14 Dec Submission Cross Platform Journalism Portfolio – George Timberlake
Deadly Pollution
Air pollution from vehicles and factories is the most fatal of all the deadly pollution, according to a new report pollution is killing around 50,000 people in the UK alone
My role in this specific radio package was the producer, for this I researched the topic of pollution thoroughly and made sure all the presenters knew the story well. In this role I also wrote an accompanying article, helped with editing on audition and went out on location to record this. I also wrote the scripts in inception for the studio link and uploaded it to Soundcloud . I think this package is a good story, it gives a local perspective and has good facts and vox pops from residents. To improve this I would have got an expert interview planned to strengthen the package and had better audio quality for when Barbara speaks. I worked collaboratively with the presenters Shola, Olivia and Barbara on this package.
Feed yourself on just £5 a week
New mobile apps offer Londoners food that cafes and restaurants are throwing away at the end of the day
This VT package was made with Isla, Barbara and James Middleton. Isla was reporter, Barbara was operating the camera and James was dealing with editing. My role this week was VT editor, for this I took the role of overseeing the whole VT. I kept in contact with the news editor updating him on progress throughout the week. Researched the apps myself and used them myself also. I researched the topic throughly and made sure everyone was aware of the story and what was happening. I also wrote the accompanying article for Journalism.London’s website. To improve this package I would have not started with a PTC and made sure the vox pops were in focus. I believe there are also some audio level issues that also would need to be sorted.
Distracted pedestrians causing hazards for drivers
Looking at your phone could cost you your life, but in Honolulu it could cost you a hefty fine
Charlotte had to move over to the other side of the road causing her to clip her wing mirror with another moving car, resulting in her wing mirror to be severely damaged and in need of replacing. “I was just lucky not to hit the pedestrian or cause any other damage to the other car.” She told me “I was also fortunate enough that both of us weren’t going at great speeds.” Charlotte had to get a whole new replacement mirror in her car, which also meant to needed rewiring as it moves electronically. Since passing her driving test back in 2015, Charlotte says she has noticed an increase in people using their phones whilst crossing roads and says it now does put her on edge.
This comes as Hawaii’s capital Honolulu wants to keeps their pedestrians heads up by banning the use of electrical devices whilst walking in public. Commencing from the 25th October, Honolulu’s pedestrians could be fined between £11 and £75 ($15 and $99) for using their mobile phone or tablet device as they cross the street. The fine amount depends on how many times the authorities catch them in the act according to the mayor Kirk Caldwell. The only exemption in Hawaii is if the call is being made to emergency services.
Although it’s not the death penalty, Honolulu is one of the first cities to put this ban into place. Other cities are making similar moves as phone-related injuries soar around the world, with there being more than 11,000 injuries from phone-related distraction while walking in the United States between 2000 and 2011, according to a University of Maryland study published in 2015. In Mumbai there are now dedicated no-selfie zones in areas that are seen as having risk, and in California there are now roadside signs reminding pedestrians of the risks by saying messages such as “Heads up! Cross the street.”
Closer to home in London, the safety of pedestrians has been thought about with the trial of padded lampposts in order to reduce injury. These were installed in 2008 on Brick Lane in the capital. The AA issued a poll stating that 70% of drivers often see pedestrians distracted by their smartphone do step into the road. It is thought that pedestrians’ lack of attention may be a factor in some of the 408 pedestrian deaths in 2015.
Speaking to Sameer Khan, a junior doctor at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, he said: “There have been an increase in people coming into A+E with minor injuries from people using their mobiles or tablets when crossing roads. Although I have never seen anything serious or fatal, I do believe it is an area that needs to be addressed.” Sameer gave some advice to try and prevent any more accidents “If you’re walking and using headphones or earphones on the streets, make sure that the volume doesn’t override your other senses.”
