By reflecting on her preliminary task, the student learned several skills that helped her improve and develop her final media product. She learned how to properly record audio using professional equipment to ensure high quality. She also learned effective editing techniques like using transitions and cutting out errors. Additionally, she gained experience conducting research through surveys and online sources, and learning how to use various software and websites. Overall, she expanded her knowledge of the media industry and journalism practices through hands-on learning during this project.

1. Q7: Looking back at your preliminary
task, what do you feel you have
learned in the progression from it to
the full product?
By Anisah Kalam 12A3

2. By looking back from when I did the
preliminary task, I feel that I have learned
a variety of skills which has helped me to
progress throughout the process of
constructing the media product. Thus, this
project allowed me to develop my
knowledge and skills of certain
programmes, the use of soft wares and how
to carry out primary and secondary
research. I have also gained a deeper
understanding of the media
industry, particularly the radio sector
where I was able to explore the
codes, conventions, ethics that are
associated with journalism.

3. Reflecting back on my preliminary task…
By doing my preliminary task I have learned a lot of things that has helped me to
improve and plan to make the final media product. Looking at the practice
exercise that me and my group made, the quality of the audio was very poor
because it was recorded using the computer. From this I have learned that a
professional voice recorder must be used to record voice so that the final
outcome sounds professional with a sense of high quality.
From looking back at the preliminary task, there were no effective transitions or
proper editing skills used to eliminate and adjust the blurred speech that was
recorded. So I have learned that in order for the final news cast to have a flow
and sound professional, then it’s useful to use effective transitions like ‘fade
in/fade out’ during the move from one speech to another. Moreover, I learned that
I must use editing features to cut out or edit any sort of blurred speech and silent
pauses to make sure the final product sounds professional.

4. Before I didn’t have any knowledge on how to use software online to
present research information, for example, websites like ‘go-animate’
‘powtoon’ and other forms of creative online making presentation soft
ware. At first I found it very complex and difficult to use, however with
the assistance of other members in the group I was able to use the
websites properly, which improved my confidence in using them and I
was able to become familiar with it.

5. Before I had no idea how to use websites to upload my work, I had
trouble uploading my preliminary task and other audio files on sound
cloud. But I got the hang of it by getting help from the teacher and
members in my group. Another major challenge that I faced was
updating my blog…it was very confusing at first because of the
complicated features and functions on the website.

6. Secondly, I have learned basic research skills like primary
research, being able to construct a formal survey using a
website online called survey monkey and distributing it to
students using various methods like handing it out, sending it
through email, whatsapp and other social networking sites in
order to gather data relevant to the aim of the research. From
this I have learned basic skills like networking, time
management and also presentation skills. With the help of
these skills, me and my group were able to gather
information from the research that will help us to decide and
plan on our final news cast, like target audience.
I have gained further skills in secondary research by using
certain media platforms to gather and get an insight into
information about local news. So for example, I used news
websites like BBC, Sky news, ITV news to look at news
stories with different news values.

7. Thirdly, I have gained a wider perspective of the media industry, in particular the
radio sector and journalism. Before I didn’t know that there would be so many
variety of roles within the news room and at a radio station. By doing
independent research on the different job roles associated with radio stations and
the news room, I now know how journalists, editors, news reporters and radio
presenters operate in what they do. I also have the ability to distinguish between
the different news values that are attached to a particular news story, so there are
factors that determine the newsworthiness of a potential story. For
example, news stories that have an entertainment factor, like gossip of a
celebrity, then it’s considered to hold a ‘human interest’ value.

8. I have also learned different types of communication skills like carrying out
outside broadcasting, where I had to go by myself to an event and interview
people which I had to record using a sound recorder. From this experience, I
have developed interpersonal skills by engaging in face-to-face communication
with one or more people. I found it quite challenging when outside
broadcasting because I felt a bit nervous approaching people to ask questions
and participate in a recorded interview, I thought they might not like it. Also, it
was difficult to find someone that would have the time to answer questions
because they were either busy or not bothered. But I still managed to get
someone to answer a set of questions. 

9. During the making of the media product, there was a problem deciding to do
outside broad casting on boxing day because it was after the deadline. So I
had to search for a best, early possible alternative that was happening before
the deadline. This required quick problem-solving and decision making skills
in order to generate a solution to the problem. Thinking of a back-up plan is
not an easy task however I managed to think of one very quickly. But, I
successfully managed to meet my deadline which was a relief. 

10. How to improve?
• At the start of the course, I was failing to meet specific deadlines like
updating blog regularly every week, during the first three months I
only had a few blog posts compared to other students in the class, then
I slowly began catching up. So to improve, I should do more
independent research and update blog frequently to meet deadlines.
• To think creative ways of presenting information when posting on
blog, by using a wide range of technology rather than using repeated
ones.
• At the start, I used to always forget my password for my blogger and I
had to restart 4 times which was time consuming, so I should
remember my login details and note it down.
• To improve on my organisational skills so that I don’t fall behind and
underachieve.