10 May Kika Kubanova : Introduction into broadcast journalism – workbook
Week 1:
We were put in our VT teams, I am in a team with Mahira, Ameera and Arun. We were also introduced to the iPod touches , microphones and all other parts of the equipment we are going to use this semester. After that we all gave it a try and interviewed LSBU students using iPod touches and microphones. We were also introduced to the Reporter app, which I also downloaded on my phone so I can use it for recording in the future.
Week 2:
In today’s session we were talking about VTs and GVs. After that we were split in our teams and went around campus to shoot some GVs about student life and how students cope with finance.
In the afternoon lesson with Michael, he was talking about PA Mediapoint, BoB and IRN because these are very useful websites and might come in handy later on this semester.
Week 3:
This week instead of regular classes we had voice training with Vanessa. I did my voice training with Camille, it was quite fun and I think we learnt a lot. The training took like 40 minutes, we were in the radio room and were required to read some stuff that Vanessa had ready for us, we’d then listen to it and discuss what we did right and what needed to be improved. Vanessa was really helpful.
Week 4:
In Rebecca’s class we started with discussing the news programmes we all were assigned to watch. Then we watched our first VTs we made last week and discussed to as a class. What to avoid and what to improve. I learnt not to put music in it because it looked more like a promo for LSBU. Then again we were split into our groups. Next week we are going to film Brexit VTs so we discussed what our angle is going to be and Mahira booked out the kit for the next week since she is our news editor. On this day, in our groups we were given some text from Rebecca and each from our group had a go with camera (iPod touch) and microphone. We were given a few longer sentences but none of us could remember them all so we only did one sentence each. What we learnt was that it is almost impossible to shoot a PTC at the first time. We also learnt that is quite hard to do walking and talking and look natural. But practise makes perfect, right?
In the afternoon class we discussed news angles and podcasts with Michael.
Week 5:
This has been the best day of uni so far. We went to Westminster to film our VTs in our groups. We learnt how to work in teams, not like we already didn’t know it , but this connected us even more. First we filmed some GVs and then we interviewed some people for our interviews. Arun shot his PTS as he was our reporter. I am a video editor so I am going to edit the video for the next week.
In the afternoon we met with Michael , we discussed the types of audio stories we were going to do. I did a sound story, so I basically just recorded sounds of Westminster and protesters and I am going to edit it all together so it tells a story. Michael had posted some examples on Slack so I am going to listen to those first and then create my sound story.
Week 6:
Today, again we were talking about the news programmes we were assigned to watch as a homework. Then we watched our Brexit VTs , every group had to read their studio intro before playing a VT. We got some feedback from Rebecca and our class and were tasked to write a blog post on our website what we learnt while filming our Brexit VT. We also looked at writing to pictures and understood how just looking at an image/visual can help us write a piece about it without necessarily having to research it beforehand.
We didn’t have a normal class with Michael today. Yesterday in digital journalism class we had a speaker Valandis Zotos talking about Fighthoax, so today we had a further look into Fighthoax, we were split into groups and each group had to find a Brexit related story on a platform they were assigned to. My group were through Brexit stories on Facebook.
Week 7:
This week in Rebecca’s class, we started by reviewing the news programmes from the previous night that we were assigned to watch. I watched Slovak news programme, so I talked about that. We compared the news treatments of similar stories and the varying headlines between programmes. We were then taught how to make a proper interview and later on were split in our VT groups and were tasked to find someone to interview and film and edit it. We are going to interview Miryam Rafo, an international student born in Syria, who has lived in Sweden for past few years and now studies in London.
In the afternoon class we went over our audio packages we recorded 2 weeks ago. Surprisingly I was the only one who edited theirs. The rest of the class edited theirs in class using either Audition or Audacity. After that Michael talked about interviewing, how to make a successful interview, what to prepare before hand, during interview, possible problems and some handful tips and tricks
Week 8:
Today we began with talking about the news programmes we were assigned to watch the night before. Rebecca then talked about Vox Pops, what they are, how to make them, what to do and what not to do. After we were split into our group and went to film our vox pops. We interviewed 3 people asking them (firstly if they watch Riverdale and if they know about the recent death of Luke Perry who portayed one of the characters in Riverdale). Our question to ask them was What do they think the directors should do with Luke’s character in Riverdale now.
In Michael’s class we were using headliner.app to edit our Brexit audio.
Week 9:
In Rebecca’s class we were split in groups. I was in a group with Saffron and Craig and did an interview on banning plastic straws at SU bar. Craig was the cameraman, Saffron was the interviewee and I was the interviewer.
Unfortunately, today we did not have an afternoon class with Michael, because the newsroom was occupied by someone else. For a while we talked through our ideas for our final assignments. I decided to do mine on mental health of LSBU students and compare students who work while studying and those who do not work. As an expert in my audio I am going to talk to the LSBU mental health advisor.
Week 10:
In Rebecca’s class we went through some ideas for our final VT but we’ve been quite sure for a week now that we wanted to do London Marathon. We were just discussing an angle. After some ideas we just decided to stick to the best dressed of the London Marathon.
In Michael’s class we were talking about our final assignments too, about script writing, what is a Lead in, back announcement, pot cut and how should our final submission look like. Michael gave us some examples how it should sound like.
Week 11:
Each group talked to Rebecca about their final VTs and we prepared for our first live show which is happening next week.
In Michael’s class we also talked about our final assignments and he made sure everyone knew what they were doing. As I like changing plans for the very last moment I decided to change my idea of mental health as a few people said they were doing something similar to an audio package about veganism and if trying to lose weight can turn you into a vegan.
Week 12:
We had our very first live show. This was so exciting and stressful at the same time. We worked as a team and learnt we cannot do this without each other. So we need to make sure we come for every live show next year as everyone is needed.
We started with an editorial meeting, then we were split in 2 groups. One worked on a radio show the other one on a live youtube show. We all were given our roles and prepared everything in the morning so everything was ready at 2:30 to go live.
Workbook
Video package – group project.
- Before the Easter break we talked through some ideas and decided to film London Marathon for our final project. We all did some research online and after talking about several angles we decided to go with costumes of the 2019 London Marathon
- Mahira booked out the kit for us before the holidays so we could film during, since the Marathon took place on 28. 4. 2019
- on the day of filming we met in Greenwich as the marathon started there, we shot some GVs and moved to St. James’ Park , where the runners finished and shot more GVs, PTC, we looked for suitable people for our interviews, and vox pops.
- Mahira is news editor so she had overall control . Ameera is a camera person so she shot the rushes. Arun is our reporter. I am a video editor, I used premiere to put everything together for the best possible outcome.
- It took me quite while to sort everything out with premiere, firstly I went through all the rushes we had and chose the best ones, it was hard because we had many good ones but could only use a few since the package shouldn’t be much longer than 2 minutes, when I was done, I sent it to my group for feedback and then Arun recorded a voicover for me to put in, i had to use audition to to improve sound levels too. It was quite a lot of work, but hopefully the outcome is worth it
- I also made sure I put everything necessary in it, like GVs, interviews, vox pops, etc.
Audio package – individual project.
- I chose my angle before Easter holiday break but changed it during the break , I actually changed it several times and decided to go with : “ Can trying to lose weight turn you into a vegan?” Veganism is trending now, many people are becoming vegans for several reasons, some think it is better for our planet, some just want to be cool and some might be doing it only for Instagram. Not once I read on social media that people who became vegans decided to do so just because they wanted to lose weight.
- I talked to a girl who is 25 and in her life she has been through several diets. Some of them did not work, some of them did but only for a while and then she gained it all back. 19 months ago she decided to become a vegan, because she thought it could help her lose her weight and it did, she has lost 17 kilos so far and has not gained it back. Her name is Slavka Majernikova , her email is: slavkamajernikova@gmail.com
- I also talked to a dietitian and ask her whether veganism can actually help you lose weight, if she recommends it to people who struggle to lose weight. Also if it is guaranteed for people to lose weight if they go vegan. She’s been advising people on their diets for years now and she also specialises in vegan diet. Her name is Denisa Vlckova , her email : denisa81@live.co.uk
- For my third voice I asked LSBU students on their opinion and the question was : “would you become vegan if you knew you would lose weight even though it would mean giving up eating meat, dairy, and eggs which are part of our diets and some cannot imagine living without them.”
