Accuracy vs. Speed

Like many studying QUTOJ1 (so I hear), I didn't fare too well in my Accuracy vs. Speed test results. Mostly let down by speed, leading me to something of an epiphany.

My texts, Facebook status's, comments, tweets and now blogs posts have always undergone a (relatively) lengthy process of editing, despite their intrinsic informality. Grammar checks, and "does that sound too harsh...?", "maybe I should put a smiley in so she knows I'm joking..." concerns have thus far prohibited quick responses from me on all modern technology. (Harking back to my insecurity on these mediums I'm sure).

That's ALL about to change!

Better late than never, be prepared for shorter, more frequent updates from this writer. And all that have my number, within-the-minute text responses (read-receipts and "I'm typing" ...'s have admittedly made me faster on my phone).

I'm not sure whether the content will all have a common thread, make a whole lot of sense, or exhibit perfect grammar throughout, but you'll see a less censored version of me, my life as an intern, journalism student, part-time assistant and bartender, and everything else I am.

Let's just hope I don't go too overboard.

15 seconds of fame

I posted a little while back about viewer-generated content and how it can enlighten our news immensely. Upon finding the video below, which aired on the Today Show and Nine News, I decided to start blogging my favourite CJ contributions; this being the first. While I was enlightened by the realisation koala's could swim, this clip probably fits better in the cute and cuddly over groundbreaking news exclusive box. All the same... very cool!

Fireflies to a flame

High OP course barriers, three years of university, months and weeks of of unpaid internships and maybe, just maybe, you'll move thousands of kilometres, be paid something not far off minimum wage and enter a stressful, often understaffed and under-resourced industry we call broadcast journalism. But, that's only if you're lucky...

According to The Australian, while 4750 students were enrolled in journalism in 2010, nation-wide, only 9000 journalists are employed.

So what is the attraction? 

For me, it was to be on TV. Solely and wholely, that was all I wanted out of my Business/ Journalism degree. No great ambitions to report from war zones, sit in court trials or talk politics in Canberra. Simply, TV. I guess I never got over that fascination we all had as kids...or I'm just egocentric.

So when my first year of journalism was all 'inverted pyramids' and print, I thought I'd made a mistake. But the time came for Radio and Television Journalism, and while my previously dedicated and passionate journo-comrades dreaded their prac weeks... I counted down the days, and seeing our first packages cut and posted... I was sold. (Even if I look back on them and cringe).

Just so you can cringe with me too! (try around 9:45)

Thankfully, my ambitions to be a great reporter have overtaken those to see myself on TV, but according to most, I've fallen in love with a career that's dramatically changing and downsizing.  Every broadcast medium is apparently converging with online, and video journalists will soon play the role of journo and camo combined.

I asked Spencer Howson as a guest of our #QUTOJ1 Lecture whether his pervasive social media presence was tiring to uphold. He replied, he loved constantly being a part of the conversation, connecting with people; whether to establish relationships with listeners or remove the PR middleman to more easily secure interviews.

As a social media "native", I should adopt and adapt to social media just as readily, if not more competently, than Spencer, a so called "foreigner". But as one #QUTOJ1-er tweeted: "@spencerhowson is a twitter god"... how can I compete with that? And, do I want to?

The answer is no.

Perhaps time and a job in the industry will change me, but as technology continues to infiltrate our lives, social media becomes more accessible and news production, generation and promotion happens increasingly on these platforms, the ability for a journalist to "switch off" seems impossible. But, it seems I have no choice in the matter. 

Citizen capabilities

Citizen Journalists are increasingly contributing to our networks, stations and publishers' news. Mostly in the form of vision, moving and still, with enabling technology citizen journalism is increasing the democracy, relevance and reach of news. While our "most clicked" videos are usually capture the funny and cute things babies and animals do, like this one... (earning more than 72 million views)

They can shine light on previously unknown and undocumented injustice, in countries where censorship is rife, governments are oppressive, or international media can't go. America's ABC newsreader, Katie Couric, makes some valid points and highlights (until 2010) some of her favourite viewer-generated news content here.

Usually, it's not the press, but locals, employees, friends and family that are first on the scene of a fire, in the midst of an earthquake or a riot. Journalism is bettered by the front-row content it can use to tell stories world-wide.

Tweeting social media with respect

I’ve always been afraid of blogs. In social media, I’m a back-seat writer; a passionate commentator but predominantly an observer. 

That’s all about to change. 

Before enrolling in QUTOJ1 (Online Journalism) I certainly never had a blog or, for that matter, any desire to permanently mark my daily thoughts, actions and motivations on the slate that cannot be wiped clean… the Internet. Perhaps it stems back to my primary school diary, its contents as well considered as its hiding spot. Needless to say…twin brothers and their nine-year-old friends aren’t kind when they find out your grade four crushes. I promise this blog won’t divulge my crushes, and is even less likely to be read by my brother,  yet I still think my blogging fears aren’t unfounded. In the online world, ‘the anonymous’ hiding behind keyboards and incandescent white screens are too, at times, unforgiving.  Some say commentary is the beauty, not the bane of online journalism… I’ll just wait until I get my first comments to decide.

Swimming Australia chief executive Kevin Neil was quoted in the The Sunday Mail this week and crystallised my thoughts on social media, particularly blogging. Relating to James Magnussen and his highly self- and widely-anticipated success and subsequent failure, he said, “most 21-year-olds learn that they’re not invincible in a pub somewhere…[not] on the world stage”. I’m no Olympic athlete, but the world factor of the World Wide Web scares me; its reach, perpetuity and faceless participants (and therefore lack of accountability) are all part of that.

Recent events have but highlighted the Internet’s risks.

Social media breaks down the gates that news directors and editors presided over for so long; choosing what would be news and what wouldn’t in a one-way asymmetric mode of communication. Come the internet; blogs, facebook, twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and anyone can be a publisher. No filter except your morals and common sense which, given a couple of wines on a Friday afternoon, can both easily be diminished.

Source: mashable.com

In the Olympics we find many examples. We’ve seen two athletes internationally expelled from the Games for tweets turned bad… all that training, hard work, money, nights in, wasted. Olympic dreams, gone. 140 characters and the tap of a button is all it takes. And closer to home Nick D’Arcy and Kenrick Monk, almost held back from competing in what seemed like déjà vu.

What was once a cheeky comment between mates at the pub…instead of bringing laughs (or at worst, disapproving looks) has seen the demise of reputations via online platforms. For Nick and Ken it was a holiday happy snap that almost cost them everything… again, for others politically incorrect jokes and insults.

Now there are suggestions that the pure act of tweeting, facebooking or Instagramming could throw careers into disarray.  Mounting pressure from “friends” and “followers” and the incessant bzz-bzz from the forum that never sleeps has become the blame of tired, stressed athletes and lost gold medals.

But while we’ve seen time and time again that misdirected comments and photos can seriously hurt anyone’s public and private profile (if there’s a difference anymore) the jury’s still out on whether twitter stole Emily Seebohm’s Olympic gold. One thing’s for sure… pro athlete or not, we all need to treat social media with the respect it not only needs, but as history shows us, demands. 

Now, to post this on Facebook or not?