The readings this week brought two current stories to mind that have utilised the different tools now available for the media. A Current Affairs report on the Abercromby’s golf charity day reported that the realter used the facade of a charity fundraising event in order to have a massive ‘corporate shin-dig.’ They reported that only 26% of the funds raised on the day actually went to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. A Current Affair, used the video captured on a mobile phone by a person who attended the event to give the story more validity. The high quality of video cameras on mobile phones is forever advancing which makes them easy to carry around and shoot video or take pictures, without people taking to much notice.
This also makes more stories available to the media, traditionally only a journalist would investigate and shoot their own footage. But now they journalists are able to use new tools in technology to gather information for stories. Usually a news team will be at the scene of a story extremely fast, however so will every other network team. So there is a huge market for exclusive footage and information of breaking news. With so much information and digital images and videos around though how will we aspiring journo’s ever sift through it all to find the information we require? Jonathon Dube at Poynter Online discusses how RSS (Really Simple Sydnidation) can help to restrict the amount of time journalists use searching on internet by downloading this software that will automatically send feeds to your computer from the links that you have selected.
The story on MP Belinda Neal’s night out at the Iguana bar, was also amplified with security footage from the restaurant, showing Ms Neal having a confrontation with staff. Humans most powerful sense is our sight, therefore if a story can combine sound and visual footage it makes the story not only more credible but more interesting and visually engaging.watch?v=zUoRn2CW6qQ&feature=relatedIguana Bar
