COMM12033: SPEECH AND SCRIPT

Week 7:

1. Features of a genre: Record 5 minutes, or find a section online, of a chat-based program (Today, Sunrise, Hamish and Andy etc). Tolson argued that chat-based programming is oriented toward the personal, it features wit and humour, and the risk of transgression underlies talk (1991). Are these features evident in your recording, and if so, how? What does this tell you about what you would need to know or do if you wanted to be a host in this context? Record your responses in writing on your blog.

 
2. Piece to Camera practice: Using a smartphone, or a video camera, ask someone to record you doing a piece to camera where all you are doing is describing the scene behind you. For example, “We are here at [place]. There are people [describe what people are doing]. On my left is [describe what’s on your left], and on my right is [describe what’s on your right]. This exercise will help you gain confidence in talking ‘naturally’ to the camera. Put some effort into it so it’s to a standard you would be happy publishing via a medium such as YouTube. Record your reflections on this activity on your blog. [Tip: This is going to be harder than you think]

 
3. Review: Review the Clayman reading on reporting speech in news interviews (From talk to text: newspaper accounts of reporter-source interactions) and summarise the key points of the article. Consider how this might relate to the way in which your speech (Ass 2) might be reported. Record your response in writing on your blog.

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Task one –

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c]

Source: Team Coco

The clip I have chosen to present in regard to this activity is of comedian, Louis C.K., on the Conan show, with Conan O’Brien. While the quote by Tolson, taken from this week’s research analyses chat-based programming with far more depth than I had happily watching such shows, significant points are raised. Louis C.K. uses an observational form of humour that focuses on issues of morality, and as any comedian does while a guest on a talk show, uses this medium as yet another stage for performance. So for these reasons I believe the provided excerpt perfectly embodies all of these traits.

Professional hosts are masters in the art of transitioning. Transition in this context relates to, ‘hosts working as facilitators, bridging between stories, personalities, advertisements, in-studio guests and audience interaction’ Ames (2016).

From my own experience guest hosting and interviewing on a local radio station I have discovered the difficulties of this firsthand. Being thrown into the deep end with no prior experience hosting radio it was a difficult task having to juggle timing of fading out musical tracks and transitioning to announcements. Had I of been alone in the booth I would have surely sank, not knowing when to plug sponsors and credit songs.

Task two –

After reviewing this activity I can’t quite decipher if the actual video is to be submitted or not. Alternatively I have decided to merely upload my script and reflection. This is probably for the best as I am quite sick at the moment and my cameraman was giggling like a schoolgirl.

Script:

“Thank you Sharon.

Yes, I’m here on the scene where the escaped zoo animal was last spotted.

Local residents of the Herston community were disturbed early this morning, as the beast made its way through this field, disappearing into the building behind me.

Mysterious goings on, at Ballymore Stadium indeed.

As Queensland Reds coach, Richard Graham, is about to make a formal statement on a new signing, it’s back to you Sharon.”

Reflection:

(I know it’s silly, but Ballymore is right outside my house and it was a little freestyled.) The type of piece to camera I have chosen to do in this exercise is what Ames (2016) describes as, a ‘transitional PTC’. This form of piece to camera creates a link between a more prominent news event and the scene of the activity. In reading the script you can see that the piece takes place after the story has been introduced, but is yet to be concluded. Presumably that will take place back in the studio or live from the aforementioned press conference, I’m not sure, I made it up.

Task three –

I’m just going to come out and say it, research articles such as these bore me to no end. I could play the role of the fastidious student and toil over these long winded sentences that go nowhere, but that simply isn’t me. Instead, and as per usual, I have opted to use only what is easily deciphered and of practical use in the assessment itself. While I have rather serious doubts as to how well this research stands up in the modern era of online news, the guy has obviously done his research, so here goes. One of the sole points I took from Clayman’s introduction was that by using a series of quotations in sequence rather than describing the events taking place in vernacular terms, the journalist maintains an objective stance more easily (Clayman 1990).

Some of the examples provided illustrate how damaging a reporter can be to a statement, as the reader cannot hear the tone of voice, or see the suggestive facial features being made by the speaker, they are reliant on the descriptions written in the publication to provide that context. Clayman’s research also showed, that leading papers of the time in the United States received 70 percent of their source information in front page news stories through oral channels (Clayman 1990).

This research clearly indicates the importance of correct quotation by the journalist and reinforces the necessity of a well-considered speech.

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References:

Ames, K 2016, Lesson 7: Genres of speech – media, course notes, COMM12033 Speech and script, CQUniversity e-courses, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au.

Clayman, S 1990, From talk to text: newspaper accounts of reporter source interactions, Media Culture & Society, vol. 12, pp.79-103.

Team Coco 2013, Louis C.K. Hates Cell Phones, online video, viewed 15 May 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEybGzg1Nxs.

 

COMM11003; Week Seven: Reflection

“Write a brief speech on a topic that interests you. Record your speech, watch it and do a brief critique based on the information in this lesson or the textbook” (Costigan 2014).

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Below is my speech, I apologise in advance as I had a cold at the time of recording.

“People have it twisted.

They’re too wound up.

Tightly stringed and highly strung.

Lighten up, take a load off, swear a little.

Studies by the British Psychological Society’s Doctor Richard Stephens of Keele University, have proven swearing to be an effective tool for dealing with and overcoming physical pain barriers such as child birth. (Bloom 2014).

The study went on to prove that swearing is a highly developed emotional coping mechanism and not a sign of lack of intelligence or brutish behaviour. (Bloom 2014).

The most sincere people I know exchange profanities. While the least sincere swap niceties.

Language isn’t offensive, the user’s malice behind it is.

If others weren’t so judgemental and quick to assume they would see this for themselves.

There’s a lot of stigma surrounding the word fuck, but it’s an incredible word.

You can slip it into any sentence as a noun, adjective or verb, and sometimes all of the above in the same sentence.

But society says no.

However, society also says you’re an intellectual if you can quote Shakespeare and Chaucer.

But you’re a dummy if you use the word cunt?

Chaucer used cunt, Shakespeare would slip it in there also. (Chaucer 1998), (Shakespeare 2004).

If it is good enough for the fathers of English literature, why is it considered bad English?

So swear for fucks sake, it’s liberating.

Just don’t overdo it. You may upset some grammar loving cunt.”

– Anthony Norris 2015.

http://bellybuzz.squarespace.com/blog/tag/geoffrey-chaucer

As a whole, I feel this piece works on a number of levels. While some may be offended, I tired to keep the subject light with some element of humour.

It’s structured so as to incorporate an introduction, body and conclusion while maintaining a sound argument and flow throughout.

“Speed, volume, rhythm and pitch are important aspects of presentations,” (Costigan 2014). Although I had a cold at the time of recording, I feel I utilised these elements to the best of my ability given my ailment.

Some negative aspects I think hindered the speech though were; not knowing where to look without a physical audience present and not committing the speech to memory.

The delivery suffered due to the fact I felt awkward staring blankly at a camera lens atop my notebook. Knowing the speech would have assisted here and enhanced the speech.

According to Eunson (2012, p.357), drinking stimulants can cause over-arousal and distress.

Perhaps next time I’ll take that into consideration.

And just to prove how much of a coping mechanism swearing can be, here is an out-take.

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References

Bloom, D 2014, ‘Swearing is an emotional and creative language say researchers who claim it is GOOD for you’, Daily Mail, 12 May, viewed 14 January 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2625581/Swearing-emotional-creative-language-say-researchers-claim-GOOD-you.html

Chaucer, G 1998, The wife of bath’s prologue and tale, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Costigan, L 2014, Lesson 7: Oral presentations, course notes, COMM11003 Communication in Professional Contexts, CQUniversity e-courses, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au

Eunson, B 2012, Communicating in the 21^st Century, 3^rd edn, John Wiley & Son, Milton, Australia

Shakespeare, W 2004, The twelfth night, Nick Hern Books, London.

COMM11007; Week Seven: Practical

The amount of content learnt throughout the duration of this course has been immense in comparison to the other courses I have undertaken in this, my first term of study. Throughout the duration of this course I have made a conscious effort to keep my punctuation in check.

Even after a review in this week’s exercise, I have no doubt that there will have been errors made that I have overlooked.

I think it goes without saying that punctuation errors in a journalism based course will impact the final result achieved. If someone has argued this point I would be very interested to read their argument as to why?

Even following a final review before submission, I have little doubt my favorite English Nazi of a lecturer (sorry Kate) will pull me up on some errors. In saying that however, I must thank her for this. 

COMM11007 has been much of an eye opener and has greatly impacted the way I write, giving me confidence to put my thoughts, feelings and experiences to paper in the next chapter of my life following university.

COMM11007; Week Seven: Inquiry

The newsletter I have chosen to use is the Crocodile Specialist Group, July to September 2013 issue, Volume 32 – No.3.

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It is worth noting that the cover of this newsletter used an image provided by the IUCN Species Survival Comission. Secondly, the first page of this document hosts a list of CSG’s major contributors. Much to my astonishment, number one on this list of biggest bread winners? JLIA, the Japan Leather & Leather Goods Industries Association. This was followed by the Heng Long Leather Co. Pte. Ltd., and the Singapore Reptile Skin Trade Association.

Really?

This was the first thing I noticed upon the review and struggled to do the report thoroughly thereafter, so try and stick with me as I grind through this.

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What kinds of stories are in the newsletter? Disturbed by the above observations, I scan through the newsletter. The word sacrifice catches my eye; “CROCODILES AS OFFERINGS TO THE AZTEC GODS”. I’m sorry, I was under the impression this was a scientific newsletter due to the amount of referencing used.

How do these target the organisation’s audience? Maybe to justify the fact that it’s fine to kill animals and wear them because in some parts of the world it was once tradition? Don’t know, Don’t care.

If you were a science journalist, is there anything you may be interested in following up as a story, and why? No.

What do you think is effective or otherwise about this newsletter? The newsletter has effectively reconfirmed to me how confusing of a place the world is.

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The PDF version of the newsletter I reviewed can be seen here:

Click to access News-ae935687.pdf

COMM11007; Week Seven: Quiz

Punctuation is so tedious! Does a writer really need to instruct the reader when to pause and breath? If so, I would love nothing more than to construct a long winded paragraphs in the hope I could see which readers had the cardiovascular intensity with which to read them without passing out. Obviously there is more to punctuation than simply that, but it frustrates me nonetheless. In question ten, does the wind really own the path? If the wind does own the path, it certainly stole it.