WINOL Review (26/10/11).

My task today was to review the latest WINOL news bulletin.

Broadcasting every week, award-winning WINOL enables students to get a taste of what it is really like to work in the Broadcast Journalism industry.

It is key to remember that Journalism is always planned. Although lacking in a deeply compelling story (unlike last week) there was good justification of statistics to coincide with the amount of fair comment provided, coupled with the relevant general view. By doing this, WINOL has followed one of the critical rules that "justice has to be seen to be done".

Winchester's local unions were quite clearly libelled during the bulletin with the expression of their "outrage" over the live streaming of their meeting, which intended to show the public the "transparency of public authority." Here, they have been identified and the story has been published, therefore through the eyes of the public they have been defamed.

Identification ---> Publication---> Defamation = LIBEL.

The choice to make their meetings public could lead to them being shunned and avoided. Or open to hatred and ridicule. However, the degree of public interest within this story is what makes it newsworthy.

For more information on WINOL visit: http://winol.co.uk/.

A Report From Crown Court (19/10/11).

Law is a common language among Journalists mainly outlining how not to get sued.

I admit, common sense doesn't come naturally to me. I put this down to lack of worldly experience. However when properly put into practice, there's no doubt it plays a crucial part in the everyday life of a Journalist.

For this module I was set the task of visiting Winchester Crown Court.

We walked through steel doors engraved with metal shields that when closed, faced out towards the town. We tread on mosaic flooring up towards a varnished desk where an older man requests to search our belongings. Camera's confiscated as I step through the plastic archway. A red light flashes on the portal. Another man, a similar age to the latter, approaches and scans me. They both wore navy jerseys, like policemen, only without the knock, knock hats. All clear we proceed to the reception.

Waiting outside courtroom one, we squint at a tiny TV screen situated next to a set of double doors. A rape case. Three judges in wigs and black overalls pass by. Walking through the double doors we become overwhelmed by the clinical yet rustic feel of the place. We nervously hold onto the narrow banisters as we climb up three flights of stairs. The public gallery awaits.

We sat observing. We were at the highest level in the courtroom. The kind of level I would assume belongs to the judge. Instead, he is orientated directly below a bronze plaque that hangs directly in front of us. Another shield. Lion on the left, unicorn on the right. Fighting. Fighting over power perhaps? Or Justice? The rule "justice must be seen to be done" comes to mind. 

We sit on pinkish/purple chairs. The kind of colour that will now provoke a feeling of isolation and awkwardness. A quiet voice echoes through the courtroom. The voice of a young woman. A mild typing is heard in the background reflecting the emptiness of this place. The jury appear anonymous, saddened, concerned. The Judge, surprisingly cheerful in his tone, demands they reconvene tomorrow morning.

We get up to leave. I notice the orange carpet quite retro in design. Historical much like the rest of this place. Strange for a relatively modern building.

What Makes A Good Journalist?

A good journalist deals in the "absolute truth" and therefore must NEVER jump to conclusions or lie to the public. A good journalist's job is to "police the police" by always keeping one step ahead of the game and helping "keep them honest", informing the public of key news and developments around the world. Described as a "bloodhound as well as a watchdog", journalists are the source of the world's news and therefore need to be able to achieve good communication to the public through their use of language and be honest in their gathering of information. Therefore, it is crucial that their language is precise and accurate. This has been proved "beyond reasonable doubt". A good journalist needs to be fast, accurate and fair when gathering information/materials by using the power of language to communicate their findings to the public.

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So what do you think? Is my response fast, accurate and fair?

The "Spreading Ooze Of Mass Culture"

Ever the cultural pessimist, MacDonald coined this term to describe the effect Mass Culture (Mainstream Culture) has on society.

According to the Collins Pocket English Dictionary (2000) culture is "the ideas, customs and art of a particular society." However when put into practice, I believe it allows for a more in-depth analysis.

Cultural guru Raymond Williams described culture as "ordinary". Unlike MacDonald, Williams is a cultural optimist, believing that Mass Culture has a positive effect on the masses and therefore should be valued within a society. 

This leads me to question: What is "ordinary"? What is culture? And who defines it?

The topic on the agenda today was the much debated issue of TASTE.

Taste is not something we are born with, nor does it stay the same. It is a learned behaviour and is constantly changing as we become "enculturated" into a society. Taste can be used to express our individuality (whether individually or in a group) and it is socially constructed, meaning we are all affected by it. Therefore we as the consumers are "manipulated" into a particular lifestyle that affects the way we think and act. 

Having said that, we shouldn't automatically assume that this is such a bad thing. Strinati says "mass culture is a culture which lacks intellectual challenge and formulation, preferring the undemanding ease of fantasy and escapism." Personally, I like the idea that Mass Culture allows us to "escape" from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Because as Bourdieu quite cleverly states "different forms of culture provide different forms of pleasure."

So don't be ashamed if you watch Eastenders or are a die-hard football fan. My philosophy is that Mass Culture should be valued as a product of our culture. It enriches us and has the potential to dissolve all cultural distinctions.