https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHRN65DYdXY

R7- Our Interview with a BBC Journalist

Our Tweenz interview with BBC Journalist, Josie Verghese (Email)

1.       How do you know what stories to choose for a bulletin?

For most programmes deciding the stories to feature and the order they should run is a collaborative decision made by the team involved in producing that bulletin/programme on the day. Programmes tend to have editorial meetings and this is a discussion about the potential stories and angles they might want to pursue.

Ultimately the decision will be down to the programme editor and don’t forget that when there is breaking news things can change and quite often the plan that was agreed at the beginning of the day will have completely changed by the time things go on-air!

In terms of making decisions on what stories we pursue and support schools with for BBC News School Report we always try and look for original and unique ideas and which specifically relate to young people.

2.       How do you protect your sources?

Sources and contacts are really important to any journalist and so building relationships with them is really important. For sources to feel comfortable and willing to share their stories they need to feel like they can trust you and you will treat them appropriately so being honest and letting them know your plans is important so they understand how their story is being reported and featured.

Sometimes if stories are sensitive then interviewees and sources will remain anonymous.

3.       Where do you go to find new stories?

People – they are the best sources for stories, talking to people is key! Also using social media.

Charities, research bodies, government departments and politicians, universities – build contacts with these.

And follow the news and think about different angles and ideas on how this story might be developed further.

4.       What top tips would you give someone who is aspiring to be a Journalist?

Follow the news – read newspapers and websites, watch and listen to different news programmes.

Find out more about the different sorts of journalism and news production (look at websites like BBC Academy) and try and get some hands on experience – if your school has a newsletter or journalism club then get involved. Maybe write your own blog or record your own video and/or audio reports. Get involved in hospital radio.

Apply for work experience with news organisations like the BBC to see if you can have a taster.

5.       How do you protect yourself out in the field?

Before reporting in the field all BBC journalists have to complete a risk assessment which means we have thought about potential problems or risks in advance, for example if you are filming near water or by a busy road. There are always practical things to think about like the weather being unpredictable or if you’re working with children and young people making sure you have their parental permission to be involved.

One of the most important things about being a journalist and working ‘in the field’ is being prepared – or at least as much as you can be. When possible and time allows it is always good to recce a location so you know more about it before you start working – this happens for most TV productions but is often hard for news programmes as you often can’t plan ahead or predict the location so having a checklist of things to consider for any location is something we do. Being able to adapt to different and changing circumstances is often necessary – best laid plans don’t always work out!

In some circumstances, like when reporting from a conflict or war zone, only journalists and crew who have had specific additional training can work there.

What I have learnt from this interview

From this interview I have learnt that deciding on which story to choose is not only decided by one person but as a group. This taught me that team work plays a big role in journalism and not up to only one person to make decision.i also learned thjat things don't always go according to plan and when that happens, it is better if you have a team that is there to back you up.

R6- How to conduct a vox pop

A questionnaire is like a script – you can make a bad film out of a good one but you certainly can’t make a good film out of a bad one.

• Make sure you stick to up to 5 questions, no one wants to miss too much fun so you must be brief.
• The questions must be open-ended – that is to say – no yes-or-no answers. It’ll get you far better sound bites.
• It’s important to know what the objective of the video is, are you encouraging people to come next time? Then ask them about the value of the event to them. If it’s just a reference video, ask them to describe their experience so far etc.
• Ensure that the client knows what you’re asking. It’s important that your client has input in this process but don’t let them add too many questions

Next is Recruitment:

• Choose your targets. People who are on their own are easier to recruit so single out friendly looking loners – sounds like an unlikely combo but you’ll be surprised.
• Make sure you’ve had a good chat with your client to find out who they want to interview – they may not have a wish list but when you ask the question you’ll find that they can usually point out some people – it helps to narrow down the throng for you.
• Approach with confidence. Inevitably you’ll need to interrupt some people but just be polite and open with a line like ‘excuse me, sorry to interrupt, can I ask you to give us a short interview for the event video?’ don’t over talk – if they don’t want to do it, don’t insist or get whiny.
• What is critical is your tone, you must remain friendly and non-confrontational but assertive and confident. A perfect mixture of those qualities will recruit most people.


Finally is Interview Technique

If your respondent knows what to expect, they won’t be surprised when it happens, so tell them what you’re after and if they agree to take part, no one has any nasty surprises or any reason to get narky.

• Tell them that you may want to repeat sections and may ask for shorter and longer responses
• Tell them that you’re after full-sentence answers for fuller sound bites.
• Once you get rolling, don’t talk! If you feel you haven’t got much from an answer say: ‘tell me more about that,’ it puts people at ease and gets you much meatier content.
• Don’t over speak or murmur your agreement; you’ll ruin perfectly good quotes.


http://www.deadready.co.uk/blog/how-to-conduct-vox-pop-interviews-at-events/

R5- Defamation

Defamation is basically causing injury to the reputation of a person or a company using false statements or actions. It can be also described as an attack on the reputation of a person or company by someone who is not in favour that person or company and so wanted to float some negative message in the society or market. When any sort of defamation is done using internet then it is called Cyber Defamation.

The defamation law allows individuals, groups of individuals, companies or firms to sue if there is damage to their reputation. You can defame someone by publishing material in various forms and people can sue if the material can be reasonably recognised to be referring to them. A few changes have been made by the Defamation Act 2013 which came into force in England and Wales on 1 January 2014.

The law of defamation allows individuals, companies or firms (‘claimants’) to sue for damage to their reputation caused by material that is published and which makes defamatory comments about them. Something is defamatory if it:

• Lowers them in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public; and/or
• Causes them to be shunned or avoided; and/or
• Disparages them in their office, trade or profession; and/or
• Exposes them to hatred ridicule or contempt.

Some changes have been made by the Defamation Act 2013 which came into effect in England and Wales on 1 January 2014. Under the new law claimants have to show that the publication has caused, or is likely to cause, ‘serious harm’ to their reputation.
If the claimant is a body that trades for profit, such as a company, serious harm is defined as ‘serious financial loss’.
It is up to the courts to decide how they interpret “serious harm” in individual cases.

Publication
You can defame someone by publishing material in various forms. These include:

• Via newspapers or other printed media
• Broadcasting on radio and TV
• On the web - including online forums, social media and micro-blogging sites
• By email.

You also risk defaming someone if you repeat defamatory comments previously made or published by others - for example, quoting a defamatory newspaper story about them in an interview or blog.
A claimant would need to show that the defamatory material can be reasonably understood to refer to them - even if they are not named specifically.
Defences 
Some of the defences have been amended by the latest legislation. The main ones are:

• Truth - the publisher must  prove the comments are true
• Honest opinion - the opinion must be genuinely held and based on fact
• Privilege - the scope of this defence has been extended
• Publication in the public interest - a new defence. 

To find out more visit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism/article/art20130702112133651

R4- OFCOM

WHAT IS OFCOM?
Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. They regulate the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.
They make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can succeed.
Ofcom operates under a number of Acts of Parliament, including in particular the Communications Act 2003.
Accountable to Parliament, they set and enforce regulatory rules for the sectors for which they have responsibility.
Ofcom is funded by fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and grant-in-aid from the Government.

What they do
Their main legal duties are to ensure:

• the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband;
• a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;
• television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;
• people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;
• people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded;
• a universal postal service is provided in the UK - this means a six days a week, universally priced delivery and collection service across the country; and
• the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

To find out more visit:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/what-is-ofcom/

R3- What is news? Local news?