‘Antidote’

“The world is sick” – people have forgotten what it is like to truly live and feel so unconscious as to where they want to go in their lives. It seems that people are searching for joy on their telephones, when in-fact social media isn’t that social AT ALL, and won’t bring about much joy in the slightest. So what can be done?

As I have previously written, the shopping mall has become the new church, so perhaps by touching in and enjoying the conversations with the people in our company when it exists is a great starting point. People seem to be so wrapped up in themselves these days that they cannot even open the door for another person or help an elderly person with their shopping. If we see someone struggling, surely we should stick together and help? To give back is an amazing feeling, and imagine what the world would be like if everyone did one voluntary thing for somebody else every week – I’m sure it would be a much better, happier place.

All forms of addictions can be considered as an escapism – to take someone from reality to another place where no worry exists. They feel worry free, and most of us are guilty and have an addiction of our own, whether that’s Facebook or drinking alcohol, but what we should stop and ask ourselves is does that really solve the problem? We know the answer to that, yet it still doesn’t stop us.

Just by being thankful for what we have and showing gratitude the universe WILL give you more things to be grateful for, it’s the fact of life. If we moan and complain, become selfish and centered on our own needs without taking into consideration the needs of others, it becomes an isolated, one-way society. Don’t we all want togetherness? I find that I’m happiest when I’m with my family, and we are all sat round laughing and telling jokes, because we are all in the present moment and the feeling of sharing joy with another being is priceless. A mobile phone doesn’t make us happy nor does having a network of over 3,000 people on Twitter or Facebook because none of that is in REAL life – this is what we need to remember. So next time you want to meet a friend or even catch up with someone, why not call them? Or why not write them a letter? Create the intimacy that has been lost for such a long time now; I think it’s caught up in something. That something being the Internet.

Advanced Online – Storify and curating stories as a journalist

We got told in class today to post our articles on twitter using the hashtag #aomedia2015 so I have advertised my WordPress blog @gemmasmith7667.

An interesting topic is being discussed about using Storify via WordPress to curate content, as a journalist. The paradigm shift – launched in 2011 – allows journalists to curate content imported from a range of sites, Google searches and different RSS feeds. The function also allows users to import of URL’s – very handy indeed.

The chronological narrative is a story that is more than a single stream of one writer’s words – this to me makes a normal, neutral piece more interesting, offering different perspectives thus strengthening any one story.

“The news story told by the people, through a journalist.” Pretty impressive ay?

What are the best content curation tools for journalists? Information can be found here full of exciting resources to be utilised right now. Some examples include Storify, which I have demonstrated in a blog post, Scoop, Bundlr and Pearltrees to name a few.

Some key theorists in this area: Axel Bruns and Ian Hargreaves.

“There still is an editorial function that needs to happen – there still needs to be someone who really makes sense of it all.” – Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter

Yes we all know Storify may be cool, new hip tech but is it really journalism? What happened to us individually collecting our stories, or as a group gathering a real news-worthy event? Lots of discussion to be had here…

Interestingly the BBC use Storify: “A key attraction was how intuitive the user interface is for our editorial team, who want to focus on the content, without being hampered by a complex tool.” – Jessica Shiel, Product Manager

 

Advanced Online Journalism – useful sources

Advanced Online Journalism – 16.01.15

“Below I have identified some sources for tech news”

I have set up Instapaper to save my URLs to. This will now be a useful tool for me to use to save interesting websites. Another app I have downloaded to my iPhone is Flipboard, which is a space for me to choose what sort of news I wish to browse through keeping it focused on what I am doing.

Some useful online journalistic tools – a good media diet for any active member in the media industry:

Here is a list of some tech websites I think would be useful to check:

http://www.wired.co.uk

http://www.extremetech.com

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/technology

http://www.vulture.com

http://venturebeat.com

http://gawker.com

http://digg.com

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/

http://www.forbes.com/home_usa/

http://www.mediaite.com

http://pando.com

http://uk.businessinsider.com/?r=US

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tag/technology – a fun website that shows up to date news in a listical way

https://gigaom.com – very useful tech news

http://digiday.com/category/platforms/ – a website to compare and contrast the media industry and has many articles related to apps

http://www.coolbusinessideas.com/archives/category/technology/ – cool business ideas with tech ideas and app inspirations – very tech savvy

http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx – tech learning, inspirational and innovative ways to create media

http://appideas.com – app ideas to help assist me with research for my second assessment

http://www.theguardian.com/media-network – media network

http://ben-evans.com – Benedict Evans – interesting blogger who shares tech information and up to date app innovations with his readers

http://stratechery.com – Ben Thompson – he is another blogger and this is his site where he shares the latest tech news, very useful for studying online journalism

 

Other sources: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhimler/2012/03/19/12-new-media-influencers/ – LOTS OF USEFUL MEDIA WEBSITES

http://makezine.com/video/ – blogger “Seeing is believing, and often the best way to learn how to do something is watching others do it first. Park yourself here and browse our extensive collection of how-to and project videos.”

http://www.nminnovation.com/nmi/portfolio – new business media innovations

Useful and insightful link into predicted upcoming innovations in tech: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-hill/startups-new-media_b_1967657.html

 

If you check out my twitter: @gemmasmith7667 and follow the trend #aomedia2015 you will see some top trending stories in the tech industry I think would be worthwhile checking out.

Visibility of Online Users on the Internet in the Modern Age

It’s quite scary really, when you sit back and think about how many people actually log online every single day, all throughout the year, and navigate their way through the web. According to a website demonstrating Internet Trends, approximately 2.4 billion people use the Internet for their own specific needs. Do we even consider the amount of people who could be looking at our profiles, reading our online media content or ‘looking us up’. As part of human nature we are very nosey species: we search, we investigate and we analyse things based on our own perspective of things. We make ourselves visible to the external world: the world outside our window. But do we ever know at any one given moment just who might be looking through our stuff? I don’t think we do.

This raises the question about how we should represent ourselves within the online platform, and how we want others to perceive us, see us and judge us as an individual. It is a valid point when people say you shouldn’t really care about what others think, but when you look at it from a different angle: would you care if it was the employer from you biggest dream job that was reading through your profile and you had numerous amounts of inappropriate images, negative comments and showing a contradictory side to your personality, one that you haven’t excelled on in your original CV? I think then, just then we might care that little bit more.

Over the recent year I would say, I have definitely been more conscious about what I share on my social media sites, especially Facebook and Twitter. I use those two the most, as I generally have my main circle of friends on Facebook where I feel that I can easily communicate with them within the virtual arena, allowing that feeling of them never being a part of your life to run free. Twitter is a fantastic social networking site, in my opinion, as it offers short and sweet punchy news-hooked tweets to speculate everywhere, as well as acting as a basis for professional conversation and a way to build up your contacts.

I believe that brand awareness is a primary tool that each and every one of us needs to consider; when echoing our image into the universe. If we believe that we want others to vision us as a happy hard worker, then why would we post statuses about how depressed we are, and how we cannot wait to finish work because it has been such a boring day? The two just don’t match up. Nor do they replicate a very attractive appearance about whom you are trying to portray to the world. The bottom line is, you never know who is searching online and who may come across your page, but a lot of it is not what you know but who you know, so keeping that in mind should rigidly put us into shape when thinking twice about our next Tweet or Facebook update.

Personally, I monitor who I accept on my friend requests, and if I don’t recognise them or know them personally, I reject them. I think it’s about being aware and always questioning the true identity behind the virtual profile: people are not always who they say they are. We can control our privacy to some extent, but we cannot always be 100% accurate, as we may not know all of the required skills to fully protect ourselves from unwanted intruders.

When you look at the profound reason why most of us join these social networking sites, it is because we want to socialise and we want to connect with new, like-minded people, as well as staying in touch with our friends and loved ones. This can then make us question how far do we actually go with fabricating the truth? I think we need to remain true to ourselves and network as much as we can, because building up that circle is so important, but just bear the thought in the back of your mind at all times you never know who is reading: so represent yourself in the way you want to be seen.

No Makeup Selfies to Raise Money for Cancer Research UK

The ‘selfie’ has gone viral all over the world with a new trend set loose. The “No Make Up Selfie for Cancer Awareness” campaign has risen above £2million now for Cancer Research UK – a phenomenal figure all which has been made possible via social media.

Pictures were posted all over Facebook of girls taking pictures of themselves without makeup and then they nominate their friends to do the same. Twitter and their use of the hashtag tool: #nomakeupselfie has become very popular, collaborating the public in a community in regards to Cancer Research UK.

Very rapid communication like this has never been faster in human history, but you have to be careful…”

Dr Linda GibsonNottingham Trent University

So why did it go viral? Was it all about raising awareness and money for life-saving research?

It isn’t quite clear just how this trend started, but it may have been related to the Oscar selfie featuring a group of actors; which was then retweeted on a large scale in early March this year – 2014.

Above – my no makeup selfie

Professional Development Plan – S2 – What type of journalist do I want to be?

Section 2

I am interested in a security-based job due to my organisational qualities, but I wouldn’t like to sit in an office all day. I would like a job with a company, like the Guardian, which required a lot of field work and investigations.

In particular I love the idea of giving other people a voice and letting them express their opinion. I think that’s essential in journalism and can often be forgotten about with the daily pressures journalists face to produce fast news and work around the clock.

Traditional public interest journalism appeals to me – writing truthful pieces for my readers and reporting in a real-feel way. I want to get out there and gather stories, and write them up in different ways for the required platform. In the long haul, once I have a lot of experience in the field, I would love to have my own publication and be my own Editor as I love coming up with ideas and turning them into action.

Just like Elizabeth Day, I want to be a generalist and write about different things, which I think would be more stimulating. This would keep me engaged in my profession, constantly offering me a new challenge.

According to Matt Thompson’s 4 Types of Journalists piece: it explains a Systems Analyst as a person who likes to underpin a story. Revealing things in a ‘complex, modern-day’ society, about a particular topic or concern which reaches “far beyond a news cycle”. I think that is what is important to me, in particular, is creating journalism with a sense of genuine care and not just hard-raw reporting.

I want to connect and inspire my audiences, just like Zoe Heller has done in the way she wrote in her column for a New York publication, and the way Elizabeth continues to do so with her cinematic use of words. Real writing arouses all sorts of emotions in people, and I know this because I often feel touched by many articles that I come across.

When I look at what I’d like to do in journalism it makes me work out what sort of personality traits I have. I definitely love speaking to new people and even the thought of approaching higher-up figures doesn’t frighten me. I love working in a community and bringing people together, and digging deep into why and how something has happened.

Something I am not currently comfortable with is reporting on live TV. This is only because I haven’t tried being in front of a camera before. With my options in year 2 I want to put myself in the deep end and learn new skills. It’s important that, as a journalist, you can adapt to different situations and so I am trying to exercise this regime throughout my course, and collect a variety of skills during my 3 years at university.

The way I can vision myself at the moment is being a flexible, energetic journalist with a pro-active approach to anything that comes my way. I would love to have the opportunity to work at the Guardian, so a placement there would be my preferred choice whilst studying at Westminster. Once I have my foot in the door I would love to write about different things, and travel to different locations to generate stories.

Elizabeth Day

Zoe Heller

Professional Development Plan – S3 – What do I need to do to become that kind of journalist?

Section 3

In order to develop as a journalist in the area of my choice, I need to choose modules in my course which cover a wide range of journalistic skills that may be expected of me in the world of work. I want to be a versatile, rounded writer who can adapt to various demands.

My media diet currently consists of national and international affairs and I read a lot of online journalism, especially on the BBC and the Guardian. I love watching Sky News and the BBC on TV – which always gives multiple perspectives to a story – from live coverage to interviews, and facts and figures.

I am currently reading Nick Davies – Flat Earth News, which is generating new ways of looking at the media, and how the media world operates: all of which are insightful as an upcoming journalist.

On Twitter I have reviewed who I follow to ensure I am absorbing journalistic information on my timeline. Some examples of people I follow are: @bbcjts, @ginakolata, @Aimee_Bateman, @bbcquestiontime, @dsmitheconomics, @BBCNewsbeat, @bbcworlservice, @ReutersAgency, @HuffPostOWN, @TheAtlanticGLBL, @guardian, @guardiannews, @mediaguardian, @guardianworld, @GuardianAus, @SkyNewsAust, @9NewsAus and I often read the Guardian’s blog.

I absolutely love blogging as I think it’s vital to develop your own personal voice in a unique way. Knowing your brand as a person and what you are offering to future employers is essential. That is why I blog so often to keep practicing.

I have thought about my option choices for Year 2 and 3 and which modules would work best for my career path. As I feel reasonably comfortable with online media I feel that facing my weak points would be more beneficial. Year 2 semester 2 I would most likely choose Advanced Broadcast Journalism and work on my camera confidence and on the radio.

In my personal tutorial I was advised that, although I have an option to choose International Journalism as a specialist option, it would be better to first of all strengthen my overall set of skills. Therefore, I have thought about taking Arts and Entertainment Journalism to understand the cultural side to feature writing, and try something I have no previous knowledge of.

For my theory options, the Creativity module appeals to me and Media and the Law. I think understanding the legal systems within the Media is important in any field – and the creativity module will help me to think outside the box and encourage creativity in my work.

In Year 3 I should have developed enough skills to take on the big Investigative Journalism module; where we will be taught how to put together longer investigative features. On the theory side I am stuck between Celebrity Culture and the Media and Media Around the Globe. I think all of my preferred modules are versatile enough to equip me with a range of skills needed for contemporary journalistic employment.

I am eager to do as many work placements as possible and I have already been searching online for the possibilities available to me. On http://m.jobs.theguardian.com/st/jobs-plaements.html the Guardian offer many different work placements for students – which can be from a few days to a maximum of two weeks. There is an Editorial Experience – News (UK and International) editorial practice available – which is unpaid and voluntary. It would help me to understand multi-platform news organisations at a higher level, and I would have the chance to shadow working journalists.

The BBC offer placements too, and currently hold a Journalism Trainee Scheme which is open on January 27^th 2014. This involves a year’s paid work as a trainee in one of their UK newsrooms – across online, radio and TV. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes/jts)

Sky News are going to be re-opening their work placement scheme for 2014 early in the year to recruit for their July to December slots. It offers you the chance to spend time at the heart of the organisation, and it lasts for a maximum of 3 weeks which are also unpaid. (http://jobs.sky.com/starting-out/work-experience-opportunities/content-work-experience)

1987 words total

Inspirational Speech by Aimee Bateman

Today I decided to go along to an inspiring speech delivered by Aimee Bateman from careercake.com 

Using social media to job hunt

It was an absolute pleasure from the moment I stepped into the room. I don’t think I have ever sat through something quite so rewarding before, it was as though she knew me, without even speaking to her. Aimee’s motto’s and outlook on life correlates with similar views to mine – with morals of passion, inspiration and integrity.

I learned so much today about how it isn’t what you do it’s why you do. Many of us get so caught up in telling people what we’re good at as our value but many of us fail to say why we’d be of a benefit to them. It also got recognised today how important it is to build brand awareness and knowing who you are. Once you know your own identity you stick with it; online and offline. By producing a personal statement you are opening up to people to connect with you… A lot of this potential stems from enthusiasm and making an employer or another person want to have you in their presence. It’s about standing out and being different from the rest with the power of positive association. So many of us fail to give a smile back, open the door for someone, say please and thank you. These little things in life are free and it can really make someone think differently of you.

By using social media we can showcase who we are. We can reflect who we are as an individual and our personality will shine through our pictures, our comments and who we decide to become friends with/follow. These are all things to keep in mind when using the online platforms, because you never quite know who might be searching you!

Make sure you check out Aimee’s online website; it is so inspirational and will certainly impact you’re life with positivity! You can follow Aimee on Twitter: @Aimee_Bateman and on LinkedIn: Aimee Bateman

It really did lift my mood and made me look at life a lot differently. In a way it reminded me of things I already knew as I have always loved using social media to network and build relationships with people.

People don’t just buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

Jobs are owned by the company…you own your career.

A True Inspiration

Consumption of the media and journalism

Consumerism and Critical thinking

As soon as my eyes open I’m alert and ready for another fantastic day ahead. Within a few minutes I check my Twitter and Facebook for any new notifications which usually consumes around 5/10 minutes of my morning. I normally re-tweet important tweets related to news organisations and then add my own comment and personal spin to them.

Once I’m back from my daily lecture and seminar I buy a newspaper from the shop by Northwick Park Station. The one I like to buy is The Times and i if it is available. Reading this newspaper may take me a few days; as I can get caught up in doing other tasks. In general, on a weekly basis, I will buy 4 newspapers – either The Guardian or The Times. On a daily basis also, I check The Guardian app on my iPhone. I do not have a television in my room, but soon I will be streaming from BBC iPlayer on my iPad once my wifi box is set up and then I will consume more broadcasting journalism from the BBC.

I rarely listen to the radio; this is something I need to do more. I heavily rely on news sources from different organisations and quite often compare stories to then allow me to form my own judgement.

As well as checking my tweets and notifcations for journalism frequently, you do come across other types of media that may influence what you think and feel about different perspectives within the world we live in. On a daily basis I would say I check Facebook for half an hour, connecting to friends and family and being involved in the social world. I also think you consume media when you see different posters and billboards. When you are going shopping and come across a variety of brands and slogans – all of which can influence the human mind.

From regularly checking my Twitter and blogging almost everyday/every two days, I definitely think about the media on a frequent basis; throughout my day. I love it. It’s my passion! Not only do I love the news and learning about the world around me, but I love writing.

Adding to that, as well as consumerism, I always like to think critically about the construction of the pieces I am reading. It is interesting to think about the influences that may have had an effect on the type of style it originates from – left wing/ring wing/neutral.

“Teaching journalists to read”

Felix Salmon’s piece, Teaching Journalists to Read truly inspired me…

In his detailed account of common journalists traits and adaptations he points out the importance that reading has in alignment with writing itself. Salmon quotes “reading is to writing as listening is to talking”  Reading is extremely valuable from quality sources; and also reading from a wide spectrum of places too to help form your own judgement. He makes another excellent point of how transformations have emerged over the years, and journalism has become increasingly conversational. This makes the web and the blogosphere more social;

It’s moved to Twitter, and Facebook, and many mainstream websites, too: the web is social now. You no longer need a blog to be part of the conversation; you don’t even need a Tumblr. Everybody is a publisher now, and all these new networks have helped to create a new vibrancy in public discourse.

As journalists we are now engaging more with our audiences. We are becoming more involved – we are listening to more voices. Mentioning also how inside the blogosphere, we are able to identify various viewpoints about a story; in a way of understanding what people are thinking and saying.

We have also become more critical of what we read; which is crucial to constructing our own piece and opinion. Salmon also adds how linking has become increasingly popular when adding depth and understanding towards the original source. I couldn’t agree more in the fact that the online journalism movement has changed dramatically in comparison with the Old Media – whereby that focuses heavily upon the print industry unlike the new digital media approach New Media takes.

Now, more than ever, we value readerships response highly; just as it is important as writing itself – and you cannot have the former without the latter. My last important point I would like to make is how Globalisation has had a huge effect on the widespread captured audience. Our pieces are now a harbinger of collective research and valuable news stories. We then use other platforms to disperse our ideas through a multiple range of media commodities.

An excellent and insightful piece. Thoroughly enjoyed!