Critical Reflection Journalism Portfolio

tiny Reflection Journalism PortfolioThe portfolio is designed to showcase my cultivate and abilities as a potential journalist. In putting together my portfolio, I was guided by my interests principles of journalism as taught in class and the requirements of the faculty. In the portfolio, I wrote more or less a train driver who blamed a non-existent bad persist for jumping the platform the dishonest and double standard manner the Cameron lead coalition has handled the issue of tax avoidance involving Starbucks and the cases of looted funds from evolution countries coming into the West, including Britain. I also wrote ab bulge the possibility that British universities whitethorn be turning out Islamic terrorists. There was also an question with a Social Worker, who chose to remain anonymous, on the difficulties of effectively discharging accessible burster operation.The prototypic thing I noticed with the staff was the fast ill-treat of activities required to meet my po rtfolio requirements. Ordinarily my class work tends to move moderately slowly. The virtue is I was not prepared for the speed and discipline portfolio merchandise demands. More importantly I had problems picking a countersign burden to cover out of all the options suggested. There is a reason. In my rootage year at the university, for one of my journalism modules the class was asked to cover a particular lecture at the Universitys Stratford campus. The whole exercise finish in agony. I ended up trying to make sensory faculty of a highly technical Science lecture and to make it applic adapted and interesting to an audience that was not scientific or particularly evoke in how scientists go about their look for. It was a nightmare.I must(prenominal) guide done something however because I did very well with the assume. It was a difficult exercise and I believe I made a moral note to stay away from such assignments in the future. This explains therefore, my decision to c arry through on economic and business topics. In one or two of my copies I veered to political issues but at the heart of all this was my cult for issues affecting my native African roots, the perceived injustices, inequalities, inefficient and corrupt regimes in African countries and Nigeria in particular. The general view is that such regimes are for the most part sustained by the patronising Western powers.I occupy conducted interviews forward but was unprepared for an interviewee who wanted to remain anonymous. I was therefore shy of how to retain credibility for my copy on social work without betraying the confidentiality I promised my interviewee. I decided therefore to tie the piece to the Baby P scandal. The core of the level was the burden of expectations society placed on the professionals who work in the social care work without , as they see it, fitted resources and remuneration, and also without making allowance for the fact that care answer is not an exact sci ence. Getting someone to speak on eternalize for this piece was not easy and so, rather than ask around I decided to take the advice by Formichelli, Linda Diana Burrell (2003), and found my own source. other advice I took to heart was to give my interviewee a verbal thanks aft(prenominal) the interview.The module in heretoforeed in me a number of significant transferable skills. The first is the need to be organised. Nothing significant is achieved without detailed and thorough planning. I shoot also taken an entrepreneurial attitude to work and learnt to be focused on the consumer the audience. Most importantly, I was learnt to bewilder an eye for newsworthy stories, with my target audience at the indorse of my mind. For example I was in that Southeastern train that jumped the platform but was still able to economize the story in the third party. I have learnt how to salvage news and features for publication. I learnt to generate ideas, to research those ideas and to prod uce copies based on those ideas, to a high standard. I have also been able to detail proposals to a high degree and therefore in my view in a lieu to pitch for commission with editors. But I am still learningThe module also helped me to take improvement of new social media tools with which journalists can fetch with their audiences.I am now able to confidently upload copies to websites, where allowed. I am also able to write directly online and presumption the fact that the internet and social media tools can now be monitored, I am able to apply journalism principles responsibly. These principles include my obligation to truth discipline of verification and to recognise the platform as a meeting place for public criticism and compromise. I am aware also that I am allowed to exercise my personal conscience and take full advantage of my blog and twitter accounts.I have come away from the module recognising the primacy of traditional journalism values, particularly that of fact ve rification. I recall a situation concerning the copy I submitted for publication on the risingeast.co.uk website on the robbery and transfer of funds from developing countries, particularly Nigeria to the West. Dr. Andrew Calcutt, my module tutor was opposed to publish certain parts of that copy until he had evidence that is already in the public domain on the individuals named in the piece. I went back and sourced more than thirty one pages of newspaper articles for him. I appreciated his position especially when he said he was acting on advice from the effectual department. This informed my approach to all the pieces that I submitted. Additional values I picked on include truth, clear and clean pen. These are core skills and familiarity that I believe will make me a competitive histrion in the contemporary media and journalism industries.I have learnt to think understandably and to make sense of the world around me I also learnt to communicate clearly and directly and to wor k co-operatively with colleagues. To be organized in my work is to be able to meet deadlines and to present my stories and their ideas to other people.The module helped me to get rid of the boundaries between print, mul termdia and broadcast, and to be strong on good writing and critical thinking. It was uplifting seeing my module leader present a fresh approach to my first copy in minutes. I told myself, with time and practice, Ill be like that. I learnt in pragmatical toll how to identify workable and unique angles to news stories and features and how to remain focused on the message that I wish to convey. Another outcome was the how and why I should forget I have an opinion when putting a copy together. I am allowed to have an opinion but that opinion must not get in the way of the story I am telling my audience. I believed I managed that in the copies in my portfolio.I have always had an interest in following news, both serious and the mundane. This module reinforced this tra it, which I consider one of my strengths. I am at home reading news online, in print and on wandering(a) devices. One other strength I believe I have and which is essential to my programme is that of curiosity. I tend to observe and explore, asking questions, even so in my everyday life. I read newspapers and magazines, watch news on television and listen to news on radio and still query them, trying to see them from different angles to see if they will come out the same way. I tend to stretch myself and to do things I wouldnt commonly do, if only for the experience. This is essential to journalism. Lastly, I believe that any journalistic story must remain significant, interesting and relevant. I know I am good at this, but also mindful of the need to cargo area the news comprehensive and proportional.I appreciate that though I did not produce as many copies as I proposed to deliver, I am encouraged by the fact that I have picked up the necessity knowledge and skill to do so s hould I be able to work up the necessary discipline to effectively manage my time. I also note that I need to improve on my research efforts, particularly into the academic overview of journalism as a discipline.Nonetheless I have learnt a lot from this module. I know in practical terms what News is I know how to recognise my audience and what it wants how to write a story and how to pitch it to an Editor. I have picked up skills, I have met challenges which my training has helped me to get round. I have knowledge of how institutions work, and have highly developed communication skills which will work to my benefit. I am on my way.BibliographyFormichelli, Linda Diana Burrell (2003), The Renegade Writer A Totally Unconventional pull back to Freelance Writing Success, New York Marion Street Press Inc.Harrower, T (2007) privileged Reporting A practical Guide to the Craft of Reporting, McGraw Hill, New YorkSova, cross B. (2002), How to Write Articles for Newspapers and Magazines, Lo ndon Petersons,