refLECTURE V: "Good Vibrations"

As someone who seeks 'useless' knowledge (though possibly useful in pub quizzes), knowing that I was having a lecture on sound reminded me of my recent(ish) endeavor to find out how sound works. (I say endeavor, I mean Youtube suggested it to me.) Admittedly, it's probably not something a lot of people think about, but I figured its suiting to the topic. Call it background knowledge. Let Charlieissolike teach you the magic of sound, as he once taught me (and the other two and a half million people who watched this video).

Now that you've endured enjoyed that, (or just skipped the video and kept reading), it's time to talk radio. As form of mass communication, radio manages to create a level of intimacy unattainable by television or print. Maybe it's to do with use of once sense, hearing. There's more to sound than just noise. You can hear emotion. "It's hard to lie on radio", much easier on television, visuals can be distracting.

Media Use Diary

I recorded my media usage and production over the course of 10 days. This is what happened...

Below lies my 'raw' sample data. It shows the times I used it, the type of media (platform), what specific programs I used, and how I accessed it. (I should also mention that the times are just approximate)

refLECTURE IV:"A Thousand Words"

We've all heard it before. A picture can tell a thousand words. But I think it can do more.
Words and language, it's limited. Only accessible to those who have been taught and understand its inner workings. Variation amongst languages make exact translations virtually impossible, ultimately leading to misunderstandings (the Bible being a prime example). And we are limited to the words in the dictionary. Anything that doesn't exist as a single word in the dictionary has to be explained in a phrase. Ultimately leading to a lot of 'word pollution' that many people couldn't be bothered to read through. Impact lost. A picture on the other hand...

The Primary Example of Photojournalism

Sure, a picture is limited to those blessed with sight, but it can share meaning, emotion, and a story to all who see it, regardless of language. That is the power of a picture.

What makes a great photo? There's the technical aspects like framing (the rule of thirds), angle, point of view, light exposure, shutter speed, and selecting a focus which draws the eye.  These points are all covered in Photography 101, but mastered by few.

Proving It Doesn't Take The Digital Age
To Capture 'The Moment'

And then there's the thing no-one can teach. Capturing 'The Moment'. Whether it's luck or destiny, sometimes the perfect photograph is caught. One with meaning. "A picture has no meaning at all if it can't tell a story."(Eetu Silanpaa) One that tells a story.

A photo used for journalism, should incorporate as many elements from the story as possible. The most important details: location, people, what's happening, and why. Moreover, it should spark emotion.

Enough of me talking about great photos. Check out the few below. They speak for themselves.

A Wilarious Evening

Wednesday night. A typically religious Royal Exchange night for most. But not this week. I skipped out on church the RE for something much more cultural (well, at least that's what I'm telling myself). Wil Anderson.

If you suffer from commercial broadcasting dependency syndrome, and haven't seen the ABC since your tweens, you may not be familiar with him. (Those of you who are, bare with me.) Back in the early 'noughties' he hosted The Glass House and had the breakfast radio slot on Triple J. Then moved to drive-time on Triple M, and began hosting the panel talk show about advertising (yeah, you know the one) The Gruen Transfer, now the Gruen Planet. And if you still have no idea; basically, he's Adam Hills, but with a right leg.

And every year, since 1997, Wil's toured Australia (and beyond) with his live stand up show. 2012 marks (the end of the world) his 17th show (do the maths, there was a double up in 2000), what originality could there possibly be? Was this just going to be sloppy, re-heated leftovers? Nope.

There was a buffet of laughs, chuckles, giggles, and gasps. Sure there was the standard entree of Gold Coast gags, kids say the darnedest things, and audience banter; but then things got deep. In a light hearted way. You see internet, unknowingly and unintentionally, I actually learnt things. Things that I want to (and maybe you do too) incorporate in your life.

refLECTURE III: "All Things Textual"

Text. It's more than just words. It's all about the visual. (Maybe not as much as a picture, but I'll discuss that next time). And our guest speaker, Skye Doherty (check out her bio here), knows all about it.

But what is text? A simpler question might be what isn't text. It's the story content, the headlines, the bylines, the captions, the quotes, the break-out boxes, the links... It's pretty much everything. It has the ability to be fast, flexible, controllable, portable, and most importantly, particularly in terms of new media, it's searchable.  And it's ability to dominate the online realm is only helped by more text: links, URLs, domains, metadata, excerpts, and tags. Our beloved Google only searches keywords; not 'keypictures', not 'keysounds'.

But there are several key differences in the use of text, depending on the media platform. Your traditional newspaper is read from top left, down to the bottom right of the page. Pretty straight forward.   It's organised into several distinct sections; news (often separate national and world news), business, entertainment, sport, etc; so you know what you're getting. This allows for a greater creative license, especially regarding headlines. Reading news online, however, often looks a bit like this, thanks to the wonders of hypertext:

refLECTURE II: "Newest Of New News"

New News. As opposed to 'Old News'. It's the same stuff isn't? What's online, what's in print, what's it matter? There's no doubt that times are a-changing in the way that news is produced and how it is consumed. As we (citizens of the first world) become more tech-savvy, there comes expectations that media wont just keep up with this cyber space existence; but rather be one of the creators, one of the innovators, of it. But now that everything is on the internet (hence the phrase 'Google it'), what really needs to exist 'irl', or in English, in real life?

Everyone talks about THE DEATH OF NEWSPAPERS as if they all have a chronic, terminal illness, and 'it could be any day now'. But it's the same with all old media. Do we forget that it used to once be 'new'? As it turned out, video didn't kill the radio star. This is not a case of replacing old with new, but rather just the diversification of our media diet.

I'm not saying newspapers haven't taken a hit, I'm just saying they're not down for the count yet. But seeing as those in suits can't handle a hit, our dear Uncle Rupert has found another way.

My Two Cents

It's a media phenomenon. I am a journalism and media studies student. I figure I should share my two cents on KONY 2012. These are my cents:

refLECTURE I: "Like a Mini Skirt"

I know. (Many of our) First. Lecture. Ever. 'Oh em gee, super nervous but still wayyyy excited'. Nope. I was not (nor ever will be) one of those people. Regardless of its 'cosmic' importance in my tertiary education, and ultimately my life, it was still a Monday.
Blessed with a late start, general housekeeping, and obligatory introductions, my Mondayitis (a real disease, Wiktionary says so) had time to clear. And just in time.


YOU ARE THE JOURNALIST. I did that 'turn-around-and-look-at-the-person-behind-you-as-if-it's-only-directed-at-them-because-he's-obviously-not-talking-about-you' thing. Yeah...
I get it. It's the course philosophy, "just believe and you will be"(Now this is sounding like a straight to dvd teen movie). But, honestly internet, I don't feel like a journalist. Not yet at least... I'll get back to you on that one.


This first encounter was all about getting us to think. What is journalism? Don't worry I got this one; Mr. Google please define journalism.  Unfortunately, it's not that easy. To inspire us were the words of renowned publishers, editors, diplomats, historians, and (of course) journalists. But none of these really stuck. They seemed too 'philosophised'. I wanted to know what it takes to be a good journalist, summed up in a phrase oozing with wit. And after much scrolling (and a finger cramp; first world problems) I found it:

I AM THE WALRUS JOURNALIST

I am he as you are he as you are me... At the time, that would have made more sense then the phrase I was hearing: 'I am the journalist'. Haha... no. A typical first reaction, probably not the desired one (sorry tutors). 


But since that first lecture I've given myself time to procrastinate ponder. After three weeks of 'philosophisationing' (a Ryan Shelton invention) about journalism- what it is; how it works; and whether or not I could even do it, let alone be good at it- I reached the pinnacle realistion: 'Shirt... I better get started on that blog.'  


And at the risk of sounding cliche' and/or kiss-ass, I am glad I starting it now. I have learnt more in these minutes of writing (well, typing) than I have in my weeks of pondering, and reading about 'how to be a journalist/blogger'. 


I'll deal with formalities next post; but I'll tell you now, short and sweet (and sour) is my deal. Because when it comes to things like this I have, and you probably do too, a short atten... oooh, something shiny... tion span.


All it takes is a click on the Publish button, and 'I AM THE JOURNALIST'... Goo Goo G'Joob.