8b) Police are searching for a rapist after a 13-year-old girl was attacked in Greater Manchester. The man, who is described as Asian and in his early 20s, followed her and pushed her down Half Acre Lane where he raped her. She then ran away. The rapist is described as having a shaven head and a beard, and was wearing a dark hooded top and tracksuit bottoms at the time of the attack”.
I think the report has similar problem with the first one – details.
The aim of the report is to find out the rapist, not to report a rape crime. So we don’t need to mention his criminal behaviour. This kind of unrelated detail is not needed.
To find out the rapist, more details about the man himself are necessary, such as his approximately height, he is thin or fat, and so on.
9. A spokesman for the far-right British National party makes a highly racist speech. Do you report what he said? Would you invite him to be interviewed live on radio or television?
I will not report what he said. Because what he said is offensive language.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines Harm & Offence section, “Different words cause different degrees of offence in different parts of the world. So a person's age, sex, education, employment, belief, nationality, and where they live, all impact on whether or not they might be offended.”
This speech, which was presented by a British National party’s speaker who is of high position and whose speech may represent a nation’s like or dislike, would cause big problem between British and minority nationalities.
However, I will not interview him on live radio or TV. Because no one could guarantee he doesn’t speak harm words on live programmes, which would be out of control.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Law and Ethics Test 4
7a). A new bookshop has opened in your town. The owner is Muslim. Do you say so in your report?
I will not mention the owner’s religion belief. It’s a matter of religion.
What is news is a new bookshop has opened. It’s enough. Whether the owner is a religionist or irreligionist does not matter news itself.
If the owner’s religion - Muslim – is mentioned in the report, it is something like you are emphasizing the owner’s religion belief, which tends to be vulnerable, unjustified offence or discriminated.
7b). The local council has appointed a new Mayor – for the first time ever, a British man of Afro-Caribbean origin . Does your report mention his ethnicity?
Yes, I will not only mention his ethnicity, but emphasize it. It is a race-related news report with highly public interest, and the audience aiming at all citizens living in London as well as other parts of the world.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines, “the race to become London Mayor is expected to be high profile with a strong emphasis on personality”.
Care is needed to balance to mention the other candidates with the appointed mayor not only during the election period but all the time, so that no undue advantage over the opponents is given.
8a). A Hampton betting shop was robbed of more than £3,000 by three black men wearing scarves and gloves. On Friday November 3 at around 5.50pm the males entered the shop on High Street Hampton with their faces partially covered. They approached the counter, behind which two female members of staff were working, and one man leant over and unbolted the counter hatch before kicking it open allowing them to reach the till.
In my opinion, the report mentioned too many criminal details.
This is very dangerous thing which may teach someone who is going to or has the idea to committee a crime that how to release an idea into activity.
Details like how the three men dressed themselves, and how to reach the till should not be reported. Audience only need to know about which shop when by who suffered what.
I will not mention the owner’s religion belief. It’s a matter of religion.
What is news is a new bookshop has opened. It’s enough. Whether the owner is a religionist or irreligionist does not matter news itself.
If the owner’s religion - Muslim – is mentioned in the report, it is something like you are emphasizing the owner’s religion belief, which tends to be vulnerable, unjustified offence or discriminated.
7b). The local council has appointed a new Mayor – for the first time ever, a British man of Afro-Caribbean origin . Does your report mention his ethnicity?
Yes, I will not only mention his ethnicity, but emphasize it. It is a race-related news report with highly public interest, and the audience aiming at all citizens living in London as well as other parts of the world.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines, “the race to become London Mayor is expected to be high profile with a strong emphasis on personality”.
Care is needed to balance to mention the other candidates with the appointed mayor not only during the election period but all the time, so that no undue advantage over the opponents is given.
8a). A Hampton betting shop was robbed of more than £3,000 by three black men wearing scarves and gloves. On Friday November 3 at around 5.50pm the males entered the shop on High Street Hampton with their faces partially covered. They approached the counter, behind which two female members of staff were working, and one man leant over and unbolted the counter hatch before kicking it open allowing them to reach the till.
In my opinion, the report mentioned too many criminal details.
This is very dangerous thing which may teach someone who is going to or has the idea to committee a crime that how to release an idea into activity.
Details like how the three men dressed themselves, and how to reach the till should not be reported. Audience only need to know about which shop when by who suffered what.
Law and Ethics Test 3
5. There are rumours about an MP dealing in cocaine. The only way you can find out for sure is by going to his private home posing as a buyer – and get a photographer to use a long-lens camera to photograph the deal or take a hidden camera and film secretly. Would you use the story and pictures?
I would not use the story and pictures.
If the story of “an MP dealing in cocaine” were true, it was crime behaviour that of public interest.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Privacy section, we need to “balance the public interest in the full and accurate reporting of stories involving human suffering and distress with an individual's privacy and respect for their human dignity”. And we can “justify intrusions into an individual's private life without consent by demonstrating a clear public interest”. So we can use the story and accept the way obtaining evidence.
But at the same time “we must not go on fishing expeditions”. Because at the moment it is just “rumors” that we know, it is not what with clear evidence. Under this condition, we should not then intrude into one’s privacy in search of crime. So I would not use the story.
“We must never use unattended recording equipment on private property without permission of the owner unless for the purpose of gaining evidence of serious crime.” So the way of taking pictures is available. But even if the behaviour of taking pictures itself is illegal, the pictures should not be used.
6. A top Ministry of Defence official tells you that British submarines can’t fire their nuclear warheads in certain sea conditions - a major scandal. You run the story – and the government prosecutes you under the Official Secrets Act. In court, the judge orders you to reveal your source - otherwise you face jail for contempt. What do you do?
I will do what as court demands – to reveal the source.
According to Essential Law for Journalists, Official Secrets Act is “part of an armoury of weapons available to governments”. That means whenever government wish to prevent or punish journalists or sources related to national security, OS Act could be helpful. This is what one as a journalist should be aware of before reporting political issues. That is to say we need to be ready jailed when disclosing a government’s scandal.
As a journalist I will certainly tell the truth for public interest. Actually, in this case, whether I reveal the source or not, I will definitely be jailed. What make difference are the reasons. If I do, it is because of offending OS Act that I’m jailed; if I don’t, it is because of contempt of court.
By the way, the top ministry who told me the story should be jailed either for the reason of leak the information.
I would not use the story and pictures.
If the story of “an MP dealing in cocaine” were true, it was crime behaviour that of public interest.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Privacy section, we need to “balance the public interest in the full and accurate reporting of stories involving human suffering and distress with an individual's privacy and respect for their human dignity”. And we can “justify intrusions into an individual's private life without consent by demonstrating a clear public interest”. So we can use the story and accept the way obtaining evidence.
But at the same time “we must not go on fishing expeditions”. Because at the moment it is just “rumors” that we know, it is not what with clear evidence. Under this condition, we should not then intrude into one’s privacy in search of crime. So I would not use the story.
“We must never use unattended recording equipment on private property without permission of the owner unless for the purpose of gaining evidence of serious crime.” So the way of taking pictures is available. But even if the behaviour of taking pictures itself is illegal, the pictures should not be used.
6. A top Ministry of Defence official tells you that British submarines can’t fire their nuclear warheads in certain sea conditions - a major scandal. You run the story – and the government prosecutes you under the Official Secrets Act. In court, the judge orders you to reveal your source - otherwise you face jail for contempt. What do you do?
I will do what as court demands – to reveal the source.
According to Essential Law for Journalists, Official Secrets Act is “part of an armoury of weapons available to governments”. That means whenever government wish to prevent or punish journalists or sources related to national security, OS Act could be helpful. This is what one as a journalist should be aware of before reporting political issues. That is to say we need to be ready jailed when disclosing a government’s scandal.
As a journalist I will certainly tell the truth for public interest. Actually, in this case, whether I reveal the source or not, I will definitely be jailed. What make difference are the reasons. If I do, it is because of offending OS Act that I’m jailed; if I don’t, it is because of contempt of court.
By the way, the top ministry who told me the story should be jailed either for the reason of leak the information.
Law and Ethics Test 2
3.A TV report looks into the increase of offensive weapons being brought in to schools by pupils. Part of the report is filmed at a school, showing unidentified school-children; another part is filmed in a shop selling weapons and shows the type of knives in question. Why would this report show unidentified children in the school? Why would the knives not be shown in the school context?
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour section, in some circumstances it is important to disguise identities, for instance, “when there is clear existing documentary or other evidence against a group of people, but not against known individuals in that group”.
The report focus on the issue itself, which happens on school situation relating to pupils, not on a certain school, a certain student, or which school it takes place in. It’s a kind of “crime reconstructions” programme.
According to BBC Guidelines the Crime section, “factual programme should restrict the use of reconstructions to the conveying of factual information...it should be obvious to the audience where a reconstruction begins and ends”.
The reason why knives not be shown in the school is that it is not in the school that sells the knives. And knives could be harm to students as well.
4a). A man approaches you saying he’s the lover of an England football star – and he has photographic evidence to prove it. Do you run the pictures and story?
I will not run the pictures or story.
As a journalist, “we should try to witness events and gather information first hand”, according to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Accuracy section. We should always insure the news is truth.
The pictures are sources from a third party, the story as well. Although it is of public interest, At least, we have something must to be considered before running the story, if we run:
“Validating the authenticity of documentary evidence and digital material”, which means whether the pictures are under digital manipulation;
“Checking and cross checking the facts”, that is to check whether or not the England football player is homosexual;
“Corroborating claims and allegations made by contributors wherever possible”, that is to check who this man is, whether he is trustable, etc.
In a word we must tell the truth to public.
4b). Another man also comes in to say he has had a relationship with the player too. And he says the star was blackmailed to ‘throw’ (affect the result of) matches – otherwise the footballer’s homosexuality would be exposed. Do you publish/broadcast the story?
I will not publish the story either.
The reasons are just the same as the last question. A journalist should be independent. Whether there is blackmail or not, we should tell the truth.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour section, in some circumstances it is important to disguise identities, for instance, “when there is clear existing documentary or other evidence against a group of people, but not against known individuals in that group”.
The report focus on the issue itself, which happens on school situation relating to pupils, not on a certain school, a certain student, or which school it takes place in. It’s a kind of “crime reconstructions” programme.
According to BBC Guidelines the Crime section, “factual programme should restrict the use of reconstructions to the conveying of factual information...it should be obvious to the audience where a reconstruction begins and ends”.
The reason why knives not be shown in the school is that it is not in the school that sells the knives. And knives could be harm to students as well.
4a). A man approaches you saying he’s the lover of an England football star – and he has photographic evidence to prove it. Do you run the pictures and story?
I will not run the pictures or story.
As a journalist, “we should try to witness events and gather information first hand”, according to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Accuracy section. We should always insure the news is truth.
The pictures are sources from a third party, the story as well. Although it is of public interest, At least, we have something must to be considered before running the story, if we run:
“Validating the authenticity of documentary evidence and digital material”, which means whether the pictures are under digital manipulation;
“Checking and cross checking the facts”, that is to check whether or not the England football player is homosexual;
“Corroborating claims and allegations made by contributors wherever possible”, that is to check who this man is, whether he is trustable, etc.
In a word we must tell the truth to public.
4b). Another man also comes in to say he has had a relationship with the player too. And he says the star was blackmailed to ‘throw’ (affect the result of) matches – otherwise the footballer’s homosexuality would be exposed. Do you publish/broadcast the story?
I will not publish the story either.
The reasons are just the same as the last question. A journalist should be independent. Whether there is blackmail or not, we should tell the truth.
Law and Ethics Test 1
1. In a recent court case, which attracted a lot of publicity, a father was prosecuted for smacking his three-year old son and convicted of common assault. In all the reporting of the case, the father remained anonymous. Why was that?
First of all, obviously, this is a news story about children and criminal activity which is included in the field of law.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Children section, “the decision to involve, feature or identify children whose parents are engaged in anti-social activity should only be made if the welfare of the child will not be harmed…this is particularly important when children may be at risk.”
That means that identification of children will be unacceptable if which has negative influence on children’s growing up, or if children are living with parents’ violence.
In this piece of news, anonymity of the father is for the sake of his son’s welfare. Because according to Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour section, when reporting crime, “jigsaw effect” should be taken into consideration, which means “separate reports, which could be in different media, give different details of a case which when pieced together, reveal the identity of the person involved”. If audiences get to know name of the father, there is possibility of revealing the son’s identity, which should be avoided.
In a word, when reporting the case with the father anonymous is totally for the good of his son.
2. A British citizen has been taken hostage in a Middle Eastern country. The captors release a distressing video showing the hostage weeping and pleading with the British government to intervene and save their life. How do you think this development should be reported on radio, TV, press and online?
This is a matter of how to report hostage taking issues taking place in terror conditions on different means of media.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the War, Terror & Emergencies and Live Output sections, “we need to be sensitive to the emotions and fears of our audience when reporting matters involving risk to and loss of life, as well as human suffering and distress.”
First of all, we will not broadcast the video until “referral to a senior editorial figure”.
I think on radio and TV, the video could be broadcast without editing. For example, all the hostage’s begging and tearing should be broadcast with no need to hide his/her face or voice, partly because audiences should be told the truth, partly because the level of violence or disorder is acceptable. But a text warning at the start of the programme will always be welcomed. And we should well arrange the time when run the programme in order to avoid children audiences.
On press, the news needs to be described objectively and fully by transferring visual pictures to text.
For online reports, besides what has been done on press, we could leave space for readers’ comments, ask for claims from a third party, or link to other website dealing with the same story or related ones.
First of all, obviously, this is a news story about children and criminal activity which is included in the field of law.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the Children section, “the decision to involve, feature or identify children whose parents are engaged in anti-social activity should only be made if the welfare of the child will not be harmed…this is particularly important when children may be at risk.”
That means that identification of children will be unacceptable if which has negative influence on children’s growing up, or if children are living with parents’ violence.
In this piece of news, anonymity of the father is for the sake of his son’s welfare. Because according to Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour section, when reporting crime, “jigsaw effect” should be taken into consideration, which means “separate reports, which could be in different media, give different details of a case which when pieced together, reveal the identity of the person involved”. If audiences get to know name of the father, there is possibility of revealing the son’s identity, which should be avoided.
In a word, when reporting the case with the father anonymous is totally for the good of his son.
2. A British citizen has been taken hostage in a Middle Eastern country. The captors release a distressing video showing the hostage weeping and pleading with the British government to intervene and save their life. How do you think this development should be reported on radio, TV, press and online?
This is a matter of how to report hostage taking issues taking place in terror conditions on different means of media.
According to BBC Editorial Guidelines the War, Terror & Emergencies and Live Output sections, “we need to be sensitive to the emotions and fears of our audience when reporting matters involving risk to and loss of life, as well as human suffering and distress.”
First of all, we will not broadcast the video until “referral to a senior editorial figure”.
I think on radio and TV, the video could be broadcast without editing. For example, all the hostage’s begging and tearing should be broadcast with no need to hide his/her face or voice, partly because audiences should be told the truth, partly because the level of violence or disorder is acceptable. But a text warning at the start of the programme will always be welcomed. And we should well arrange the time when run the programme in order to avoid children audiences.
On press, the news needs to be described objectively and fully by transferring visual pictures to text.
For online reports, besides what has been done on press, we could leave space for readers’ comments, ask for claims from a third party, or link to other website dealing with the same story or related ones.
Friday, 7 December 2007
radio live day 2
Last Friday was the second radio live day which was not only a repeat of the first one but a practise of next Friday.
I felt better at re-writing stories as well as the cue.
Partly because I chose a more similar topic and country, partly because I'm much more familiar with how to do it.
Now I can grasp a story's idea much quicker due to practise on radio & online class.
The only problem when I recorded my story was how to read Japanese names fluently. Next time I'll not even mention those complex names.
The terrible story
Japan hanged three murderers today and for the first time revealed their names and details of the crimes. Yin reports.
Three men were hanged today in Japan for murder.
The new policy of revealing their names and details of the crime aims at strengthen support for executions.
The three hanged included Seiha Fujima, who’s 47. The Justice Ministry described his crime saying that because a 16-year-old girl refused his romantic advances, he then killed the girl, her mother and a sister.
The other two, Hiroki Fukawa, who’s 42, and 74-year-old Noboru Ikemoto, were also condemned of multiple murders.
The Justice Ministry had previously announced only the number of people hanged, although Japanese media would reveal their identities.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said he believed they gained understanding from the public by disclosing the information.
Because executions were being carried out in an appropriate manner with the focus on feelings of the victims.
Although a study published this week showed that rates of crime had fallen further since 2002, opinion polls show most Japanese still favor capital punishment.
Japan's capital punishment has been widely criticized, including by the UN Committee against Torture.
Partly because those on death row are not told when they will be executed until the day they are hanged. Many remain on death row for decades.
I felt better at re-writing stories as well as the cue.
Partly because I chose a more similar topic and country, partly because I'm much more familiar with how to do it.
Now I can grasp a story's idea much quicker due to practise on radio & online class.
The only problem when I recorded my story was how to read Japanese names fluently. Next time I'll not even mention those complex names.
The terrible story
Japan hanged three murderers today and for the first time revealed their names and details of the crimes. Yin reports.
Three men were hanged today in Japan for murder.
The new policy of revealing their names and details of the crime aims at strengthen support for executions.
The three hanged included Seiha Fujima, who’s 47. The Justice Ministry described his crime saying that because a 16-year-old girl refused his romantic advances, he then killed the girl, her mother and a sister.
The other two, Hiroki Fukawa, who’s 42, and 74-year-old Noboru Ikemoto, were also condemned of multiple murders.
The Justice Ministry had previously announced only the number of people hanged, although Japanese media would reveal their identities.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said he believed they gained understanding from the public by disclosing the information.
Because executions were being carried out in an appropriate manner with the focus on feelings of the victims.
Although a study published this week showed that rates of crime had fallen further since 2002, opinion polls show most Japanese still favor capital punishment.
Japan's capital punishment has been widely criticized, including by the UN Committee against Torture.
Partly because those on death row are not told when they will be executed until the day they are hanged. Many remain on death row for decades.
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
radio live day
Last Friday was radio live programme day.
All we need to do was to see news agency and find out several stroies suitable for broadcasting magazine, and to rewrite as well. All the selected news should fit to a certain audience.
For the first time I broadcasted as a live presenter. It was interesting, I were nervous, otherwise.
Trade story
Indian Trade minister Kamal Nath, and European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson continues summit talks last Friday after pushing free trade pact in New Delhi.
The European Union (EU) and India launched summit talks last Friday morning after setting a 2008 target for a free trade pact.
The eighth EU-India Summit would seek to build closer strategic relationships and also get deeper cooperation in "energy, climate change and World Trade Organization talks," said an EU mission statement in New Delhi.
The EU, with 27-member union, is India's largest trading partner, which accounts for a fifth of India's total trade, and is also one of its most important sources of foreign investment.
EU-India trade importance
While economy has been increasing at a second rapid speed in recent years, while China is in the fastest pace, India plays a fast expanding role in the world economy, it is important to make free trade agreement for the EU, also India needs hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign investment to sustain this growth.
Nath had urged a successful conclusion of a free trade deal by the end of next year on Thursday and Mandelson voiced similar hopes.
While the EU continues to be India's primary trading partner and biggest foreign investor, "the conclusion of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement will certainly boost bilateral trade," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
India's foreign ministry said deals would be signed later Friday on scientific, technological and development cooperation.
For more information, go to BBCNEWS, YAHOONEWS
All we need to do was to see news agency and find out several stroies suitable for broadcasting magazine, and to rewrite as well. All the selected news should fit to a certain audience.
For the first time I broadcasted as a live presenter. It was interesting, I were nervous, otherwise.
Trade story
Indian Trade minister Kamal Nath, and European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson continues summit talks last Friday after pushing free trade pact in New Delhi.
The European Union (EU) and India launched summit talks last Friday morning after setting a 2008 target for a free trade pact.
The eighth EU-India Summit would seek to build closer strategic relationships and also get deeper cooperation in "energy, climate change and World Trade Organization talks," said an EU mission statement in New Delhi.
The EU, with 27-member union, is India's largest trading partner, which accounts for a fifth of India's total trade, and is also one of its most important sources of foreign investment.
EU-India trade importance
While economy has been increasing at a second rapid speed in recent years, while China is in the fastest pace, India plays a fast expanding role in the world economy, it is important to make free trade agreement for the EU, also India needs hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign investment to sustain this growth.
Nath had urged a successful conclusion of a free trade deal by the end of next year on Thursday and Mandelson voiced similar hopes.
While the EU continues to be India's primary trading partner and biggest foreign investor, "the conclusion of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement will certainly boost bilateral trade," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
India's foreign ministry said deals would be signed later Friday on scientific, technological and development cooperation.
For more information, go to BBCNEWS, YAHOONEWS
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