The real work begins…

Presentation presented it’s time to start thinking about actually starting the project – yipes!

The presentation went really well and my project seemed to be well recieved and the big relief is that I’ve decided to do the project as a radio docu rather than TV. Which is going to be easier to record and edit and make my life easier as far as trekking equipment across the country. 

It’s not just the logistics which will be better. I think the voices will carry the story far better. Giving the piece a lot more impact and will ensure the audience will be drawn into the stories.

I thought originally that I’d have loads of time over the summer but with the BBC placement time looks in short supply. So I’m hoping to get the main interviews recorded before the middle of June, before the placement. That means that I can then concentrate on the supporting voices and editing afterwards. On a practical note I also have some decisions to make on the equipment and editing software choices. So I’ll be chasing Steve and Rich tomorrow to see what will work best! 

The hidden story

Preparing for a presentation to my peers and tutors on Friday has hit a major snag. There really is very little I can say. The story themselves will need to wait until I can actually interview the protagonists, and the issue really doesn’t seem to have been reported openly. Westerners and their kidnap and subsequent death or release are easy to find – videos, images, endless column inches. But any Iraqi victims remain decidedly hidden. 

I think what I’ll do is give a potted idea of the stories that will unfold during the documentary and concentrate on the technical side. The structure and ideas about how to tell the story. Which means that I’ll have to start thinking about that now.

The price of Iraq

The time has finally arrived for the BIG project. So to fulfill my MA potential I will researching, filming and editing a 15 – 20 minute film aimed at a TV audience. The final piece will have to, 

strive to be innovative – that is, it should extend the parameters of existing investigative broadcast journalism

demonstrate advanced independence and professionalism.

demonstrate technical proficiency 

demonstrate sophisticated editorial awareness

informed by in-depth understanding of contemporary developments within the broadcast journalism industries 

At the moment it’s all very much at the research phase. Calling and emailing possible interviewees and contacts and just getting to grips with the topic.

More will follow as the project progresses and I will be trying to keep this blog up to date with all the stages. Any comments are more than welcome – especially from any volunteers for runners!

Why for to blog?

We need to be able to write, it’s our whole point to tell people a story – as many people as possible. I want to tell my stories quickly and well, so I hope my blog will help me write better and share my story at the same time. Besides it’s part of the course and Charlotte will shout at me if I don’t. The point of a journalism student is most definitely to pass the course. So viola la blog!

It’s as good an excuse as any to sit quietly and think, and talk about myself and what I think is important and call it work. I guess especially as a student it’s helpful to have somewhere to put up your ideas. Although I might worry later on as I always do about impartiality, and distancing issues. I would hate to try and get an interview to find someone had read my blog and decided on that basis not to talk to me? I guess it’s like a reputation that you write yourself.

I think the main point of journalism students having blogs is to show we can. Look I am internet ready! I can form entire sentences – 9 times out of 10 spelt almost correctly and often with appropriate grammar (cheers Guy). What is more – it makes it easier to check out the herd, I can’t wait to see what everyone else is busily typing right next to me when they publish their blogs….