Week 6

Lectures and Readings:

This week has consisted of preparation for a news story project. Initially I intended to cover a news story about the cycling paths built in Varsity Lakes and Robina, but since that story has been changed. I am now pursuing a story about the Boa Constrictor that has been released at the Spit on the Gold Coast. 


Gold Coast Boa Constrictor story: http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/pets-and-wildlife/authorities-call-off-search-for-boa-constrictor-loose-at-gold-coast-spit/story-fnk74alk-1227294646627

I chose the story as it had more depth to the story and was more relevant, taking in the news values of timeliness and currency as well as proximity. I intend to get an interview with Mayor Tom Tate and possibly a professional snake catcher to get authoritative views on the issue. If time permits I will also allow for a vox pop in the segment. 

In class this week we developed our editing skills with a focus on how to run and time the news story. Using Final Cut Pro we learn how to crop and cut a video and how to construct a news bulletin from a news template. 

It is important for a journalist to construct a news template and script prior to conducting interviews, so the story angle and interview questions can be directly to suit the story. The template also ensures there will be a number of different shots filmed in the segment to gain the viewers attention (Alysen 2012, p.145). 

Most importantly this week we worked on preparing our stories and interviews using the camera equipment and set up. A note I have made about television journalism is that a journalist is more heavily relied on to research, produce and gather interviews, then edit an entire news story in one working day. The intensity of this is intimidating, but preparation is the key. 

Overall, this week has been productive in learning how to edit a news story prior to it airing on a news bulletin.