Third May edition news podcast

As compared to the previous podcast I would say that we were prepared this time except the few new experiences we encountered along the way. The kind of stories pitched this time were not only "hard" news, at least there were some couple of happy stories, example, bringing future students to Rhodes. That is the new initiative by Rhodes dean of students. The job opportunities those are available in the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The sources we used this time were of higher standard, meaning that we gained the skills of identifying potential sources that will provide the kind of information we need. Also the way we approach them is of formal standard as compared to the previous times where we were all engulfed with fear.

So the team worked well from reporters, pitching stories, carrying them out, editing and putting together the final show. The success of this depended on working together and we managed to do that hence we grateful of the final product. Hope you enjoy it too.

Reflections on my group podcast

Firstly, although our podcast was not so perfect but in terms of stories I would really say that the guys did a great job in terms of pitching up the stories. The stories pitched really were in line with our policy documents where we regard ourselves as the actors on behalf of the Grahamstown residents. In a place like Grahamstown there are many issues that affect the residents and because of their frequent occurrence they now seem as the norm and are not challenged. But the story pitches showed creativity into tackling the so seem norm and yet disadvantageous for many people. A good example would be the story where we looked at the loan sharks who kept people’s identity documents causing them to pay an unending amount of money which even the police could not do anything about it. Then the story that looked on the service delivery based on the natural disaster that hit Grahamstown last year. These stories are probing and do ring the bell to the people of their rights and challenging the unchallenged.
The way the stories were treated was in such a way that made people aware of their rights because there are some people, example, in Vukani, people were told that they were to be provided with proper houses before the end of March 2009. After this period of time the promise never materialised and people did not have guts to go to the government officials to ask why, they believed that they have to just stay and wait for that day when they officials will come at their own time if they will ever come. So these stories were covered in such a way that is not a treat but clarity seeking and bringing up the truth that people need.
Next time we can do more if we pitch stories and make a professional way of carrying them up. At least by then we will be familiar with what is expected from us and deliver according to the desired standard after all the first circle was not bad at all.

Did you vote? How was your voting experience?

I just voted two days ago, all I can say is that if felt different from previous experiences. This one was very exciting taking into account the turmoil in South African politics. I voted at Rhodes University, there were long queues before the station was officially opened in the morning until the late evening. Everyone seemed to be excited, making jokes whether you are showering or can Cope spending hours in long queues without showering. I used to vote just for the sake of voting but this time around it was different because I am definitely sure that my vote is for the better and it does matter. What I have noticed though is that "your vote is your secret" is no longer a slogan, people are not afraid of saying it bluntly who they are voting for. It is always a different story though when it's you and your paper behind the table. Well, who is leading the country this time?
What can we expect from the new government that is different from what we are used to already?

Profile progress

This is not really easy but it is doable. Right! Starting from identifying interviewee has not been too much of an issue and also in terms of identifying story potential. The problem I think we encountered was to interview the person at a right time and at a right place, by this I mean the aim was to interview this person where she works and during the ‘pick’ hours. Guess what? We did not get that opportunity, which resulted in not getting the right story with all its elements but nevertheless, playing around with the material we had worked very well and the so called profile is coming up right. Now all I think I am in need of is to polish the way I want the story to run. So far I have identified the lead which is the introduction of the interviewee which covers a bit of her background, secondly the core which is about her work and how she manages the daily struggles and then lastly about the satisfaction based on the way of life which I think is a strong conclusion.
Then the big problem now is that the person in providing the core stuff I wanted used Xhosa in stead of English which is challenging because getting someone to do a voice over with almost that same voice is not easy at all. Still now I have not got hold of the person who can do that. Really, there will be a voice difference there and it will not sound okay not unless the person will do the voice over of the whole profile, which will not make any sense in terms of the meaning and originality. Till this far that is my challenge, but guess what! I am not discouraged I will work around this and it will come right. The next time I will be writing here I will be telling you of the final product, of course, if we are not told to write something else, till then I am out of this space

Objectivity, what is my stance on it?

Well, have written on why I have to take journalism, there has been a discussion in my class on the topic of objectivity. All I can say is that the argument went on and on each person giving his/her opinions based on what each person feels and believes is right. What I gathered from the argument though is that the statements we made showed that objectivity is difficulty to obtain, the reason why is because our arguments proved that some people are comfortable in knowing that their ideas are the best imposing an indirect motion that other people should align themselves with them.

Scholars have written so many articles on this topic as well, bloggers blogged on it and columnists also played their part, but all had not reached a common agreement on when and how to be objective. This alone, shows how unattainable objectivity is.

Now considering my previous article, there I have written that I am doing journalism because I want to change the world because of the power I possess to do so. Firstly, I want to get across that before writing my article I was clear on this subject of objectivity and the arguments thereof.

Defining objectivity is not so different from defining news. I believe “news” has derived from the word “new” referring to something that some one has not heard off yet. In this case I would draw from the words of Richard Taflinger where he says “After all, if news is that which is of interest to newspaper readers then the comics, the horoscope and the crossword puzzle are news, a conclusion with which few would agree”. The first decision to make is what is recent: today, yesterday, last week, five minutes ago, since the last news report? Someone, in journalism usually an editor, makes this decision, and thus that person's world determines what is recent.

From this I now know that starting from the first point of what to select as news might be considered as being subjective, but what happens when reporting on those news you have selected, can you be objective? The answer is NO! Why? A news report is a series of words describing the event. As in selecting which events are news, someone must decide which words best describe the event. These decisions are based on the reporter's world as he or she examines the facts gathered and decides what words those receiving the report will best understand. Now, to who is this person objective if he/she reports using his/her style?
Coming to conclusion, after reading Theodore L. Glasser’s article entitled ‘Objectivity and News Bias’ in Cohen, E.D. (ed). 1992. Philosophical Issues in Journalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, I feel more confident to say that my views stand still on what I said. I am doing journalism to change the world. I have got my own way of seeing things and my world view is not the same with other people’s world view. This gives me that extra energy that people out there are eagerly waiting for my opinions mixed with what is happening around them that they have not yet heard about.

I will not be biased or prejudice but I will be expressing my views and my world view in my own words and since I know that my world view is component of news, I will consciously minimize the impact of subjectivity. I will make sure that my world view does not dominate in gathering, preparing and disseminating the news, otherwise objectivity is a dream that we all would like to achieve and we keep on trying and hoping that it works out. Since objectivity has been argued so much even if it is not there people still think that the media is using it because their minds have been programmed into thinking like that. Again, this is my world view which is open to critics, but keep in mind that we will not see things the same way.

Why Journalism?

Right! I think many people are interested in knowing why journalism not something else, well before answering this question let me tell you who I am first.

Simphiwe is my name and I am doing Journalism and Media Studies 3 in radio. I am a young man full of visions to change the world simply because I can. many people venture into their careers clear on the reasons why but when you ask them again why this career not that one, then doubt grip their hearts. Then they start asking themselves some questions doubting their abilities.

Well, that is not the case with me, as I said before I am doing journalism because it is a right tool to give the world the shape I think is right for it. I do journalism because I want to shape people's minds, to tell the untold stories and to dig deeper putting that was burried on the surface as well as twisting and turning people's ideas on how they see things around them.

Why Journalism? because when empowered with journalistic skills you can move the ready made stereotypes because it is powerful. With globalisation the whole world is waiting and depending on journalists to report to them on what is happening to far countries. The world is seeking the map and direction and with journalism - I have the map.

Basically that is the reason why I am doing journalism, to write my own history in a way that no-one can.Hope this to some extent gives some sort of explanation on why journalism.