MULTIPLATFORM Journalism
Amy Edgley c3405149
CONTENTS Overview
Module publication pitch
Preparing for industry engagement
The Multiplatform Workflow
Writing for web
Podcasts
WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. This module aims to build upon the core and transferable skills that the students have developed over previous levels. They will build a proficiency using creative tools. The module aims to provide students with sufficient understanding to be able to critically analyse and evaluate the strengths and weakness of multiplatform publishing. Students will explore the way in which the user experience is enhanced online from a static print version. This module will consider theoretical perspectives, in addition to the development of students’ skills with software. This module aims to provide the students with the skills to develop visual material that reflects the latest contemporary practice. It will build on the core skills learnt in L4 and L5 through a series of advanced workshops to encourage the students to research and experiment with new and innovative techniques and content. The students will be challenged to research and evaluate contemporary practice in visual journalism in preparation for industry.
After this semester:
Work placements & Opportunities
-Experience gained of being an editor - Launched a magazine - Hit weekly deadlines - Used podcasting and video
Reflection
THE MULTIPLATFORM WORKFLOW.
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he work-flow process which takes place before publication of the final product, goes through multiple different stages. ‘Copy and graphics must be sourced, content checked for quality and accuracy, laid out and subbed in accordance with a house style, and the whole lot checked again before being despatched to a printer,’(Whittaker,2008, PG.71) This is done to ensure that it meets all requirements of the brief set and that the standard is as high as it can possibly be. It is a long process and therefore requires a large amount of planning. Such planning can commence up to a year before and brief editorial calendars are used to gain an initial idea of where it is heading. Another form of planning which takes place is the ‘Flat plan’. ‘A flat-plan is a map of the magazine, detailing where everything will go from the front cover to the back, and its preparation is an extremely important part of the editorial process,’ (Whittaker, 2008 pg.74). This allows the whole production team to get a good visualisation of what the final product is going to look like, whilst allowing for different sections to be sent off to print once they have been completed and placed back together without an issue for the deadline. A flat plan also allows the production editor to work out whereabouts the advertisements will be placed. This is an important part of the planning
as this is where the income for the magazine comes in. The final stage of planning and production is called ‘The post mortem’. ‘The aim of the post-mortem is to capitalise on successes and find out why particular failures may have happened and so prevent them occurring again,’ (Whittaker, 2008, pg.77). In order for a publication to continue growing and succeeding everything must be discussed. Communication is definitely key when it comes to producing something within a team and therefore this is the perfect way to conclude a project. Overall, this paragraph from Whittaker really highlights the amount of work which needs to be done in order to create a high standard publication, whether it is online or print. It also adds emphasis to the large number of staff it takes in order to create a team of people who are able to be put under such pressure, stay organised and be successful.
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hen it comes to feature tant, arguably even the most imwriting, it is important portant. This must hook the reader to understand that there and engage with their interests is no such structure that in order to provoke them to cardefinitely needs to be ry on reading. A good introduction followed, such as the ‘Triangle’ must provide a lot of information structure which news writers use. in a short amount of words whilst This is due to the fact that ‘Feanot revealing too much of the key ture writing gives us much freepoints. This is due to the fact dom,’ (Bull, 2007,pg.325) However, that the feature must provide a foit is also important to know that cus, however unlike a news story, it still needs some sort of strucit can be introduced a little furture which just needs to be decided ther into the piece. on what is best for your piece. A few structures which feature writers follow are The diamond, The Hourglass, using geWhilst re-reading pages 1-4 of Journalism in the ography digital age, it really acts as a reminder of just and even how far journalism has progressed over the past scenes. These few years and is continuing to do so. ‘The digistructures tal age is changing journalism forever,’ (Herbert allow you ,2000, pg.2) to delve into all The power of the new digital age is almost overthe information you whelming as we come to see that the limitations have gath- that were once there, for example the lack of inered, for teraction with readers, are being demolished as example technology advances. However, due to the fact through techniques that ‘anyone can put anything on the internet,’ (Herbert, 2000, pg.2) the new age of digital joursuch as nalism can cause some issues which need to be an interview, and checked for validity by both the journalist and place them the reader. together to create the perfect piece.
READING.
In reflection on this extract, you get to see the freedom which a feature gives you but also how it may become a little bit more difficult to piece together than a news piece, which is pretty much all facts. Therefore, an introduction to a feature is very impor-
PUBLICATION PITCH.
it is achievable. ‘What is the best this story can be?’ (Randall, 2000, pg.33) is amongst those tips and one of the questions that makes you think. In the reading, Randall also makes this comparison; ‘Comedians and good journalists have a lot in common. Both find productive ideas by turning things on their head, by inverting a situation (or a phrase) in order to examine it and so deliver the unexpected,’ (Randall, 2000, pg.35) which is a perfect example of just how a good journalist should be thinking. Comparing this with the reading from Whittaker’s Magazine production, you are able to see that with this type of thinking you can produce content which is the best and which will stand out in the vast variety of publications which are out there. This would also be a useful technique when it comes to producing a brand new publication. My favourite motivational example was this story of one journalist, ‘Not to be outdone, Fagence smuggled into the show a cat under his coat so he could write an intro about who put the cat among the pigeons,’ (Randall, 2000, pg.35) Even though it shows dishonesty, I think it also shows commitment to his work. This reporter had gone out of his way to produce the best possibly story he could and even though it was provoked and a little extreme, it still suggests to me that you have to be always thinking and right in the action. RE-READING: WHITTAKER (2008) MAGAZINE PRODUCTION P14-22 (AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY AND AS AN E-BOOK)
READING: RANDALL (2000) THE UNIVERSAL JOURNALIST P31-41 (AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY AND AS AN E-BOOK)
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andall’s style of writing is informative yet motivational and he achieves this by being straight to the point. This style of writing leaves its reader feeling inspired to be the best that they possibly can be. ‘Journalists can do nothing to influence whether such
stories exist; all we can do is produce the best-researched and written versions of them,’ (Randall, 2000, pg.31) His words suggest that to be a good journalist you should get the most you possibly can from a situation and push yourself to be different from other journalists, instead of following the crowd. Very much, if you want the best you have to be the best. Randall also gives out tips accompanied with real life examples which helps create an understanding that
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e-reading these pages solidifies just how many different types of publications there are out there and what is successful. ‘Unlike just about any other medium until the rise of the Internet and Digital television, magazines are usually aimed at very specific, niche audiences, with readerships often numbering in the low thousands or tens of thousands,’ (Whittaker, 2000, pg.14) This puts the industry into perspective and allows you to decipher, for example if you are starting up your own publication, just whereabouts in the different demographics you would fit into. These pages of reading also allow you to see the gaps in the market and where different publications have been tried
out and failed to keep on producing. It highlights just how female dominant the magazine industry is,’The most financially successful category of consumer magazines,’ (Whittaker, 2000,pg.15) and how male magazines have been in the past tarnished with a ‘soft core pornography’ stereotype. Reading this has given me a deeper understanding of the market but also at the same time makes me want to try and achieve something which is slightly different to the norm. I would like to feel this is something we can produce when it comes to making the modules publication. READING: BRADSHAW (2011) ONLINE JOURNALISM HANDBOOK P2-3 (AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY AND AS AN E-BOOK)
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his short introduction to Bradshaw’s handbook can be overwhelming as she lists everything journalists now have as options to produce and publish their work, due to the advances in technology every day. It is amazing that this is now available to us and the options are never-ending; however it is also easy to see how modern day journalists can maybe get slightly lost when it comes to keeping up with the ever evolving technology pace and the readers demands. Just as Bradshaw states, ‘There are no delivery vans online- and users increasing expect the news to come to them, whether via email, mobile, social networks, personalised news services or a casual search,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.2) Comparing this with the reading from Randall’s The Universal Journalist, you can see how his skills on being the best journalist there is, such as getting the most you possibly can out of a situation, are helpful here. This is due to the fact that once you have your story you can start to think about the different ways of telling your story, for example through a video or podcasts, and find these innovative ways to keep up with the technology. The technology we have now can also allow for more indepth research and information for stories to be reached by journalists. This can be a help as long as we keep in mind that the internet is very much an unreliable source.
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WRITING FOR WEB.
riting for web is very much the future and is now a key skill in which all journalists, whether a beginner or professional, should be able to have. Whilst reading Bradshaw’s chapter I was able to identify the five key characteristics of writing for the web.
Skills
As I have just mentioned, skills is a key part in writing for the web. A good journalist must know how to use the web efficiently. For example, they must have search engine skills for them to be able to use SEO (Search engine optimisation) to their advantage. If a journalist is unaware of this, it will become difficult for themselves to tailor their readers into finding their work with ease. As this is one of the main aspects to online publication, it is important that is it carried out correctly. ‘Online journalists have to be agile and adaptable as they react to stories. They are also challenged by the fact that they are not always constrained by traditional deadlines and a required length of story,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.31) Journalist who are not adaptable could quite easily fall into the online trap of repetition by re-using work which has already been published on the web. ‘It is important to get out of the office and not fall into the habit of recycling information that has already appeared on the internet,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.34) They need to be able to keep their ideas fresh, up to date, and have the skills to be able to find them. Ways to do this include the use of RSS new feeds, signing up to text and
email alerts and of course, being active on social network sites. Journalist must now also have the skills to work with a variety of different platforms. It is more recently more common that if you are working for a company you will not be specialising in one area. You must be able to adapt and work, for example, in print, video and radio.
Story-telling
A good story is very important. Just like a journalist writing for print, it is still key that you go as far as you can to get every little detail about a story and make it the best you possibly can. Once you have your story, you have to then use your web skills to enhance it. For example, an online journalist has SEO to think about and therefore has to pick out the keywords from the copy to then turn into an online aspect, such as a ‘tag’. A key skill to make this effective is to know how much copy to use. Too much copy on a page can be seen as ‘lazy journalism’ and makes you as a writer look as if you do not have the skills to adapt your writing for the web. As we know, the internet is a fast paced area and a lengthy story could easily be passed by as readers on the go simply will not have time to read it. This leads us onto the fact that your story must be accessible. ‘Storytelling, therefore, is non linear because readers make the decision about what the read and in what order,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.35) You have to question what the reader will search for. If you story is easily found due to the correct use of SEO and is publicly
available through the easiness of clicking on a link- your story will be widely accessed, shared and become a good story.
Different mediums and distribution
The combination of multiple forms of media to tell a story is called a ‘mash-up’. It is important as a journalist that they know what is best to use when it comes to presenting their story, whether it be through text, images, videos, audio, animation or interactive features. ‘…must firstly identify what tools and techniques might be most appropriate,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.31) This means that you must know your audience and what they are wanting from you. You must also have the ability to understand that not everything is going to work for your story. ‘They also believe that not every story works best in every medium,’ (Bradshaw, 2011, pg.32) You have to have the skills to be able to know what is best. For example, you will need to consider whether a video paired with your text might be much more enhancing or whether it just needs some simple stills. From this, as a journalist you also have to consider your distribution methods. These consist of websites, blogs, texts, emails and social media networks. You have to pair this with your different mediums and work out what will work best for you. After all, your aim is to gain the most traffic towards your story for it to be successful.
Interactivity
One of the best aspects that the internet has given journalists is that it allows for a lot of interaction. Your work will be much more successful and appealing to readers if it allows for them to interact
with each other and the publication. With the skills you have you should be able to enhance your story so that the reader has some kind of participation, whether this be through something such as a poll or just a simple comment box. User-generated content is very popular and as a reader it is satisfying to see other peoples in-put, knowing it has come from someone on the same level as themselves, consequently creating a rapport- it is relate able, A good rapport built up with your readers gains loyalty and shows that you as a journalist have an understanding of what they want, allowing you to cater your writing and how you present it, to their needs.
Awareness
Finally, a good web journalist must be aware of the Internet’s downfalls. It is common knowledge that the internet is an unreliable source of information, however if you as a journalist know this, and still carry out extensive research to make sure what you are including in your work is correct, then you are going to be successful. A journalist should be aware that content is also being produced by bloggers and citizen journalists. This is due to the fact that anyone who has the accessibility to the web can now become a journalist.
PREPARING FOR INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT. company in mind that they would like to gain some experience in, then that person should be online and checking out their website to see if they have any opportunities successful trainee jourgoing. If there isn’t much infornalist would take advanmation, then giving that company a tage of every opportunity call is a good way to show that you that is given to them. If are very much interested and will it is not so much handallow for ed to them your name on a plate, to stick they should in their be going head when out there it comes and finding to the such opporcompany tunities. If looking journalism through is something applithat they cation really want This weeks reading provided some tips on forms. If to do as they are how to create slideshows and what softtheir future training career, then ware there is out there to use to create they need to one. This came in coincidentally useful as at college or univerget their for this weeks print day I am producing a sity then foot in the slideshow. a good door as eartrainee ly as possijournalble. There ist should are differuse their ent types of Web: https://www.journalism.co.uk/skills/daniellresourcexperience morrisey-how-to-make-the-most-of-work-experience/ es around that you can s7/a51460/ them to engage with their adsuch as inWeb: https://www.journalism.co.uk/skills/how-toternships, prepare-for-a-journalism-job-interview/s7/a547546/ vantage. For exsandwich ample courses, talking job-shadowto their tutors or career servicing and work placements. es which are in place and even ‘Go These are easily found just by usalong to seminars and talks- they ing the internet. If they have a ‘YOU CAN’T GET A JOB WITHOUT EXPERIENCE, AND YOU CAN’T GET EXPERIENCE WITHOUT A JOB’ (KISS, 2005)
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READING: BRADSHAW (2011) ONLINE JOURNALISM HANDBOOK P101-102 (AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY AND AS AN E-BOOK)
WEB LINKS
are always a good opportunity to network and speak to people who might be able to suggest companies and contacts.’ (Kiss, 2005) A good journalist who may be struggling to find industry work experience may consider building up their portfolio by carrying out tasks by themselves. Creativity is the key and if they are showing that and the passion to do so, a company in the future will love to see what they have been doing whilst training. Once they have a company in mind, it is key that they understand that the demand for work experience is very high and must be able to make them selves stand out from the crowd. If they are determined they will plan ahead and apply a high level of preparation. They should be able to let the company know that they know all about that and have the enthusiasm which shows that they really want to work for their company- even if it is just some experience. To enhance this, they must make sure they tailor their application to that certain company. For example, they must make sure that the CV they submit is suitable for that company and highlights your skills in which they are looking for. Finally, a good trainee journalist would make the most of every moment of their work experience. It should be seen as a time to grow and expand their knowledge in journalism. They would make sure to take notes, ask questions and really get stuck into the tasks which they are provided. Their time with a company should be seen as the time to stand out and make that company want to employ you, even if it may not be possible due to still being in education, stay in touch.
PODCASTS. http://www.theguardian.com/film/ audio/2015/nov/10/podcasting-podcorn-episode-10
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chose to listen to the podcast ‘Podcorn: Netflix to the rescue, Mariah Carey drama and Danny Boyle grief - Now showing … Amazon and Netflix provide solace for indie film-makers, Mariah Carey causes an unlikely Twitter storm and Danny Boyle grieves over David Bowie’, presented by Benjamin Leewith Henry Barnes Produced by Rowan Slaney.
Even though the genre of the podcast is completely different to our food theme, whilst listening to it a number of different aspects stood out which could be changed to suit the module’s publication ‘GRUB’. The podcast starts off with the presenters and interviewee’s laughing and joking over the top of one another and being generally quite informal. The overlapping of voices also distracts you from the small introduction to who they are interviewing and what the topic of conversation is going to be about. Even though it is quite relate able to the listeners to have that ‘everyday general conversational’ feel, it would be much easier to listen to and much more professional to extend the introduction slightly and really ensure that what is going to be discussed is clearly stated. From this informal introduction, it quite quickly switches to some serious interview questions, straying away from the laughing and joking which was taking place just a few
seconds before. For our publication I would keep an interview in, however it would need to be slightly more scripted and maybe more specific in order to keep the professional feel- due to the fact that our audience is ‘young professionals’. This could be done by quickly briefing the interviewee before the recording of the pod-cast starts in order to give them some idea of what they are about to be talking about, however not too much so that the listener is able to tell. Throughout the whole of the podcast (except for right at the end) there is no listener inclusion. This makes you as a listener feel as if you are overhearing a conversation that you’re not actually a part of. Even though this could effectively work for some publications to create that mysterious feel, for GRUB it would be much more beneficial for there to be interaction with the listeners, as part of the publications whole style and aim is that we are as one as ‘foodies’ and readers are referred to as ‘we’ and ‘us’. The ending of the podcast comes across quite abrupt and rushed, however it does include them speaking about their different social media platforms, such as their twitter name. This could be done much more smoothly. Another aspect I would add to a GRUB podcast is that I would add a backing track in order to create a sort of restaurant atmosphere whilst listening.
WORK PLACEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES.
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ver the three years of studying photographic journalism I have managed to secure a number of different opportunities for myself, mainly with photography. I have carried out shoots for events such as weddings, christenings, high school and sixth form proms, gigs, performances and catwalks. What I’ve learnt with event photography is that you have to be quick. Everything that is happening around you is constantly changing and you need to make sure you capture as much of it as you possibly can. Consequently this means that you need to have a good understanding of your camera as you do not get much time to play around with settings etc. I have also learnt that you have to be pretty open minded. This is due to the fact that your client will be asking of a certain thing, whether that be a certain style of photography or how much you shoot. Even though you are initially catering to their needs, I also feel it is beneficial to add your own twist- I’ve never had bad feedback on mixing up the photographs slightly. I absolutely love shooting events as not a single one is going to be the sameyou can never expect anything. I have also carried out a number of studio shoots for babies, dancers and fashion brands. From this I have learnt that time is a key aspect that needs to be monitored. With the studio slot only available for a certain amount of time, any problems that arise cut away at your shooting time. Reflecting on the first time this happened to me, which left my clients waiting, I make sure now that I am in the studio before they arrive. This then gives me time to set up and correct any issues, leaving the time I have left just for shooting and concentrating on my task. When it comes to the writing side of
things, I haven’t gained that much experience. I have my own personal blog and I have created a creative CV which I sent out to companies such as ASOS, Glamour, Stylist and Cosmopolitan. I never heard anything back from these companies, however when I sent it off I knew that I had left it way too late. From this I have learnt that internships and placements are very high in demand and fill up quickly. On the other hand, I got a placement writing for the student online newspaper ‘The Tab’, which I secured by going and speaking to the team that run the publication. We regularly keep in touch and I will be writing some features for them very soon. My favourite opportunity that I managed to get the chance to take part in has to be shooting the London Fashion Weekend event. This was something I had never, even done before and I feel as though I really managed to get some good images. I secured this by pitching myself as a photographer to my tutor and also supplying him with an image which I felt showed my eye for fashion as well as my initiative. Overall, if I were to do these three years again, I would probably start applying for internships from the first year and have a much clearer plan of action. This has been difficult for me as I also have a part time job as well as being at university. However, I have enjoyed ever piece of experience I have gained and after I graduate I feel as though I will have the confidence to sell myself in order to find the perfect placement for myself. Confidence is definitely key, as well as good communication. If you’re confident in yourself and what you’re doing, then the people around you will get this vibe and be confident with you too.