Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned

in the progression from it to the full product?

By Anisah Kalam 12A3

By looking back from when I did the preliminary task, I feel that I have learned a variety of skills which has helped me to

progress throughout the process of constructing the media product. Thus, this

project allowed me to develop my knowledge and skills of certain

programmes, the use of soft wares and how to carry out primary and secondary research. I have also gained a deeper understanding of the media industry,

particularly the radio sector where I was able to explore the codes, conventions,

ethics that are associated with journalism.

Reflecting back on my preliminary task…

By doing my preliminary task I have learned a lot of things that has helped me to improve and plan to make the final media product. Looking at the practice exercise that me and my group made, the quality of the audio was very poor because it was recorded using the computer. From this I have learned that a professional voice recorder must be used to record voice so that the final outcome sounds professional with a sense of high quality.

From looking back at the preliminary task, there were no effective transitions or proper editing skills used to eliminate and adjust the blurred speech that was recorded. So I have learned that in order for the final news cast to have a flow and sound professional, then it’s useful to use effective transitions like ‘fade in/fade out’ during the move from one speech to another. Moreover, I learned that I must use editing features to cut out or edit any sort of blurred speech and silent pauses to make sure the final product sounds professional.

Before I didn’t have any knowledge on how to use software online to present research information, for example, websites like ‘go-animate’ ‘powtoon’ and other forms of creative online making presentation soft ware. At first I found it very complex and difficult to use, however with the assistance of other members in the group I was able to use the websites properly, which improved my confidence in using them and I was able to become familiar with it.

Before I had no idea how to use websites to upload my work, I had trouble uploading my preliminary task and other audio files on sound cloud. But I got the hang of it by getting help from the teacher and members in my group. Another major challenge that I faced was updating my blog…it was very confusing at first because of the complicated features and functions on the website.

Secondly, I have learned basic research skills like primary research, being able to construct a formal survey using a website online called survey monkey and distributing it to students using various methods like handing it out, sending it through email, whatsapp and other social networking sites in order to gather data relevant to the aim of the research. From this I have learned basic skills like networking, time management and also presentation skills. With the help of these skills, me and my group were able to gather information from the research that will help us to decide and plan on our final news cast, like target audience.

I have gained further skills in secondary research by using certain media platforms to gather and get an insight into information about local news. So for example, I used news websites like BBC, Sky news, ITV news to look at news stories with different news values.

Thirdly, I have gained a wider perspective of the media industry, in particular the radio sector and journalism. Before I didn’t know that there would be so many variety of roles within the news room and at a radio station. By doing independent research on the different job roles associated with radio stations and the news room, I now know how journalists, editors, news reporters and radio presenters operate in what they do. I also have the ability to distinguish between the different news values that are attached to a particular news story, so there are factors that determine the newsworthiness of a potential story. For example, news stories that have an entertainment factor, like gossip of a celebrity, then it’s considered to hold a ‘human interest’ value.

I have also learned different types of communication skills like carrying out outside broadcasting, where I had to go by myself to an event and interview people which I had to record using a sound recorder. From this experience, I have developed interpersonal skills by engaging in face-to-face communication with one or more people. I found it quite challenging when outside broadcasting because I felt a bit nervous approaching people to ask questions and participate in a recorded interview, I thought they might not like it. Also, it was difficult to find someone that would have the time to answer questions because they were either busy or not bothered. But I still managed to get someone to answer a set of questions.

During the making of the media product, there was a problem deciding to do outside broad casting on boxing day because it was after the deadline. So I had to search for a best, early possible alternative that was happening before the deadline. This required quick problem-solving and decision making skills in order to generate a solution to the problem. Thinking of a back-up plan is not an easy task however I managed to think of one very quickly. But, I successfully managed to meet my deadline which was a relief.

How to improve?• At the start of the course, I was failing to meet specific deadlines like

updating blog regularly every week, during the first three months I only had a few blog posts compared to other students in the class, then I slowly began catching up. So to improve, I should do more independent research and update blog frequently to meet deadlines.• To think creative ways of presenting information when posting on blog, by

using a wide range of technology rather than using repeated ones. • At the start, I used to always forget my password for my blogger and I had

to restart 4 times which was time consuming, so I should remember my login details and note it down.• To improve on my organisational skills so that I don’t fall behind and

underachieve.