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Get your facts straight

7.2.07

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There is one thing that no journalist can ever control: someone will always question your story. The thing that I have come to realise is that everyone likes to think that they are in the know. When in actual fact they might not be. There might be some sort of contradiction within certain stories, relaying of stories and the facts within the story.

You can never know for certain, 100% and without fail that someone is telling you the truth. People lie for various reasons. What you can do is make sure that you have yourself covered. Here are some tips that I think will help:
  • Make sure you have written down your notes.
  • ALWAYS try to record your interviews.
  • Maintain a good relationship with your translator if you are using one. You never know when you might need them to corroborate your story.
  • Check your facts, again and again and again... and again.
  • When submitting stories, keep a copy of the original. Things change in the sub-editing process.

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posted by Nic, 9:47 AM | link |

MySpace.com

30.10.06

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I need to confess something. I have been a bad blogger. I have tarnished my consistent loyalties to the blogosphere. I have spent almost and entire day neglecting my blog. I have spent almost an entire day on Myspace.

I know, i know it's terrible, but it has happened. The network is just so immense. It's a bit crazy actually. I'm not really sure if anyone really knows what they are doing on there. The design is shit, the layout is shit, the user interface is... you guessed it, shit. Nothing is really made simple in terms of customization for a user who has no coding experience whatsoever. But I digress.

I spent a say on myspace trying to make it "my" space. I tried hard. I did what I could but just couldnt get the freedom. I asked lotsa people to be my friend (I feel like im back in grade 1) and recieved a few invitations back, nice one. But all in all I think that Myspace has no personable aspects to it. It's all generic and intrusive that allows anyone to do anything and some do nothing. Not my cup o' tea really.

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posted by Nic, 9:59 PM | link |

First deadline reached

27.10.06

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I have officially hit my first deadline. All stories are in and the necessary people (some of them were unnecessary) have called me back. I managed to get all the interviews done and am happy with the results. Welcome to the world of Journalism... I think

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posted by Nic, 2:29 PM | link |

Nobody on the phone

26.10.06

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To put this simply: It pisses me off that no one answers their damn phones. Do people think that they are too important to answer calls? Are they so damn popular that they are nagged by their phone that they feel the need to ignore it for some peace of mind? Well you know what... it's a weekday, you own a cellphone, you are a business person so ANSWER YOUR PHONE when I call you. I am doing you  a favour when I call you, not because I am me and I am fantastic (which is true) but because I am working for a big newspaper who will give your business a boost in clientele once I am finished writing about you. Do me and yourself a favour and step in to 2006, check your mailbox for my email and check your voice message for my calls...better still, answer your phone.

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posted by Nic, 11:45 AM | link |

Google Share price reaches 9 month High

21.10.06

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Not only has Google's share price recently reached $459,67, but it has surpassed HP, the worlds largest technology company's market value of $108 billion, at $143 billion.

This is unbelievable. I picked up the Google Share Price Story on the MG online earlier.
I have some questions and concerns about this whole Google issue that I hope someone can clear up, answer, share in my fears or something, I dunno. When does Google stop? Is Google becoming the new Microsoft in terms of industry monopolies? What happened to Google aiming to push the envelope of technology development, now all they do is acquire ideas they couldn't do themselves. They seem to have lost a bit of their spunk and exuberance as a cutting edge company.

I am obviously speaking from the opinion of someone who is simply a web user, not a web proffessional, and it concerns me that there is no competition on a major level to Google. It concerns me that my life online is somewhat dependant on making use of now and newly acuired google products. In fact, I am using one right now... blogger. hmmm. mainstream is not the way, mainstream is just not the way.

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posted by Nic, 11:35 AM | link |

Studentwire gets interactive

17.10.06

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Studentwire had become a fairly interactive place of late. A story was posted about a Coup (which i have blogged about already, see below). Debate has arisen around Student Newspapers need to challenge the SRC and "dig" for stories. There is also some debate around criticism of the way the story was written. Some felt, well one guy felt, that the story was shit. He said so. Now people are asking the Editor/writer from Nux (the newspaper of UKZN) to answer the criticism. I am exstatic that the has finally become what it was meant for: interaction between reader, writer, publisher and story. I think its great.

Visit the Studentwire Forums to get more information on the situation.

Blogged with Flock

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posted by Nic, 11:17 AM | link |

Blogger Sued for Defamation - Old news

15.10.06

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I just picked up This story from Sunday Times about a blogger from the Jo'blog who called a motivational speaker various things on the site being sued for defamation. Now ain't that some shit.

You can see the whole issue laid to rest at the Jo'Blog website here. This however is not the main focus of this post. I am seriously interested in the dates of this story, the main issue and its release in mainstream print media.

Here are some dates that I have noticed:

  • The Sunday Times published this story today.
  • There is only one story on the Sunday Times website which means there are no other stories in their archives for the last 2 years.
  • Visited Jo'Blog today and found a string of stories.

Ok, so now maybe im rambling a bit right now and I have a sneaking suspicion that someone somewhere is going to correct me on this one, but why, oh why, is the Sunday Times picking up this story if it is over a year and half old?

As far as I can see from the Jo'Blog site and the Sunday Times story, both parties have sorted this issue out. And if that is so, then I think that I am going with the dates of the Jo'blog site apology and final closing post on the issue, which was almost a year ago on Dec 7th 2005. Strange.

Blogged with Flock

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posted by Nic, 1:30 PM | link |

SRC Coup - Students have gone a bit moggy

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Studentwire released a story yesterday written by the NUX Editor about a Coup d'etat at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. The SRC is in disseray and things are looking very ominous.

I feel the need to ask: What the hell is going on with student politics. This is the third or fourth University that I have read and heard about having issues with the SRC. Is this just a jostling for power? Is it a matter of rational discontent with people in power? Is there any intention to right the situation? Are students actually interested in their University Governance?

I really wish I had some answers to these questions, but I am not really 100% sure. I would like to think that there are students out there who care about the political state of their campuses. But in turn i would also hope that randsacking the SRC is not the correct way to go about creating change and reform. We are not living in the 60's anymore, there are more effective ways to create change than violent overthrows of government.

Maybe im wrong about that, but seriously, a Coup?? Thats a bit mad if you ask me.

Blogged with Flock

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posted by Nic, 1:23 PM | link |

Captivate Is Almost over

24.9.06

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I have official completed my return to the Gspot!!

My presentation went well on my website, and a hell of a lot great input was recieved. Criticism is always great especially when its constructive!

Please go and have a look at the Captivate Blog for more opinions and views on the conference and the state of student media in South Africa.

Thank you to the entire Captivate team, you did a sterling job and should be very proud of yourselves!

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posted by Nic, 2:03 PM | link |

Captivate, Rhodes. And all the rest

23.9.06

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It is the weekend of the Captivate Student Media Conference. I am back in gtown and had a typical first year back in the swing of things.

Grant Harris from Studentvillage opened the conference. He was hung over, but he did an extremely good job explaining what SV is and what they do. Nice form from the man with cash to get the girls to get moving!!!

Due to some technical difficulties I have been unable to blog about the conference thus far. Thanks to some aid from Carly I have stolen her laptop and begun the massive blog-off that is Captivate.

I will be blogging on the Captivate Blog as well as Shutterview and Studentwire. So keep an eye out and enjoy the conference.

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posted by Nic, 1:31 PM | link |

TV 4 Documentaries

21.9.06

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RUTV4 ยป Jason von Berg

The Rhodes University TV 4 students have produced amazing documentaries.

Jason Von Berg sent me his documentary which you can have a look at here. I am very proud to say that He has worked hard on this project and is very happy with the result, as I am sure most (hopefully all) of the TV 4 students are!

Good work to everyone and we'll have a MASSIVE party this weekend!

Blogged with Flock

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posted by Nic, 12:13 AM | link |