Introduction
This critical reflection demonstrates my academic journey through this Journalism course; how I have gained a clear understanding and proved my abilities of weaving journalism theory into my work. This report will include a discussion of my journalism work so far, examining the Journalistic processes involved through each of my projects and crucially, how this module has supported me in my development from an undergraduate standard to professional standard. As mentioned, I will firstly explain how I have applied theoretical studies to my practical work, analysing theories on the role of journalism in society, including relevant sources. Next, I will look at research of professionals and how their theories and work can inform and influence my present and future work and a deep examination of the skills journalists use every single day. Finally, a reflection on the process of the module, the skills developed, understandings I intended to reach, and how the process has developed my understanding of journalism as a more profound concept.
Application of Theoretical Studies
The change from a student to a professional journalist is a matter of a deep understanding and experience of a number of skills such as writing, presenting, interviewing, social media, research, filming, radio, recording and editing. Applying these skills to my work has aided me in understanding the following theories.
Inverted Pyramid
My portfolio work demonstrates the theory of the ‘Inverted Pyramid’.
Starting from the most important information at the top: who, what, when, where, how and why, these I use when planning my write up’s as a checklist so I can keep updated with what I’m writing and to make sure I’m not missing any of the important information needed at the top of the pyramid. Next the body, the most crucial information; the subject, topic, argument, debate, issue, using evidence, photo’s, and support to back up the subject I am writing about. And thirdly all the other extra information, words that are going to interest the reader in wanting to carry on reading. My news report on ‘Secret Slums of North London,’ involving the lifestyle culture of illegal Romanian immigrants building slums in Hendon, was a prime example where I demonstrated the inverted pyramid. Starting with a bold headline, ‘secret slums’ being alliteration helps the attention grabbing of the audience. I then divulge into the cultural details of the article, providing in depth and accurate information with an edge of controversy to encourage discussion.
WHAT formula (Holmes et al 2013)
Secondly I then moved to the six W’s, putting the most important information at the top to then finish with interviews and facts. With this I also followed the WHAT formula (Holmes et al 2013) Both have helped me throughout my work to plan my work in detail and follow a structure with can guide me into creating a good piece of structured work.
Skills of Journalists
Not only do journalists have the ability to write informatively and creatively, but other factors such as codes of ethics and morals, analysing and understanding in what circumstances it is morally right to publish something, are vital skills to consider. Ensuring the content of an article is completely correct is also imperative; if false information was published in piece, this could cost a journalist their job, a sentence in jail, or an extremely large fine on themselves or the company they represent. The main factor I believe a professional journalist should possess is exceptional communication skills. The ability to respectfully talk to people from all walks of life, from interviewing people with completely opposing cultures to professionals, critics, doctors who may have a completely different way of communicating. Though this excellent communication I believe should come with an understanding of people’s feelings, actions, behaviour and being able to recognize how to still get the information needed to build a trust and personal rapport with people. Following from this point it includes being professional when attending media events, networking, exchanging emails, meeting people, and creating contacts. “If the concentration and centralisation of editorial power are two distinctive features of the [British] national press, a third is the weakness of its professional culture. The British national press is strongly influenced by entertainment values and political partisanship, making it different from American print journalism, with its stress on balance, dispassion and a public duty to inform." James Curran: Submission to Leveson.
“Grab the reader by the throat in the first paragraph, sink your thumbs into the windpipe in the second and hold him against the wall until the tagline.” – Paul O’Neil.
During this module I feel like it has given me the support to go from student to professional. All the workshops, talks, practices in interviewing, filming, working in groups, peer feedback has helped me look at myself as a journalist and assess myself in a way that I can change to mold myself into the perfect employee when looking into a career after graduating. In first year of University I was involved with the campus Radio, this gave me skills such as presenting live, live interviews, research, engineering, music production, research, DJ skills, understanding how radio works and informing and entertaining people. My show was a student confessions show where students would tweet in reveling to me their foolish secrets and doings as a student, which I would then broadcast and would also play music, interview students on what’s been happening around campus etc. After the experience of working in radio I wanted more work experience in different fields of journalism so from the summer between first and second year I applied for an journalist Internship at Guestlist.net a online and print newspaper for young people aged twenty to thirty, content included music, culture, travel, lifestyle and fashion. This seven-month intern really widened my eyes on what it was like to work in the media and how fast pasted and understanding that deadlines are most important. After my contract was up I moved on to a better opportunity with an online magazine called Bonafide Supernova, aimed at young people with articles based on fashion, beauty and lifestyle Bonafide supernova is part of Vice Blogging network. I got this position as online writer after sending an email to an old friend of my sisters, who we both went to school with, it was hard getting in contact with her but I kept trying and finally got the position. Online writer at Bonafide Supernova has given me the opportunity to not only practice my journalism skills but to also get invited to events, report and interview people and do a write up, if needed I can take a photographer with me, it’s just been the best opportunity for me to network and start getting talking to people in industry. This lead me to creating my own business card. When I get invited to these events I didn’t have anything to show I was writing on behalf of Bonafide Supernova, so these business cards could help me in a way that people could then see who I was working for and that I’m not just anyone, and was also a good way of getting my name out there and creating contacts. This year I have created a contact book of people I have met personally in the media industry. The workshop’s we had throughout the year such as ‘Introduction to pitching, ideas generation and setting up as a freelancer’ helped guide me to create the jump from being a student to professional.
"The best freelance journalists usually have a good knowledge of current affairs and read lots of newspapers and magazines, as they are always on the hunt for new ideas or fresh angles." – Jan Murray.
In both my portfolio blog and my week by week notes of class blog, both prove my gradual change from student to professional. The layout of my work is always very clear, easily accessible, and always link my work with my other social media’s such as my Instagram, twitter and linkedIn. Also my blogs prove I can switch from different styles of writing and have gained skills this year that have allowed me to professionals and experience media events in a professional manner.
“Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters’ Gallery yonger, there sat a Forth Estate more important than they all. It is not a figure of speech, or witty saying; it is a literal fact,… Printing, which comes necessarily out of Writing; I say often, is equivalent to Democracy: invent Writing, Democracy is inevitable. …. Whoever can speak, speaking now the whole nation, becomes a power, a branch of government with inalienable weight in law-making, in all acts of authority. It matters not what rank he has, what revenues or garnitures: the requisite thing is that he have a tongue which others will listen to; this and nothing more is requiste.” – Carlyle (1905) pp.349-350
The above statement from Carlyle show how significant journalism work is. He explains that the commons, priesthood and aristocracy have power but questions their power without writers, who then go on to present the three existing estates, concluding that writers, journalist or people in the media do likewise share a particular amount of power.
Conclusion
To conclude, this module has given me encouragement, guidance and opportunity to begin to step into the professional realm of journalist. I believe this year has assisted me in developing a deeper understanding into theories around journalism, as well as participating in the practical side of journalism. Theories which have been particularly insightful and helpful to me, especially as I am also a blog writer, have been the inverted pyramid, as it provides a solid framework of article writing. It helps me to communicate the essential and most interesting pieces of information to catch an audience in order to stir discussion, which I believe, is an essential skill of journalism and a valuable building block in terms of professional writing. This quote has been particularly insightful to me, "Things are newsworthy because they represent the changefulness, the unpredictability and the conflictual nature of the world." (Stuart Hall 1996). In journalism, this quote sums up the extreme environment and pressure professionals work under. The ever changing world of politics, culture, environment and social media are all elements which journalists absorb themselves in every day to produce the most controversial and ground breaking pieces of writing, which inspires me, as an upcoming journalist, every day.
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