I created this blog for several reasons:
1. Writing practice. It's really important that we practice writing in this class. This is broadcast JOURNALISM, for heaven's sakes and journalists write! All of them, not just reporters and producers. You have to write more and more in order to get better at story telling (yes, that includes editors and photographers).
2. So I can get a feel and some feedback for what students are thinking about studying this field and so students can reflect on their work in here. I don't want students just going through the motions. I want every move, every interview, every edit decision to be thought out. "Why did you put a dissolve there instead of a cut?" "Why did you use that soundbite?" "Why are you putting off getting your b-roll until tomorrow?" You know, questions like that. If you start to really think about what you do in here (title of last post) than you're more likely to improve. There is a saying in the broadcast field that you have to run fast, if only to keep up with the guy next to you. If my students don't improve....all the time....then we fall behind. We have the talent, we have the tools, sometimes we lack the drive and work ethic. I'm asking you to run faster.
3. So we can all be on the same page. I want my other students to read these posts and see what their classmates are thinking and doing. A good team thinks alike and if we don't share our thoughts with each other, than how do we know when we're not thinking like a team?
So, my advice to my students is to "Really think about what we do in here" (there's that phrase again) and everywhere else. Don't respond to a questions that is not asked and stay on topic. Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention. Do you think that reporters zone out during an interview? NO, they don't. They pay attention to EVERY word and process it in a way that gives meaning to a story. Please listen to what I say and pay attention to what I'm asking you to do. That is the only way you'll get better at this. You're grade will be influenced by it to.
READ MY POSTS AND RESPOND TO MY POSTS...ONLY. Don't tell me what you had for dinner last night or what you did over the weekend. Don't say "hi" to your buddies in BVP or tell me that your computer crashed. Yes, an occasional shout out to your friends who do great work in here or during homeroom is okay....as long as you've addressed what I've asked you to do first.
Save the att-a-boys for Facebook.
OK well to let you in my head i plan to discuss with my group to chance to start on our documentary. its goin to be on our next story. many people have tried to do a story on how to create a package. i think they were comin from the wrong angle. a documentary will let the audence see for them selves wat we go through and its a better way to convey the process on putting together a story.
ReplyDeleteYour not speaking to a brick wall...I think people need to step up, grow up and take the initiative to listen more, work harder, and do better work. I think if people really started paying attention to what they're doing and put more effort into everything they touch, not only will this program be better off, but they work itself will be much much better. What do we do in here? Most people will probably say "i work, i edit or i film", but they're the ones sitting in the back listening to music on the computers "having fun" acting like this class is a joke when its not. It's time to step up act like the 16, 17, 18, and maybe 19 year olds that you are and grow up! Other people are doing work, why can't you get up off your lazy butt and do something like the rest of us...
ReplyDeleteI agree with pretty much the same thing that Brittany said. I believe that people should not just work harder, but that they need to pay closer attention to the fine details in their work, and closer attention to what other people are saying on ways in which they can improve their work, as long as what people are saying is substantial, weather it comes from you or another student.
ReplyDeleteI have a really good idea about the topic of our next package. I would like to do a story on Tami Smith. I would interview students, staff, family, and possibly friends. I would get shots inside and outside of her office. This is newsworthy because it has happend recently and has affected many people of different ages, sexes, and ethnicities. I feel if my group doesn't adopt this story then another group should. I don't know if this exact story has been done because i know we did things last semester to make her feel better but I don't think it has been done to this extent.
ReplyDeletei really do agree with brittany we as a class need to be more productive work harder on our packages and not just treat them like its just a grade but like it is goin to air on channel 2action news or cnn. we have the potential to be more like our competitors but we are too lazy and some lazier then others.at the moment me and my group are we thinking of a new topic for our project because we had some problems with our winterfest package.
ReplyDeletei agree with brittany also some of us do need to grow up and stop being so lazy. Personaly i think we do a good job but of course we could always do better because we have a good teacher and we have da possibillty to be as fye as dem otha schools mrs.watson be talkin bout so guys lets get our S**t together an make it happen =] Darius M.
ReplyDeleteSince i was barely there on Wednesday, can my previous comment count as my story idea?
ReplyDeleteI understand what everybody is talking about. Our class is not that focused and we take the amount of freedom that we have during class time at an advantage. While some of us are planning on making this a career later on in life others are slacking off and making it harder for others to succeed. As a class we do need to grow up and be more mature about the responsibilities in the class. We knew what we were getting into before we signed up as advanced students.
ReplyDeletei completely understand what everybody is saying about people being lazy in not pulling their weight around the class.but i think that if we see people just sitting around we should ask them to do something that can better eagle tv. anyways my group just got done with our interviews for our package. lol these was the hardest interviews i every took part of,we had about 3 batteries die on us, mics just randomly stop working,but it was fun in we got what we needed done.
ReplyDeleteSHOUT 2 "DA CREW" DJAY HARRIS
my b i comment under Mrs.Watson
ReplyDeletelately we as a class overall have not been striving to reach that standard of greatness that we are all capable of reaching lets all step it up and do what we all know we need to do
ReplyDeleteI haven't been a part of this class that long, so In comparison to Yearbook, the the Eagle TV crew seems to know how to function, and are able to follow deadlines more properly. As far as "Running faster" I believe i am learning more everyday. I joined Broadcasting to learn something and to expand my horizon. So I have to progress and work as hard as I can to do this.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't fell that you've been been talking to a brick wall the whole time... But I think that some people need an extra push to do their work. And I know you've been busy with other things but I feel that sometimes you could just sit down and help us or just talk to us about our project because to me it seems everytime you're talking to us you're yelling at us, and that may make people not want to listen to you. But, even though I've only been in this class for 4 or 5 weeks I feel that my group can get alot accomplished. And I hope to do more exciting projects and other things (:
ReplyDeleteAfter thinking about it the whole "Really think about what we do in here" is supreme advice. When thinking back on the times where I was just going through the motions and filming what was supposed to be filmed, the footage would always be sub-par. I think people film with a more "let's get this done" mindset then a "Really think about what we do in here" mindset, and I feel it shows on much of the work.
ReplyDeleteMrs.Watson i agree that as a class we need to get it together and do the work that we are capable of doing.We want to be the best and we can't if we are not focused its nice to win awards and get recoginition,but everything we have recieved was earned from hard work.We as a class should never strive for the minimum.i think that we do have some slackers, but then we have people who really may not know what they are doing and to produce a decent project they need to know a little about what they are doing.I just feel that we will come around and realize that everyone is capable of working hard and getting things done.I just feel that you should be more involved in what we are doing.Friday i really enjoyed when you participated when we were shooting for the open.us as a class can mentor our peers,but we want that support from you.This is not saying that you don't do anything,but i just feel like lately you have been yelling a little too much and it doesn't help get anything done it is kind of stressful there was a point where i felt you had nothing to say to us except for in the editorial meeting.Unless you were coming out of your office to yell at us.As far as my group i am enjoying myself and look forward to doing more with them.Mrs.Watson we will get it together.
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