Monday 29 March 2010

EXISTENTIALISM IN MUSIC...

...Trance to be exact!

In Kaskade's 'Move For Me', the lines below remind me of the kind of things that were said in 'Wings of Desire'

"Here we go, another night out
Waited all week, just to get out
Where do we come from?
Do I know your name?
Doesn't really matter
In this life we're all the same"


To an Existentialist, it is irrelevant who that person is that she is singing about. It doesn't matter whether there is a reason for being in that situation or not, they are just there (existing), making their own story.

A modern version of Damiel and Marion methinks!

Saturday 27 March 2010

HCJ PART 4 (WEEK 7)

The New Journalism

The two main figures in 'The New Journalism', now known as 'features', are Tom Wolfe and Hunter S. Thompson.

This movement was heavily influenced by the taking of LSD. The drug (apparently) makes boring things interesting and interesting things boring.

If you wanna write features, take LSD. If you wanna write the news, take alcohol.

People like Wolfe began looking at these boring things and writing about them for hours on end - one of the triggers that brought about 'long form journalism' or 'features'.

Techniques involved included floating around in Existentialist 'Wings of Desire' stylie and observing a situation.

One of the highlights of Wolfe's career was his invention of the term 'radical chic'. The term describes somebody who is seen as collaborating with a radical group to increase their reputation and stir up politics.

The first example came when American musician Leonard Bernstein held a fundraising party for the Black Panther Party who campaigned for self-defense for black people. Wolfe wrote down everything that happened in this weird event. The feature ended up being reprinted in his books 'Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers' and 'The Purple Decades'.

Hunter S. Thompson wrote a detailed commentary decadency and depravity of the Kentucky Derby called 'The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved' (funnily enough!). Thompson focused on what was going on around him, rather than the race itself - the querky style being one of the first examples of 'gonzo journalism'.

Thompson made his name with his novel 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', which took on a similar style. It told the story of two men and the darker side of 'The American Dream' in times of racial tension

Overall, this was a literary movement in journalism that was mimetic not diegetic in its narration. That's to say it shows rather than tells what is going on (as in news).

The mimetic style figures like these led to 'performance journalism' where the journalist/filmmaker involved in the piece is also the 'star'. Example: Morgan Spurlock in 'Super Size Me'.

FOUR TOOLS FOR STORY TELLING (IN NEW JOURNALISM)

1. Scene-by-scene construction - Raw style, jump cuts, be sure to set the scene, hand held camera etc.

2. Phonetic dialogue (if written) - Recording actual speech in the way it has been said (i.e - 'ain't' or 'hangin').

3. Third person point of view - Never use 'I' and in video form never make yourself the main subject. You are the observer.

4. Concentration on 'status life' - Try and establish, through your chosen style, who is the big dog and who are the underlings.

Friday 26 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 7)


Last week as Deputy News Editor of WINOL.

The last week supplied a nice surprise in the planning section. It now appears WINOL are on a media database as I received an E-Mail from BIS (The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills) without contacting them myself.

It spat up figures about the education sector (watch report above) and Editor-in-Chief Chris put me on the story.

I spent Monday getting (almost) everything in order and planning the structure of this - my first VT!

On Tuesday, I filmed an interview with a student teacher at the Uni in the morning. I then went to double check whether the Dean of the Faculty of Education etc could talk to me.

On Wednesday, I turned up at her office at the crack of dawn only for her to tell me she didn't want to go on camera. Okay, I didn't say: "I will be filming you" but I did have a PD170 in my hand when I asked for the interview the previous day.

LESSON LEARNED: Say "I will be filming you".

However...she did agree that I could turn the quotes into a statement, which is what I did. It's a shame as the piece would've been stronger if I could've had it on video. I also polished the VT off with fillers and voiceovers.

Jason put the voiceovers and stuff in the right place while I was picking up the Winchester City Manager Stuart Hussey (the studio guest). Thanks mate!

End of WINOL...for now! Looking forward to the challenge of News Editor next semester.

Saturday 20 March 2010

HCJ PART 4 (WEEK 6)

Notes from the screening of the documentary 'Century of the Self'.

The documentary enforced a lot of points from last week's lecture.


"There is a policeman inside our heads - he must be destroyed."

Recap

- Sigmund Freud: Our subconscious thoughts should be controlled.

- WIlhelm Reich: Our subconscious thoughts should not be controlled. Our inner self should be embraced.

Screening

Edward Bernays brought in Freud's idea of the unconscious mind in advertising. These techniques involved subtly playing to the repressed desires of the masses.

It was observed that this form of consumerism kept the masses docile.

Wilhelm Reich's contrasting ideas about the mind were largely ignored at the time. Lore Reich blamed Freud's daughter Anna for this.

Former Student Activist Robert Pardun said: "advertising was manipulation, it was a way to get you to do something that didn't come out of you".

Herbert Markuse, another critic of Freud said: "People are reduced to expressing their feelings through manufactured objects".

Wilhelm Reich's contrasting ideas were largely ignored at the time. Lore Reich blamed Freud's daughter Anna for this.

Personal becomes political

The public turned to Reich from the 1960s - in advertising and politics.

"The whole system of government and economy is based on profit, on personal greed and selfishness

Politically, it was asserted that society couldn't be changed unless enough individuals changed themselves.

So, "the personal became the political".

An interviewee said that Reich's ideas could be summed up by "taking ownership of who you are".

Minority groups, designed to express marginal opinions, began to develop.

Black/white encounter groups were an example of these groups, in which intense racial arguments would take place. It was seen as healthier to air feelings publicly rather than keeping them inside or behind closed doors.

Another group, the Human Potential Movement (HPM), was designed to bring out the best in people. The idea was to transmit these human qualities to make positive changes to society.

HPM was rooted heavily in Existentialism as it encouraged individualism and having control of one's destiny.

Reich and American corporations

Reich had a massive effect on corporate America as his ideas became more prominent. (Marketing) values were now challenged more often.

Additionally, the consumer could be seen no longer as passive and one of a 'mass'. The consumer now wanted to feel like an individual, and wanted to be offered products to reflect that.

Advertisers had to monitor the habits of the consumer a lot more as a result.

However, to add a WINOL-like sting, self-expression was not unlimited. Individuals could be grouped into 'lifestyles,' which inevitably helped corporations.

Thursday 18 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 6 DEBRIEF)

Notes from Angus and Brian's debrief...

Stu's story was about the only 'shade' in the bulletin, and a strong piece as usual. Well-framed interviews, interesting shots. He persevered to get the material in the first place. Problems with sound levels but only because he was pushed for time.

For the vending machine break-in (my OOV). Done at short notice. Never been a reporter, so first proper thing I've edited. Libel (identification) problems, but never called him a "thief" - don't know what happened there.

Jon's SU piece was up to his usual high standards. His voice/scripting continues to improve while his sign off was to the point, more so than others this week.

Claire's Doormice/Park & Ride story was well done. It left too much suspense in the scripting though. AND don't introduce interviewee unless it's Radio!

In Sport, the highlights package had a few sound issues and neede softer edits, but the team are doing really well.

CVs 'And Finally' was pretty decent. She is one of the most confident in the group, as her PTC proved. Didn't quite make enough connection with our local audience though...

WINOL 2 (WEEK 6)

New week, same old WINOL.

On Monday, me and Tom did our usual scrapping for stories on the internet, radio and TV and in the papers.

In the afternoon, Paul gave me some sub-editing to do. We need to make the site look as good as possible and it is always better if it is done in HTML mode. It might be a good idea if me and Paul go through this with Production.

On Tuesday, I went into Winchester to help Stu with his package on the upcoming road closure. We managed to get the Agent's business card, which will be useful when the road actually closes. I was pleasantly surprised at my imagination when I was on the camera!

We were light on Wednesday, so we looked for other last minute stories. We opted for the thefts that had gone on this week and I went to do an OOV on it. It had libel issues (apparently), as I (apparently) called the matey a thief.

...Oh well, what doesn't kill you and all that...

I then put some Sport on the site as well as some Hobbs pieces.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

WINOL 2 (HORRIE MASTERCLASS ON WEEK 5)

Notes from the Horrie Masterclass (not Debrief!) on Monday...

Avoid the passive voice...

ACTIVE: "Labour slams Tory plan" (S V O)
PASSIVE: "Tory plan was slammed by Labour" (O V S)

We avoided undue prominence on our package with the Green Party as we haven't used them very much. We have given the three main parties a lot more air time to keep with fair proportionality. We have further cover as the story was about the environment - the Greens' specialist subject.

The fashion show was vital to include in the headlines as a hook and to balance up the 'light and shade' of the bulletin. It was also great for pictures, which we were short of in news.

Don't forget the concept of 'function first'. For example, not everybody knows who Mick Jardine is and we didn't give his function, which is more important than his name.

EXAMPLES: Campus Union Boss Mick Jardine
The University of Winchester's Vice Chancellor Joy Carter

Our Production Editor failed to get the captions right on Sport last week, bringing about the concept of 'pass for press'. This means everything has to be 'signed off' before publication, or in this case - transmission.

GOOD NEWS to finish! We now have concrete evidence from the Freedom of Information Act that we do not need the press officer's permission if we want to talk to somebody from the Uni.

Monday 15 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 5 DEBRIEF)

Notes from Angus and Brian's Debrief on Wednesday

Another professional performance for the bulletin this week.

General points

- We had some poor shots this week, not up to our best.

- Need to check spelling - "pavilion" spelt wrong.

- Editorially, we were overloaded with politics this week, although that is good in the sense we are able to get local candidates fairly easily.

- Josh gave clear direction in the gallery

Stories

1. 'Jellygate'

- Loads of legal problems!

2. Park & Ride

- Well scripted link

- Some pictures burnt out

- A lot of imagination with pictures

3. Army in Schools

- Good link

- Don't caption interviewees until they start talking.

4. Clamping

- Shame there were no soundbites/pictures with the Army

- Good example of balance for OFCOM.

- 'Hot' shots

5. E-Mail

- Good to let a last minte interview with Mick Jardine

A. Sport: AFC Totton Highlights

- Good scripting

- Too stilted

- Don't need full-time whistle, just do full-time caption on last shot

6. Fashion Show

- Used two cameras but one tape was corrupted. Quite a shame as it would have looked funkier!

- Sound issues

- Lots of good shots that could have been used for headlines

For this week

- Think about stretching our beat further from campus

Saturday 13 March 2010

HCJ PART 4 (WEEK 5)

Wilhelm Reich & Sigmund Freud

To sum up the lecture: it's all about the orgasm!

Freud said we are governed by primitive sexual and aggressive forces and they need to be controlled. Chaos would ensue if they were not.

The Austrian philosopher believed that, under the outer surface, we are always driven by these animal instincts. However, these urges are not always on show as our 'conscious mind' serves to surpress them.

Freud claimed the key to our true desires lies in our dreams: "Dreams are the royal road to the subconscious", he said.

He separated our mind into three parts:

1. Id - our instinctive drives. Leads to chaos if not controlled, according to Freud.
2. Ego - conscious mind.
3. Super Ego - works against Id to keep it in check, thus keeping our conscious mind more prominent.

Wilhelm Reich was a close follower of Freud's work, but then he came up with his own contrasting theory.

He said the repression of the Id caused bad thoughts, rather than the existence of the Id itself. Reich believed we actually had good urges.

Reich developed his own version of the three layers of the human mind:

1. Surface - polite, compasssionate
2. Cruel, selfish
3. Deepest layer - loving, pure

Unlike Freud, Reich said we should always bring out No. 3, instead of repressing it...but we had to get past No. 2 (the worst layer) before we got to the best side of human nature (No. 3).

In 'The Mass Psychology of Fascism', Reich - from a Jewish background - said the Nazis embodied the second layer.

He also claimed the Nazis focused most on the vote of the lower-middle class as they were most suseptible to Hitler's rhetoric.

According to Reich (pictured, right), they were most vulnerable for two reasons:

1. Most likely to have strong father figure - Particularly used to authority, as in a totalitarian regime.

2. Most likely to be sexually repressed - Mainly because of the father figure. This would cause a need for rebellion, an opposite but equally important attraction of the Nazis.

As a result of the failure/fear of other parties, the Nazis encouraged voters to 'rebel' against them. Therefore, many Germans voted for them out of disillusion with the opposition, without necessarily agreeing with Nazi policy. This is known as 'negative cohesion'.

ANYWAY, BACK TO THE ORGASM.

Remember, Reich said repression was bad. Repression would mean you could not have a proper orgasm. This was really bad in the eyes of Mr. Reich!

Reich believed one's happiness could be measured by their Orgiastic Potency - their ability to surrender to the orgasm.

Later, when he was going a bit crazy, Reich took his focus from the orgasm and found a new obsession - orgone energy. The more orgone energy we gained, the freer we would become.

Reich suggested orgone energy could be collected in 'orgone accumulators' or 'cloudbusters'. These cloudbusters could supposedly alter the atmosphere so much that they could create rain. Kate Bush tells us more!

Freud and Reich in Advertising

In 1950s America, Freud's idea of the 'unconscious mind' was used in advertising. Figures like Edward Bernays would constantly play to our unconscious desires, almost always involving sex, in adverts.

In the 1960s, Reich became more prominent and advertising started to surround the individual, and their need to express themselves in a way that separates them from the crowd. Modern adverts from Apple are a classic example.

Verdict

Essentially, followers of Wilhelm Reich would want to express their feelings as openly as possible and Sigmund Freud's followers would feel they should be kept under the surface at all costs.

The most interesting debate is whether society has the right balance between Freudian and Reichian ideas...

Should we be more open? Should we be more reserved? Or is it up to each individual?

Wednesday 10 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 5)

This was a very important week as the BJTC are coming to spy on us! But they didn't come in the end!

On Monday, I gave Jon the number for a councillor who specialises in car parking issues - the kind of story he is covering this week.

I also tried to get hold of our press officer...oh yes I did! Unsurprisingly, to no avail. I wanted to find out when the Uni is releasing their budget.

The Lib-Dem Deputy Leader was in town. He must have been the most famous person to be in Winchester (that isn't usually in Winchester) on that day, but we decided not to even go and see what he was doing. He must have been doing something! A potential local story that covered national agendas? He was on South Today that night...

On Tuesday, I helped Tom with his court report. We were covering a murder trial and it was the day of the verdict.

It seemed a very interesting case to follow - and it could have gone one of a few ways.

The defendant was cleared of murder and manslaughter to the despair of the victim's family.

Unfortunately, although the case was no longer active, the story had to be dropped as the defendant was proven innocent in a court of law. Obviously this was very frustrating for me and Tom, but there were too many libel dangers in the package, given that we were reporting on a now innocent man.

On Wednesday, I started planning for next week. I found something for Jon: King Alfred's reburial procession. This is set to be a crowded event, so there may be identification issues.

Me and Tom also noticed that people are getting waxed for Sport Relief next week. Tom: "Get Lucy on it!"

Paul also employed me to do some subbing on sport results and reports.

Monday 8 March 2010

HCJ PART 4 (WEEK 4)


My take on 'Wings of Desire' (1987) with Existentialist theory (Part 2)

At the Coffee Bar I

Der Filmstar tells Damiel (still an angel) at a Coffee Bar how great it is to be, to exist, to feel - the simple things in life.

Damiel is dying to feel the things that humans do - particularly love - the love he has developed from watching Marion.

At the bridge

Damiel and Cassiel seem to show the more optimistic side on Existentialism when they talk at a bridge by a river.

Existentialists believe you create your own tale in a never ending story; they long to make their own story: "I want to conquer a history for myself".

"We learned to speak"
Link to Jean-Paul Satre: Why write? It is "the act of freedom".

- DAMIEL TURNS INTO A HUMAN...

As the films nears its end, Damiel truly appears to be at peace when he says: "I'll take her in my arms...she'll take me in her arms".

This is the one passionate commitment that Damiel makes when he becomes human

At the Coffee Bar II

Damiel feels the bliss that Der Filmstar spoke of. He gulps a piping hot coffee but doesn't care - he is so jubilant to feel what humans can.

Circus II

As Marion, the Trapeze Artist, is on the verge of the big time, she still feels full of angst as she constantly thinks to herself. She is superstitious as there is a full moon - the same as when her dreams were last crushed.

Then, in an impossible alignment with Damiel, Marion suddenly seizes life for herself: "It doesn't matter".

She goes on to put up an excellent performance.

Meeting at bar at concert

And finally, in amongst all the suffering on the streets of Berlin, Damiel and Marion eventually meet (see video, above).

In keeping with the whole film, Damiel slowly turns to Marion, it is as if there is nobody else in the world: "there's no better story than ours".

Marion talks of her lack of purpose and confusion in life: "When I was with someone I was often happy, but at the same time it all seemed a coincidence".

"The taxi driver's daughter was my friend, but I might as well have put my arm round a horses neck", she adds.

She feels no doubt for the first time with Damiel. To an Existentialist, what had gone before and what is yet to come is irrelevant, they are in the moment, they are in love.

"From tonight there are no more coincidences".

"We are our destiny".

"Now or never"...

WINOL 2 (WEEK 4 DEBRIEF)

Notes from Chris' Monday morning debrief...

The bulletin was the best and most watched of the semester so far.

It was a lot more professional and slick than previous weeks and the mistakes, as explained below, are becoming smaller and smaller.

Story 1: Council

Joey more or less repeated Stu on the first line of his package, which is good to reiterate the story. He went to the opposition, which enabled us to use the verb 'slammed' for a hard news angle. The interviews were well framed. The second interviewee said some facts that we should have said. Overall, we need better quotes.

Story 2: Stock Exchange Simulator

Again some facts were in the quotes, so we needed more striking soundbites. However, it was technically brilliant with one interviewee looking left and the other looking right. Overall, OFCOM would have said the story was too positive as it didn't introduce any element of doubt (i.e. - it might be a flop).

Story 3: Big Tidy Up (NIB)

There was balance in this one, as it gave the general impression that it was a good UoW initiative but it was a flop. In terms of variety of shots, the best I've seen on WINOL.

Story 4: Fairtrade Week

Sadly, all the good things from the NIB weren't transferred to this package. It seemed like one big advert so there was an absence of balance.

Sport 1: Winchester RFC Finals Day

Grant really showed off his personality with his piece to camera; as an introduction to the highlights, it reminded me of something you would see on the Football League Show. It was called a 'crowded' venue, but the shot didn't empasize this as the shot wasn't tight enough. Although it is difficult with the means at our disposal, we need to try and get tighter in on the action - and get some emotional cutaways.

Sport 2: Graphic

Results well scripted and read.

Story 5: Web Archiving (And Finally)

A real disappointment editorially but needed a bit of balance. As one of the week's main stories surrounded council job cuts, we really could have made more of this (i.e. - crazy web archivists a waste of time and money). Technically very sound though!

Sunday 7 March 2010

OFCOM CODE: 10-MIN TUTORIAL


Chris Horrie's tutorial on the OFCOM code. We will be refreshed and tested on the code this week.

Saturday 6 March 2010

HCJ PART 4 (WEEK 4)



'Wings of Desire' Screening

My take on 'Wings of Desire' (1987) with Existentialist theory (Part 1).

The whole film is spontaneous and enigmatic - two very appealing features to Existentialists.

The film follows two angels, one of whom becomes human and meets his true love, Marion - she is also followed all the way through. The message: passionate love can overcome the constant angst and oppression that plagues your life.

It is filmed from the point of view of an angel, which is reflected in the Existentialist style of slow, floating camera movement.

In an early scene, a man says of his dead parents: "my father was my father, my mother was my mother...no tears, no grief." To him, they were nothing more. This is reminiscent of Meursault in Albert Camus' 'The Outsider' who barely remembers when his mother died. Although this appears unusual, it draws upon the the theory of 'so-called existence' in that we are supposed to love our parents and be devastated at their death. An Existentialist wouldn't see it as abnormal if one didn't mourn over their parents.

We are introduced to the angels Damiel and Cassiel when they are conversating in a car. One of them says: "I wish people could say 'now' 'now'...and salvage all their demons and let them loose." Existentialists say we should let our demons loose, otherwise we will oppress ourselves.

These 'demons' are shown best in the subway scene (see video, above) as the camera pans from person to person exposing what they're thinking about themselves and others.

Circus

We are then introduced to Marion in the early stages of her career as a trapeze artist. She suddenly learns that they can't pay their rent to keep the circus going, so her dream of being a famous trapeze artist is shattered.

She says to herself: "it's the end and I feel nothing...it happens, that's the way it goes." Although it appears strange to talk of disappointment in this way, it epitomises Existentialist's attitude to life.

"Maybe time is the disease."

She also thinks constantly about finding love and appears trapped without it: "[I'm] longing for a wave of love...I need to love."

Homer, the aged poet

The angels occassionally hone in on a disillusioned old man called Homer. He appears reflective of the Existentialist view that people are worn down by their history.

Homer: "What makes the aspiration of peace so unendurable? Shall I give up? Where are my kids? The original, the natural"; children are very important to Existentialists as they are innocent and have no history.

As he journeys through Berlin, Homer (I might be wrong, might be someone else) says: "Today, only the German soul can be conquered". He believes that power is in the hands of "whoever has the right password". In Existentialism, authority is largely rejected as they believe you should be your own authority - it appears these quotes reflect this.

Film set

We are introduced to 'Der Filmstar' on the set of a film that appears to be about the Nazis/concentration camps. He is portrayed as an Existentialist as he is successful and seems to be in control of his own destiny.

He looks over at the extras on set and thinks to himself: "they're just extras, extra humans." This is a bit of a "hell is other people" moment!

Crowd of Children

One of the angels is sat in a crowd of kids and thinks to himself: "He [the child] had a clear picture of paradise...now he can only guess".

In 'Wings of Desire', the loss of the exuberance of youth is a constant theme.

Angels at the River

One angel says to another: "I want to conquer a history for myself...away with the world behind the world".

...And then, like magic, things start to get better...

WINOL 2 (WEEK 4 DEBRIEF)


Great bulletin this week, mainly because of great organisation.

We knew we were on the right track when we were on time with the headlines, leaving time to rehearse for the bulletin.

The council cuts story was put at the top as it was a local view of a national story. It had great structural qualities and was technically decent but it just needed to be rounded off with some facts. How many cuts? Percentage compared to other councils?

The story about the Stock Exchange Simulator was exactly what we want for the gallery. The package was eased in from Stu's link after Jon left a few seconds before his voice-over began. Again, it lacked a bit of flavour as it was a bit saturated with interviews, but a good piece.

Lucy's NIB of 'The Big Tidy Up' was really good. A great variety of shots and generally filmed and edited really well. However, the story about Fairtrade week wasn't quite as strong technically while there was little grasp on the story.

GREAT HANDOVER! FINALLY!!!

The Sports team did equally well this week. Their main Football fixtures were off this week, so they decided to cover a Rugby final between King Edward's and Peter Symonds College. Grant's piece to camera was very professional (slightly too long though) and set the scene before the highlights well. There was also great audio mixing during the highlights.

The Football results were then read out well by Lucy and scripted very well by the Sports team.

The 'And finally' about web page archiving had a lot of potential but we didn't really get to the heart of the story.

Overall, the packages were great and the mistakes are becoming a lot less significant. The professionalism and organisation in the gallery enabled these packages to be shown off while it was presented brilliantly by Stu and Lucy.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 4)

I walked in Monday morning to see that somebody had searched for 'Hampshire County Council meetings' on Google.

"What's the problem?" I hear you cry! Well, it's very annoying seen as I already have a list of council meetings for Hampshire and Winchester.

It was refreshing to see somebody taking notice of my 'forward planning board'. Thanks Claire!

I also got Claire onto a story this week after hers fell through. The story was about the Hampshire County Council's Archiving Department who are recording how the web has developed over time.

It was a good story as news broke this week that 25,000 council jobs could be lost - are these the kind of departments we can do without?

I also spent a long time going through all members of Winchester City Council and writing what department(s) they specialise in. Their contact numbers are all there too so this will hopefully help the news team in getting the right person.

Monday 1 March 2010

WINOL 2 (WEEK 3 DEBRIEF)

Notes from Chris Horrie's debrief on Monday morning...

The intro and headlines were a lot better this week and Stu read them well to reel in the audience. We just need to match up the headline shots with the corresponding top lines that the presenter reads out.

We have to jazz up our stories as much as possible. For example, "lashed out" in the intro to the first story is the kind of verb we want.

We need to avoid comment in our scripting. We should constantly use the conventinal 'subject, verb, object'. The subject should be the most important person on whatever story it is. In addition, we need to front the story with phrases like: "leading councillor" and not "Joe Bloggs"; if we give their function before their name, it makes more people stay to find out exactly who this story surrounds (better audience reach).

In the top story on the Trinity Centre, we got a good quote from the councillor, but we need to work on hardening them up - get the interviewee to say the most extreme thing as possible.

Hobbs churned out another bread and butter crime story. He protected one of the victims identities and made a point about it in the VT, which was to his credit. I went with Hobbs to film and we got some strong and emotional quotes from her.

The next story was about the ongoing parking problem in Winchester. We drifted into comment, which undermined the newsy element that was so tight in the first two stories. Tommy Geddes was there and we didn't interview; we needed to make more of this.

The scripting in Jon's norovirus story was very strong at the beginning of his package; he used a small amount of 'expo' but it was necessary in explaining what the virus is. However (sorry Chris!) there were too many facts told by the interviewee, such as "we're closing wards" - the WINOL reporters should say things like this.

Hand over from Stu to Lucy was very good - Hooray!

The sport was light again, so the team did well to get what they got. Jason's Rugby highlights were brilliant.

The Mike Marchant interview about upcoming fixtures was a good cover up for the lack of matches. Problems with the sound as the interview spot was very open to the wind. We need to be just as careful with our camera (framing) as choosing a quiet place for sound.

We then had our usual graphic for the local non-league; I thought this was scripted very professionally by the sports team and well read out by Lucy.

We had a strong 'and finally' story this week, which was very well put together by Veronica. She made a lot of the musicians nature as an extrovert while there were noddies and a good variety of shots. I think this package should be used as an example for our news packages in the coming weeks.

Events to look out for

19th April - Studio Discussion chaired by Joy Carter.

May (Date TBA) - WINOL Election Coverage