15 May 12 Week Log Book
Week 1
Monday 29th Jan
Today we started with a whole degree meeting. A few people including Guy from Pharma Letter and Jo from the media team at LSBU came to talk to us about possible internship opportunities and work placements that they have available.
Tuesday 30th Jan
We started the day of with a production meeting. The class was split into 2 groups, I started off on the production group with Sam and after lunch I moved to the presenting group with LJ. In our small groups, we had the opportunity to get an in depth look at the desk and were able to play around with it. During past shows I had the chance to be part of production and this helped me learn a lot of the desk but going over it again with Sam helped me recall all the information I was previously thought and ask all the questions I wasn’t sure about.
In the afternoon, I worked on my presenting skills. As a group, we went over the important things we need to keep in mind before and whilst presenting. Then I practiced presenting on the sofa, reading from the autocue and being a social media presenter. Although I have presented the bulletins many times in the past, being a social media presenter without an autocue to direct and guide me was really scary.
Friday 2nd Feb
On Friday, we went over radio presenting and production. We worked on pronouncing difficult names of places and people all around the world. We also had a look at the radio studio and had a refresh on how it all works. We practised recording each other and saving the audio files to drop-box that can later be used and accessed from the newsroom. Later that day we found news stories that we thought we could make into a show and planned what running order they should be. Lastly, we wrote our own intro/lead that can be used when we are presenting a breaking news and want a correspondent to comment on it.
Week 2
Monday 5th Feb
After spending some time deciding what activity we want to do for our end of year trip. We went over all the topics for the coming weeks live show. We then watched some videos that explained how to create a video/documentary. After that we got into our VT groups and started discussing what we can produce for all the coming weeks.
My group decided to do an explainer for the first live show which is about fake news. We decided to meet during the week so we can work on our scripts and the green screen.
Tuesday 6th Feb
We had a Librarian come in to talk to us about fake news and what they have organised so far and what/ how they want us to prepare for the day. I explained what my group has done and what we aim to produce so far. On Tuesday, we were also asked to create a post on inception and to write a 300 world on fake news.
Friday 9th Feb
Today we went over the live radio programmes we will be creating next week. During my lunch break I met my group and we went over the script I already wrote. After going over the script I organised the newsroom according to how I want the view to be on our VT (explainer). We then filmed in front of the green screen, we had to do a few practices runs before I was satisfied with the outcome.
Week 3
Monday 12th Feb: I started the day off by working on my VT for the live show. After spending a few hours on my explainer, I went to class (interactive journalism with Michael). We spoke about all the VT’s that we have created in our small groups. All my class watched my explainer and they gave me some feedback on how to improve it before the live show. The class finished early so I went back and continued working on the explainer.
Tuesday 13th Feb:
Today was our first live show. After making some changes to my VT I started working on my role for the news day. I was an on the day reporter, I went out to find stories and came back to discuss the options I had. The News editor didn’t like any of the stories I brought back because they didn’t link with the theme and they didn’t want to add an on the day reporter to the live show. To be helpful I volunteered to be the director’s assistant. We had a whole show meeting with the class and went through all the VT’s and then started to write our intro’s and outros on inception so the editors could write start their job.
Show time was at 3 o’clock. Surprisingly we only had enough time to go through the script once which was a little nerve wracking! We looked through everyone’s VT’s and made sure we got the gist of the show. There were a few changes that were made during the live show because of some technical problems with Skype and one of the guests arrived towards the end of the live show.
Friday 16th Feb:
I started the day by editing my VT and exporting the audio. I didn’t have a role for today so I stepped in to be a presenter along with Leynna for that day since the presenter was absent.
Leynna and I decided to convert our fake news video into a WAV file as there was a shortage of radio packages to use.
I also worked alongside Leanna and Georgia and wrote the script for the show and then went to the radio studio for a quick practice before the final show at 3.00. I really enjoyed being a radio presenter, it was fun and a great experience.
Week 4
Monday 19th Feb:
Today I met my group in the morning for some editing. We then went to class where we watched some videos about internships that ITV news have going on. After that we watched our live show and analysed the show. We spoke about things that can and should be changed to make the show much better next time. We then got into our small groups to discuss the VT (Olympics montage video) that will be produced for the next live show.
Tuesday 20th Feb:
Today we had a live show. Before the live show, Philip and another Guest speaker came to us to speak to us about studying MA journalism at London South Bank University.
My role for this live show was on the day reporter. After having an editorial meeting, I sat with the news editor to see what kind of reports they want me to bring back. I went outside and made a list of things that is going around the university and Southwark. Since the live show was about winter Olympics, the news editor asked me to go out and talk to be and get their opinion on the matter.
I went back, got some audio clips and made a list of things I could say as a guest during the live show.
Friday 23rd Feb:
Today was another radio live day. We got into our groups and discussed about what we had. I volunteered and took the presenters role again because the initial presenter was absent. I prepared the script with the producers and Lydia and then went off to get some vox pops and interviews for the actual show which was on the winter Olympics. At 2.00 we practiced the show and went over the scripts and finally at 3.00 we went live and ended the show at 3.15. we went back to class for a quick feedback then headed home!
Week 5
Monday 26th Feb
Today we had Michael, we went over our roles and I, as a director noted everyone’s ideas and allocated them to each VT group. I then spent the rest of the day working with my group deciding what and who we can interview for our audio and video piece.
The topic for this week’s live show was Southwark news. My group decided to go out and create a video about the elephant and Castle regeneration plan. After the lesson, I started researching on the topic with Leynna. We did face some difficulties because of the weather and because majority of people refused to be filmed. We manged to talk to some people and get their opinion on the matter which we later quoted in our VT.
Tuesday 27th Feb
Today was meant to be a preparation day for the next weeks live show. We also were meant to run a dummy show for new candidates but because of the snow and the low turnout the show and lesson was cancelled. I had already got to the university when I found out that the day was cancelled!
Wednesday 28th Feb
we met in the morning, completed the NSS form and then went to the scap rooms.
Friday 2nd March
Today was another preparation day. Leynna and I spent the morning emailing and calling Southwark council to get their opinion on the Elephant and Castle regeneration.
After that we had a short meeting about possible stories that we can cover next week and started researching them in our VT groups and contacting possible people we can contact and interview.
Week 6
Monday 5th March
Today we had Michael instead of LJ because she was off on a business trip – After waiting for everyone to show up myself and Leynna went up and asked everyone how they are getting on with the VT’s. I made a list of the VT’s that have been produced and made some alterations to a few groups because their plan didn’t work out.
After the class, I met my group and made few more calls to the Southwark council about the precautions they take when the weather is bad like we experienced last week. Unfortunalty they didn’t have much to say and told us that everything was online. We done some research, wrote a script and got some vox pops for the audio clip.
Tuesday 6th March
Today was our live show, I started off by finishing off our VT and exported in the right format.
Leyyna and I then asked everyone what they had for the show. We gave new roles out because only few people showed up and many people with important roles didn’t show up. After checking all the scripts and setting up the news room for the live show we done a practice run at 2.00. The practice run went very bad. Everyone made errors including myself. The opening and closing credits where not done. The practice run helped everyone correct their errors before the live show.
At 2.45 everyone got to their roles and the interviewer arrived. We debriefed him and got ready for the live show. At 3.00 we started the live show and ended at 3.15. I was very happy with the show, I really thought that there would be many errors during the live show just like what happened during the practice run but luckily everything went smoothly.
Friday 9th March Today was another live radio day. After waiting for some people to show up we had a short meeting. I didn’t have any roles for today and me and my group had already completed the audio piece for the shows so I helped Lucy edit the interview she had for her group.
After helping her edit I started calling and emailing some people I would like to interview for my project.
I then searched some possible stories I can cover for the next live show which is on homelessness and discussed my ideas with Leyyna.
Week 7
Monday 12th March
We started the day off by looking at possible stories that we can base our VT and audio clips on. After discussing what options, we had me and Leyyna decided to create an audio piece on homelessness in London.
Michael then showed us a website called IRN.co.uk which will be useful for getting vox pops and interviews.
We don’t have a live show this week, so I used this time to research what information I can base on my VT on. After discussing these information with my group, I went to the SLR and continued working on my final year project.
Tuesday 13th March
Today for the first time I didn’t come to university because I had to do some work on my project. I went to a primary school and interview some teachers and children about their opinion of technology.
Friday 16th March
Today I worked on my project because we already spoke about our ideas for the VT and audio package and decided what days and times we are meeting next week to go out and film for the video and audio packages.
Layna and I also done some research about homelessness and emailed some charities to try and organise an interview for our audio package and to find out more information about what their charity offers.
Week 8
Monday 19th March
Today I came into university in the morning so that I can work on my project. I worked on my project until it was lesson time at 2.00 pm. We had our group meeting were we all shared what our individual groups have created. Some groups didn’t complete their VT so we had to brainstorm ideas that can be done quickly for tomorrows shows – we also went over everyone’s roles. My role for this week’s live show was the assistant web editor.
Tuesday 20th March
Today was another live show, I arrived to class just before 10.00. I started working on my project because my groups VT was more or less completed. Around 10.30 when more students arrived we had a quick meeting. Like always a lot of students were absent and roles had to be given out again.
Lydia the website editor was absent so I had to take her role and upload all the VT to the website during the live show.
Friday 23th March
The radio show for today was cancelled because of the deadline for our projects.
Week 9
Monday 16th April
No class
Tuesday 17th April 18
Today was our first day back from our Easter break. LJ told us that we only have one more live show, so we were able to base the live show on any topic we like. As usual we got into our groups and decided to create a VT about an exhibition that was about t-shirts that was in London Bridge. We emailed them and then later called them to see if we can go and film and talk to someone about the exhibition. Luckily, we were allowed to go and film. We arranged a time the best suited us all.
Friday 20th April
The class was cancel today so I went to the library and finished of my work.
Week 10
Monday 23rd April
Today the lesson has been cancelled so I went to the library to work on my Evaluation
Tuesday 24th April
Today, LJ asked us to come in for 2 hours, but I had to meet my VT group to film. After doing that I went and continued working on my evaluation before submitting it. I had lot of work to do so I had to apologise form my group because I couldn’t meet up with them.
Later that day asked if I wanted to create a VT with her. Since it was our last VT and live show I was more them happy to work on two VT’s. So, I we sat and wrote a script for our script.
I was told by Leyyna that the no one was available for them to interview so they just filmed some GV’s and retuned.
Friday 27th April
Today my group met to edit the T-shirt VT. Georgie finished editing all the VT and didn’t need any help.
I continued working on my own submission that day.
Week 11
Monday 30th April
We had to conduct our own meeting today because LJ was running late. We sat around like usual and everyone said what stage their VT’s where. I then continued working on the Royal wedding VT.
Tuesday 1st May
After having our meeting, I finished the royal wedding VT, exported it and then uploaded it to the drop box. I then went over the script that the producer wrote and changed a few bits and words. We had a run through at 2.00 pm, during that I noticed a few errors in the script which I later asked the producers to change.
The show went live at 3.00 as usual, this was my first experience as a sofa presenter. At first, I was so nerves because I was worried about the discussions I have on air. I think the show went smoothly, yes there were few errors but me and my co-presenter – Nosheen manged to overcome the errors and continue presenting smoothly.
I am so glad I chose to be a sofa presenter as my last role in journalism. London. It has given me a boost and I now have the courage to apply for more presenting jobs.
Friday 4th May
Today I was the producer of our live radio show. I chose to give this role a go so I can apply all the skills I have previously learnt. After distributing everyone’s roles I logged in to inception and started writing the script.
I’ve been a producer in the past so I have experience using inception. Without any help, I logged in to inception and started writing the script for the presenters. After around an hour and half, I manged to write the script. My editor’s assistant made a file on drop box so that everyone can out the audio packages on there.
Since everyone had finished their audio packages I made a decision to go live at 2 o’clock instead of the usual time. I wanted to play around and add a few changes to the show since it was my first and last role as a radio producer. I did face some problems but I dealt with them in a calm manner. Everyone’s audio packages except for Lucy’s news segments where exported in the wrong format. Majority of the students left so I had to re-export them using the correct format.
During the live show, I also faced another problem, one of the audio pieces was missing. I communicated with the presenters and they manged to overcome the error and move on without making a big deal.
Week 12
Monday 7th May
Bank holiday
Tuesday 8th May
Today we have our end of year meeting. Only 3 people showed so LJ kindly took us for a coffee. We had a catch up and a talk about our future plans. After that, I went to the library and continued working on my article.
Wednesday 11th May
I went in today around 9 am to work on my audio and then at 2.00 everyone gathered for our final year meeting. There were a few people that spoke to us about opportunities and volunteering posts that were available for us.
The meeting was not long at all – at the end LJ showed us a video she created for us. It was so sweet and beautiful to see what she made for us.
