Week 7 - Reviewing Clayman

Chat shows and interview based programs fill our television and radio stations. Every station has a number of chat show based programs happening numerous times every day. These types of programs have changed the structure in which interviews take place. This changes the interviewee’s role and as Clayman addresses this in his journal article Address terms in the service of other actions: The case of news interview talk.

The main point Clayman highlights in this article are address terms. Clayman has highlighted two address points, service of other actions and speaking from the heart. Clayman identifies service of actions of being something that ‘often occurred in two-party interviews, leaving no doubt as to the intended addressee… (2007, pp.2).’ This type of action is what we see during chat and talk based shows, panel interviews and interviews involving multiple guests. Clayman also defined service of action as ‘the question-answer turn taking system that organizes interview talk usually leads all IEs direct their remarks via a gaze and body orientation… (2007, pp.3).’ This is exactly what we see when we turn onto a program from chat based news such as The Project to entertainment news programs like Sunrise.

To define speaking from the heart, Clayman used an interview from Hilary Clinton shortly after the infamous Monican Lewinskis scandal. The interviewee asks Clinton to reflect on the life choice she and her family made in pursuing the presidency. The interviewee then asks, ‘given five years of personal and political attacks, whether the whole experience has been worth it. That he is asking her to speak from the heart (2007, pp.5).’ This invites Clinton to share her thoughts and give a personal feel to her answer. This sort of address term is also used on chat-based programs and more specifically on ‘feel good’ programs such as Channel 7 Sunday Night. These types of programs feed of speaking from the heart type of interviews to engage with there audience.

Clayman’s article has highlighted two key interviewing techniques, service of other actions and speaking from the heart. These two techniques are found across nearly all talk based and chat programs and will continue to be used to relate to the audience.

REFERENCE LIST: Clayman, S 2010, Discourse & Communication, Address terms in the service of other actions: The case of news interview talk, 4: 161 DOI: 10.1177/1750481310364330 

Week 7 - Piece to Camera

This weeks exercise was to practise a piece to carmera. The folliwng is the narration of my piece to camera that took place during a check in for a Virgin Australia flight at work.

Good afternoon, I’m Anna Bielenberg. Today we are here at the Rockhampton Aiport for the check in of Virgin Australia flight 1245 to Brisbane. This aricrraft has a scheduled departure time of four fifty five pm. To my right I have four check in staff all very busy. I’m told this aircraft is a full boeing 800 so there is a large que of people consistenly flowing through the checkin counters. To my left, I have the self serve kiosk also with a steady flow of passengers checking through.

The crowd here today all seem very happy to be getting away on an Easter Break. The corwd consisits of a variety of people from family with children to young people and the elderly all eager to get out of Rockhampton on a holiday or returning home.

Reflection on exercise: I enjoyed this exercise and felt it was a good way to feel comfortable in front of a camera as well as feel comfortable talking in front of people around you. I felt that the biggest issue for me to overcome was the talking (what felt like to myself) in front of a whole heap of other people that I do not know. The people at the airport had no idea what I was doing, with just myself and one other following me with the mobile phone. There is such a difference to doing recordings  in front of you laptop webcam with the comfort of privacy then to actually doing them. This exercise was a good onefor me to begin to overcome this awakerward feeling I get when I have to talk away into a camera and have people around me have no idea what I am doing! I feel that I strated to get the hang of it after a couple of takes!

Week 7 - Performance to suit the genre

This week’s task was to look at Entertainment Tonight reporter Mary Heart famous interviews. The selection of interviews asked to review on Zimbio unfortunately where not accessibly, luckily there are plenty to see on YouTube!

Mary Heart is very charismatic and I think this is why she was so successful as a journalist. Her career spanned over 25 years and her portfolio of interviews consisted of some of the biggest entertainment names.

Mary Heart had this ability to make her interviewee’s feel confortable and secure during an interview. She interacts with them with such genuine intentions but still remains professional. Mary asks direct questions and because of this comfort she gives to her guests, she gets back direct and detailed answers. Her interview with Kate Gosselin shows how effective these techniques are. Gosselin is obviously comfortable with Mary Heart and gives detailed answers and talks freely. Heart uses changes her tone and facial expression to suit the answers given and questions being asked. This type of performance from Heart is also evident when she is the one being interviewed. Her performance as an interviewee is casual and chatty but still professional and strong viewed. Heart gives long and expressive answers and continues with her genuine interest and comfortable feeling. Her tone and facial expression are timed perfectly to suit the dialog. Mary Heat’s piece to camera also consists of these performance techniques. She is so certain on what she is doing, and the purpose of the interview she has one focus. Mary Heart can deliver any type of performance. She can be a serious journalist, conduct a light-hearted interview or be interviewed about serious topics. These performance techniques Mary Heart has allow her to deliver the best performance, tone and expression for any situation.

Reference List:

Youtube, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m9ZDHo4nlg, accessed 24 April 2014. 

Youtube, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTgJn3qxxkI accessed 24 April 2014.

Week 7 - Features of Genre

This week’s task was to record a 5 – 10 minute of chat-based program such as shows like Sunrise, The Morning Show and The Today Show. I am actually a big chat show watcher, so I did enjoy this week’s task! I find these shows lighthearted entertainment. I like to put them on in the morning or afternoon while I am getting ready for work or cooking dinner. I find them to be good background noise and entertaining but not something that holds my full attention.

Tolsen argued that ‘chat-based programming is oriented toward the personal, it features wit and humor, and the risk of transgression underlies talk (199).’ This is defiantly evident in chat-based programs such as Sunrise and The Morning Show. The Sunrise program on channel 7, I find uses wit and humor on each day’s program. The hosts Sam Armytage and David Koch let their personality feature on the program and their chemistry works perfectly to create an entertaining and witty show. The producers also allow for segments such as ‘Kochie’s Angels’, which is a serious segment, however always ends up being very funny and quirky with the opinions of the guests panelist. They are consistently trying not to offend or misbehave as they both have a strong opinion.

My recording for a chat based program I feel is very similar to the Sunrise program. It is casual and uses wit but still remains professional. I feel like my recording for a pretend chat based program is a good start. However I feel I have a lot more to learn about being a host of this type of program. I would need to further develop skills that allow others to feel relaxed and chat freely with me. Another skill that would benefit my chat based program would be the ability to produce a program that disused important and news worthy topics as well as light hearted entertainment. A skill that I feel is important to have is to be respected as a journalist and remain in control so that you can have a laugh and show your wit but also be taken serious when it is time for more serious news.

Week 6 - Formal vs Impromptu

Formal speech versus Impromptu Speech....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zCz42D0tc

Week 6 - PAIBOC

Mapping out assessment item two using PAIPOC for my maiden parliamentary speech.

PAIBOC stands for Purpose, Audience, Information, Benefits, Objectives and Content. It is a planning system that can be used for almost any structure of writing. I was first introduced to PAIBOC in semester one, year one and have been using ever since!

Mapping out my speech for assessment item one, I will consider the length, aim of the speech, structure of the speech and the ultimate goal I wish the speech to achieve.

Breaking it down with PAIBOC:

PURPOSE: To persuade the audience to elect me for parliament.

AUDIENCE: The audience I will be targeting is my local electorate.

INFORMATION: Information my speech will include will focus on the audience’s needs and passions. Specifically it will include information such as local and community development, tourism boost and focus on the benefits the community will receive from my election.

BENEFITS: To let the audience know the benefits of my polices and the benefits of my election. The speech will be persuasive with the use of rhetoric language. It will appeal to the audience and relate to them and their needs.

OBJECTIVES: Objections may include worries from the audience such as how the benefits of my election may affect them. From the cost of the policies to the effect on the community they will have. These objections will all be addressed openly and honestly to allow the audience to see exactly where I stand and that there is no hidden agenda.

CONTENT: The context for my parliamentary speech will focus on the speeches benefits for the audience. Such as the policies proposed like local and community development and tourism within the area. These policies will be positioned to influence the audience on the positive outcome they can have from my election.

Week 6 - Formal Talk

The article ‘Facilitating learning and change’ from infed has many features of formal talk. Formal talk can be defined as a type of ‘speech that has rules, although these rules are different depending on the situation’ (Study Guide 2014). The main feature of this article that directs it to being of formal talk is its official structure and aim. Its purpose is to educate the reader on a selected topic and to provide factual and informative information. Formal talk is a non-casual form of speech and is generally well practised and not impromptu. This article carries these features and has an order of writing to create the formality.

The features of facilitation I can identify based on the reading are the article formal structure. The article begins with an introduction and contents of what information can be found through this article. The article then structures this information in order of the contents. This formal structure and aim of the article allows readers to gain the knowledge of the topic that is facilitating learning. The article is consistently formal and uses no causal language. Its visual elements such as font, colour, etc. is also formal. Using a regular easy to read font and black text for the body and red text to highlight a title. This structure aligns to formal talk.

Facilitation is based around a set of rules that the writer must know and understand as well as have a good knowledge of formal talk. Both facilitation and formal talk is based around a structure and has a particular aim and purpose. For example, the article ‘Facilitation learning and change in groups and group session’ has the aim at educating the audience about the benefits of facilitating learning and how to set about working as a facilitator in a group.

Although this article is not actually scripted as such it has been well thought out and planned. It follows and exact structure to achieve its aim and purpose. This is a feature of formal talk. The article uses appropriate language and follows a structured and logical order. Overall I would identify the article ‘Facilitating learning and change is groups and group sessions’ as a type of formal talk. 

Reference List:

Central Queensland University 2014, ‘COMM12033 Speech and Script Study guide’, Rockhampton

Interaction en Masse: Audiences and Speeches

This weeks exercise is to identify and reflect on key points in Chapter 18: Interaction en Masse: Audiences and Speeches in John Heritage and Steven Clayman’s Talk In Action.

The main focus of this chapter I found was the structure and contrast of speech. The key point identified where;

                 

- Hold the audience’s attention using eye contact. 

This is a vital part of effective public speaking. Holding eye contact with your audience allows you, the speaker to pick up on signs and feelings the audience is giving off. Such as smiling and other facial expressions and if the audience is listening to what you are saying oppose to just hearing it.

- Two way interaction

Public speaking does not just mean the speaker speaks and the audiences listen. It is important for two-way interaction between the speaker and the audience. The speaker needs to watch and listen to the audience’s response whether it is positive or negative. This could be shown through clapping and laughing or booing and people walking out. 

According to Heritage and Clayman, “applaudable statements were normally made prominent by being emphasized through language, rhythm, stress, intonation and gesture”.  This statements highlights the importance of audience interaction and the need to give the audience a signpost in which they can applaud at the same time.

           

A structure of a speech must have three main levels to be successful. These levels include, number one – the speech must incorporate arguments where the speaker’s position is evident. Number two – The speech’s points and arguments are made rhetorically and structured to build the audiences expectations. Number three – A microstructure level of tone, rhythm, timing and all gestures guides the audience to applaudability.