SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY PRODUCTION - 25TH FEBRUARY 2015

1.  What do you hate about public transport with regards to other commuters.

2. What are your thoughts on overcrowding ?

3. What experiences have you had with other commuters?

4. Do you push and shove your way onto crowded trains/buses?

5. Do you think its necessary to push and shove ?

6. Have you noticed other commuters pushing and shoving their way on board trains/buses?

7. What social etiquettes do you think people need to adapt on transport `/

8.  What annoys you the most about other commuters on public transport ?

9. In other social situations , say when you're in a supermarket and you accidentally bump into someone, would you apologise ?

10. How often are you faced with people being rude ?

11. How do you deal with impolite people on transport ?

HALF TERM HOMEWORK : SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY- TELEPHONE INTERVIEW

The telephone interview I will be analysing is a radio interview which is also avaibable visually as a video podcast on YouTube.

You will need to find an example of a telephone interview in a different style to the other interviews you have analysed so far.  Examples of styles include: hard news, aggressive, light-hearted, entertainment, investigative or promotional.

Telephone interviews can be found on youtube, or BBCiplayer, within TV/Radio documentaries or TV/Radio news.  

Create a blog report or Power-Point/Prezi presentation analysing and explainingthe following techniques used by the interviewer in a telephone interview.  Your analysis must cover the following areas:

•          Context  (role and importance of interview to documentary or programme)

The context of the interview evolved around Kanye West's actions at The Grammy awards where by he jokingly intruded on another winners award for Album Of The Year.  Kanye West was the interviewee while Ryan Seacrest was the interviewer.

•          Purpose of interview (e.g. research, enhancement of audience understanding, informative, expressing opinion, holding to account, justification, emotional appeal to audience)

The purpose of the interview was to clarify Kanyes playful itnentions as he meant no harm with his joke unlike the time when interuupeted Taylor Swifts VMA award in 2009. This year Kanye west decided to re-enact his stunt in 2009 with Beck for winning Album of The Year. He got up on stage with Beck and left without saying a word. Fooling the entire audience and tricking them into believeing he would repeat his saga with Taylor Swift.

•        Question types (open, closed, single, multiple, direct, suggestive)

Questions Ryan Seacrest asked Kanye West were Open questions due to the ontext of the iterview

•        Structure (introduction, developmental questions, confidence-building, sound bites, summary, wind-up)

The structure of the interview was developmental in the sense that it provided the auidence an in-depth explanation of Kanye West's actions as well as discovering his thoughts on The Grammys in general.

•     Communication skills (e.g. building rapport, active listening, use of language and tone of voice to to obtain comments or gather information)

TKanye in his interview with ryan Seacrest comes across as being extremely defensive about his actions. He becomes very vocal and goes off topic of which Ryan Seacrest interrupts him and asks him another question while also being understanding and saying ''yes i get what you mean'' to refrain Kanye from continuing. 

SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY MEDIA 23RD FEBRUARY 2015

The interviews I have analysed is of the Jon Snow Interview with Vitaly Milonov on homosexuality in  Russia and the Ed Milliband interview on strikes within Britain. Both interviews possess similar attributes whereby the interviewer must uphold an authoritative and dominant position in the discussion. Both interviews also possess flaws that I have noticed and will be analysing.

The interview of Vitaly Milonov by Jon Snow is often sidetracked whereby the interviewee, Vitaly Milonov discusses irrelevant topics and makes points unrelated to the topic at hand - homophobia and the homosexuality views within Russia. Within the interview, it is noticed that there are numerous interruptions as well as both persons talking over each other.  Jon Snow fails to control the entire interview, possibly because he only makes a few attempts at doing so, thus the interview lacks control,clarity and point on Vitaly Milonovs behalf, which inturn makes Jon Snows efforts futile.  

SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY MEDIA: INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES- RESEARCH

TASK 1

TOPIC: PUBLIC TRANSPORT

COMMUTERS

1) Have you ever experienced any problems with public transport ?

2)What are your thoughts on the cost of public transport ?

3) What do you think of the level of hygiene in public transports?

4) What are your thoughts on overcrowding

5) Have you ever had an experience with another commuter (due to overcrowding ) ?

6) What are your expectations of other commuters in overcrowded situations

7) What are your expectations of London Transport and what you like to change ?

BUS DRIVERS

1) How often do you have to deal with negative commuters ?

2) What are the issues you face with your job ?

3) What is your hygiene policy on buses ?

TASK 2

TASK 3 

When conducting my interview I experimented with different camera angles, framings and backgrounds to explore my options for my final decision in filming my documentary. My questions were catered with the intention of achieving a clear understanding of the problems taking public transport entails. My intention was to gather a diversity of people whom take public transport such as students,adult workers, bus drivers and mothers whom use public transport for various reasons such as going grocery shopping or fetching their children to and fro school. 

SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY MEDIA - ANALYSING INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

NAME OF INTERVIEWER:  BARBRA WALTERS

NAME OF INTERVIEWEE:  OPRAH WINFREY

ANALYSIS:

•  Context  (role and importance of interview to documentary)

The interview was a segment Americas' ABC News presented on Oprah Winfreys decision quit her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show after 25 years of hosting. It questioned her decision in depth and was presented as an entire segment due to the shows impact and global popularity. It surprised millions worldwide and was one was questioned by the public. The interview was conducted by Barbara Walters. 

• Purpose of interview (e.g. research, enhancement of audience understanding, informative, expressing opinion, holding to account, justification, emotional appeal to audience)

Barbara Walters interviewed Oprah on her decision to leave the show after 25 seasons and 4561 episodes after 25 years of hosting and producing. The interviewed explored Oprah's decision which was a personal choice of which Barbara questioned empathetically and supportingly. The interview aimed to understand Oprahs reasons for quitting her show. The Oprah Winfrey show had accumulated a global audience and a large fan base. It is still the highest rated talk show, with Oprah being the most influential talk show host. The interview was watched by billions as it was announced to be ''breaking news'' to American Television . Due to Oprahs reasons being personal, Barbara reflected this through an intimate, supportive and empathetic approach making references to their friendship and reminding Oprah on their past discussions. Interestingly , the interview was not introduced as a ''interview'' but instead as a ''conversation'' between Barbara and Oprah which further reflects the level of intimacy and emotional appeal the interview possessed. 

• Question types (open, closed, single, multiple, direct, suggestive)

The questions used were open and suggestive. Barbara made constant references to Oprah past. Bringing up her childhood and their past conversations and discussions while also asking Oprah of her personal life goals and what she think of her accomplishments and her life. The Barbara also asks rhetorical questions to her viewers rather than Oprah and answers them herself, encouraging her audience to think of Oprah on a admiring level. Barbara also questions Oprahs love life, struggles and personal flaws and insecurities. 

• Structure (introduction, developmental questions, confidence-building, sound bites, summary, wind-up)

The interview is introduced by a news anchor from ABC News America as a ''conversation between Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey '' the topic of the interview was introduced as an ''occasion on Oprahs decision to leave her show'' .  The interview incorporated numerous archive footages of Oprahs show,audiences reactions, interviews and personal life. Throughout the entire interview Barbara Walters was reminding Oprah of their past discussions and exploring in depth as to why Oprah wants to leave her show as well as understanding her reasons behind the decision by reminding her of her childhood and dreams before the show.

• Communication skills (e.g. building rapport, active listening, body language, telephone techniques to obtain comments or gather information)

The entire interview was built on a familiar connection both Oprah and Barbara showed from their friendship and conversations in the past. In terms of Building rapport, a technique conventional to interviewers, this skill was unnecessary for Barbara as she already had established a solid foundation of friendship and trust with Oprah being friends with her and having had interviewed her before her show was a success.  Despite having already succeeded in building rapport with Oprah, Barbara had to keep reminding Oprah of their past together while also  showing empathy through her facial expressions and tone of voice. When she reminds Oprah of her childhood, saying she has ''come a long way'' her sentences are incomplete and informal, ending her sentence with a sympathetic '' Ohh Oprah''. The informality appeals to the audience as being emotional,personal and touching while also highlighting Oprahs highs and lows on The Oprah Show through archive footages. Barbara establishes her interview through this friendly connection she already has with Oprah, using it to her advantage. Her patience is obtained through her body language such as her facial expressions while she gathers more information on Oprah. 

SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY MEDIA- THE SECRET

DOCUMENTARY : The Secret

Full video :

Trailer:

LEARNER PACK DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE


1. What is the social issue being focused on in this documentary ?

The documentary explores the belief of a successful life in terms of ones happiness, personal life, money, relationships and youth. There is no social issue involved in this documentary. Despite this I believe it to be a documentary of current affairs with regards to using interviews with authors, psychologists, scientists, researchers and philosophers throughout the entire film to develop and explore the belief in depth.  The belief of a prosperous life is known to be The Secret. 

2.Summarise what happens in the beginning/middle/end of this documentary.

The documentary in the beginning introduces a woman whom provides a bit of background information to her life, telling the audience of her plight , stating '' A year ago my life had collapsed around me I had worked myself into exhaustion, my father died suddenly and my relationships were in turmoil ''.  She then began to share her findings and plans of being able to achieve what you want in life. Known as The Secret, she began researching and studying the greatest people in history, recognizing their beliefs and reasons to their success. Her research and findings are then shown in-depth, which leads to the middle whereby numerous scientists, philosophers, authors, psychiatrists,metaphysicans, visionary's, entrepreneurs, quantum physicists,   recount their experiences and theory's regarding the achievement of a successful life- all agreeing to the formula. The Secret is professionally termed as The Law of attraction. In the middle of the documentary the woman whom was heard in the beginning is no longer present. The documentary is then controlled and developed through the interviews with professionals. The documentary ends off with a motivational and inspirational voice-over said over a series of clips of life around the world. 

3. What type of documentary is this? Conventions used?

It is a Current Affairs documentary with aspects of also being a Investigative Documentary. The documentary begins as an investigative using a woman and her situation as an example because she introduces her plight and her problems and then announces her aim to change her life around based on the discovery she found about The Secret of which is then further explored in-depth while introducing professionals in the form of interviews and voice-overs while also incorporating archive footages and re-enactments that comply with the criteria of a Current Affairs Documentary. Furthermore, the type of documentary is confirmed through conventions often used within documentaries in general. As mentioned earlier, interviews are used which is a typical convention used within documentaries to prove a realistic and unscripted realism to the audience. It also uses archive footages, headers of people being interviewed- listing their name and occupation at the bottom of the screen while they are being interviewed, shown below.

Graphical images and quotes, that are shown below, are also used consistently throughout the documentary.  Footages of everyday life, known as Actuality Footages are also used in the documentary.

4.What techniques are used to maintain the audiences attention?

Soundtracks and re-enactments are used often throughout the interviews to maintain the audiences attention. 

5.What is the purpose of this documentary? What change is it campaigning.

The purpose of the documentary is to prove The Secret as a Law of attraction through the examples of numerous interviews and stories shared by professionals. It aims to influence the audience to think positively while relating to the professionals past experiences and beliefs of The Secret. The 'change' I believe it is campaigning is for the auidences personal gain of happiness and being able to live a successful life in terms of their wealth, career, relationships and health. 

6.Who is the target audience? 

Working class people and those whom are finding life quite a struggle and want to live a happier life. 

7.How have they been targeted?

They've been targeted through professionals whom can relate to them, such as businessmen and patients of depression and victims of bullying,child abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse. These professionals are used as leading examples of the theory existing due to them being affluent now as compared to their past when they were not happy with their life. 

8.How is the audience encouraged to participate in creating change ?

It is encouraged at the end through a motivational and inspirational speech that quotes ''You were born to add value to this world. Every single moment you have gone through has prepared you for this moment right now. Now you get you are the creator of your destiny. Imagine what you could do in your future with what you know now. ''

The speech is about 3 minute long, it is encouraging, using the pronoun 'you' to refer to the audience while also saying how they are ''magnificent'' and '' great '' regardless of their ''suffering'' in the past . 

SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY- RESEARCH

ISSUES:
1) SEXISM
- http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/26/sexism-is-making-women-sick
-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/10767784/UN-Britains-sexism-more-pervasive-than-any-other-country.html

2)BTEC EDUCATION
-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/11301884/Universities-admitting-more-students-with-low-A-levels.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/11059617/Avoid-45000-student-debt-and-grab-a-30000-wage-instead.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/11114260/UCAS-record-rise-in-students-driven-by-BTECs-and-lower-grades.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/further-education/11070450/Apprenticeships-How-to-earn-32k-while-studying-for-a-degree.html
*- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/10796685/UCAS-top-universities-should-consider-BTEC-students.html

3)COMMUTER ETIQUETTE

- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11362865/Commuter-etiquette-how-to-deal-with-the-rage.html

The issues I've chosen to be a prospective topic for my documentary is Sexism, BTEC education and Commuter Etiquette. My reason for choosing Sexism is because it is an issue I personally battle with almost everyday. Despite being able to relate to sexism, I also think it is an issue that a society must be educated on. I think it is an issue of prerequisite mannerism of society to treat a person equally, regardless of their gender that is reflected as simply being human rights. I believe sexism can be quite a challenging issue to overcome due to traditional sex roles and expectations set for women and men. For instance, if a man insists on allowing a woman to pass through the door before himself or pays for a meal between himself and a woman, are these actions considered as a sexist mannerisms that boys are told to practice when they are older ?.
In contribution to debatable instances that contradict standing up against sexism, there are also linguistic expectations of genders roles. Females are expected to be more articulate and well spoken than males. While males are expected to speak casually in shorter sentences, excluding emotional language that females are often use. When conducting this documentary , I will be exploring gender roles in society and language while also observing sexism within children's education, homes and adults workplaces. The groups of people or organisations that could be interviewed for my documentary is a local educational institute, United Nations and their Gender Equality campaign HeForShe, Dating Match Makers, and a corporate organisation with a board of directors . Using these people and organisations will aid my documentary in exploring the presence of sexism in a workplace, in a classroom, within the education system and amongst social etiquettes.

My other issue is the BTEC education reputation. The BTEC education is commonly looked down upon socially possibly due to how it is a modern implementation introduced into education as an alternative choice to the traditional A-Level examination. That, and also to be quite matter of factly, not only do the top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge refuse to consider it as a relevant or sufficient certification of education, but also because there has never been an academically intellectual being , such as an MP or Prime minister obtaining the qualification themselves. This is possibly due to a difference of social class, thus the BTEC education is looked down upon even further. My documentary will question why top universities refuse to accept BTEC qualifications as well as explore their personal opinions on the qualification by interviewing schools, teachers and admissions representatives of various universities.

The last issue I would be considering my documentary to be based on is Commuter Etiquette. My documentary will explore the mannerisms of commuters and bus drivers and learning about commuters experience with public transport as well as the bus companies and bus drivers. I will have this documentary filmed as a video diary, capturing my own personal experience with taking public transport.