''The media’s the most powerful entity on Earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s the power. Because they control the minds of masses.''
-Malcolm X
My fifth week at The Bulletin proved to be an interesting one. I began my day by editing my feature and Careerone profile I had been working on. Linda then read through my feature article offering improvements and advice about how to properly structure a feature article. I learnt some valuable tips. I also had the feeling that feature writing was not as simple as it first appeared to me. It has a specific structure and must produce a more conversational flow compared to hard news. I think this is where I have the most trouble, the conversational flow. I blame it on my little time spent writing features and that I spend most of my week in uni world which is spent writing in an essay style. The day was mostly a learning curve for me by trying to take in the knowledge of Linda and a fellow journalist who were giving me pointers on my articles.
By lunchtime I was informed that I would be writing two news stories. At this stage I wasn’t sure how to prepare myself as I recalled the last day I did two news stories it had been quite a whirlwind. After meeting with Chief of Staff in the newsroom Leonie Johnson I was assured that I would not be going out with any photographers. This was due to the fact that one photograph had been taken and the other had yet to be booked.
After to speaking to the two sources for my first story about a new Anzac memorial, I started writing the article. I realised that I had very little quotes and I found this a tad difficult when I was trying to write the story. At this stage I thought of how much easier it would be if I had learnt Shorthand which I am determined to do. Next I had to organise a photo for my second story about Safehome inspections. I have faced this problem before- no answer. But this was different. As I checked the Photo Diary I saw there were only two spots left for the day. I was in a panic I needed to book a photo straight away.
The fire departments did not answer apart from one that declined the photo due to training commitments. This station offered me another contact. I contacted this source with the offer that they would ‘get back’ to me. It had been over an hour. I could not stop thinking that I was going to be in trouble for having a story with no photo. Eventually a representative from the fire association, told me the photo, could be taken at my preferred fire station. I was surprised to say the least. It took over three phone calls including regional representatives just to get one local photo. I once again learnt my lesson of the importance of booking a photo as soon as possible.
Thankfully I had two stories completed with two photos. It seems the trouble of contacting people does not get easier. But I have to say one of my highlights was hearing my editor’s phone call to a local MP which proved to be interesting and exhausting as she expressed her frustration of talking to them, mainly her listening and the MP talking. This was something that I was not looking forward to doing in the future.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The pitfall
Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.
-Joseph Pulitzer
It was one of those days. I just did not feel like going to my internship today. I think it was the looming problem of what I was actually going to achieve since Linda was going to be away. It's not as if I can't be productive without her there but it just made me feel a tad uneasy.
I knew I had hardly any work that I could complete. Back to the age old problem of people not returning the calls and e-mails I had previously sent them. I struggled through the day searching for subjects to write about. I was lucky enough to receive an e-mail from one person which let me complete a CareerOne story. I edited another previous story of mine and then everything came to a halt.
I felt I had nothing left to do for the rest of the day. My contact for my feature had not confirmed a date to meet for an interview and my other CareerOne profiles had not contacted me. So I decided to start work on my feature gathering some background information and writing from some personal experience. The feature is about dance so I thought I could start filling in some gaps with my thoughts and why dancers had such a passion for it.
Another problem I faced was one of my stories being cut. Due to the deadline Linda had to give my story to another journalist. I did feel a bit disappointed not so much that I wasn't writing it but more that it would be one less story for my profile. As I have a feeling my grade for the internship will depend somewhat on how many stories I have written and had published.
I have learned the features can be a difficult department to work in. Not only is it hard because I am only there once a week but also because of the type of articles that are written. The deadlines are longer which means we have more time write the stories, but this is a long winded process.
I can't help thinking back to my day of filling in for a missing journo in the newsroom. Although it was a busy day. I felt the way of writing was a lot more proficient. The interview and photograph was set all I had to do was go out and collect some quotes along with reading the media release.
Nothing can compare to having your articles published in your local newspaper and I am happy that I have seen my name in Saturday's Bulletin a few times nothing. There is a great pleasure in seeing your own byline, something I think I could never get sick of.
-Joseph Pulitzer
It was one of those days. I just did not feel like going to my internship today. I think it was the looming problem of what I was actually going to achieve since Linda was going to be away. It's not as if I can't be productive without her there but it just made me feel a tad uneasy.
I knew I had hardly any work that I could complete. Back to the age old problem of people not returning the calls and e-mails I had previously sent them. I struggled through the day searching for subjects to write about. I was lucky enough to receive an e-mail from one person which let me complete a CareerOne story. I edited another previous story of mine and then everything came to a halt.
I felt I had nothing left to do for the rest of the day. My contact for my feature had not confirmed a date to meet for an interview and my other CareerOne profiles had not contacted me. So I decided to start work on my feature gathering some background information and writing from some personal experience. The feature is about dance so I thought I could start filling in some gaps with my thoughts and why dancers had such a passion for it.
Another problem I faced was one of my stories being cut. Due to the deadline Linda had to give my story to another journalist. I did feel a bit disappointed not so much that I wasn't writing it but more that it would be one less story for my profile. As I have a feeling my grade for the internship will depend somewhat on how many stories I have written and had published.
I have learned the features can be a difficult department to work in. Not only is it hard because I am only there once a week but also because of the type of articles that are written. The deadlines are longer which means we have more time write the stories, but this is a long winded process.
I can't help thinking back to my day of filling in for a missing journo in the newsroom. Although it was a busy day. I felt the way of writing was a lot more proficient. The interview and photograph was set all I had to do was go out and collect some quotes along with reading the media release.
Nothing can compare to having your articles published in your local newspaper and I am happy that I have seen my name in Saturday's Bulletin a few times nothing. There is a great pleasure in seeing your own byline, something I think I could never get sick of.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Beginning
Friday, 12 March, 2010
Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.
-Henry Anatole Grunwald
Society can not function without the hourly, nightly and daily news bulletins. Journalists play a vital role in the world of media and the importance of translating not only local but also national and international news to everyday people. Since it's early beginnings news has evolved to become a much faster paced way for people to receive their news. The significance of up to date news is especially of interest to society. No one wants to read yesterday's news.
I began my day at The Bulletin with a tour of what seemed like endless rooms and hallways full of different departments and people.
It was time to begin my first day as an intern- writing stories of course.
Linda Souter put me to work straight away, two career profiles. As I started writing my first profile, I realised that is was not going to be easy. I had not interviewed the subjects only received answers from ten questions they had answered from previous e-mails. So I took it upon myself to try and find the lighter side to the two medical professions I was writing about. I also knew I had to secure more time with the subjects, so I contacted the person in charge of setting up the interviews.
I had quickly forgotten something important Linda had reminded me about. Booking the photographer. I then made it my mission to secure a photo shoot with the subjects. But to my dissappointment I realised this was not going to be easy. I was going to have to wait to be called back to arrange a time.
After roughly writing one article, I sat down with Linda as we went through it and I made notes as we talked about how to improve the article and what the overall theme should be. I knew I had more to learn, while at the same time I felt I was on the right track.
As 5 pm rolled around it was time for the features department to head home. It was the end of day one as a Bulletin intern. I loved being in the news and journalism environment. It was a great feeling to be in the workplace and experience a day in the life of a journalist.
Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.
-Henry Anatole Grunwald
Society can not function without the hourly, nightly and daily news bulletins. Journalists play a vital role in the world of media and the importance of translating not only local but also national and international news to everyday people. Since it's early beginnings news has evolved to become a much faster paced way for people to receive their news. The significance of up to date news is especially of interest to society. No one wants to read yesterday's news.
I began my day at The Bulletin with a tour of what seemed like endless rooms and hallways full of different departments and people.
It was time to begin my first day as an intern- writing stories of course.
Linda Souter put me to work straight away, two career profiles. As I started writing my first profile, I realised that is was not going to be easy. I had not interviewed the subjects only received answers from ten questions they had answered from previous e-mails. So I took it upon myself to try and find the lighter side to the two medical professions I was writing about. I also knew I had to secure more time with the subjects, so I contacted the person in charge of setting up the interviews.
I had quickly forgotten something important Linda had reminded me about. Booking the photographer. I then made it my mission to secure a photo shoot with the subjects. But to my dissappointment I realised this was not going to be easy. I was going to have to wait to be called back to arrange a time.
After roughly writing one article, I sat down with Linda as we went through it and I made notes as we talked about how to improve the article and what the overall theme should be. I knew I had more to learn, while at the same time I felt I was on the right track.
As 5 pm rolled around it was time for the features department to head home. It was the end of day one as a Bulletin intern. I loved being in the news and journalism environment. It was a great feeling to be in the workplace and experience a day in the life of a journalist.
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