City V Watford game as it bared some significance to their season. I used Twitter to constantly update the events, and this was useful when creating my Storify.

In the Storify, I created the full story in minutes, as I transferred all of my Tweets and the reactions into the story. I looked for new Tweets from professionals that had held interviews with players, and placed there feedback into the story too.

I had essentially created newspaper report that would appear in the local news online the next day, or in print on Monday, into a fully readable and reliable story within half an hour of the game finishing.

I feel this method of journalism is the most prominent and accessible version of journalism that can be used as a tool to be as updated as possible.

Podcast for Audience:

Podcasts are a useful way to record interviews and place them for listening on to websites, and they are also a good form of being able to write up and interview at a later stage.

The podcast on the weightlifter was a difficult to conduct as I know him on a personal level. I found that he was picky in his wording, rather than just expressing his views as he would have normally.

The podcast making itself is a process that I have found to be good for reference and use to quickly find a piece of information, but when I have to host this on my website, I find difficulties, and it does not support MP3.

In future, I will conduct many interviews using voice recording, and possibly transfer these to be podcasts as I find that audial sometimes woks better than reading, and appeals to audiences. It is a good practise to have both, but podcasts are particularly good for having an interactive media website.

Overall:

All of the experiences I have undertaken have taught me new aspects of journalism, and developed my skills in many areas. I can build upon this portfolio, using many of these techniques, and also develop the ones that I have not had much experience within.

I will continue to undertake many journalism works, and opportunities that could enhance my portfolio and reputation as a journalist.

Newsroom Exercises: Analysis

Analysis of my Newsroom Exercises

The newsroom exercises have enabled me to develop and produce a thorough and comprehensive selection of varied writing styles and genres to build a portfolio of various journalism works.

Initially, the tasks given helped me to understand the basic concept of journalism, and the theories surrounding a journalist’s role in society and as a vocation. This was discussed and explored through investigating the NUJ code of conduct, and thus comparing and looking at a Japanese theory of investigative journalism by Ansei Inoue.

One of the first tasks given was to write my own Obituary suitable for publication. In doing this, I found it difficult to write a biographical piece from an exterior perspective, as I wanted to refer to myself in the first person. I also found it hard to distinguish which items should and shouldn’t be included within an obituary.

From doing this, I learned how to write quickly, accurately, and for a purpose in a short space of time, whilst also considering hierarchical based items as mentioned in another aspect of the writing exercises, which was to work in a hierarchical structure of importance.

This was an aspect covered in the Japanese Theory of Journalism, to work in a reverse Pyramid. This technique is useful for writing interviews, reviews, articles, and any writing exercises that have to be succinct. I took this advice through to the tasks that followed from these first experiences.

As the new media and interactive media develops, there are more mediums and alternatives to make and distribute news or stories. These are some of the aspects that were covered within the newsroom. I looked at alternative methods and online sources of storytelling, such as Vimeo, Cowbird, Unsungnewyorkers, amongst some others, and considered how and if these are relevant in the modern journalism vocation.

I reviewed some aspects of stories that I had viewed as videos, and speculated on how this can be useful for a journalist and what affect it may have on the profession. After exploring these mediums, I wrote a piece concerning how there is a difference between journalism, and storytelling, and my thoughts on how and why this must stay separate to keep the profession of journalism alive.

Some of the aspects of these new media websites can be sued by a journalist as part of creating a wider and diverse audience, but the main interactive based new media tool that I found to be most useful was Storify.

This I feel is a tool that can be used as a journalist, professionally, and adequately to create and tell a story for an intended audience on what is considered news. I used this to create some stories of my own, one of which was for the 2012 U.K Budget.

The basis of Storify is to create and use new and social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and using web links, to create a story in a succinct but comprehensive and thorough manor that can be distributed with immediate effect.

This version of my Budget analysis was one that I tried to vary and derive a more cynical yet truthful approach to the topic. I used imagery that would not be used in general media representation, and I wanted to challenge and border the political correctness and reserved approach of how media represents certain matters.

I used captions and titled the story, a Budget for everyone, which was solidified at the end with the image that also incorporated everyone. It was meant to use a style that might be seen on light hearted news programming such as Channel 4’s 10’oclock Live.

I did this as I do not want to be the type of journalist that follows conforming attitudes towards how a story of piece of news should be presented, but I want to enforce my own style that is in line with public perceptions, rather than one that donates the practise of ‘us and them’ keeping the public’s views silent, and the political views heard.

I feel that this style would aid my success in the journalism sector, as it would effectively separate my style and approaches from that of journalists that are afraid to use wording or imagery that could offend, yet is truthful.

I have used Storify on many occasions for different purposes, but all of which tell stories as part of being a journalist.

The newsroom exercises that were ‘Live’ were one’s that I found most difficult, but also the most compelling and realistic to write.

I have written articles on a Presidency election, a Politician accused of breaking the law, and a Beer and Cider festival event of which I attended and reviewed the event immediately after.

These exercises gave me a tremendous insight into the aspects of true journalism, and a newsroom environment, whilst also equipping me with techniques to help speed up my writing, make it more concise and accurate, and deliver a report that tells a story in a short space of time.

Other aspects covered in the newsroom were reviews on aired T.V programmes, particularly, ones by BBC’s Storyville.

These documentaries were based around many different topics, and I was expected to review these and write reports suitable for a Broadsheet publication.

I found the Broadsheet writing much more definitive in the vocabulary selection, and the intended target audience, as I could write a more sophisticated or elaborative review that would be from various angels depending on the stories.

I found that in doing these tasks, I developed a style that I otherwise did not know I had. I followed some similar patterns and tried to follow a basis and analytically presented the articles in a journalistic format that took the reader on a journey through the review.

The final piece of writing I did was the Murdoch, an Empire in Dire State. I chose to write this in a very different style to what would usually be done, whilst also placing my views into the piece, as it is an opinion piece. As I’m entering the sector, I feel that it is imperative that I understand all concepts surrounding the current state of media, and all that affects this.

Using this style whilst asserting my opinion has helped me to analyse the current state of the media, whilst drawing upon other aspects that are affecting the sector.

Throughout all of the newsroom exercises I undertook many aspects of journalism, and developed skills in a varied amount of areas, such as reviewing, interactive, broadsheet, and tabloid writing, and  also, finding my own writing and journalistic style and preferences.

The experience of undertaking these weekly exercises has developed me professionally and moulded my writing into something that I can use as a tool and adapt in many different styles, mediums, and works, all of which will equip me with good knowledge and experience to expand, develop, and use, for future writing and journalistic experiences.

Rupert Murdoch: Media v Politics

Rupert Murdoch, an Empire in Dire State

In light of recent events concerning the Leveson Enquiry into media ethics, journalism has scoped a mass surmount of negative publicity, and the relationship between hierarchical structures at the most elite levels have come under scrutiny.

Rupert Murdoch has recently evidenced his version of events concerning a mass of matters involving his company and business; News Corporation and its branches, one of which, the recently deceased tabloid News of The World.

His account of the events  alleged to have taken place, such as phone hacking, email hacking, and a general lack of ethical and in some cases lawful practise as a journalist, have invariably enlightened many of the public’s otherwise opaque eyes.

But, at what expense does this ostentatious episode have on the image of a journalist, and the right to exercise their licence to be instinctive, intuitive, and inquisitive?

An unforeseen amount of pressure is now placed onto the precarious media sector as it attempts to uncover the true meanings of unprofessional journalism conduct, and preserve the dwindling faith of the public; a strained relationship that has always been held in contempt.

A certain consequence of these events is to assume without doubt that in future times, the sector of media and journalism will be unequivocally glowered upon by the figures of discontented audiences. These who want nothing more than a truthful account of interesting news that momentarily affects their inhospitable shield surrounding their existence, which inherently fades away in wait of the subsequent piece of information which can be disregarded with similar insignificant effect.

Journalism is indeed infected, affected, and susceptible to accept blame and responsibility for the envious figures of chauvinistic characters that esteem for domination of the political, and all aspects of civilized notions of belief, to globally inflict consumerism on the naïvely accepted audiences.

Political responsibility will inexorably avoid the too familiar concern of ingenious ambiguity of accepting credibility, or to indeed have any involvement other than to proclaim absence in the proceedings of any unethical or unlawful accounts of action.

Corrupted stature in the whole pontifical nature of politics to acquire an image of unassailable interpretation precedes the appearance of the unimpressionable media. This is solidified through a volatile succession of publicly accounting the vocation of the informant, into being an inconceivable practise that defies all honesty.

This enlightening affair begs the questions that, if ethics within media is so fragmented that there needs to be an enquiry, then assuredly the same fate must be presented to investigate the ethics within Politics?

Journalism it seems is again forced to concede to the hierarchical elites that will inevitably continue to fracas in unobtrusive fashion, until once again, a surreptitious snake is placed into the public sphere, where irrefutably the politicians and chauvinists alike, will donate acceptance to the destitute industry of the media.

Podcast of Interview with Weightlifter/Bodybuilder for Sports Piece

I Interviewed 22 year old Alex, to get the low down on why he and so many others enjoy weightlifting so much...

Script for V/J Piece on American Football

Script for Video Journalism Piece

Location: Hull University

Camera work: Jason Russell/Ben Morgan

Script Writer: Jason Russell

Narrator: Jason Russell Intro.
(Piece to camera, walking towards the camera with action in background)

Hi there, and welcome to J.R Sports. I’m Jason Russell.

Today I’m at The University of Hull to uncover a major rising sport that has transferred its way across the pond, to right here in the U.K.

American Football has pledged its way into colleges, Universities, and sports clubs around the country, and is fast becoming as loved in this country, as it is in the States.

(Camera angle adjusts slightly to make me offset to the left so that the action can be seen more visible, and I can turn sideways to make reference)

As you can see behind me, here at the University of Hull, the training session for the University team is under way.

So what is it about American football that has gripped University students and sports groups alike, into making this sport so popular here in the U.K?

Joining me here is Student and Player for the University of Hull, Ben…

(Pan to the Right slowly, as Ben appears, and I am on the left, Ben is on the right of the screen. Ben speaks about American Football)

SO there you have it, American football… is (Make reference to something Ben has said i.e. fast paced, fun, energetic)

Stat attack.

Locally there are Fifteen University clubs that participate in American Football. That is in the BUAFL Northern Conference League. The UH Sharks currently sit second in the league table behind Sheffield University, and have enjoyed a great season.

The BUAFL American Football has six University Leagues around the country, organised by location. It is the largest organisation of American Football in the U.K and is growing at a phenomenal rate.

(Pan to the scenes of training, then back to me for the Outro)

Outro.

As the University season nears its climax, there is no doubt that the sports profile will continue to rise, and next season, promises to be an even bigger and popular one for American Football here in the U.K.

I’m Jason Russell, Thank you for watching.

(Approx. time, 3 ½ mins.)

Storify on the U.K 2012 Budget

Gymnastics Sports Journalism Photo-slideshow

Gymnastics Article for Olympic Feature

LEAD

GYMNASTICS is an artistic and creative sport that is held in high regard through each and every Olympic year.  It has a range of disciplines, all of which require the competitor to have acquired and perfected skills, have immense strength, and to have an energy that can help them perform at an impeccably high level.

The level that gymnasts need to reach to compete is of an unbelievably high standard. It is imperative that young gymnasts get the opportunities within the sport to enable them to learn.

Kingston Gymnastics Club of Hull has been providing this outlet for young gymnasts since 1988. Focusing on women’s artistic, and both boys and girls general, it is a grassroots route into gymnastics, to help provide the basics to start in the sport.  

Michele Hewson, who runs the club today, has been involved within the same institution for over thirty years.

“I first started coaching when I was fourteen, as an assistant coach for women’s artistic” she said.

Michele has a vast experience in coaching children of all ages and abilities, and from a variety of different backgrounds. She is one of very few pre-school qualified coaches in the city, as well having a Special Needs Gymnastics coach qualification.

“It’s important that everyone gets a chance at having a go. We’re socially inclusive, and it’s nice to have a mixture of kids from different backgrounds” she said.

Some children travel long distances to be a part of Kingston Gymnastics Club. Poppy and her younger brother travel from Grimsby to take part every week.

“Poppy is five years old. She came to the club when she was just three” said Michele.

“She’s got the potential to go a long way should she wish. She’s got a great motivation to learn the complex moves. She watches the older girls, and practises until she gets it right” she added.

Many gymnasts have come through the doors at Kingston Gym Club, and some have stayed for a long period of time.

Rosie Johnston, 18, has been coming to this same club since she was nine years old.

“My friend started coming to gymnastics, so I joined afterwards. She left, but I kept on coming.”

Gymnastics is more than just learning how to do acrobatic moves for Rosie; other aspects are an important reason as to why she enjoys the sport so much.

“Gymnastics keeps you fit, it’s fun, and it’s a really friendly small group. I also enjoy doing competitions.”

After nine and a half years of coming to the same club, Rosie will be leaving this year to study away from the area. She highlighted some of the things that will be missed the most from coming to Kingston Gymnastics Club.

“I’ll miss the support, the community feeling that the club has. We all support each other in competitions. I’ll also miss doing the coaching too.”

Rosie is one of many gymnasts that have had the opportunity through gymnastics of learning how to coach the sport too.

“I’ve been coaching since I was fifteen, as an assistant coach.”

The opportunity of learning new skills, making friends, taking part in competitions, and gaining new qualifications, are just some of the reasons why Rosie would recommend to anyone to get involved in gymnastics.

“Give it a try, there’s a variety and always something for somebody. Each person will have their favourite equipment; you’ll find something you like.”

The level of commitment that gymnasts show to the sport of gymnastics is clearly visible. The social and achievement aspect through participating in the sport plays a huge part of the success for Michele and Kingston Gymnastics Club.

“The gymnast’s that come here all want to do well. They can say that they’ve achieved something, whether it’s a move they’ve learned, or a medal at a competition. Everyone just wants to have fun.”

Michele (Head Coach), and Emmie

Kingston Gymnastics Club

Flying over, Rosie, 17

Rosie, 17

Michele with Poppy, 5

Hanging around on the bars

 

HISTORY OF THE SPORT

As a sport, gymnastics is noted to have been around for over 2000 years. Its profile as a competitive sport however, is a little over 100 years old. In the 1800’s, schools and athletic clubs brought a mass of popularity and attention to the sport by carrying out exhibitions.

In 1881, the International Gymnastics Federation was formed, and this made gymnastics open for international competition.

Germany was the first country to dominate gymnastics in the Olympics. This event took place in Athens 1896, and was the first major competition of Olympic gymnasts, which consisted of five different countries. Only men’s gymnastics was established at this point, and the apparatus and events were; pommel horse, rings, horizontal bar, parallel bar, and the vault.

The 1924 Olympic Games in Paris formed the basis of both team and individual competition for athletes in gymnastics. Shortly after this, in 1928, women’s gymnastics was first introduced, and a team event was won by the Netherlands.

The Women’s Artistic has since formed into a regular, and one of the most anticipated events in the Olympic diary. It is a mixture of strength, flexibility, endurance, and poise, as they must perform a routine of vigorous and acrobatic manoeuvres to impress the judging panel.

The scoring system works based on two things; the difficulty of the routine, and the execution of the moves within it. The difficulty point’s starts at 0.0, then increases as the moves are rated more complex to perform. The execution however, begins at 10.0, and is decreased for each error that a gymnast would make. These two scores are then combined to give the gymnast a final total score for their routine.

FACT FILE – KINGSTON GYMNASTICS CLUB

Kingston Gymnastics is run by Head Coach Michele Hewson, and is a voluntary organisation.

The club is open on Thursday evenings 5.30 - 8pm, Friday evenings 5 - 8pm, and Saturday mornings 10am until 12 midday.

All sessions run for beginner’s level up to advanced, and anyone is welcome from the age of three upwards.

Sessions run at £3 an hour, alternatively, an option to pay by term is available.

“Come have some fun, and give it a go,” added Michele.

Kingston Gymnastics Club is located at St Victors Hall, Walker Street, Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 2HB. Telephone (01482) 508117 or 07787311947.

Analysis of Newsroom Exercises

Analysis of my Newsroom Exercises

The newsroom exercises have enabled me to develop and produce a thorough and comprehensive selection of varied writing styles and genres to build a portfolio of various journalism works.

Initially, the tasks given helped me to understand the basic concept of journalism, and the theories surrounding a journalist’s role in society and as a vocation. This was discussed and explored through investigating the NUJ code of conduct, and thus comparing and looking at a Japanese theory of investigative journalism by Ansei Inoue.

One of the first tasks given was to write my own Obituary suitable for publication. In doing this, I found it difficult to write a biographical piece from an exterior perspective, as I wanted to refer to myself in the first person. I also found it hard to distinguish which items should and shouldn’t be included within an obituary.

From doing this, I learned how to write quickly, accurately, and for a purpose in a short space of time, whilst also considering hierarchical based items as mentioned in another aspect of the writing exercises, which was to work in a hierarchical structure of importance.

This was an aspect covered in the Japanese Theory of Journalism, to work in a reverse Pyramid. This technique is useful for writing interviews, reviews, articles, and any writing exercises that have to be succinct. I took this advice through to the tasks that followed from these first experiences.

As the new media and interactive media develops, there are more mediums and alternatives to make and distribute news or stories. These are some of the aspects that were covered within the newsroom. I looked at alternative methods and online sources of storytelling, such as Vimeo, Cowbird, Unsungnewyorkers, amongst some others, and considered how and if these are relevant in the modern journalism vocation.

I reviewed some aspects of stories that I had viewed as videos, and speculated on how this can be useful for a journalist and what affect it may have on the profession. After exploring these mediums, I wrote a piece concerning how there is a difference between journalism, and storytelling, and my thoughts on how and why this must stay separate to keep the profession of journalism alive.

Some of the aspects of these new media websites can be sued by a journalist as part of creating a wider and diverse audience, but the main interactive based new media tool that I found to be most useful was Storify.

This I feel is a tool that can be used as a journalist, professionally, and adequately to create and tell a story for an intended audience on what is considered news. I used this to create some stories of my own, one of which was for the 2012 U.K Budget.

The basis of Storify is to create and use new and social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and using web links, to create a story in a succinct but comprehensive and thorough manor that can be distributed with immediate effect.

I have used Storify on many occasions for different purposes, but all of which tell stories as part of being a journalist.

The newsroom exercises that were ‘Live’ were one’s that I found most difficult, but also the most compelling and realistic to write.

I have written articles on a Presidency election, a Politician accused of breaking the law, and a Beer and Cider festival event of which I attended and reviewed the event immediately after.

These exercises gave me a tremendous insight into the aspects of true journalism, and a newsroom environment, whilst also equipping me with techniques to help speed up my writing, make it more concise and accurate, and deliver a report that tells a story in a short space of time.

Other aspects covered in the newsroom were reviews on aired T.V programmes, particularly, ones by BBC’s Storyville.

These documentaries were based around many different topics, and I was expected to review these and write reports suitable for a Broadsheet publication.

I found the Broadsheet writing much more definitive in the vocabulary selection, and the intended target audience, as I could write a more sophisticated or elaborative review that would be from various angels depending on the stories.

I found that in doing these tasks, I developed a style that I otherwise did not know I had. I followed some similar patterns and tried to follow a basis and analytically presented the articles in a journalistic format that took the reader on a journey through the review.

Throughout all of the newsroom exercises I undertook many aspects of journalism, and developed skills in a varied amount of areas, such as reviewing, interactive, broadsheet, and tabloid writing, and  also, finding my own writing and journalistic style and preferences.

The experience of undertaking these weekly exercises has developed me professionally and moulded my writing into something that I can use as a tool and adapt to many different styles, mediums, and works, all of which will equip me with good knowledge and experience to expand, develop, and use, for future writing and journalistic experiences.

Useful Pointers on Conducting a Successful Interview

10 points for conducting an interview

Based on the documentary we watched ‘Frost on Interviews’, I picked up some interesting tips about how to conduct interviews, including some key pointers, and quotes, and directions to take interviews depending on the circumstances.

I will outline these, and highlight the top ten I feel I would use, and that benefited my knowledge the most.

1. The interviewer shapes the discussion in the interview

In 1951, this year was considered the first, that political interviews arose, and where considered so. When ITN launched, it was the first company to conduct ‘interviews.’

2. Bring out how the interviewee thinks and feels about a particular thing
3. Be friendly, and make questions relevant to a subject

The late night line-up was a show hosted by a female interviewer, Joan Bakewell. She recommended;

4. Don’t interrupt people, have manners and let them finish speaking

John Freeman was the first kind of interviewer to be considered abrupt, and aggressive. It was described in the documentary as a ‘psychoanalyst’s chair’ this being because of the close intimacy of the camera concentrating on the interviewee’s face. He asked questions that would be sometimes quite personal, and he dominated discussion. People would answer the questions put to them.

He asked martin Luther King; ‘Do you feel you are an adequate symbol for Negro’s in Southern States’?

Face to face interviewing was a breakthrough thanks to Freeman. There weren’t many outlets that provided somewhere to view celebrities in honesty.

5. The onus is on the interviewer to create a mood to speak, so research them thoroughly
6. Move the talk show into an area that informs the viewer and entertains.

‘’You can’t please all interviewee’s all of the time.’’ Michael Parkinson

‘’You’re looking for someone that tell the truth about their work.’’ Melvin Bragg

7. Establish a situation where people can talk about themselves and their work without embarrassment.

An interview that stood out to me in the documentary was the interview between mlvin Bragg, and Francis Baker.

‘’I am profoundly optimistic about nothing!’’ Baker

8. Always tell the truth, and get a truthful interview in return
9. Any good interview has got to build – Dennis Potter interview

From 1979 onwards, interviewees learned to fight the interview.

‘’Interviewing is a Gladiatorial subject.’’ Lord Heseltine

10. Be well prepared, know what you want to say
11. Adjust questions to the answers
12. Charm them, relax them, then bang – This is Frost’s technique, for example in the Margaret Thatcher interview

Jeremy Paxman, he battles his way through interviews, he is very persistent, and aggressive as an interviewer.

Interviewing made its way over to entertainment.

Clive Anderson, a former barrister, used spontaneity in an interview, such as in his Anderson Talks Back show on Channel 4. He uses an example of when he got half way through an interview with the Bee gees when they left.

Ruby Wax seduced the interviewee; she only had 10 minute interviews. She tried to turn these into three day interviews. She created a bond with the interviewee, and most incredibly, interviewed them in their own homes, a new approach to interviewing.

In relation to political interviews, form 1997, when Tony Blair became Prime Minister, they had found a way to work through interviews, by using Spin Doctors. Alistair Campbell was Tony Blair’s Spin Doctor, and he used techniques to prepare him for interviews.

13. For the public to get anything form an interview, the interviewee needs to be challenged a lot.

Alistair Campbell noted that ‘politicians try to communicate with the public, whilst the interviewer tries to take it to a new route, this often ends up in the modern political interview being a stalemate.

‘’Spin Doctors have made aggression in interviewing politicians worse.’’ Andrew Neil

14. When you get the interview you have won.

An example of an interview with David Cameron saw how the effect of Spin Doctors can influence an interview.

‘’I’ve chosen my words very carefully today.’’ Cameron

The nature of television has changed to be more empathetic, this has affected the nature of interviews.

15. The interviewee responds to something, i.e. people
16. It’s not the questions that matter, it’s the answers they give
17. 17. If the Spin Doctors aren’t happy, you’re doing your job.

Final Promotional Video for Client

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Interview with Matt Dean Article (re-edited to 500 words)

The BBC Sports desk in Hull can be a busy and hectic place to be involved in. With major sporting events and games each week, there is a mass of organisation, preparation, and dedicated work ethic that needs to be employed to keep a Sports Desk’s heartbeat running.

At BBC Humberside, that job is down to Radio Presenter, and current Sports Editor, Matt Dean. But what does it take to be in charge of such an important role, and, more importantly what does that role involve?

“My job is to manage two other Sports Journalists. I also look after all of the freelancers on match days.” He said.

Being the Sports Editor, Matt also has editorial decisions to make, and a responsibility to ensure the efficiency of the Sport’s desk.

“We have bulletins at breakfast time at lunchtime and in the afternoon. So I have to keep my eye across which stories are out there.”

Some people become inspired or have someone that they look up to for an aspired job. For Matt, the lure of radio has always been the main focus and aspiration.

“I always listened to radio Humberside sport. I just think that the immediacy in radio is what’s so appealing for me really. I always had that vision, so that always was the thing that drove me really.”

The job roles that Matt has held in his time with the BBC have adapted with the current climate of the media, and Matt has seen this change first hand in the work place.

“It’s changed a lot. I mean when I first started working for the BBC in nineteen ninety nine, online was in its infancy really. All of us have been trained to put stories up on the BBC Sport website. We always have to think across online as well as just on the radio,” he said.

The impact of social media such as Twitter, has prompted journalists to know and be capable of working with these new mediums as well as the old ones.

“I think that in the course of the last sort of couple of years Twitter’s sort of taken off. And there’s quite a lot of stories that could come through Twitter now, and you always have to be reactive to that.

“I think we need to be on the ball when it comes to Twitter, and I think we need to be fully switched on to it.  And we do try and do a bit of Tweeting.

“I don’t feel a major threat from Twitter. Although having said that, it’s just another means to monitor. I think that we just have to be aware of it.”

It seems as though the working day of old has evolved, and a journalist can no longer expect to be a master of one thing, but instead, a tool that can be used and adapted in all circumstances and situations.

The impact of new media has changed the job roles within journalism, particularly broadcasting, and it seems that this may only seek to increase, as time, and technology, develops.

Hull Real Ale and Cider Festival 2012 Review

The Hull Real Ale and Cider Festival 2012, review

The Hull Real Ale and Cider festival is an annual event held to deliver the finest and freshest ales in the region. The event is held in celebratory and communal fashion, representing all that is sociable for the respected interested parties, who seek to find the tastes of fine ales.

The event this year took place at Hull’s Holy Trinity Church, in the Town Centre, and ran from Thursday 19^th, to the evening of Saturday 21^st of April.

The event is aimed at promoting traditional and independent pubs and breweries across the U.K. and is the only dedicated consumer group in the U.K to do so.

The event took place at Holy Trinity for the first time, in what is now the 34^th year of running for the the Festival. This year’s organiser was Stewart Campbell, who stated before the event about the privilege of hosting the Festival at a historic place such as the Holy Trinity.

                                                             Organiser, Stewart Campbell

The event is a ceremonial one that has passed through time, as it was first thought a ritual to drink within the church in medieval times.

Ale as a term is one that is used, and deviates from its origins as a compound term of wording. It was traditionally known that the word ale formed many parts of other words, to associate meaning with practise, such as the word Bridal. This term originated from Bride-ale, which represented a wedding feast.

The Parish Church held these events through the Whitsun season in Tudor Times, and the acclaimed name of Whitsun-ale, meaning to drink at Whitsun, became known.

Ale in medieval times was a highly important and social aspect of life in the Parish Church, as the ale was to honour the Church Saint, and the sales of ale helped repair the church and create alms for the poor.

Today, many Parish churches may find themselves needing to host events such as the Hull Real Ale and Cider Festival, to fund and upkeep the running of the church, so that its traditions are not lost.

It seems then that if traditions follow, this may not be the last time that the Hull Real Ale and Cider Festival may be seen held at the Holy Trinity Church.

Dissertation statement of Intent

For my final year, I will be exploring a range of journalism concepts and ideas in relation to my interests. This will be through completing the top-up year with a BA in Interactive Media. Throughout my CATS learning processes, I have come across many distinct possible explorations that I could choose to follow up further and explore in much wider detail and form. My first year explained the processes of which form opinions and unmovable theories that link with my practise, such as ideology, semiotics and propaganda. This deepened my understandings of these meanings, and made sense of associated words that I will come across and use within my vocation.

The process of being able to differentiate and identify these, and thus place them into an essay/presentation, was pivotal to my development in my first year. I feel that my first exploration of Marxism, and in particular, the theory of false consciousness, was something that appealed to me. I presented and explored this in detail within my first presentation, as this was my first experience of the subject, and of the theorist/theory involved. As one of my particular interests is sport, I wanted to explore weather this could be linked towards Marxism, and the theory I was looking at. Through analysing this one key theory in Marxism, and relating in to sport, I made links between the way that sport is viewed and the way the viewer interprets what they see, 

through scophophilia.

The experiences that I had within this first semester, enabled me to further develop these new theories and concepts that I had learned, into my second piece of work. I explored women’s oppression in sport, and how this has evolved, and matured into the sporting framework. This enabled me to deeper analyse aspects of scophophilia, and thus relate them to the way women are manipulated in sport through clothing, hair, appearance, and ultimately, how they are viewed amongst society. The aspects that I covered included works of feminism, Marxism, and the associated deepened link between the two. I wanted to make reference and make a statement that drew attention to this occurrence, and how society and the sporting viewers, transparently look past the ways that this happens. This occurs through visuals, commentary, and media representation, all of which forms a justifiable opinion of the sports people I looked at in particular.

My second year essay formed a different approach, as I was given a choice of questions of which I could interpret and explore in relation to my vocation. I would like to explore ethics, law, and politics within journalism, and this essay gave me an opportunity to do this. 

As there were several media related incidents in the news and public eye at the time, I had key evidence, and reasoning for conducting an essay on media ethics. 

I wanted to, as well as form a structured essay to inform and analyse, also explore and learn new ideas and existing ones, surrounding the view of ethics and procedures in the media, as this is the area of work I will be entering. The key changes and opinions that have helped shape and structure journalism, and how media is susceptible to corruption, and unethical encounters, was something that I wanted to draw attention to. 

I used practitioners as examples of these, to associate meaning with practise, and thus connect the lines of transparency of media ethics, and law. I feel the shape of this report, and how it formed, left me at a point of where I could continue to explore this further, as I had explored it to a point of ethical bordering law, but not how the law dictates the role of the journalists’.

My final assessment for my second year I’ll thus focus on law, and how this relates to journalism, and the role of the journalist, in particular relation to war. I chose this, as I wanted to keep the development of what I had learned form exploring ethics, and attach this to the form of law. I wanted to explore the ways that journalists are dictated by law, and how regulations and legislations shape the news. I had an idea to make reference to the ways that wars are justified, and if this has any implications on how journalists can carry out their work. 

This essay has formed a much wider scope of interest for me as a journalist, as it, combined with other essays, I feel has enabled me to learn and equip myself with knowledge that I could use for a dissertation in my final year.

For my dissertation I would like to expand on these areas that I have explored through all aspects of the course. I would like to, in particular, draw upon law and ethics, and apply these to sport, or possibly politics. I have rendered some possible questions and outcomes form my ideas.

1. How does the role of the journalist, become intertwined with justifications of law?

How does a journalist carry out work, without breaking some if not many laws? Is it possible to be a good, forefront journalist, without being drawn into legalities and legislative battles? What lines merge the two, and how is the line of law, separated from the line of duty.

2. Do the media represent a state of control and balance, through law and legislation, justified by political decisions?

Do we only see what we are allowed to see? Are we moulded into citizens of desire, rather than ones that are formed through our own experiences and practises, how does the role of media and journalism impact on this? Are we made to believe, to conform to national expectations of what is moral, ethical, and legal, and how the media shapes, controls, and is made an example of, in doing this.

3. Are journalists used as an example of unethical balance?

When balances in society are deemed to be wrong, are the media the pivotal and head of making examples of bad and unethical behaviour? 

4. Journalists as tools?

A journalist’s role/reason for being there should never be separated too far from the source or need to report.

5. How authentic is journalism, is there such thing as a true account of proceedings?

This would relate to how the media is representing its knowledge, and what ethoses and laws stop, or imply what they can/cannot account for. Is there such thing as the whole truth in journalism?

Easter Break End - Progress Update

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20 SECS BODYBUILDING

I've been training for the last five years. This was my first competition. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and motivation. But at the end, you get your rewards. I instil this philosophy into my training programmes. This… is how I work out.

30 SECS END PIECE

Training doesn’t always have to be serious. I ensure that in my sessions we always have fun, and work hard to make the most from the session. Whatever your reasons for training, the most important thing is to have a goal. I keep my workouts varied, and can suit many different needs.

Together, we can achieve results.

Let me… help you… reach your goals.

I’m Alex Foreman, Personal Trainer.

My Storify, An Interactive Journalism Piece for Football

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THE SPEEDY CHEETER HUHNE RACES OUT THE DOOR

CHRIS Huhne dramatically resigned as an MP yesterday, as claims about his private life have tarnished his reputation. The former Energy Secretary had allegedly flanked a driving ban that he would have received over nine years ago, after asking his Wife, Vicky Pryce to pick up the points.

Huhne was driving through Essex when his car was picked up on camera, and has dodged these claims since March 2003.

Essex police investigated the father of five and love cheat, for eight months, after the Crown Prosecution Service demanded that they investigate Huhne and his Wife.

It surfaced in May 2011, that Ms Pryce had taken the points on her ex husband’s behalf, meaning both her and the love rat could face charges of perverting the court of justice if found guilty.

His love affair with his PR advisor, Carina Triminham, first caused Huhne’s rep to be slated, as it was exposed in June 2010. The Lib Dem MP also caused havoc, when he nicknamed the Deputy PM Nick Clegg, ‘Calamity Clegg,’ whilst running for leader of the party.

The millionaire’s political position was finally placed into jeopardy, as QC Keir Starmer, of the Crown Prosecution Service, made a public statement on the 2^nd of February confirming that there will be possible charges against Huhne. This, only the next day, Huhne spoke to David Cameron, and resigned, only to later plead his innocence to the PM.

The court case is due to take place on 16^th February, and if found guilty, Huhne and his ex could receive a sentence of up to a year.

He had branded the decision to bring him into court ‘regrettable’, and Huhne has insisted that he will return to office, once he has banished the claims. The Deputy PM, Nick Clegg has offered support from the Lib Dem party, and has also urged Huhne to clear his name.