Thursday, September 27, 2007

In my attempt at trying to become a journalist of some sort, I have been lucky enough to already work in an industry where gaining contacts is easier than if I were on my own. I was very fortunate to have interviewed Kisschasy last night when they played a special RSVP show at the Metro in George Street Sydney.
I usually conduct my interviews with little or no preparation at all. Research on the artists is usually as far as I will go. Im like one of the jocks that doesnt like to wash their undies or jock strap before a big match? strage yeah..But, Im the kind of person that works better on the spur of the moment and improvises my behind off unitl their is some kind of potenital journalistic gold produced.

This time, after all Christina's words of wisdom and after listening to various presentations, I decided to conduct my interview similar to the one, conducted in class. I prepared. shock...I had questions lined up, back up questions, follow up questions and a broader knowledge than, "whats the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?" I had my pen, paper and kinda tried to imagine myself as one of those amazing 1960-70'sRolling Stones journalists that basically criticised every single Led Zeppelin Album that was ever released, even though they were all amazing pieces of work haha (my subjectivity). My goal was to be the enemy....and a real intimidating one i'm sure. ha

I cancelled out all subjectivity or personal feelings towards the band. I was asking questions from an audience and public perspective not from my own. And I tired to target the question and direct them from a particular niche market I had created. So basically my audience demographic that I was aiming for was both male and female aged 20-30. And it was categorized towards more of a rock magazine. Ranging questions for both male and female is harder than you think, when it comes to rock music.

So overall, I took a little knowledge from each weeks readings, mixed them up and interviewed a bunch of really cool guys, who were a great interview. I can go as far as saying I prepared well and thats why it turned out so good, but they had great personalitites and were open to all of my questions. So cheers to all!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Interview with James Bracey

James Bracey is a young, smart and talented journalist. Some would think at the age of 22 and being a Sports journalist on Sky News one would have no idea about the true meaning of journalism in society. Interestingly enough, James provided myself and the group with some detailed information on what he belives a good journalist is, through his own expereinces and through some he has witnessed at Sky News in particular. A student of the University of Newcastle and a Central Coast local, James has had an amazing break inot the journalism world. I will be putting up some, voice clips of the interview as soon as Ben a member of Team Bracey recovers from his illness. Ben may the force be with you!

Blogs Missing in Action: anyone seen them?

All my blogs have been deleted...Yes, I really am not made for this blogging experience... But stay tuned I shall re-write and critique some more....

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Citizen journalism

For me citizen journalism is not technically true journalism. Well, its rather a personal perception not a socially validated comment. I'm mean, yes, everyone is allowed to freedom of speech and opionion but does that officially mean anyone can promote their feelings and have it classified as being valid in the "public spere". Or even for it to potentially have an effect on society. I just think citizen journalism allows for two much opinion. Im not saying subjectivity and opionion arne bad but most of the Blogs on citizen journalist websites I have come across don't socially construct an image on what they are trying to say. Things like censorship and defamation cannot be monitored as efficiently as everyday journalism. And once it does become a problem one can simply state they are a blogger not journalist, even though they previously got their nickers in a twist when someone said they wernt a journalist. Ironic!

A return to practice: reclaiming journalism as public conversation

What is the role of journalism in society? Alot of this reading brought up the often contradictory issues surrounding exactly what a journalists role is and what purpose it serves in our culture. The chapter moves into explaining the origanal role journalism played in society. Basically journalism was a " cultural practice" (Tapsall and Varley:40:2001) which survived primarily in the "public sphere" and it's main function was to represent and communicate within society. So what's modern journalism's role and has it differed from what it orginally stood for?
In my eyes, journalism still communicates with its public. It somewhat even allows us as a public sphere to communicate back with new additions to the would-be-journalist:citizen journalism and so on.

It states in the chapter that modern journalism is "independent". This branching from the theory that media institutions were seen as "the fourth estate" (Tapsall and Varley:41:2001) and were independent of the other three estates of the judiciary, executive goevernments and parliament. But it is often argued that the public is left out of this conception, and the media stands primarily in the role as adversary.

I do agree with Gramsci, who noted that " the media take their place alongside other cultural institutions which influence public opinion. The media and journalism are part of thr array of institutions that form culture" (Gramsci:380-1:88). I also think that his concept of "integral journalism" is valid today because most of the news we indulge in allows us to think beyond the basic common sense of readership. Most of us take on an article and pursue it that tiny bit further to give it more substance than whats simplified on paper. Citizen and Public journalism support this notion but can sometimes go beyond the point of being critical.