OFCOM

OFCOM is the UK’s communications regulator. The OFCOM Board is their main decision making body and provides strategic direction for organisations.
One of the reasons why OFCOM is important to the media industry is because part of it's work is to ensure that consumers receive value for money from their communications services on TV and other sources. They also have to stick by the government's  policies and legislations.

Audience Profiling

Audience profiling

Audience profiling allows producers within the media industry to select and narrow down their audience/ consumers to find their target audience. It is best for businesses within the media to find their target audience before they market a new product so that they can make profit as well as getting the best results.

A target audience is an audience that media producers aim their product at. Their product need to meet the target audience’s needs and the target audience need to be the people who are most suitable for the product. Media business and producers, before making their product may consider various factors within their target audience. For example, age, gender, religion, race, sexuality, education, occupation, annual income, and their current and desired lifestyle. Age and gender are the most key and important considerations to make when deciding on a target audience. Before you can select a target audience, you have to think of their age and gender first, otherwise you can’t get the rest of the information.

When deciding on a target audience, a common method with audience profiling is to use a demographics chart to narrow down the search for the best target audience. The reason for having / using a demographics chart is to outline the adult population largely by the work that they do.

Psychographics can also be used. These are similar to Demographics, however they concentrate more on the audience’s behaviour, personality, hobbies and interests rather than their jobs and economic income. Demographics describe who the audiences are whereas the Psychographics explain why they do what they do.

 

Sources used:

http://www.slideshare.net/mattwako/how-media-producers-define-their-target-audience-19065036

http://www.slideshare.net/leannacatherina/audience-profiling-powerpoint

 

DAB Radios

What I learnt through this research task:
DAB is a new way of broadcasting radio through the use of a network of transmitters. It is similar to analogue radio but more better because it provides high quality sound (due to convergence of the two digit technologies), various new stations and no frequencies, which makes it easier to tune in to different radio stations. There are also added features, such text and pictures.

What are the benefits:

Listeners have a much wider choice in radio stations. This is because DAB uses the radio spectrum more efficiently than analogue radio, thus making it possible to broadcast a lot more stations using the same frequency.

 

Omnidirectional Vs Unidirectional microphones

Omnidirectional devices broadcast or take in their signals from all directions. Someone who records sound effects and wants a general reading of a surrounding environment (like timber creaking, brooks babbling, and crickets chirping in a forest, for example) would find an omnidirectional microphone useful.


Unidirectional devices, on the other hand, are more focused on picking up or transmitting their signals in one direction. This is especially helpful if you’re in an area full of ambient sounds that you do not want. For example, if you were to interview an MP in a crowded event, then having an unidirectional microphone would be useful because then it can concentrate on only the MP’s voice and not the other background chatter or noise.
Source used: http://lockergnome.com/2011/08/30/omnidirectional-vs-unidirectional/

In my radio newscast, I will be using a unidirectional microphone as we will need it to capture only the sound of our interviewee/s and not the other background noise such as chatter.

　

Lead sentence and Lead Story

A lead sentence is the sentence or paragraph you start and lead the newscast with. It can be whatever length you want it to be.
I can apply a lead sentence to my newscast by starting with a formal and attention-grabbing sentence to make my newscast seem interesting.
A lead story is the main, most important story that goes in the newscast and news headlines first. (Source: teacher)
 For example, "Man Charged With Murder In Bethnal Green" would be a good lead story because it is a major indictable offence committed within the local area, and as my newscast will be from a local radio station, this story would be perfect.

Digital Vs Analogue

Digital vs analogue recording processes 

I will be using digital recording processes for my radio newscast as it has more advantages and less disadvantages than analogue.

Podcasting

What is podcasting?

Podcasts are mainly audio files but can be in the form of a video as well. They are produced in a series. Viewers and the audience can subscribe to a series of podcasts by using apps or softwares called Podcatchers such as iCatcher. BBC also have podcasts which you can find on iPlayer. These apps and softwares can be popular and common within an audience as they are designed for people who use smartphones.
You can listen to podcasts anywhere and everywhere just like the radio.

In my radio newscast / coursework, I can use podcasting to record and post discussions with my group or interviews with some target audience members.

Source used:
http://podcasting.about.com/od/basics101/a/whatis.htm

Media Convergence

From this source, I've learned that media convergence provides audience with access to many types of sources through may platforms, for example, the television, the smartphone and the media.

It provides the audience with interaction, such as Facebook, information, such as the Daily Mail, and control over channel diversion through the television remote control.

However, media convergence does have some disadvantages. One would be that it may provide the audience with false published information, which might lead to moral panics.

Media conglomerates may emerge due to media convergence.

News Values

Immediacy:

Has it happened recently? Is it new? I would use immediacy in my radio broadcast to present the most up-to-date and latest news.

Familiarity:

Does is mean something to us where we live? Can we relate to it? I could use familiarity in my radio news broadcast for local news, as it would definitely affect the people who live in the area that would be broadcasting it to. For example, the whole of Bow Road closed because of a car accident.

Amplitude:

Is it a big event? Does it involve many people? The reports that I would include in my broadcast would be eventful and include a high number of people involved.

Frequency:

Does this happen regularly?

Unambiguity:

Is it clear? Are the results affective? I would use ‘results’ and statistics in my radio news broadcast to shock my target audience. For example, “60 people killed at a shooting near the parliament” would be shocking to an audience.

Predictability:

Is it predictable? Do we expect it to happen?

Personalisation:

Is it a human interest story? If I were to use human interest stores in my radio news broadcast then it wouldn’t be the 1^st or 2^nd headline that I put it in, simply because it wouldn’t be as important as the first 2 headlines.

Negativity:

Is it bad news? I would use negativity in my radio news broadcast because it makes people worried and concerned, which means that they will have to listen the broadcast/article that I’m talking about.

Exclusivity:

Is it the only newspaper/radio broadcaster that has this story? In my radio newscast, my story will be about something that has been in the news before. However it will be a follow up or impact about this specific event.

Balance:

Is it being used to counterbalance other stories? In my radio newscast, I might use counterbalancing as it will be unbiased and equal.

The production of our preliminary task

These pictures show the production of our preliminary task. My group and I are editing our recordings and inserting an idea of a theme music for our radio news station. We used the editing app called Audacity. Each and everyone of us took part in editing the preliminary newscast. Before we all decided to edit together, we had all done an individual edit, whereby we could practice on how to edit each section of our newscast. For example, Nuzhat would edit he news story, Tasnim would edit her news story, Noshin would edit her news story, I would edit mine and then we would all come together as a group and figure out how to edit it altogether.

Preliminary task

The reason why we did this preliminary task to help plan our actual newscast and have an insight into what it would be like to record and edit a newscast. It also helped us gain ideas for our own newscast.

We learned now to edit using Audacity, which was a useful experience as we might be using this software to edit our actual newscast.

In this preliminary task, we used a variety of editing techniques. We cut out the bits we didn't want of the bits that we had to re-record. We also added fade-ins and fade-outs when we inserted the news theme jingle. This made our preliminary product look professional.
We recorded quite a few times but we found that our first attempt was better than the rest, therefore we used our first attempt to create this preliminary task.

Case study of popular radio news station: BBC Radio 1

Case study bbc radio 1 
BBC Radio 1 provides both hard news and soft news.
Mainly the hard news is aimed at an older generation, predictably from ages 29 and over, and soft news is aimed at the younger generation and teens.

In my radio broadcast, i could include both hard news and soft news for the wide range of people within my mass audience.
An example of a programme that BBC Radio 1 airs would be called newsbeat. This includes all the "latest" stories and updates regarding different types of news genres. For example, celebrity news and events like "Kanye West cancels LA gig last minute". This is appealing to their target audience as their target audience is aimed between the ages of 15 to 19 year olds. This teen range would enjoy listening to this news podcast and would be interested in it, as a high proportion of teens enjoy listening to hip hop / R&B type of music. Also, Kanye West is well known for having children with Kim Kardashian who is from "Keeping up with the Kardashians". This is a programme most teens watch and find entertaining, therefore they will be interested in the events happening outside of the programme.

Outside Broadcasting

Outside broadcasting for radio and television news, is broadcasting from a different location to the studio. This can be events, or other places, mainly open to the public. It helps the viewers to understand what is happening at the place of which there is a news broadcast on.
if the event outside is big, then you may need a large crew and more equipment than you would if it was a smaller event.  For example, the Olympics is a big event compared to a community party.

The BBC and ITV often do outside broadcasting. They do outside broadcasting on events such as music festivals and shows.

Methods of interviewing

Source used: http://www.zeepedia.com/read.php?types_of_interview_hard_news_interview_informational_interview_radio_news_reporting_and_production&b=80&c=23

From this task I learnt hat there are many other ways of interviewing and types of interviews other than Vox Pop and on street interviews. I could use Hard News interviewing in my radio newscast about a serious event. If we were to interview a politician in our newscast, we might use personal interviewing.

The history of radio and broadcasting

The first ever device to provide us with mass communication was the radio.

Early uses of radios were for communication between the crews on ships and islands. This expanded for communication between the police force, during the time of the war, for news and for entertainment.

After the Second World War, radios were mostly used for music.

The first voice and music signals heard over radio waves were transmitted in December 1906 from Brant Rock

Before World War 1, the ability to use headphone and “listen in” was amazing and “magical” for many citizens. This was because there were no loudspeakers when the radio was invented.

However not many people heard a broadcast. They only heard about the broadcasts.

This was because in this particular time period, only the people who made the radio (mostly men and boys) were able to hear it.

Afterwards, radio mostly broadcasted music, news, and other types of programs from single broadcast stations. Many listeners equipped with radio receivers pitched in.

 

Stations everywhere faced the same basic problem: they didn’t know what program to put on air in order to attract and hold an audience. They also didn’t know how to support a continuing service financially.

 

Broadcast radio remained the most widely available form of mass communication in the world. On the other hand, television came into existence in the 21^st century. So in other words, radio had no match with television - a box with sound, pictures and colour (or black and white back in the days).

 Sources used:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/radio

http://www.personal.psu.edu/jtk187/art2/radio.htm

Equipment needed for a radio station

Audio processor - to process the sounds.

Microphones - to record the broadcast when on air / programmes.

On Air lights - to let people know when the radio station is on air when the light turns on. If the light is off the this means that the radio station is off air.

Headphone AMPS - to plug the headphones in.

Editing software -to edit the broadcast / programmes.

Broadcasting software - to put the broadcast on air.

Source used: https://mediarealm.com.au/articles/2014/01/radio-station-equipment/

Equipment needed for a radio station

Audio processor - to process the sounds.

Microphones - to record the broadcast when on air / programmes.

On Air lights - to let people know when the radio station is on air when the light turns on. If the light is off the this means that the radio station is off air.

Headphone AMPS - to plug the headphones in.

Editing software -to edit the broadcast / programmes.

Broadcasting software - to put the broadcast on air.

Source used: https://mediarealm.com.au/articles/2014/01/radio-station-equipment/

How to find news, how to gather news &how to write news from m_xch

Example of vox pop

 

Example of how some vox pops can add interest to a news item on genetically modified foods:

Journalist:  "meanwhile, public opinion is still divided..."
The following sequence is then inserted:

"I think it will be better in the short term, but in the long run it will promote more diseases, some inherited ones like cancer or something like that."
"I'd prefer not to have it, not to use any of it, but I'm not sure what's been altered and what hasn't."   And more views.

Source used:

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/voxpops.html

Vox pop

press play The term "vox pop" means “voice of the people”. It comes from the Latin phase “vox populi” The vox pop is used to provide an insight into the public’s view, in other words, public opinion. Random people are asked to give their opinions and views on a particular topic and their responses are inputted into the media as a reflection of popular opinion. Interviewers normally approach people in the public/streets to catch their opinions. People will often feel nervous, flustered, giggly, or other awkward emotions. It's therefore important to make them feel comfortable and relaxed before interviewing them. When asking people to participate, being speedy and quick is the best way to catch their views because if you give them time to think then they will consider various factors, such as how they look or what their friends will think about their opinion. You would have to use a short, sharp standard question such as "Would you mind answering a couple of quick questions about genetically modified food for TV3 news tonight?” Also make sure that there is a mix of genders and races, appropriate to the population being surveyed. Example of how some vox pops can add interest to a news item on genetically modified foods: Journalist: "meanwhile, public opinion is still divided..." The following sequence is then inserted: "I think it will be better in the short term, but in the long run it will promote more diseases, some inherited ones like cancer or something like that." "I'd prefer not to have it, not to use any of it, but I'm not sure what's been altered and what hasn't." And more views. Source used: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/voxpops.html

Job roles in the radio news industry from m_xch

News ethics

Source used: http://www.slideshare.net/mannjott/ethics-of-broadcasting

An example of defamation:

In Parker v News Group Newspapers Ltd (2005), the former EastEnders actor Chris Parker was paid £50,000 damages by the Sun, after a story falsely claimed that he had been sacked from the soap after refusing to see a psychiatrist. He shortly left the programme.
This is an example of defamation because the act that the newspapers has committed has led to the end of Chris Parker's career and many people would then think of him as a rubbish actor.


Source used:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/mar/17/pressandpublishing.broadcasting

 

What is defamation, libel and slander?

Defamation is a law, that when the media/ an aspect of the media offends you or hurts you and affects your livelihood / reputation and the people around you (negatively), a civil remedy is provided to you (procedures and sanctions).

Libel is a false statement that is published about a person in the media. It is a written defamation that damages a person’s reputation.

Slander is similar to libel, it’s the action or crime that gives false statements about a person, and so damages person’s reputation.

The difference between libel and slander is that libel is a written statement whilst slander is spoken

 

Sources used:

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+a+slander

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defamation-slander-libel

Using different social media platforms for my target audience to complete my survey (Whatsapp and Snapchat)

These are just a few of the target audience examples

 

Our group analysis of our group member's survey

Create your own user feedback survey

Analysis of news cast questionaires tasnim from m_xch

My radio survey analysis and radio broadcast curvey (primary research)

My radio survey analysis from m_xch

Overall, the survey has helped me to decide the build up of my radio news broadcast. It will help me create the perfect broadcast for my target audience.

Create your own user feedback survey

My survey for my radio broadcast on surveymonkey (primary research)

Create your own user feedback survey

My survey for my radio broadcast on surveymonkey (primary research)

 https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PF3T7K3

Writing as a journalist (secondary research)

Source: Writing for journalists - second edition - Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams, Harriett Gilbert and Tim Holmes.

Chapter 2: Writing news:
News must be factual, new and interesting.
If there is no facts to report then there can be no news.

Being able to identify what will interest readers is called having a news sense. This will help to allow me form my target audience.

Bad news is good news because it sells faster, and sells more than good news. There are 2 types of news, hard news and soft news (already researched and uploaded to my blog). In summary, hard news contains 'real', 'serious' and 'important' events affecting people's lives. Soft news is about 'trivial' incidents. For example, a news story about a cat getting stuck up a tree would be a form of soft news.

A news report is a story. It has many definitions. It can be an anecdote, narrative, fiction or non fiction. Being fiction or non fiction is the "essential truth about journalism".

A key term used whilst reporting a news story is the word 'angle. To angle, is to present the news. A news angle comes from the reporter's interpretation of events.

Target audience:  
 
 

To select your target audience, you need to find out who they are, what they're interested in and what can grab their attention easily. You need to find out their demographics and pschographics.

A useful checklist in creating a news story:
Be sure to use the 5 W's/6 main questions (who? what? when? where? why? how?). They can help you make the news story more informative and answer questions at the same time.

Here's an example from the book:

"Lady Godiva (who) rode (what) naked (how) through the streets of Coventry (where) yesterday (when) in a bid to cut taxes (why)".

Writing as a journalist (secondary research)

Source: Writing for journalists - second edition - Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams, Harriett Gilbert and Tim Holmes.

Chapter 2: Writing news:
News must be factual, new and interesting.
If there is no facts to report then there can be no news.

Being able to identify what will interest readers is called having a news sense. This will help to allow me form my target audience.

Bad news is good news because it sells faster, and sells more than good news. There are 2 types of news, hard news and soft news (already researched and uploaded to my blog). In summary, hard news contains 'real', 'serious' and 'important' events affecting people's lives. Soft news is about 'trivial' incidents. For example, a news story about a cat getting stuck up a tree would be a form of soft news.

A news report is a story. It has many definitions. It can be an anecdote, narrative, fiction or non fiction. Being fiction or non fiction is the "essential truth about journalism".

A key term used whilst reporting a news story is the word 'angle. To angle, is to present the news. A news angle comes from the reporter's interpretation of events.

Target audience:  
 
 

To select your target audience, you need to find out who they are, what they're interested in and what can grab their attention easily. You need to find out their demographics and pschographics.

A useful checklist in creating a news story:
Be sure to use the 5 W's/6 main questions (who? what? when? where? why? how?). They can help you make the news story more informative and answer questions at the same time.

Here's an example from the book:

"Lady Godiva (who) rode (what) naked (how) through the streets of Coventry (where) yesterday (when) in a bid to cut taxes (why)".

Draft copies of our Radio Broadcast script

My Radio Broadcast Script (Draft)

Characters:
Main Anchors: Tasnim and Mahfuza
Interviewer: Nuzhat
Interviewee: Noshin

*Radio news theme jingle plays*
Fade in: the sound starts of  slightly quiet and gradually gets louder.
fade out: the sound gets quieter until silent.

Tasnim: hi, you've just tuned int flash news, giving you your news in a flash. My names Tasnim Ali and I'm here with

Mahfuza: Mahfuza Chowdhury

Tasnim: Todays headlines are:

Mahfuza: Riot police have been  called to stop a fight between 100 school children.

Tasnim: Man charged for Russell Brown's murder in Bethnal Green.

Mahfuza: Kadeena Cox is the first British woman to win 2 gold medals in the Paralympics in 32 years.

Mahfuza: Social media has been the highest rated reason for many teen fights. Today at 4 pm, outside Harris Academy, over 100 students were involved in a mass brawl. police were forced to take action as weapons including knives and baseball bats were reported to be seen during the brawl.

Tasnim: Now we pass on to Nuzhat Ahmed, where she interviews the head teacher of Harris Academy.

Nuzhat: Thank you Tasnim. I'm here with Noshin, the head teacher of Harris Academy. So Noshin, in despite of recent events, what is your take on this situation?

Noshin: I think its absolutely ridiculous and appalling behaviour, the members of staff, police and I are taking serious action.

Nuzhat: Thank you Noshin, now back to Tasnim and Mahfuza in the studio.

Tasnim: Thank you Nuzhat. Thank you for tuning in, I'm Tasnim Ali

Mahfuza: and I'm Mahfuza Chowdhury, and we'll see you back at tomorrow at 8pm. Goodnight.

My Radio Broadcast Script (Draft)

Characters:
Main Anchors: Tasnim and Mahfuza
Interviewer: Nuzhat
Interviewee: Noshin

*Radio news theme jingle plays*
Fade in: the sound starts of  slightly quiet and gradually gets louder.
fade out: the sound gets quieter until silent.

Tasnim: hi, you've just tuned int flash news, giving you your news in a flash. My names Tasnim Ali and I'm here with

Mahfuza: Mahfuza Chowdhury

Tasnim: Todays headlines are:

Mahfuza: Riot police have been  called to stop a fight between 100 school children.

Tasnim: Man charged for Russell Brown's murder in Bethnal Green.

Mahfuza: Kadeena Cox is the first British woman to win 2 gold medals in the Paralympics in 32 years.

Mahfuza: Social media has been the highest rated reason for many teen fights. Today at 4 pm, outside Harris Academy, over 100 students were involved in a mass brawl. police were forced to take action as weapons including knives and baseball bats were reported to be seen during the brawl.

Tasnim: Now we pass on to Nuzhat Ahmed, where she interviews the head teacher of Harris Academy.

Nuzhat: Thank you Tasnim. I'm here with Noshin, the head teacher of Harris Academy. So Noshin, in despite of recent events, what is your take on this situation?

Noshin: I think its absolutely ridiculous and appalling behaviour, the members of staff, police and I are taking serious action.

Nuzhat: Thank you Noshin, now back to Tasnim and Mahfuza in the studio.

Tasnim: Thank you Nuzhat. Thank you for tuning in, I'm Tasnim Ali

Mahfuza: and I'm Mahfuza Chowdhury, and we'll see you back at tomorrow at 8pm. Goodnight.

BBC

Journalism Ethics

Journalism ethics from m_xch