P3- Proposal

My proposal 

Synopsis (Summary of idea/narrative):

A school within the local area- Sir John Cass which was rated ‘outstanding’ has now been put under
‘special measures’ by Ofsted as they believe that the school has failed to incorporate British values, also the schools ISOC (Islamic society of colleges) has been criticised for having links with ''Islamic fundamentalism''.   

Rationale (why this idea?):

From the research of the vox pops and survey I conducted I found that many young people felt that issues reading religion is a dark area which is not covered by many radio stations.  

Target audience:

My target audience will be of both genders who are aged 11-25. I am not targeting a particular ethnicity as London is a diverse city. Moreover, this story is targeting all socio-economic class as there I feel that many young people from different backgrounds will find this story interesting.

How it will target this audience:

I will target my audience through social media, as I am young myself, from personal experience I feel highly influenced by social media as it is a big aspect of many young people’s lives. In addition, I will ensure that I will use the sound codes in my newscast to make it more appealing to listen to.

Research findings:

I have found that journalists have covered the main events of the incident. Such as the date of the incident and the procedures.

How this informs my production:

This makes me aware of the fact that there are no voices from the students or local community regarding the issue, therefore have decided to choose this story but from the angle of young people.

Fly FM

P2- Phone conversation- meeting plan

Planning a meeting

P1- Potential stories for newscast

Stories

After our vox pop, as a group we analysed the findings to see what sort of stories we will include in our newscasts.

 

 Here is what we discussed:

We have decided to include  

R36- City London University

Visiting City London University

On the 10th December, I had the opportunity to attend a master class in journalism. Where we were introduced to Collete Cooney who is a broadcast journalist, also I had the chance to produce my own radio show, including a short tour around the media equipment- such as the controls of a radio channel also a green screening room.

This opportunity has taught me that there needs to be a variety of newscasts broadcasted as this will attract more audience members. Moreover, in order to pursue careers in journalism you need to have a passion for it as this will help you 'go where no one has before' which is what makes a great journalist according to Cooney.

Whilst making the radio show, it has given me skills in team work- good journalists can work together by carrying out their allocated roles which will help the work run smoothly.    

R35- Review of radio newscasts

Review of newscasts

Nicole’s newscast- Reprezent 107.3 FM

Part of my silver arts award my group were made to sit in on a live newscast and listen to one of the producers (Nicole) presenting a newscast on her channel. After listening to her newscast we needed to write up an evaluation and what we’d enjoyed and what could've gone well.

I enjoyed listening to Nicole’s newscast, it was interesting and engaging. She followed the key conventions of radio such as including a jingle and constantly mentioning which radio channel she is broadcasting for. She as engaged with her audience by asking for their opinions and to ‘tweet in’ through social media. There was a mixture of music and speech keeping her audience live and bringing an upbeat atmosphere. One thing I found interesting is that she kept referring to personal opinions and thoughts this is important because she made the audience to feel apart of the show rather than passive listeners.

Moreover, every time Nicole made a mistake she did not pause or hesitate she just naturally carried on and rectified herself professionally. She was always confident in what she was saying and always projecting her voice clearly into the microphone. Nicole contrasted the whole thing clearly, she wrapped up swiftly.

Overall, her newscast was good because she made sure that the ethos of Reprezent ‘the voice of young people’ was maintained by getting their views across through social media.

The Matt Edmonson Show BBC 1

I don't often listen to the radio however, listening to The Matt Edomson Show on BBC radio 1 was quite engaging and I enjoyed it. From research I found that a good presenter must use different tones of voices so they don't sound boring which Edmonson did and kept me engaged at all times. He always had a bed which was different types of music than the ones he aired which kept the vibe going.

Edmonson, always introduced the next song with a comment about what he thinks of it which I enjoyed because it's always nice to get to know your presenters. In addition, there was always a few seconds of silence followed by a smooth transition into the next song. 

There was an interview with a pair of comedians- Frisky and Manish who were having a conversation about the likes and dislikes about celebrities and their music videos and what it brings to today's audience. I laughed a lot through this interview because the comedians were impersonating singers' song which was hilarious! This interview, I know many will listen to it because it was funny and cool also full of gossip which will engage many teenage audiences. He played a wide range of songs (mainly hip-hop) targeting a wide age range of audiences. I really enjoyed the newscast as the songs were all upbeat and enjoyable.

Dave Berry and Rita Ora Capital FM 

There was a nice twist as Rita Ora was co-hosting instead of being interviewed. There was a lot of loud sound and rockish kind of music setting a really dramatic tone. The introduction was very humorous, the best thing about the show was that they were being themselves on air which was great to listen to. 

Rita Ora mentions an appearance she did in Wembley, which their target audiences are likely to have attended as well. The Jingle was personalised for Rita Ora, this had a catchy tone to it. Dave Berry (the host) constantly made reference to time and radio station allowing people in cars- on their way to work to be aware of what they're listening to and when. They got the audience involved by allowing them to have their voice heard via twitter also by calling in to the studio this made me as an audience member feel a part of the show and really involved. 

In my opinion, I think there should have been more music as it did get boring after a while, there was not full songs played therefore it did not appeal to me as did the others.

Reviewing these newscasts has given me an idea of the things I should do (carry on when making a mistake) also including engaging music and perhaps gossip as that is what interested me a lot. 

Radio stations:

http://www.reprezent.org.uk/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_one

http://www.capitalfm.com/london/  

R34- Advice from a lead tutor

I chose to interview James who is lead tutor on the Reprezent into into radio course. I have learnt some useful tips on collecting research, presenting and newsworthy stories.

Before going to interview James, I needed to plan the questions I will ask him also I needed to make sure that the questions were open ended so I can gather as much as information as I can. Moreover, I know that before recording I must tell him what my aim is also where it (and for what) it is going to be used. Lastly, I asked his permission for video recording himself.

Here's what he said:


VID00020 from as14rk on Vimeo.

From this I have learnt that when presenting I must be confident in order to engage my audience members, also I should not generalise as all young people in my target audience are not the same therefore I need to ensure that I am appealing to all the different types of young people in East London.

R33- Sound codes

Sound Codes

There are four types of sounds in radio:
Music
Speech
Silence
Sound effects

Music

Music is what makes a radio newscast. Music is very important as it sets the atmosphere of the radio station. Due the radio being only audio, it is crucial that the audience feel involved and get a real insight into the setting and the vibe the radio station wishes to set. E.G: When there is hard news the kind of music typically listened to would be violin/piano songs which are slow creating a sense of empathy and sadness. Music is very important in radio news because it acts as the substitute to all we see (visually) when a scene is being presented.

Speech

Speech is another important element of radio news (obviously). The tones in which radio presenters use is what engages and draws their target audience in. The choice of words will often reflect the story being presented. Also if there is only one tone running throughout the newscast eventually the audience will get bored therefore the tones and voices used is crucial.

Silence

Silence is used for many effects as it can be used to indicate the beginning of a new story or the end of a newscast. It is also used for dramatic effect usually to create suspense or generate a sense of tension in which the audience will understand that the stories are sensitive and serious therefore creating sympathy.

Sound effects

Lastly, sound effects are the things in the background and in the scene and is equally important to all the other sound codes. It offers the audience a slight insight into where the presenter is- for E.G.: if a presenter is presenting form a crime scene there may be police sirens and people screaming. Also sound effects such as the artificial ones created by technology may be used for comedy purposes also to signify the theme of the newscast.

 Overall, these sound codes all need to function together in order to create an effective radio newscast. 

This goes to show the importance of sound codes and how they make up radio life, therefore I will need to learn how to use these in the correct context. I will apply all of these codes to my own newscast to enhance and produce an interesting newscast for my target audience. 

Source: R6

R32- BBC 4 being interviewed

BBC 4 - Mipsterz in hijab

I took part in an interview titled 'Hip in a hijab' with producer Anna and presenter Shelina which involved me and a group of girls from my school answering question related to fashion and hijab.

There were 2 interviews which took place- the first one took place in my school where presenter Shelina asked us about our hobbies, our fashion style and whether we thought the media hysteria about Muslims affected how young Muslim girls were viewed. Moreover, it was an opportunity to voice our opinions about hijab and the idea of 'oppression'.

The second interview which I took part in was in All Stars bowling ally, the producer wanted to create an upbeat atmosphere reflecting the idea that young Muslim girls are able to enjoy themselves. This was followed up with more questions on our opinion of leisure activities and whether Muslim young girls are any different to non-Muslim young girls.

I have learnt that the setting in which you are has a great impact, the fact that we went to a bowling session taught me that when presenting my newscasts I must be in an appropriate setting- so when I am recording I must ensure that I am at the scene of what I am reporting about as this creates an effective newscast.

R31- Final radio show- arts hero

My radio show

This is my final radio show which I have produced as part of my arts ward. It has taught me skills which I will be able to transfer in many aspects of work as well as life. I have learned how to be organised in terms of planning a newscast and always being prepared. Also, I learned how to edit my audio on Adobe and how to import vox pops, controlling sound levels. It has given me the confidence to produce an effective vox pop and be able to deal with negative responses.

Now that I have developed these skills I will use them in my own radio newscast, by always being prepared with questions, organising myself and my group to always be aware of current affairs in our local area also I will incorporate the learnt presentation skills such as voice projection and tone of voices while recording future interviews/vox pops.

R30- Finding news

Finding news

I have learnt that in order to find news I must first think of my audience and the things in which my audience will be interested in, having a target audience helps shapes the types of stories being broadcasted.

Moreover, it is important to provide stories that our target audience need/want to know as these stories will keep our audience interested.

Lastly, there needs to be a variety of stories being broadcasted as this will ensure that the radio station/broadcasting company are meeting the needs of all their audiences rather than one group of people.  

Source: 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/school_report/7496032.stm

R29- Recording my show

Recording my show

On the 23rd of November, as part of my arts award I recorded the speech for which I planned to present in my final radio show. The show is about my favourite arts hero, our task was to create a 15-30 show including vox pops, jingles, 3 songs from my chosen arts hero as well as speech. I was able to familiarise myself with the radio technology in the studio room also speak into a microphone as if I'm on air. This enabled me to gain an in-depth understating of how pre-recorded radio shows are run.

After I finished my speech, I needed to edit my speech so that it may resemble to storyboard also so I can take out or add in any extra audio which is needed for the show. I used Adobe to edit my speech and create my overall radio show which R21 came in use as I learnt how to utilise certain features to my advantage.

This has taught me effective skills in delivering news/speech, also first hand experience at editing sound which will be useful for my own group newscast. I will make sure that I implement all these learned skills as it will be useful in creating a good radio newscast which will hopefully grab the attention of my target audience.  

R28- Weekly Magazine

Analysing articles about radio

Weekly Magazine, 11^th - 17^th 2007

I have analysed a newspaper article from the Weekly Magazine which implies that the rising issue for radio industries is that more and more people are becoming disengaged and uninterested in radio news, due to other platforms in which news is broadcasted.  Within the last 3/ 4 years the figures for radio news audience has dropped. A survey involving 2000 people who were asked which was their main source of media was conducted, they have found that up to 65% people use the television as their primary access to news. These figures have not changed since 2002.

The fact that this article was published in 2007 shows the lack of radio use, which suggests that due to new media emerging radio news will be given less and less preference to.   

I have learnt that as time and technology progresses radio news is becoming increasingly unpopular. 

R27- Defamation

What is Defamation?                     

 

''the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel'' 
This takes place all the time in the media- companies get sued behind closed doors! 

One case I looked at is the Peter Cruddas VS The Sunday Times:
 

Mr Cruddas who is Chief Executive of CMC Markets and former Treasurer of the Conservative Party had filed a claim against the Sunday Times as he felt that journalists Jonathan Calvert and Heidi Blake were "untruthful, misleading, vindictive and malicious in its reporting of a meeting" 

The scandal that took place involved 2 journalists pretending to be international finances, who recoded and filmed the whole meeting hoping to get something negative out of it- ruining Mr Cruddas' reputation. On 25 March 2012, The Sunday Times published an article ‘Tory treasurer charges £250,000 to meet PM’ which was on the front headlines of their newspapers, including an extra 3 articles published inside that made negative accusations, suggesting that he was unreliable and the system in which he's working in is corrupt as its workers were supposedly willing to breech UK laws.     

 

Peter Cruddas, said, “The dark cloud that has hung over me and my family since The Sunday Times published its malicious lies about me 16 months ago has finally been lifted and justice has been done. My world was turned upside-down when that article was published. I remember vividly having to walk into my offices the day after the article was published and face 500 of my staff, many of whom had a clip of the Sunday Times interview on their video screens. It was humiliating. I was also embarrassed to accept invites to events which meant that my charities suffered".

 

The Sunday Times were charged and had to pay a staggering of £500,000 in legal costs in compensation to the personal humiliation and distress felt by Mr Cruddas. This case is known to be the highest libel awards in recent years which indicates its level of both seriousness and the personal damage caused.

 

Article published on 31st July 2013. 

Whilst conducting this research I have found that when collecting my news story I must make sure that all my information is verified also all that I say about a group of people/person is true. Also, I must not appear biased and present specific (likely hard news) negatively as this my cause hysteria among a group of people/person. 

Source:

http://www.slatergordon.co.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2013/07/peter-cruddas-wins-his-libel-and-malicious-falsehood-trial-against-sunday-times/  

R26- Sky News 10 am newscast analysis

Newscast analysis

The radio newscast that I have analysed is Sky News. Sky News update their radio channel with new and interesting stories every hour. The stories that I have listened to and analysed are the 10 am stories, which mean that the possible target audience could be working adults who are interested in politics and the current issues as majority of the stories were about current political affairs. However, the target audience may have also been parents who have young toddlers as the third story was about tooth decay and the parents’ responsibilities towards their child’s teeth. Also this newscast is aimed at everyone who is entitled to free service from the NHS. In addition, I know that the newscast was not aimed at young teenagers as this broadcast took place at 10 am which every young child (in London) is likely to be in education. The reason Sky News may have aired this newscast at 10 am is because their prime target audience may have been adults who are likely on their way to work, or at work on a break.

The key conventions that I noticed were allowing members of the public (like the GP Elle Canon and activist Hannah) to have their own voice insert. Sky News has included a voice insert from a GP who opposes the changes to be made. They have provided a balanced argument to the NHS story which is effective because their viewers may also agree and have different opinions to PM David Cameron’s.  This is common as radio news casts tend to have interviews with people talking about the issue they have raised. Also one of the conventions followed was a brief introduction and conclusion to the radio newscast; this is very important as it engages the audience and maintains an order of professionalism.   

The lead story was about the possible changes in law regarding NHS service and also the conservatives, in particular PM David Cameron. I think this is the lead story because it affects almost everyone in London because it is a service used by the British public. Moreover, this story is interesting and applies to the current NHS system therefore more people will want to know more about it. This story impacts masses of people therefore it is another reason to be the lead story, another reason why this may be the lead story is because it includes a vital member of the public- the prime minister. The presenter(s) may have ranked the stories in order of importance, the Wonga scandal came second which is interesting, recent and will get people talking. The third story was of 11 year olds and the idea of being victims of revenge porn, this is also a crucial aspect which they have covered because as technology is advancing so are the young children which shows that Sky News are up to date which society. Also the fourth story was of the 3 year old which is the least important and lastly the weather which is of everyone’s concern but not newsworthy enough to be highlighted as the lead or follow up.

I have realised that the only sound effect used was silence, perhaps this was because they were all serious stories which needed a lot of attention and key focus. An unconventional aspect of this radio newscast is that I did not recall a jungle or theme song of sky news. Almost all radio/news corporations have a jingle throughout or a theme song which is widely recognised by their viewers. 

Overall, I think this was an appealing newscast bearing in mind that this was about serious topics rather than entertainment. I think it would have been better if there was a variety of sounds which will enhance the quality and make it appealing to listen to.

R25- Planning a radio show

Here is a plan of what I will be talking about in my radio show. My task was to make a script of all the things I wish to include about my arts hero, therefore I made a storyboard to clearly show what and when I will be saying and which songs I will be playing.

I have learnt that when producing a pre-recorded show you need to be organised in what you will be saying also the things you will include. Therefore when I am planning my newscast with my group I will need to draw a plan of all the things I will specifically be saying and which song/sound I will have as my bed and possible sound effects I wish to include. I have also learnt that when presenting a live show, it is better to not have a word for word plan as it can come across as monotone but you still need to be prepared in terms of ideas and things to be mentioned. 

R24- OFCOM

What is OFCOM?

Office of communications

OFCOM regulate the all: TV, Radio, line telecoms, postal services in the UK. 

OFCOM is an organisation which provides protection from scams and sharp practises for consumers, also they raise standards of these communications through competition. OFCOM work under Acts of Parliament as they are under strict duties and powers. OFCOM receives grant-in-aid from the government as well as gaining fees from the industries.

How do OFCOM regulate radio?

OFCOM can regulate various radios, one way they can enforce change upon radios is modifying the Broadcasting Code rules also a main source- finance by governing sponsorships it allows OFCOM to have more flexibility in regulated radio.  

In July 2009 OFCOM published a consultation (Radio: the implications of Digital Britain for localness regulation), which suggested how OFCOM can change regulation to address the current challenges. So another way regulation is carried out is by changing OFCOM’s motifs and what they are looking for in radio.

OFCOM also secure a variety and diversity of local commercial radio services also to ensure that local programming is provided.

Source:

 http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/community/regulations/crregulation/

Preliminary task, audience feedback

A few of my peers have listened to my radio newscast in which they've provided feedback, here's what they said:

  

Overall, as a team we received positive feedback as my target audience (all aged 15-20) found it enjoyable to listen to because the content was interesting as it 'was very upbeat and full of gossip which the audience always love'. One peer had said that the bed (song in background) was catchy as it was from a famous music artist- Calvin Harris.

However, the implications we need to make is the projection of our voices and not sounding monotone, ensuring that our words are flowing rather than it sounding scripted. We need to make this improvement because the majority thought that the projection and speech did not match the quality of the overall newscast.

To make sure we modify and learn from our mistakes when presenting next time we will make sure that we prepare thoroughly in terms of speech. Also we will make sure that when we make a mistake we need to carry on rather than pausing. My personal target is to have more confidence in what I am saying which will enhance the radio newscast quality.

R23- Is radio outdated?

Is radio still useful in the 21st Century?

Whilst being outside and observing society in general, I have found that there are many types of media used in our everyday life. Radio in the 20th century was one of the biggest craze in America and then globally, now however, there are many of other forms of getting information across such as billboards on buses, advertisements near public notices.

I think that radio has lost its value to a certain extent because businesses and marketing companies no longer or use less of radio as a form of marketing as there are other platforms. The growth in the industrialisation has lead to technology developing so the internet is the most common place for accessing information.

There are many radio stations broadcasting different news stories, music, and entertainment news which keeps the radio industry going. I also think that, there are more opportunities for young people in radio.

 

From this I have learnt that whilst targeting my audience I will need to ensure that I am using a variety of media and persuade my audience to listen to my radio show through social media as it seems to be popular amongst my audience.

R22- My target audience

There are many useful things that I have found whilst researching. I have found that my target audience aged 16/17 enjoy listening to entertainment and gossip news therefore whilst planning my news stories I will need to consider my younger audience. Moreover, there are a few members who enjoy listening to political news as they enjoy being updated with current affairs, from this I learnt that I need to include politics when planning my news stories. Lastly, I have also found that my target audience enjoy listening to football news (all of whom were men) therefore to appeal to my male audience I need to include some stories on football and footballers social life.  

R21- Vox pop- Arts Award

Arts Award- Vox pop, Victoria 

This experience has taught me how to conduct an effective vox pop.

I learnt that in order to gain useful information that is needed for research, I first need to draw up a plan about what it is that I want to find out and then list a set of open ended questions which will allow my audience to articulate their thoughts about the subject. Moreover, I learnt useful, professional skills on how to approach my audience, I always needed to be smiling. Additionally, I learnt that when a person refuses to answer, I should always remain positive and still greet them in a professional and friendly manner. 

Preliminary task

Here is the draft which me and my group came up with, at first we wanted to have 1 host and 2 different interviewees however, we thought it would be more effective if there was 2 hosts as this is what often happens in radio interviews- there's one guest, therefore reflecting reality.

This is the final draft which we followed and recorded then edited using audacity.

We used audacity to add special effects to make our radio newscast more interesting also create a little suspense. We decided to add a bed to catch the audience's attention immediately, also the use of a famous song will attract many people. 

Audacity is a great software to edit audio as it is made specifically for audio, importing was easy as audacity accepts a variety of formats, also you can add as many sounds to one audio piece which is effective.

Here is our final preliminary product:

R20- Pirate radio stations

Pirate radio stations

 

Pirate radio stations are made by broadcasters who are not legally recognised due to not purchasing a license under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. Moreover, independent broadcasters must also comply with the legislation and have a broadcasting licence issued by the Radio Authority.

Many people see pirate radio as harmless fun, they assume that the Acts put in place are unnecessary; however, this is not the case mainly because it is seen as an anti-social and criminal act. Pirate radio stations can cause more damage because they cause interference with the legal radio stations- depriving their audience of effective broadcasting. An unlicensed radio station means that the owners will have to 'steal' frequencies of other radio stations and space on the radio spectrum. In addition, owners of pirate radio stations do not give back to their community (by not paying TAX, VAT) rather they are stealing and taking from the community therefore, pirate radio stations are of no benefit to the community. 

Here are some pirate radio stations within London:

Click to enlarge

 

The consequences of owning a pirate radio stations could lead to fines and possible jail sentences. Due to OFCOM rising in power, there are now lesser pirate radio stations than there have been in the past, as the methods of regulating and monitoring radio stations more closely have improved thus raising the standards of radio stations.   

I learnt that in order to run a radio station there are many technical rules that need to be applied, moreover it must be recognised by the government through the license. There are many other ways of getting into the radio industry as there are many of jobs available which include radio broadcasting therefore people do not have to resort to creating pirate radio stations. 

 

Source: 

http://www.laughingpoliceman.com/court_pirates.htm 

R19- popular radio stations

Popular radio stations- audience poll

I asked 25 people what their favourite radio stations are, it seems that the most popular radio station is Capital FM, I think the reason may be because Capital FM include a range of entertainment and gossip newscasts in which the youth of today enjoy listening to.

R18- News Ethhics

News Ethics

Provide accurate news

Accuracy is very important as the confidence and knowledge of the general public in the hands of news, therefore the origins of the source is very important because sometimes there may be fabricated or corrupt sources which are used for information. A reporter must always be able to provide verification of sources.

Treat replies generously

When someone says something the reporter must make obvious that the information is appreciated also if there is a mistake in someone’s reply then it should be corrected if necessary.  

Respect individual privacy

Any information released must always be approved of by the institutions or individuals, it should not affect ones privacy. Be aware of any ethical issues affecting anonymity- for example not mentioning individuals’ names from surveys/events unless they've given their approval.   

Listen to both sides

When presenting news it is highly crucial to give a balanced argument of any controversial topics/events. Allow those who are accused to voice their own opinions. Trying to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty therefore the group/institution should not feel marginalised.

Be cautious in publishing names

Do not state any names or mention names unless it is in the interest of the public to know the information. If the person wishes to remain unknown then no information should be released about them or anything associated with the person.

From this I have learnt that I need to consider many factors before publishing my work- it is more than just writing and informing, it is about many people relying upon news presenters and journalists to provide them with the truth of what's happening in society.

Source:
http://ethicnet.uta.fi/sweden/code_of_ethics_for_the_press_radio_and_television

R17- Rajar

What is Rajar and what do they do?

RAJAR Ltd are a joint audience research company. Their purpose is the operate the audience measurement system for UK radios which both offer a service to the BBC and other licensed commercial stations. The company are jointly owned by the BBC as well as the RadioCentre- which are a trade body that represent the majority of commercial radio. 

Listeners in London 

Whilst conducting my research I  found that specific newscasts reach people in their thousands, this did not come as a surprise because BBC seemed to be leading in terms of listeners which could possibly be due to their success in TV news. The BBC often reach at least 10 thousands, BBC news offer a wide range of genres of news which may attract a mass audience whereas other radio stations such as Gold London who only reach up to 345 people the fact that this radio station isn't known in my local area (London) could be a result to only reaching to a niche audience. 

Moreover, the highest percentage for the average listener is 15.7 which belongs to the BBC, again comes as no surprise as this is expected of BBC due to being publicly funded by the British citizens. All commercial radio have an average of 13.1 hours per listener, the high hours of listening time could be because of the budget which could be used for marketing.     

Source:
http://www.rajar.co.uk/content.php?page=about_organisation