10 May Arun Matharu – Digital Journalism 2 Workbook
Week 1
- We started Monday’s session with going over the homework stories à this included the five different links provided that showed different sets of data, discussing patterns and possible stories that could arise from these sets of data
- We next discussed ways of visualising data (static infographics, standalone charts, interactive charts, interactive data visualisation, scrolling stories, interactive tools and dashboards and animation)
- We then went on to watch a film that compared the number of civilian and soldier deaths during WWII on a bar chart
- We discussed how the module is marked (80% for a final story/set of data with infographics and 20% professional conduct)
- We discussed the topic of choosing appropriate infographics for different sets of data à https://vle.lsbu.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/1543562/mod_resource/content/2/visual%20vocabulary.png
Week 2
- We started Monday’s session going over the homework stories à this included a description, evaluation and analysis of different infographics from the State of Union speeches, and how information could be extrapolated from these infographics à we also discussed how well the infographics displayed the information (e.g. colours)
- We discussed facts, stats and lies, and went through a number of keywords for the topic (and different measures of averages such as mean, median and mode)
- In the afternoon we discussed the positives and negatives of infographics posters (for example, techniques that stood out and aided the message of the poster, or techniques that did not aid the message).
Week 3 – checklist
- Read the daily news
- Look for new surveys, stats, polls etc
- Use holidays and other on-diary events
- Be proactive – work your beat; find something new, topical, relevant and add human
interest
- Add something new to an existing topical story or debate in the media
- Add human interest – eg. How real people relate to figures issued by the government
Etc
- React to a story in your field -add depth or insight relevant to a story in the news
Week 4
- Trip to Westminster – interview, report
- Divide groups up into roles, ensure to follow roles well and make sure everyone does their parts
- Before we leave, check that we have all the equipment
Week 5
Write your VO to compliment the footage.
Do not tell viewers what is obvious. Use
few words.
- Open with your strongest shots and let the
pictures breath
- In the edit lay down your VO first
- Watch back your VT to make it better
THE most important tool of a journalist
- Use to obtain new information; expand on
existing information; clarify facts; explore
different perspectives.
- Expands upon the basic “who, what,
where, how, when and why” of
newsgathering.
Prepare your questions – Have notes – Try memorizing them
- Check your gear and dress appropriately
- Double check the directions and leave early
- Politely take control (Avoid kitchens; Ask to turn off TVs, radios
etc; Rearrange furniture)
- Make idle chitchat while assembling gear and wear headphones
- Slate (date, location, subject, interviewee)
- Repeat what it’s all about
- Set recording levels (“What did you have for breakfast?”)
- Ask your interviewee to introduce him/herself
- Ask first question
Week 6
We started off the class looking at an online news article about Theresa May and then we had analysed it on Fight hoax in depth and spoke about each factor as a class. We then went on to each individually discuss our datasets for our infographic and tell Michael how far we have got.
Week 7 – 10
- Your opinions don’t matter
- Be factual and avoid comments or descriptive words
- Tell a story; don’t narrate your views or emotions
- SCRIPT WRITING GUIDE
- Deliver a complete and fair report
- Weave together all the elements of the story without suggesting that any one is more important than the other
- You have a responsibility to set out the information in a way that doesn’t lead or mislead.
- Keep it short and simple
- Use simple, short sentences
- Use everyday language and terms
- Avoid complicated concepts that could confuse and distract
- Introduce the audio
- Say who or what we are about to listen to
- Tell what’s coming up without repeating the words of the audio
- Don’t summarise too much
