Defame and they’ll be a Claim!- Journalists and the Law of Defamation

When researching celebrity slander and libel cases, it is surprisingly common to see how many cases appear online. A vast number of high-status public figures have been victims to defamation and, as a result, have sued those who have risked their social standing.

 The BBC states “the law of defamation allows individuals, groups of individuals, companies or firms to sue for damage to their reputation. You can defame someone by publishing material in various forms and people can sue so long as the material can be reasonably understood to be referring to them.”

 To me, one of the most prominent examples involved Keira Knightley and an anorexia libel claim back in 2007. The actress accepted £3,000 High Court libel damages after The Daily Mail published a story about a 19-year-old girl who had died as a result of the eating disorder. The article, headed "If pictures like this one of Keira carried a health warning, my darling daughter might have lived", was published alongside images of Knightley in a bikini on holiday.

 The claim was supported by Knightley’s solicitor who said the paper suggested she had an eating disorder and held some responsibility towards the girl's death. Additionally, the story came only a few days after the newspaper had already targeted Knightley’s weight under the headline “It's itsy bitsy teeny weeny Keira Knightley”. By tackling such a sensitive topic in a tactless way that highlights the negative sides of celebrity culture, The Daily Mail could be seen to jeopardise the actress’ reputation.

 Nowadays, the stigma around anorexia is widespread in relation to celebrity culture and female role models. With negative connotations surrounding the illness, female celebrities can constantly be seen in the press in regards to body image. Despite the defendant claiming the article was of public interest and alerted mothers to the dangers of anorexia, The Daily Mail lost the case. Knightley matched the £3,000 she was given before donating it to the charity Beat which helps sufferers of mental illness.

Knightley's slim figure was emphasised as she was captured on holiday in a bikini.
http://s1041.photobucket.com/user/SweeterYet/media/Kiera%20Knightly/keira-knightley-anorexia-1-23-07.jpg.html

 But how can journalists prove a story is of public interest without being sued for damaging a celebrity’s reputation? In this case, I think it was clear The Daily Mail placed Keira Knightley in a position which suggested she had been a poor role model for the deceased young girl. By using pictures of the actress that emphasised the shape of her body, the article could be seen to highlight that young girls aspire to her unrealistically thin form. I believe it was right for the newspaper to emphasise the dangers of anorexia through the reporting of the girl’s death, but to attach Knightley to the article was unnecessary and harmful to the celebrity’s reputation. There’s a thin line between what journalists claim to be of public interest and what content can be sued by celebrities, but this is an issue that all journalists have to face.

Verify on Storify- Exploring News Curation

As a new user to Storify, I was unsure of what to expect at first. Without the requirement to explore news curation as part of my degree, the layout of the site could have scared me away originally, had it not been compulsory for me to carry on. However, through some basic guidance of Storify and a good deal of trial and error, I found myself able to navigate the system and produce some stories of my own.

 Unlike any platform I have worked with before, I knew news curation required perhaps more thought than other platforms I’d used for journalism, such as microblogging on Twitter. The act of content curation involved me not only finding the information I needed to create a Storify, but also arranging the material to form a coherent structure to my narratives. This could be tricky at times due to the wealth of information available online that needed filtering to determine the relevance to my stories.

 Nonetheless, as a result of the time I spent using Storify, I feel I have gained a deeper understanding into the many ways news can be conveyed online. It’s easy for me to turn to more conventional styles of journalism in order to find what I am looking for but, now I am aware of Storify’s existence, I will be returning to it more often.

 Unlike microblogging, Storify allows the creator to present as much information as they require to communicate the story at hand. Users have near-limitless access to sources they can draw on online and, once you understand the programme, you can produce some sophisticated work.

 But, like all news curation, it is important to note copyright and the inability to use some people’s work. However, in spite of this, there is such an abundance of sources freely available online it is likely you can find similar material on another site.

 It is apparent that Storify is a popular curation tool. This can be recognised through statistics generated by Quantcast estimating the amount of Storify users per month in the USA. As up to date results, we can see that in the last 7 months, August saw the biggest increase in user activity. Up 13%, the platform reached an impressive 1, 697, 660 users. It is unclear why the graph shows a decrease succeeding August, but further statistics will determine the popularity of Storify.



https://www.quantcast.com/storify.com

 

 

 Overall, I found the biggest challenge to be finding a topic to curate. With little restriction on subjects which can be presented, the vastness can make the choice harder. As a student studying journalism, I decided to create my first Storify on a news story dominating the press. I decided to explore the Ebola crisis. However, I didn’t want to just report the facts on the virus, I wanted to explore how the media had covered it. As a result of this angle, I gained a deeper understanding into the way journalists report specific areas and the challenges reporters face when entering a dangerous environment.

 As a result of my engagement on Storify, I believe I have gained a deeper understanding into not just news curation, but the topics I explored as well. By grouping a variety of materials, I felt my stories conveyed additional depth that traditional forms of media cannot display. In the long term, I am glad to have explored this platform.

Twitter Natter and the Art of Microblogging

 Founded in 2006, Twitter has become a major social media platform in today’s society. By providing users with a 140 character tweet, it is easy to send quick updates and likewise inform others of what you are doing and what you think. From my engagement in microblogging, it is clear to see why Twitter has become so popular worldwide. Unlike regular blogging, I find the smaller updates easier to manage and less time consuming than a full on blog. As a result of my recent university module, my eyes have also been opened to a multitude of journalism-related Twitter profiles I was previously unaware of.

 Just like other social media platforms online, I was intrigued by the amount of other users worldwide who could access my tweets. Using data provided by Business Insider Intelligence, I decided to produce a map showing the millions of Twitter users in a selection of countries. 

A map showing the amount of Twitter users per country.

 

After seeing the popularity of Twitter was extensively widespread, I asked myself why Twitter is so popular and what the benefits of this type of microblogging are. I personally find it trouble-free to access Twitter on my smartphone which, overall, makes me more willing to commit to having a profile. Reading the tweets on my timeline is quick and painless and, if other users have included a link to a longer article, I like having the option as to whether I want to read something lengthier. As I have also chose who to follow, the tweets which appear on my timeline are relevant to my interests and it is rare I will see a tweet which does not appeal to me.

 Another advantage I found during my focus on news and journalism on Twitter was the ability to create lists. This enabled me to selectively look at my followers who targeted the area I was looking for and get faster updates on any breaking news stories. In relation to breaking news, profiles such as @BreakingNews and @TWCBreaking were most efficient if I was looking for any crucial stories. Nonetheless, after following numerous news organisations, I found myself reading an array of longer articles from other profiles I’d previously overlooked. As a result, I feel the exercise I was assigned has increased my knowledge of news organisations out there and where I can go to search for news.

 As well as reading the news, Twitter also allowed me to directly contact another user if I have something relevant to say. During my assignment I was fortunate to communicate with Madeline Haller, Cosmopolitan’s Social Media Editor. After commenting on her tweet, I was lucky to get a reply back. Before the assignment, I think it would’ve been unlikely of me to comment on somebody's tweet who I didn’t know directly.

 Similarly, after tweeting questions relating to journalism, I was surprised that people responded. Not just friends who followed me, but people I didn’t know as well. This showed me the power of microblogging and the ability to attract attention if you so wished. I put this down to the use of hashtags and targeting people with similar interests.

 However, Twitter can have a downfall when using hashtags. Spamming can easily occur when topics are trending and people are trying to get recognised. I find this causes confusion on my timeline and shows me tweets that are irrelevant to me. From my engagement on Twitter, this has to be one of the inconvenient traits of this microblogging platform.

 Additionally, if I was to point out any other faults during my use of Twitter, it would be the limit of 140 characters. Whilst I still stand by it being convenient to read short tweets, I sometimes ran into the problem of not having enough characters. I guess this is what comes with microblogging and if you want to engage in it you have to realise it still has its flaws.

 

 I can still see why Twitter is the most popular microblogging platform and, overall, can see more benefits than negatives.

The World of Fashion Blogging

Just like many girls growing up, I aspired to be the next Anna Wintour. I thought only of the endless closets of designer clothes and the chic image of working at Vogue. However, looking back I was clearly unaware of the hard work and obligations which come with the role and the time and energy it would realistically take to get there.



Vogue November 2014 cover.
http://www.vogue.co.uk/magazine/archive/issue/2014/November/View/Cover

 In a world where so many fashion blogs are becoming a major part of the industry, there is huge competition to be successful. If you ask someone where they’ve got their fashion inspiration from they are more than likely to answer a fashion blog. This has been increasing in recent years as the internet can be seen to be replacing magazines. According to the Alliance for Audited Media, Vanity Fair reported an 11 percent drop in newsstand sales during 2013 alone. Due to the accessibility for users to search the internet they are just as likely to find what they are looking for online as they are in a magazine.

 But what makes a successful fashion blog and how do aspiring fashion journalists get themselves recognised? Teen Vogue highlighted how to make it as a fashion blogger. The brains behind the blog The Style Student, Nicole Loher says you must have a genuine passion in order to present an authentic blog. She states “The girls who started blogging solely because they wanted to make a career out of it aren’t nearly as successful.” Fashion blogs entail commitment and participation amongst other platforms to promote your work.  

 For fashionistas dedicated to the serious role of fashion journalism, I believe it is definitely something to get involved in. Unfortunately though, not everyone will be polite about how you present yourself on the web. Cyberbullying has a tendency to rear its ugly head and, for sensitive bloggers, could be a serious downfall of the job. Teen Vogue quoted blogger Leandra Medine saying “Success in any field of work will induce judgmental comments. I ignore them—most of them are rude.” At the end of the day, if you’re doing what you love, it doesn’t matter what others think!

The Power of Social Media

 From Twitter to Facebook our dominant news organisations now have the tools available to provide us with news on the go straight to our mobile phones. We have social media to thank for this and the technological opportunities which have emerged throughout the last 20 years or so.

 This year Facebook celebrated its 10 year mark, which can be seen as old to some users. I personally haven’t tired of it yet but many have moved on to newer social media such as Instagram and Twitter. Maybe it’s just me, but in this constantly developing world I find it hard to keep up with all the emerging forms of social media and think I prefer to be limited to a few. I struggle to maintain a few ‘older’ accounts, let alone figure out the navigation to the latest trend.

 On both my Twitter and Facebook accounts I, like many others, follow a variety of news organisations. From national and international breaking news, to sites dedicated to fashion journalism, the spectrum of news available could satisfy anyone’s needs. I can sign onto any of my accounts at any time and be faced with the latest up-to-date stories.

 Only today did I log on to my Twitter account and a tweet from The Independent caught my attention. “A new iOS app can teach you how to speak a Game of Thrones language fluently” followed by a link to their online article. Perfect for my inner fan girl!

A new iOS app can teach you how to speak a Game of Thrones language fluently http://t.co/dLbAKih5eX pic.twitter.com/oBVy6RsSJx
— The Independent (@Independent) October 14, 2014

 It is a known fact that Twitter can only provide the user with a tweet under 140 characters, but the ability to insert links to longer articles sees this platform as a success in my opinion. It’s also easy to construct lists of my top journalists and organisations which allow me to quickly scan the tweets for snippets of news and stories that interest me. Perfect for when I’m out and about!

 But it’s not just me who benefits from social media sites and a constant update of news. Social media has also proven to be valuable for the journalists themselves when it comes to sourcing the news, as it allows them to gather a wider variety of material. However, newsgathering is just one of the benefits the BBC listed for the valuable role social media plays in journalism and how it has changed the way newsrooms work.

 Just like how I am keen to receive constant news updates, journalists also want audience engagement to expand their reports and to interact with the public. Without an active audience, social media would be limited as a platform to broadcast content. The use of social media can furthermore be recognised as a dominant tool in today’s society to direct audiences to journalist’s work on websites, TV or even radio so the use of retweeting and comments is vital.

 Andrew Miller, Guardian News & Media CEO, says “Twitter has really helped the Guardian. We’re at the heart of breaking news. Twitter is the fastest way to break news now. So core to what we do and core to what we do on a daily basis.”

With 72% of all internet users now active on social media, we can’t ignore the impact social media has on our day-to-day lives and the benefits it can bring to breaking news and connecting people around us.

Why Journalism and Where Can This Path Take Me?

As I embark upon my final year of studies at Bournemouth University, my thoughts are again faced with the question Why Journalism? What directed me to study by the coast and why is this course for me?

 In Making Journalists: Diverse models, global issues, Brian McNair stated “journalism, in all its varieties, is the constant background and accompaniment of everyday life.” I think we can all agree this is true as we are constantly surrounded and are kept informed of the world around us.

 I was originally unsure as to whether the journalistic route was for me. Having never studied journalism in depth before university, I found I had less knowledge than some of my peers around me. I’d never considered a career in journalism before and was ignorant to many media forms.

 However, through studying English at Bournemouth for the past two years, my mind has been opened to a variety of media and the ways in which news and information is conveyed to the public. As a generation we are now in an age surrounded by technology and seem to be ever looking for the latest gadget to entertain us.

 

 Former journalism student Katy Cowan examined how the digital era has changed journalism since she graduated university 14 years ago. She notes the "digital era has caused such huge shockwaves across the entire industry, it has transformed the very language of journalism." But essentially the role of telling stories remains the same. With emphasis on older methods of publishing, it is clear to see how things have changed. With one of the biggest changes being that journalists are now increasingly involved with their audience, the internet can be seen to have closed the gap between the writer and the audience.

 I for one can admit to being connected on a wealth of social media available where I, like everyone else, can voice my opinions and make myself known internationally (if I so wished). It would seem opportunities not available a decade ago are now easily accessible, as long as you have access to the Internet.

 I find being actively involved in social media sites motivates me to publicise what I’m thinking or doing as it’s encouraging to believe it is being read by someone, wherever they may be. After experiencing a recent placement in print journalism it soon became apparent that although I may have deemed a piece of writing adequate, there wasn’t enough room for everything in print.

 However, being thrown out of my social media comfort zone and into an office setting was inspiring. The press releases I worked with felt worthwhile and it was exciting to interact with members of the public. The scale of the writing was much larger than what I had previously worked with online but the workload was enjoyable.
 

 I’m still unsure as to whether I will enter a career in journalism but through my upcoming blog posts I will reflect on the multimedia aspects of journalism and my thoughts and feelings on current news and affairs.

 Student Kristina Kulyabina opened up about why she is interested in journalism and the aspects of multimedia which are allowing journalists to be more creative and present their work in a more visual manner. She notes this will increase the numbers of jobs in the journalism industry through the employment of videographers and bloggers.
 

That One Time I Worked at a Radio Station

 Succeeding my time in print journalism, I moved on to radio journalism at Hope FM. As a community radio station, the team was significantly smaller and I found myself in the back office with one other student and the production manager. This environment felt more intimate than the newspaper and was definitely more vocal. For one, I was working in partnership with another Bournemouth University student so I was constantly communicating with her to share the workload and to make sure our broadcasts were ready to be conveyed on the hour.

Back office at Hope FM where I spent my time constructing the news stories to be broadcast.

As part of the Summer News Programme, it was essentially my job to source, write, produce and read the local news five times per day. The news bulletins had to be complete and ready to broadcast at 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm and 5.00pm. They also had to follow specific guidelines in order to fit into the show going out at the time and general news formalities. This meant the bulletins were not allowed to be more than 2 minutes long unless it was agreed otherwise and they had to include: 2 local ‘hard’ stories, 1 or 2 local human interest or sports stories and a minimum of 1 vox pop or sound bite where relevant. When there was time to spare, I was allowed to get involved in some of the shows and production work in order to make the most of my time there.

 Before arriving at Hope FM, I looked into the qualities I would need to demonstrate throughout my week there. Anne McNaught, Producer at BBC Scotland, stated that when working in radio journalism you need to be confident. The level of confidence someone displays can alter the outcome of a broadcast and provide an easier experience for the listener. What's more she noted that "regardless of the story, radio producers need engaging, fluent speakers on air. So rehearse your material thoroughly." With only little time to produce new content for each news bulletin, it was important to practice the script as much as possible before going on air. By rehearsing the material thoroughly, it also meant I was more confident in conveying my broadcast.
 

 I soon fell into a routine which saw me researching local news and writing up my own pieces before combining the stories for the final script. Fortunately, I had individual access to my own computer which allowed us to split the work evenly and work more efficiently to get the work done. I was responsible for telephoning appropriate sources, such as Bournemouth and Poole Council, in order to gain suitable sound bites. We left the studio on multiple occasions so we could incorporate vox pops into our bulletins and interact directly with the public.

 My time management at the radio station was vital as all my work was presented live. If the scripts were not given time and effort, mistakes were likely to be made on air. Unlike anything I have ever done before, my time at this placement is not one I’ll forget in a hurry!