Ian Anderson visits Winchester University

Today we were given the amazing opportunity to have an editor of the bbc 10 'o'clock news give us feedback on our news packages. As frightening as that sounds, it was not all that scary because it is always really great to hear from a range of people in the Journalism industry, its the our only way to absorb as much information as we can about what it is really like, before we get thrown out into the big scary world.

Ian, who has been at the BBC for more than 20 years, started his Journalism career on his college newspaper. Admitedly he says that he started paying more attention to that than his course. He started out at the BBC in production, helping to produce the 6pm and 10pm bulletins and went on to take a role as editor of the 10 o'clock news where he led a team.

He spoke about the importance of the news agenda, checking the papers, the news diary and the offers of stories that would come in every morning.

Ian suggests that if we have an "intrinsic interest" and "want to tell other people stories" then journalism is the industry to be in.

To be effective we must act as a sponge, be open and available so that people want to tell us a story.

Talking about work experience, his opinion is that the best training that is available to us is in local news, whether that is newspapers, radio or television.

Ian placed particular emphasis on the word 'recognition'. Recognise what separates you from everyone else. Be an antena for news, pick up information wherever you are and make something of it!

veryone is just trying to work out what it all means in order to explain the world.

TV Presenting and Editing session.

On Monday Angus ran a lecture outlining the Do's and the Don'ts of Television Reporting. We watched a few VTs created by a previous year in order to analyse their strengths and weaknesses.

Angus's notes covered:
Assignments:
- Always RESEARCH and plan ahead!
- Know the location
- Equipment check
- Permission (for location, filming, people etc.)
- PUNCTUALITY is KEY!
- Shoot asap.

Filming:
- Shoot in sequences, with different size shots, always maintaining continuity.
- Shoot cut-aways
- Remember the Rule of Thirds
- It's always better to shoot a little more than is needed BUT not too much!

!Don't start with a PTC  (remember it must ADD something to the piece and place yourself in the action.)
-  Use movement (e.g walk before you talk)

Interviews:
- Get cut-aways
- Sometimes it might be acceptable to use the infamous 'noddy'.
- Intro shots for interviewees

And now...
- Start writing up the story asap, whilst it's still fresh in your head!
- Check the pictures - availability etc.
- Organise any graphics that are needed.
And...Always KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWS DESK!

The story...
- Write the intro/link first!
- The 5 Ws. (Who/What/Where/When/Why)
- Never repeat content from the Link.
- 1 idea per sentence, keeping it present tense when possible.

Stay FRESH! Use PLAIN English!

- Simplify numbers (e.g 74% is almost 3/4s) - graphics might help to explain figures.

Creating your package:
- Tell a story, in sequence
- Start with the best pictures
- Use captions - don't name the interviewee in piece
- Keep "Grabs" to approx 20secs max.(x3 Vox pops)
Alternate shots/angles - left/right by standing on the opposite side of the camera
The end of your piece should have meaning - never end with an interview/SOT/SOQ

And... DON'T end with..."what happens next remains to be seen..." (one of Angus's big NO NOs!)

How to survive a Press Conference...
1 - Get there EARLY!

2 - Find a good spot to set up your camera (always stay next to your camera for Q&As.

3 - There is no harm in asking if there will be any one-to-ones.

BEWARE...of the 'media scrum'

- Start rolling asap

- Prepare for 'the crush' - look out for one another; you're in a team!

Overall, the session was definitely a well-needed recap on EVERYTHING, but what happens in the next lecture remains to be seen...it had to be done!