Putting together a piece without narration, and a whole 3 minute one too, is pretty difficult. Especially when your interviewee answers the questions briefly.
Mama Pam was interesting to interview; everyone knows her but no-one knows about her. A lot of the interview was in Xhosa, and bits that were in English - which is what our piece has to be in -were simply answered.
What i found difficult was trying to make my piece flow from focus to focus and making these focuses link with what had been said before. If she, the interviewee, didn't mention thiings specifically then it is hard to make that link.
One example is of Mama Pam's kids. I asked her how many rolls she sells a nightand she just replied: 150 on wednesday, 200 on fridays and saturdays. She answered the question, but when it came down to the package, i couldnt bring that n because at no point did she mention 'wors rolls'. SO people listening would be confused if i just chucked a soundbyte in there with numbers.
I learnt quite a bit on the interviewing side of things, especially having done it wiht someone who isn't fluent in English, or for whom English isn't mother tongue.
Questions had to be asked differently, syntax sentences had to be simplifed and reconsructed. Narration allows the producer to link things to each other and clarify soundbytes for the listener.
It was and is a challenge, but one that i am thouroughly enjoying taking up.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
objectivity-as seen through MY eyes..
hi again.
so..objectivity.
I wrote a whole lotta notes about it somewhere but forgot where they are.
So anyway..objectivity is one of the more bizarre concepts i have encountered. We have up til now been taught to stick by it as a law. What i do know about objectivity is that generally it is unattainable. Well glasser tells us this. He makes a good point about how even if a reporter just reports the facts, they see those facts from their standpoint, their position. When writing the story, their language wil show their personal agenda surely?
In some cases i feel being objective, well striving for it anyway, is ok, or right. Some things that are reported arent the business of the reporter, however some stories need to be told to the public-this is the duty of the journalist.
Personally, i find myself quite an opinionated chap, and thus see my future years as taking a standpoint on situations and battling it out with those opposed. Some of these situations are bound to be toughees, in which case im sure ill find myself battling it out with the technicalities of objectivity itself-that is striving for it. As an engine for democracy and general information to all, i believe attempting to be fair and tell both sides of the story is right. Whetjer thats what objectivity is remains up for debate.
However, there is so much out there that i feel passionately about, and want to share, whether its through a lens, mic, or pen. Such things are more of a self-agenda, my take on things, take it or leave it, than they are a careful attempt at achieving something, apparently, unattainable.
Well..thats just my opinion!
so..objectivity.
I wrote a whole lotta notes about it somewhere but forgot where they are.
So anyway..objectivity is one of the more bizarre concepts i have encountered. We have up til now been taught to stick by it as a law. What i do know about objectivity is that generally it is unattainable. Well glasser tells us this. He makes a good point about how even if a reporter just reports the facts, they see those facts from their standpoint, their position. When writing the story, their language wil show their personal agenda surely?
In some cases i feel being objective, well striving for it anyway, is ok, or right. Some things that are reported arent the business of the reporter, however some stories need to be told to the public-this is the duty of the journalist.
Personally, i find myself quite an opinionated chap, and thus see my future years as taking a standpoint on situations and battling it out with those opposed. Some of these situations are bound to be toughees, in which case im sure ill find myself battling it out with the technicalities of objectivity itself-that is striving for it. As an engine for democracy and general information to all, i believe attempting to be fair and tell both sides of the story is right. Whetjer thats what objectivity is remains up for debate.
However, there is so much out there that i feel passionately about, and want to share, whether its through a lens, mic, or pen. Such things are more of a self-agenda, my take on things, take it or leave it, than they are a careful attempt at achieving something, apparently, unattainable.
Well..thats just my opinion!
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