How To Get Into TV Reporting

As a prospective reporter, it is important to remember that news is about people doing things – it’s action. It’s not about about buildings, institutions or authority; it’s about the way these things affect the public.

Andrew Pate, former sub-editor and current reporter for ITV Meridian, spoke to Journalism Now and said: “Let the people be the story”.

When an event happens, a reporter should get the story behind it and interview the people that are involved. It is imperative to get the audience engaged with the story and to do so, a reporter must engage with those affected by an event. For instance, if a new school was being opened in a town, a reporter could interview parents of prospective pupils, locals living near the school and new employees of the establishment.

The journalism industry is well-known for being a tough industry to get into. It’s common for a journalist to start at the bottom in a junior position and work their way up. Pate took a degree in drama, similar to on-air reporterAngus Scott, before entering the industry. This can be useful for on-screen reporters, however, there are other routes to take, such as degrees in journalism, media studies or digital communication. Alternatively, ITV offer a News Traineeship which is a paid, year-long role which sees trainees work in ITV’s regional studios. BBC offers similar opportunities with the Journalism Trainee Scheme (JTS). However, both are highly competitive with JTS attracting up to 3,000 applicants a year.

Most importantly; a journalist should just get their name out there. Experience is key in the journalism industry and through experience, a journalist will develop the vital contacts that will see them employed. Most local newspapers and radio stations are happy to take on people for just a day or even a week’s work experience. Once a foot is in the door, it opens a world of opportunity.

Radio Production

Radio is immediate. 

All you need now to record for radio is simply a mobile phone; even iPhone quality is of a publishable quality.

It is an intimate media source in a way the other media can't be. It gives the odd quality of you and a presenter talking to you, like a conversation. It's personal. Their voice is in your room, your car, even your work place. It makes listeners feel like it's a trusted and reliable source for facts and news.

What Do You Need To Know About Radio Journalism?

Headlines

Headlines are a one line summary of each of the main stories of the day; they either precede a bulletin or programme which then revisits the stories in detail. Sometimes they can be a stand alone headline, for instance in a programme for which bulletins are read out on the hour and headlines at the half hour.

Bulletins

Bulletins are usually between two and five minutes in duration and usually start with headlines. They will be presented by a newsreader/journalist. They often contain a voicer or voice piece; a different journalist summarising the story. Bulletins can also include a two-way with another reporter; for instance "Sarah Wilson is now live from London". They can also include audio cuts of interviews, press conferences and expert comment. A vox pop (Latin for voice of the people) can also be included.

News Programmes

News programmes often begin with headlines and/or a short bulletin. They explore top stories in greater detail and can include additional stories related or unrelated to top stories. The interviews included can be both live and pre-recorded. There may be debate, comment and commentary included.

Magazine Programmes

These can be narrow or wide-ranging but generally have a specific remit. They're less likely to start with bulletins or headlines unless it starts at, for instance, 10am and follows a programme. Magazine programmes may react to something that's happened that day and can cover both topical and timeless issues/stories. They're more likely to include other items such as audience interaction and phone-ins.

Packages & Documentaries

These usually include cue by presenter. The introduction and conclusion will usually be spoken by reporter as well as links recorded either in studio or on location. They usually will include one or more interview and may include vox pops, music, sfx, actuality and archive clips. All the aforementioned elements are packaged together which is, surprisingly, where the title 'package' comes from. Documentaries are basically packages but are usually longer and in more depth.

Target Audiences

Target audiences are defined by age and social demographic. An age demographic is commonly in groups of 10 to 20 years, e.g. 16-24, 25-44. The style and format of what is produced will be dictated by the target audience to which the station aims it's output.

What To Expect From One Step Bronte In 2013

This month has been a very busy month and I have been thinking intently about the direction of One Step Bronte. 

Although we are already a month in, I thought it'd be appropriate to let my readers (you) know what they can expect from One Step Bronte in 2013.

Every two weeks will be a post on philosophy covering the minds of Descartes, Liebniz, Locke, Hume and many more.

Every two weeks will also be a film review, either a light-hearted or analytical review. I may focus on a specific director, genre, topic or actor/actress. There will be regular polls in which you can vote for what you what like to see reviewed, located to the left of the home page.

There will be regular posts on television and radio reporting up until April, documenting the dos, don'ts and how tos.

Each month will be Fitness Focus, an article in which I will cover various aspects of health and how to keep on top form.

There will also be occasional articles that don't fit into the above categories but will still be of the same OSB style and quality. The majority will be different articles related to journalism.

For more reading/viewing, I will now also be contributing to my university's student-run website, WINOL. Check it out at www.winol.co.uk

I'd like to thank everyone over the past year for their continued support and reading; you're the best. I'm trying to get 50,000 views by the end of March 2013, lets make it happen?

How Should I Promote My Blog?

You've started a blog, you're not really sure how it works or how to get people to read the words you write, the pictures you post or the podcasts you publish.

It's an entirely different world in which the main source of promotion can only be on the Internet; the cyber world, if you will.

I had no idea what I was doing when I first started my blog which was a year ago this month. It took me a long time to get used to what to do in order to get page views and how to regulate my audience but I have some of the answers for the best ways to promote your blog.

Firstly, remember the quality of your posts has to be decent or people will not read, look or listen to them. Check spelling, grammar, picture quality, layout, length and design. Everyone makes mistakes but just re-read your post once you've written it, before you publish it and after you've published it. After you've created your post, it's time for the promotion.

FACEBOOK - the biggest social networking site of this generation. Let your friends, family, acquaintances, long lost twice removed cousin on your half sister's side and ex-partner know you have a blog. Every time you create a new post, post it on Facebook and people will read it; even if it's only the odd one. Once your blog starts getting more traffic, create a Facebook page specifically for it and then you can post links to different posts regularly and engage with an audience that is interested in connecting with your blog.

TWITTER is quite similar to Facebook, however, it is easier to post a link to your blog multiple times without annoying so many people. Persistence and hard work is key, but you don't want your blog promoting to be tedious. Due to the follow feature on Twitter rather than the friend feature on Facebook, once again, you're more likely to have your blog directed at an audience that is interested.

TUMBLR is the perfect site to just absolutely abuse promotion. Create a Tumblr blog solely for the purpose of promoting your blog. Follow as many blogs as possible and try to gain as many followers as possible. This isn't hard to do, with just a little time and effort, you can reach a follower count of over 1,000 people; expanding your audience yet again. Reblog other people's pictures and posts and post your own, including your blog link in everything you can. This is pretty much one of the only sites upon which there is no restriction to how much you post or how many people you follow so it can be perfect for just posting your blog link over and over again.

GOOGLE+ is surprisingly very effective. Create an account for which is used for promotion and decide who you WANT to be your audience... roughly. Go onto Google circles and type in a location, an educational establishment or a particular workplace and add those people into your circles. Chances are they'll pass over your profile, have a single look or your blog or add your back; allowing you to share every new post you create with them if you use Blogger.

TAG LINES are a good source of traffic. Tag your post with as much as you can that is relevant. It won't necessarily always be a hit but the more you tag, the more likely you are of coming up on a search engine. 

NAMES OF PICTURES are actually quite important. Although you may not think it, I certainly didn't at first, what you actual name the files before you upload them to your blog will do wonders for getting your images recognised by Google images and other picture search engines. For instance, if it's a picture of a burger, name the file 'Homemade Cheese Burger'. Not every image will make it into the top pages of an image search engine but the more you post, the more likely the are to reach an audience.

FAMILIARITY is key when it comes to sustaining a blog. Without fail, use the same blog name on every site you use for promotion, that way people will recognise it and it will become more well known. There is no point being called 'Thomas's Blog of Adventure' on one site and then 'Think Thomas' on another; people won't recognise it. It is also a good idea to try and get the design, style and background on each site just so your blog will become more recognisable. The main aim is if you type in your blog name on Google, you will have each of your blog and each of your promotion sites on the first page or at least most of them.

BLOG PROMOTION SITES can be useful, obviously. However, these take the most work but if you are really determined to promote your blog, sign up for as many as possible and be as active as you can in each forum and discussion. Even if you sign up, add 100 people and never use it again, you have reached a small amount of people. The best blog promotion site to use, in my opinion, is bloggers.com. 

If you follow the above guidelines and publish quality posts, your blog will hit it off. If one method fails, try another. Hard work is key.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/OneStepBronte
TWITTER: @OneStepBronte
TUMBLR: www.OneStepBronte.blogspot.com
GOOGLE+: Bronte Dawson
BLOGGERS: One Step Bronte

Five of the Coolest Movie Characters

We've had the most lovable characters and now it's time for a more interesting category; the coolest characters.

These are the bad boys that you love to hate, hate to love or simply just wish, deep down inside, maybe that you were just a little bit like them. 

Randal Graves

Clerks (1994)

Played by: Jeff Anderson

Occupation: Store Clerk at RST Video

Best quote: "Melodrama coming from you seems about as natural as an oral bowel movement."

Why he deserves to be on the list: He cares for nothing in the world but his best friend Dante. He's not a total bad ass and doesn't go round shooting people or taking drugs, he just has a general disregard for any type of authority or regulations in the most comedic yet simple way possible.

Vincent Vega

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Played by: John Travolta

Occupation: Hit man for mob boss Marsellus Wallace

Best quote: "Oh man! I shot Marvin in the face."

Why he deserves to be on the list: He's a smooth talking, suave, dangerous gangster. There had to be one on the list and Vincent Vega made the cut. He's got it all; the money, the suit, the hair and the amazing dance moves. Love it.

Mickey O'Neil

Snatch (2000)

Played by: Brad Pitt

Occupation: Full time Pikey

Best quote: "Dags, ya like dags?"

Why he deserves to be on the list: If you haven't seen the film Snatch, it's hard to explain without ruining the plot. On the face of it, he's one of the most brutal Irish traveller fighters ever but deep down inside he is... well, an even more brutal Irish traveller fighter. Don't mess with the travellers.

Captain Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)

Played by: Johnny Depp

Occupation: Pirate

Best quote: "When you marooned me on that god forsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate; I’m Captain Jack Sparrow."

Why he deserves to be on the list: Every woman wants to be with him, every man wants to be him; even if they don't admit it. Sparrow is a dishonest, drunken, thieving pirate whilst still remaining to have charm, charisma and something oh so appealing to him. Good on ya, Capt'n.

Bryan Mills

Taken (2008)

Played by: Liam Neeson

Occupation: Retired US spy

Best quote (well, it's speech more than quote): "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

Why he deserves to be on the list: The speech above is one of the most well known speeches of this generation. Most parents, upon hearing their daughter has been abducted, would call the police. Not this guy, he goes on a rabid, intense, no holds barred man hunt battling drug abuse, human trafficking and brutalities until he finds his child. If that doesn't make you cool, I don't know what does. 

Image sources:
http://www.cinemaobsessed.com/2010/11/quotable-quote-clerks.html
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/john-travolta/images/462422/title/vincent-vega-photo
http://www.verilliance.com/blog/page/2/
http://i-s2-supernatural.tumblr.com
http://nerdbastards.com/2012/10/09/taken-3-possibility-gets-reappraisal-by-money-hungry-execs/

Five of the Most Loveable Movie Characters

As all films that follow a narrative structure, you have heroes and villains; the good guys and the bad guys. Of course, the good guys are always those who triumph. Especially over Christmas, these heart-warming films make temporary visitations to your television screens but I am here to say, do not forget the loveable characters that put a smile on your face.

MISS HONEY

Miss Honey is the teacher from Matilda (1996).

This wonderful woman is probably the most innocent, loving and caring person ever to visit your screen. 

She shows Matilda love and adoration for the first time in Matilda's life and has an unwavering dedication to ensuring Matilda gets what she deserves in life.

Matilda: 
Why don't you run away?
Miss Honey:
I've often thought about it but I can't abandon my children... if I couldn't teach, I'd have nothing at all.

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BOBBY BOUCHER

Bobby Boucher is the one and only Waterboy (1998).

This baby boy was the loser that everyone picked on and lived at home with his mum at 30-years-old. However, he didn't let this get him down and became the town's hero. Bless him, he wasn't so bright though; it just added to his stuttering charm.

Coach Klein:
Bobby, can you do that for me every game?
Bobby Boucher:
Coach, not only will I do it for you, I... I... I..., yes, yes, I'll do it for you.

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STITCH

Stitch is the adorable alien from the Disney film Lilo & Stitch (2002).

Stitch was made to destroy and know nothing but pure evil... doesn't sound much like Disney, does it? However, it's clear he has a heart deep down inside and his naughty antics are amusing, only adding to his loveable character.

Stitch:

This is my family. I found it all on my own. It's little and broken but still good. Yeah, still good.

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BEN THOMAS

Ben Thomas is the hero that is willing to give his life away in Seven Pounds (2008).

This man made a mistake which took seven lives and he is willing to do anything to make up for it. Ben is the one of the most loving and caring yet intense character ever. If his actions don't make you cry then it is likely you have no soul.

Emily Posa:

Why do I get the feeling you're doing me a really big favour?

Ben Thomas:

Because I get the feeling you really deserve it.

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ROBBIE HART

Robbie Hart is simply The Wedding Singer (1998).

Being a wedding singer, Robbie constantly saw happy couples and he winds up falling in love himself. The lengths he goes to protect the woman he loves is simply adorable in such an Adam Sandler way.

Mr Simms:

Do you have any experience?

Robbie Hart:

No, sir, I have no experience but I'm a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I'd like to put more in that jar. That's where you come in.

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Image sources:

http://justwonderingmore.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/miss-honey.html

http://www.huskerboard.com/index.php?/topic/61432-official-ohio-state-look-alike-thread/
http://openwalls.com/image?id=16244
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3685586176/tt0814314
http://robsmovievault.wordpress.com/1998/02/13/the-wedding-singer/