On Blogs, Being a Blogger, Blogging, Reading Blogs and so forth.

BLOGS
The word Blog actually comes as a contraction from the word Web Log, it is a chronological log of personal thoughts and ideas written on the internet. A blog is typically run by an individual or small group and is written informally. It can be updated on a daily, weekly, hourly or however often you require basis.

BEING A BLOGGER
Anyone can be a blogger, you just set up a blog and away you go! The trick is having something interesting to say. There are lots platforms on the web that you can use to start your blog: Tumblr, Wordpress, Blogger, Ghost, Wardrobe, Postagon are just a few that you can look at.

BLOGGING
Having something interesting to blog about is the key to a successful blog. My blog is all about Journalism and it's just me sharing my opinion! The Journalism blogs that will get the most traffic will be those from already established and trustworthy sources; those that are writing about current affairs that are of interest and those that try to generate exposure. You can write about news stories, the news coverage, tips and tricks, trending or anything that you want to talk about...it's your blog!

READING BLOGS
One of the best ways to improve your writing is to READ and to specifically read other blogs. This will teach you what you need to know and help you to develop your writing and your technique.

AND SO FORTH
Blogging is one of the first steps of self-promotion you can take in the 'online community' where you will actually be able to voice your opinions. It's where you can build your professional reputation and let people know who you are and what you believe....they may even want to hire you or work with you in the future. It's the platform you can use to test out your ideas and get real feedback. You are able to share your knowledge and promote your work to professionals like yourself. Blogging makes a Journalist 'freelance' as it's the place you can say what you think, without fear of a gagging order! (Well, almost!)

Networking and building up your 'online' presence is the point of this blog, by linking your blog to your Facebook, Twitter and whatever other Social Media platform you use, you will attract followers. The more you write, post, tweet and capture through social media the more your presence will be noticed and the greater capacity you will have to succeed in the industry.

LEGAL Tips for NEW Journalists

One of the most concerning things for a NEW Journalist is being faced with legal action due to Libel or Defamation in some other way.

I have some top tips for you to avoid being caught out!

 Check your facts! 

This may seem like an obvious point, but it is vital. The information you share has to be TRUE. Everything you write has to be supported by evidence and you have to be able to back up what you say. Journalists have the right to report on public interest events and should do so accurately and fairly. But even if something is true and of public interest doesn't mean that you can report it without risk.

 Avoid Misrepresenting

A Journalists must not misrepresent a story and should avoid attacking the character of a person or company that is being reported . You should also be careful when referring to a person or business or group of people, even if a specific name isn't used. By not specifically identifying who you are talking about does not mean you can't still be caught out and what you say could be damaging to others that could be targeted by your story. This can be through innuendo, jigsaw identification, inaccurate identification or even juxtaposition.

Check your story!

 By this I mean literally check your story. Check your headlines, captions etc. Check the photos included in your story, not forgetting to check the ones that will appear alongside your story! Your defence in court will not stand up if you didn't realise you had mis-spelled a name, or you didn't mean to offend.

In Defence - Some things to know:

      The claimant has to prove that you have defamed them

• That you have identified them in your story (not necessarily by name)
• That it has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to their reputation. 
• The claimant does not have to prove intent! 

Legal Cases

When reporting on legal cases the rules are strict as to what is allowed to be shared with the public. The HumanRights Act, states that a person is Innocent until proven guilty and that a person has the right to a fair trial. If as a Journalist you print a story or write something that could potentially cause prejudice against a defendant or indeed the legal proceedings of a case, then you can be held in Contempt. 

It is important to remember that victims of sexual offences are given LIFELONG ANONYMITY so never disclose the name of a victim or even their family, since that could still identify the victim. 

These tips are of benefit not just to a new Journalist, but also to the general public, since so much information can be produced by the public, they too can be just as easily taken to court for Slander, Libel or Defamation in any way.

Driving Journalism the DATA way!

What is data Journalism? quite simply it is stories told using infographics. It is a way for Journalists to share complex information in a visually appealing way. In today's world Journalists are not always the first to report information, but what can set them apart is creating visually appealing infographics that explain the story. A good data Journalist can not only report on events but, using data can show what affect these events can have, thus making their story more appealing. This can give the Journalist or news organisation the 'edge' on competitors.
 

At the heart of data journalism is a good infographic, the story is only part of the picture. Many things still must be considered like with any story: What are the implications? how do I make it interesting and accessible to everyone? Television presenters are using info graphics in their news reports and this is becoming far more common. News that is easier to understand for the public is at the heart of this. The BBC have launched a daily infographic service on social media, whereby they aim to 'deliver a salient, interesting nugget on a big story'.

Data Journalism isn't just about graphs and pie charts, it is about creating visually appealing stories that SELL, INFORM and EMPOWER the public with knowledge. As with any source of information both the Journalist and the reader must be aware of how it can shape or restrict the stories that are created.Infographics are a tool of the trade and as such should be used alongside others tools to enhance your work.