2. vox pop
A ‘vox pop’ is an interview with members of the public to gather opinions on
different subjects/ issues. This activity allows participants to explore the ideas
and opinions of others in a fun, active and engaging manner.
The media use vox pops for many reasons, but chiefly for the following:
• To test public opinion and reaction
• To influence decision-makers
• To forecast results of events
• To stimulate public debate
3. purpose of the vox pop
• If the purpose of the vox pop is to forecast the results of future events, the results
must be published or broadcast before the event takes place. You may gather
material predicting accurately the result of an election, but if you publish it after the
results are known, it will be meaningless. Eg:-Opinion Poll during elections
• If the purpose is to stimulate public debate and to influence decision-makers,
the results need to be published while people are still deciding what they think.
It is very much easier to influence somebody before they take a decision than it is to
persuade them to change a decision which they have already taken. Eg: Lokpal Bill
• If the purpose of the vox pop is to test public opinion and reaction, or to boost
sales or audience, then the results must be published or broadcast while the issue is
still in the forefront of the public mind. Eg: Triple Talaq
4. Types of vox pops
• Public opinion survey
This needs to be conducted scientifically by a company which specialises in such
surveys. The data which they gather from carefully prepared questions is
statistically analysed by computer. All this costs big money.
Eg: General elections are now so carefully covered in advance by such surveys that the
result on Election Day is seldom a surprise.
• Limited survey
This can be carried out by journalists, using a structured questionnaire, and some
statistical conclusions may be drawn from it. Its accuracy is limited, however, so
any findings should be treated with caution.
• Street poll
This does not attempt to gather statistical information; it is looking for good quotes.
A random selection of members of the public are asked for their opinions on a
given topic, and the best ones quoted. It is good to photograph them and publish
their quote with their picture, or record their voices for broadcast.
5. Pros and cons of the vox pop: Pros
Pros of the vox pop
• Makes programmes more lively
• Spontaneous statements, authentic and credible
• Creates a close connection with the listener
• Reflects public opinion
Cons of Vox Pop
• The production is very time consuming.
• The people being interviewed may be shy and apprehensive about talking into a
microphone. They may be unable to express themselves.
6. Article Writing
Article writing is the process of creating a non-fiction text about current or
recent news, items of general interest or specific topics. They are
published in print formats, such as newspapers and magazines, or online. Some
styles of blogs are written in article format and encyclopedias are collections of
articles gathered in one volume.
Articles can either present their topics directly or in a balanced debate format. Content
may describe places, people and events, present academic research and
results, or provide an analysis of news events and academic papers.
Articles can also contain photographs, data and statistics presented in
different formats, as well as eyewitness accounts and interviews. Articles
should be objective and only contain facts from verifiable sources.
7. Article Writing
A realistic article should consist of:
• An eye-catching title which attracts the readers’ attention and suggests the
theme of the article. (Think about why you read a magazine or newspaper article
recently - what made you read it?) Articles can also have subheadings before each
paragraph.
• An introduction which clearly defines the topic to be covered and keeps the
reader’s attention.
• The main body of two to five paragraphs in which the topic is further developed
in detail.
• The conclusion - summarising the topic or a final opinion, recommendation or
comment.
8. Factual Writing and Creative Writing
Factual writing explains a series of events in a chronological, unbiased
way that allows readers to gain information that is not influenced by the
personal opinions of the writer or publisher.
Examples of factual writing include local, regional, national and
international news stories.
Factual stories describe an event without using subjective descriptions or
assuming that the reader feels a certain way about the event.
9. Creative writing
• Traditionally referred to as literature, creative writing is an art of sorts -
the art of making things up. It's writing done in a way that is not academic or
technical but still attracts an audience.
• A news article, for example, cannot be considered creative writing
because its main goal is to present facts and not to express the feelings of
the writer. While a news article can be entertaining, its main purpose is to present
the facts.
• The purpose of creative writing is to both entertain and share
human experience, like love or loss. Writers attempt to get at a truth about
humanity through poetics and storytelling.
• If you'd like to try your hand at creative writing, just keep in mind that whether
you are trying to express a feeling or a thought, the first step is to
use your imagination.
10. Types of creative writing include
• Poetry
• Plays
• Movie and television scripts
• Fiction (novels, novellas, and short stories)
• Songs
• Speeches
• Memoirs
• Personal essays
11. Piece to Camera
A Piece to Camera is the television and film term used for when a presenter or a
character speaks directly to the viewing audience through the camera.
It is most common when a news or television show presenter is reporting or explaining
items to the viewing audience. Indeed, news programmes usually take the form of
a combination of both interviews and pieces to camera.
The Piece to Camera, also known as PTC, is any part of a news report,
whether packaged or live, in which the reporter speaks directly to the
camera while on the location of the story.
12. Principles of Delivering An Effective PTC
When a news story starts with a PTC, it is called an Opening PTC. An opening PTC
must introduce the story effectively. It is used most often when the reporter is
present in a place where the interior shots of the location are not readily
available, and the reporter has to fall back upon the option of using a PTC.
When a PTC occurs in the middle of a packaged news story, then it is called a Bridge
PTC. This is to be used when the reporter is explaining something for which
visuals are not available.
When a news report ends with a PTC, it is called the End PTC or Closing PTC. This
is meant to be a brief byline to the story. A byline is not merely a summary of
the story, it is meant to be an opportunity for the reporter to appear on
screen with a brief, balanced observation about the story, much in the
same way that a print reporter mentions his name at the beginning of a
report. This is also the reason why, the last line of a Closing PTC consists of the
Sign-off, which consists of the reporter stating his name and the organization
he or she works for.
13. Principles of Delivering An Effective PTC
A special variety of the PTC is the Walk-Through. This is a PTC in which the reporter
does not stand at one place but walks in any one direction, and the camera
follows him. This is usually used when interesting elements of the location are so
spread out that they cannot be captured in a static shot.
