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.