Week 8 PR Brian Beech

This weeks lecture was on PR. I have always found it difficult to distinguish the difference between PR and advertising. This was immediately corrected by the charismatic Mr. Beech when he made the point that PR is driven by news. Every morning at work was filled with basically an hour or two given to reading every newspaper and watching the days news to discover the different angles on which to take. How things were being represented and how one might push for a different news slant; playing different angles. I must admit my only knowledge of PR had come from a radio 4 Mitchel and Webb sketch about the uselessness of the profession, this was quickly corrected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD0gVRI_kEQ

He made the point that advertising is set within its own sphere. Advertising is known. PR is there to establish and maintain a brand. He discussed the difference in newspapers: if you want to gauge the nation’s opinion read the Sun and to focus on the fears of middle England read the Daily Mail. These are not merely newspapers but opinion formed together. In an age where anyone can be a journalist; Twitter, Youtube, blogs etc.. it makes a PR’s job harder and harder.

The digital age means that a PR’s job is instantaneous. He made the point about A.A. Gill, a writer for GQ and The Times, while critiquing a restaurant he tweeted about a lack of water service and within one minute he was being served water. Which in my eyes is completely absurd. Although this isn’t necessarily that in twined with the lecture it did make me think of the damage that Tripadviser has done to a lot of holiday companies purely through throw away comments that in some cases still haven’t been amended.

The next part consisted of various photographs that were at the top of the spectrum for newspaper features and some that should never have made it. It would seem that PR is shallow but in an honest way, children and attractive people make for a better picture. Ribbon cutting looks weak and always try a flattering angle.

PR seems like a fast paced job that is quiet exciting and he left with this piece of advice for C.V.s always remember the name of who you are writing to and be cautious of clients’ input; the costumer isn’t always right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FOpQRTcZnE

Week 7 Radio 4 documentary- Red Productions

I like most others around my age listen to the radio through a computer. I rarely listen to radio 4 but instead use iplayer and then pick certain radio shows to listen to, “Now Show” or “News Quiz”. It is interesting to see that radio still has a grip on media in such a fast changing technical world. The lecture was on the subject of radio 4 documentaries: the process of ideas and eventually the recording. It did remind me of a series of sketches by “Harry and Paul”, maybe an unfair judgement…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNeQS6if9U

Initially I was apprehensive as I wasn’t aware as to how much this would affect my ambitions. The discussion of the idea process I found to be very interesting. It seemed that if a documentary was made with your own personal interest in mind it was more likely to feature yourself on it. A selfish motive seems to work if wish to feature more heavily in the program you are creating. For instance the documentary was being made about a town in Cumbria to which the producer had visited as a child. He was then able to, with the help of some enthusiasm, become the presenter. He made the point also that if it is a passion of your own; you can always fix it. And always write your ideas down.

For my own personal use I found the sound bites from the flexi-discs to be useful for sound edits on video construction…)

The process of radio documentary seemed quite linear and self explanatory… Idea to research and recording schedule. The recording schedule seemed to be the optimum factor as it revolves around everyone else’s time frame. Then finally the interviews and commentary over the top of the recordings, plus maybe music or sound effects. He made the point that recording a lot allowed more to work with and thus for a better program. I would take this to be true of filming also… although restricted by batteries and memory. He said naturalism was always good for a documentary, a sense of realism that the audience can combine with the points discussed for a more overall empathetic response. The clips we listened to didn’t really seem that contrived either. I would link this to filming in interviews where a third camera is used to move loosely around the two people talking to give a sense of a more understandable setting.  One can always revisit questions asked if you have the interviewer again, can always retake just make sure the interviewee’s recording is fine.

This lecture showed that if you are enthusiastic enough about an idea others will pay for you to make them empathetic to a wider audience. Things can always be changed ergo first try. From this I coincidentally met a friend that was asking around for an editor and he was skeptical at first but I would say it was my enthusiasm and drive that landed me the job in December. It will be a small scale comedy, mainly for youtube, staring an underrated stand up from Durham University and his trip around the U.S.A.

This half of the lecture was very interesting. She made many useful points about how to get ahead in the television industry, that are probably applicable to other forms of media. A concise C.V. is good and try if you can to have worked on a soap, this I thought was odd as the last thing one would expect to be well respected would be something like Hollyoaks. She also made the point that it is really who you know and how well you network.

I learnt that extra work is always appreciated, especially if you show your ideas to new potential employers.Work for free (this reminded me of a Woody Allen quote, “what is the secret to success? Turn up, they can only tell you to go away.”) Try and do something you are interested in this will make the work a lot easier to focus on. If you want to be behind the camera contact those by watching the end credits of the television program or film, this allows for direct contact and is therefore more personal.
It seemed also to me that everyone is related in some way which makes it harder to penetrate but left me with the feeling that once your in try and form as many branches as you can. After this lecture I have started to contact certain people in the media world, taking the advice that its easier with people you know. Therefore I am starting small to build my C.V.

Week 6 John Robb

John Robb is a music journalist that has appeared in many aspects of the media. I personally had seen him on the Culture Show, BBC 2, when they appeared in Manchester for a special. He sat along side some other very influential critics and journalists (Mark Kermode). I didn’t recognize the name however, it was his outlandish appearance and punk-esque hair cut that gave him away.

He started out by outlining his own background and musical passion, that was evident by the chains and boots he wore. He had been brought up with the Buzzcocks and the sex pistols although he made the point that good music is good music, “there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure…” Blackpool being his place of origin he argued that it was hard to have any connections with music if you weren’t living in a big city, comparing how easily today’s internet culture can have everything at once where ever they are. One remark about zines that I regarded with some interest; zines are no longer really in circulation; they are dying out along with the printed word; thus he claimed blogs were the new medium for fan-boys and enthusiasts.  Whereas once he had cut and paste onto sheets of paper he was now typing and editing a web page, apparently too formal for a punk. His views on the internet were conflicted as it allowed for specific interests in music to come together and celebrate and further the genre; at the same time free downloads take much of the money away from these smaller factions thus a paradox is created. His own website that he ran seemed to be popular although non-profit and he said he scarcely pays anyone to add articles. It would seem merely for the elite music lover to write about what they love for free.

Music journalism is not a path I wish to travel down. I did find the lecture of great help in that it showed that all one needs to be is motivated. John Robb was being flown around the world to venues and to interview bands he loved for free and receiving a wage at the same time (apparently he still picked up the dole though). Passion should be the main driving force behind type of career. With lots on my own personal to-do list I felt very lazy. He proved to me that one can make your interests work for you, he also made it apparent that it is better to get on and do things rather than object and criticize on the basis of personal taste. Probably true but odd for a punk to conform.