Gabriel Valentin Badea Jurnalism, anul II

Pres anglo-american Task 1. Choose an event and 3 pieces of news on 3 media channels (newspaper, radio and tv). Compare the narrative in the construction of news.

Hurricane Sandy strikes the US east coast.

On the radio: The paralingual side of communication becomes relevant in the circumstance of delivering news by means of radio. The softness of the voice combines with the jingles and the interviews taken from the scene of the disaster. The rought voice comes to emphasise the statistical part of the event. Although numbers are used in the flow of news, they are kept to a moderate usage so as not to annoy the comsumer. The journalist needs to have an impeccable diction in order to give an impression of professionalism to the public. If he fumbles it is hard to regain the thrust of the comsumers as easy as a tv presenter would. The human side of the narration is given by the reporters from the scene of the disaster. The victims of the hurricane present the phenomena from their point of view. The roughtness of the voice comes into action when it comes to presenting the effects of hurricane Sandy. It is well known that the news bulletins on the radio are the shortest. No journalist can afford to go above the essential information that form the news bulletin.

On the TV: It is the most preferred way of intercepting information due to its dynamical composure. Images combine with sound. Sound combines with text. And text combines with image. The people that construct the news on television need to have a good understanding upon the correlation of the three elements. The ones mentioned need to combine in harmony in order to deliver information about the hurricane in an efficient way. The unfortunate situations result in the repeating of the information, emphasis on irrelevant aspect of the disaster that can make the common viewer change the channel. Out capacity to relate to the happening shown on screen is further valued by the multiple levels of communication that reveal simultaneously in a news bulletin. More details are revealed by means of television news due to the ease on interception. Statistical aspects can be valued more by television than by radio, but less than written news. The facial expressions of the reporters and the presenters have a crucial role in the perception of the event that shook the east coast. The text that appears on the news bar needs to complete the information said by the journalist and the ideas revealed by the images shown.

In a newspaper: Writen news has a difficult task to reach. Through simple words and maybe some photographs it has to explain all the elements that characterize hurricane Sandy. Although it has its downs, this way of sharing news offers a better understanding upon the subject, due to its extensive space. The journalist needs to explain to the readers the naked facts, but without being subjective. Live reporters arent there to help him, filmed images wont come along to give a better understanding upon the event. While tv news combines three different ways of sharing information, the plain newspaper is at the merci of the journalists pen. Every word must be used with responabilty, due to the historical side of write news. Writen news might or is a better historical archive than the history books. Information will be intercepted just as the way the journalist presents it.

Task 2 Watch a prime time news bulletin. Identify and comment on elements of news construction that contribute higher/lower level of formality. Consider: music, studio, TV presenter. - BBC NEWS The jingles used before or during the news bulletin is crucial for the perception of information. As far as BBC NEWS goes, the introduction is dynamic and brings the viewer closer to the athmosphere of the scenes that will be shown. As far as I can tell string instruments are used for the jingle at the begining. Some efects are used to reproduce the more artificial notes. The tune inspires bravery, adventure, spirit, responsability. At one point it motivates the viewers to take a stand for their rights in society. The music brings a high level of formality to the news bulletin, but not in a dull and boring way, rather in a motivational way. The TV presenter is dressed in a formal way, due to her social role given. Black is the colour of choice as far as this news bulletin goes, but a spot of red and a silver necklace harmonises the entire scenery. Most people would describe her outfit as being office. The paralingual aspects transfer to the consumers not only the information, but also the way in which it must be intercepted. Lets take into consideration the simbolical power of the TV presenter. Her role is to value the right to information of the people. She must be dressed formal, but at the same time she must express in a natural way. Her voice expresses the gravity of the situation presented.