12/09/24:
Our brief was delivered and we first looked into what 1974 was like as we researched news from the year, compiled it into a short news package and delivered it to the class. This helped us gain knowledge and perspective of 1974 and how journalism may have played a part depending on what occurred in the year.
Later we researched the different mediums in journalism (TV, radio, podcasts, digital, ai) and I researched the history of podcasts and their impact in journalism. Then we started making generating ideas based on the brief and making initial notes.
Produce podcast/film/written piece on journalism over time and future trends with comprehensive research focused on a set medium (TV, radio, podcast, digital, AI)
Notes:
Focus on TV as the medium
Produce a film
TV has human connection and can make viewers feel empathy as they can see and hear what is happening.
TV is emotive and also allows for more context
Show don't tell
Global awareness
Maybe sports coverage, like F1 broadcasts and reporting over time and what I think the future will be like
Maybe something comedic to show how it used to be and how I expect it to be, like a re-enactment
Visual storytelling, research how this is done on in TV journalism
Or digital news, and how anyone can be a journalist, the easy accessibility
What social media has done for journalism
Fake news and the harm it poses, with examples of how fake news has caused chaos
How is digital news funded, corruption, making money from journalism on social media, advertising's place in funding social media
Mediums that are easier to consume information
1974-2024-2074 maybe do 3 separate segments
Don't be too descriptive, story tell visually
How streaming is killing-off live TV
5-10 minutes film
1960s is when TV was very common, research the 1970s and TV ownership to see how many people had access to this medium
Interviewees could be: Broadcaster, reporter, news anchor, presenter
Now TV is a commonality
Now anyone can do anything with their phone, make a film, make a podcast, anything
'What happened?' 'I don't know' 1974 news broadcast skit, shows issues
One of those 'what life would be like in the future' videos from the 1960s, could recreate but make it about journalism for the 70s or find one from then
Documentaries/news packages through time
Broadcasting of a single event through time
Press conferences through time
If a woman from 1974 had a conversation with a woman from 2024, coverage of feminism in journalism
Match of the Day, 1974 BBC archive
Music on demand 1974 BBC archive
Children of the 70s interview, Recess therapy
Vox pops/street interviews on TV through time
Voice of the People 1974 BBC archive
Public opinion in journalism through time
16/09/2024:
I did some more research to find some more ideas. I wanted to focus on Tv and broadcasting through time. I tried to find some niches to focus on like F1 broadcasting, vox pops on TV, or documentaries/news packages. To get the right idea for my project I need to research my ideas to find my angle and scope. I made a spider diagram of possible topics for the documentary to help me visualise all of the ideas that I had so I could make a choice of topic.
Topic ideas:
F1 coverage
Streaming/on-demand
Documentaries
Feminism
Vox pops/street interviews/public opinion
Advertising
Celebrity journalism
Research 1974, 2024, trends and future
F1 coverage:
1974:
F1 has been broadcast on British Tv since 1950, the first live race was the 1953 British Grand Prix on BBC.
Between 1950 and 1980 races were rarely shown live in their entirety, instead highlights were broadcast on ITV or BBC.
From 1979 BBC had exclusive broadcast rights for F1 in the UK, commentary of Murray Walker, and coverage of the races grew. By the early 1990s, the majority of races were broadcast live.
2024:
Broadcasting is a huge part of the F1 World and allows an average of 70.3 million viewers worldwide per Grand Prix as of 2021.
Many countries in the world broadcast F1, in some countries F1 is free to watch, in others it is hidden behind a paywall. F1 TV is the home of international F1 TV coverage, exists behind a paywall and offers exclusive footage from archives.
Trends:
One big trend is that audiences are growing. Especially through the popular Netflix show 'Drive to Survive', as coverage expanded, the audience grew from the 1990s and with the Netflix show there was a spike in fans, which lead to more demand for content. Soon every race was live to watch and because of the high demand, broadcasters were able to put it behind a paywall. However there are more and more things for fans except live races. Challenges (Grill the Grid), and Ted's Notebook as well as a strong social media presence aimed at the younger generation means that the TV audience has grown massively as people get involved with not only the racing but the drivers. Everything a driver says or does is documented.
Future:
Streaming/on-demand:
1974:
Media on demand
Viewers can access content whenever they want and have a large range of choice. They can catch up on news or broadcasts on apps.
In 1974 you would have had to watch the news when it was on and if you missed it you missed it.
60 Minutes TV show
In the UK there were 3 TV channels, BBC1, BBC2, and ITV in 1974.
Documentaries:
In present time anyone can make a documentary with their phone, but in 1974 it would have been exclusively for news companies who had all of the expensive, hard-to-use equipment, who could make documentaries.
Documentaries are an important way to tell stories, as viewers can connect with the humans in the story, seeing and hearing them.
The internet allows for better research and fact gathering, to produce better quality documentaries.
AI may have a big influence on documentaries and some documentaries may be made by AI in the future, however documentaries made by humans, including humans and telling human's story will connect to people and may be more valued than they are now.
1974 documentaries:
The Family
Portugal: April 1974
Documentaries from the 70s were diverse and covered a wide range of topics.
Feminism:
How female rights movements have been covered in the media? Future movements?
How women are portrayed in the media?
Women are presented with stereotypes likes homemakers or as objects.
Vox pops/public opinion:
Its importance and value in journalism.
TV street interviews and how they express the public opinion, how people could connect more with hearing what the normal person thinks, representation.
Advertising:
Influencers
Ads are everywhere and fund what we watch
Something is either behind a paywall or comes with ads
Advertising has been in TV broadcasting for decades
Celebrity journalism:
Paparazzi
The portrayal and idolisation of celebrities in media
Will celebrities have the same influence in the future?
How has the influence of celebrities changed from 1974 to now through journalism?
Celebrities vs influencers
Influence in journalism, key figures who have a big impact on culture and society
1974:
Pop culture
Abba win Eurovision
'Celebrity journalism' came around with the emergence of People magazine
The Star, a celebrity tabloid was founded
People Magazine founded with its first on March 4th 1974, as a weekly celebrity and human interest magazine. Actress Mia Farrow from The Great Gatsby was on the cover.
It delved into the actresses' personal life and set a precedent for celebrity journalism https://people.com/mia-farrow-79th-birthday-first-people-magazine-cover-photo-8575203
The emegence of cinema and rise of Hollywood made celebrity journalism common, and saw the creation of tabloid magazines, with scandals and paparazzi.
News stories:
Stevie Wonder at his peak, his album "Fufillingness' First Finale" won a Grammy and "You Haven't Done Nothing" hit number 1
Elton John Number 1 single "Bennie and the Jets", number 1 album "Caribou"
Punk/New Wave movement emerging
Blondie
"The Godfather Part II" huge success at box office, won best picture at Academy Awards
"Murder on the Orient Express"
"Benji" among top 10 box offices susccesses of 1974
"The Trial of Billy Jack", sequel to 1971 hit "Billy Jack", even more successful at Box Office, and helped pioneer the idea of the 'wide release' (when a film plays 600 or more features https://help.imdb.com/article/imdbpro/industry-research/box-office-by-imdbpro-glossary/GN8HA87MT4597FSW?ref_=mojo_ftr_glossary#)
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" early example of slasher film, considered so violent many theathres droppped
"Watergate Wife"
2024:
Celebrities influence choices, start trends, almost everything they do is analysed, there is alot of attention, there are a large range of tabloids and with the digital media there is celebrity journalism everywhere.
Social media is challenging mainstream celebrity journalism with new and more diverse perspectives
Traditional celebrities may be viewed more favourably then influencers https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3097286.3097322#:~:text=In%20this%20study%20we%20explore,the%20two%20types%20of%20endorsers.
Future:
There may be more regulations of paparazzi, there may be more interest in influencers and content creators, will celebrities still have the same influence and will celebrity journalism have the same impact? How will celebrity journalism be done?
17/09/2024:
I chose to do my piece on celebrity journalism because it is a very influential industry. It is a massive industry that has been on the rise since the 1970s, but has seen many changes.
I researched its history and found out that the term 'celebrity journalism' was thought to be coined in 1974 and many celebrity magazines were founded in 1974 like People and The Star.
19/09/2024:
I conducted more research to build the foundations of the project. I looked back to 1974 and the origins of celebrity journalism as we know it. Then I tried to evaluate what celebrity journalism is like now, notice some trends from the past 50 years and some emerging things to predict the future of celebrity journalism. I started writing a script for the documentary, first with bullet points so I know what I need to discuss at each point. I decided to divide it into the intro, looking back, present times, what's ahead and outro. I started thinking about who I could interview, I watched a short news package about People magazine from their 50th anniversary this year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPbG0xDzC-8), which inspired me. I began pre-production (planning).
Notes:
Could do vox pops to ask people what they think the future holds for celebrity journalism
Interview a celebrity journalist
Interview a historian who knows about celebrity journalism
Quick talk about the past, celebrity journalism being coined as a term, focus in on people magazine
Then to present interview a current celebrity journalist, ask about what it is like now and ask them to make predictions for the future
Do vox pops to see what people think the future holds for celebrity journalism
Make my conclusion about what the future is
Past, present and future of celebrity journalism
Celebrity journalism through time:
1974-
Celebrity journalism gained traction in the 1970s with the rise of tabloids and celebrity gosssip
People Magazine founded on March 4th 1974, weekly celebrity and human interest magazine, first issue had Actress Mia Farrow on the cover, and delved into the Great Gatsby actresses' personal live, setting future precedent for celebrity journalism
CNN described 1974 as 'A year of pop culture chaos'
People Magazine:
People magazine covers 'extraordinary people doing ordinary things and ordinary people doing extraordinary things'.
Many celebrities had graced the cover of People magazine, and that felt like the moment they had 'made it' in their careers
'People' has a close relationship with celebrities, some have chosen to open up to People magazine about their personal hardships
Princess Diana was on the cover of the magazine 59 times
Show politicians in a way that they aren't typically viewed
'Sexiest man alive' tradition started in 1985
The magazine is very popular and said to be one of the most requested for time capsules
Today, alongside their magazine issues people have a social media presence with 1.28M Youtube subscribers, 13.7million Instagram followers and is 7th in the top 100 largest US magazines, with a circulation of 2,540,107 as of 31s December 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_magazines_by_circulation They also do many interesting interviews with celebrities and non celebrities aswell as news stories.
Trends:
Tabloid magazines
Scandals and gossip
Paparazzi, invasion of privacy
Personal lives of celebrities
Celebrity news sources:
TMZ
Perez Hilton
Deadline
The Hollywood Reporter
People
LAD Bible
Rolling Stone ect.
BBC Radio
Capital
Social media posing a risk to celebrity journalism
Social media always everyone to be there own brand, there's not as much need for a publicist or journalist, likewise anyone can be a journalist.
2024-
Social media is challenging mainstream media with a wider range of voices and perspectives
The way celebrities are covered reflects society
The endorsements of brands, marketing and product promotion
Celebrities' images are tightly managed through social media, many celebrities don't post themselves, its less authentic, whereas influencers might. It is harder for journalists to get stories.
Journalism can be used as a way of promotion rather than truth seeking.
Future-
AI, deepfakes, increase in fake news, which can damage the career of celebrities , or the wrongdoings of some celebrities can easily be covered up and won't be revealed through journalism
Footage:
3 PTCs (piece-to-camera) 1 about each time
A conclusion about the future
Interview with source
An intro with clips from videos and screenshots of news articles from celebrity journalism over the past 50 years
Vox pops?
SWOT MATRIX:
STRENGTHS + | WEAKNESSES – |
Celebrity journalism is very popular and has a lot of influence on society. I have an interest in celebrity culture. Have many other options for a Plan B if I’m not able to do the project on celebrity journalism. | Shorter time than FMP, need to be more active in the project. |
OPPORTUNITIES + | THREATS – |
There are many celebrity journalists and social media makes it easy to reach them. | Getting a primary source may be difficult due to limited time and people being busy. |
Script:
Looking back
Celebrity journalism gained traction in the 1970s, with tabloid magazines like The Star and People being founded in the year.
People magazine's inaugural issue featured actress Mia Farrow from The Great Gatsby
Tabloids started emerging
Present times:
Celebrities social media closely managed, not as easy to find out information about them, journalists jobs are harder, restricted information, controlled public images
Due to social media anyone can be a journalist, its not just magazines and companies with money and resources, its regular people with phones
AI is starting to have an impact
Print magazines are dying off and have transferred online, but magazines like People are still popular in print because of the novelty and quality
Most of celebrity journalism is now conducted on podcasts, in documentaries and on social media
However it is quite exclusive as celebrities don't agree to many interviews and only talk to certain publications, so it would be hard for most people to get an interview with a celebrity for their story
Celebrities have huge societal impact and can set trends and cause change. Journalism can act as a way for celebrities to do this, whether its fashion or lifestyle or product promotion
Magazines have transitioned into the digital age and have invested more in social media, like Wired with their popular YouTube Autocomplete interviews, GQ Actually Me series and Buzzfeed's puppy and kitten interviews. These serve as journalism, showing a new insight into the celebrities but are also entertaining and engaging for the audience, and are a new way of journalists adapting to the time of low attention spans where things must catch the attention of the viewers
Paparazzi were a key part of celebrity journalism in the 1990s-2000s. They invaded the privacy of celebrities, and often the photos taken by paparazzi would end up in tabloids for celeb gossip. However, in 2024 many celebrities call paparazzi on themselves to stay relevant
Social media is very prominent in celebrity journalism
Crowd-sourcing (TMZ, PopBitch)
Reality TV can make anyone a celebrity
Tabloid readership is aging with 50% of British newspaper subscribers being aged over 55 https://yougov.co.uk/entertainment/articles/31157-inside-mind-newspaper-subscribers and circulation of magazines are in decline as younger demographics move online for their news, often Instagram and Tiktok https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/magazine-circulations-2023-abc/ https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/magazine-circulations-2022-abc-print-digital/
The need for traditional media sources in celebrity journalism has decreased
What's ahead?:
More impact from AI, it may replace writers and may pose a risk to truth, deepfakes, AI pictures can replace paparazzi and show fake scenarios with celebrities
Might be less need for journalism as celebrities manage their own press and brand
Print celebrity journalism may go extinct
The need for media may be obsolete as celebrities can directly address their audience through social media, however crowd-sourcing may play a bigger part as sites look to get stories from fans and insiders because they cannot get information directly from the celebrity
Outro:
Get a quote from a primary source and include it in the footage either in a piece-to-camera or make a graphic to include it in.
Rough script:
Intro:
Celebrities have huge societal influence, set trends and can cause change. Celebrity journalism is the bridge between these celebrities and their audience and have controlled the narrative for decades since the industry’s inception, but that is changing. With social media becoming the prominent information source in the world, celebrities can manage their own story and take back control from the media. So is celebrity journalism dying?
Looking back
Celebrity journalism first gained traction in the 1970s, with the founding of tabloid magazines like People magazine and The Star. The inaugural issue of People featured The Great Gatsby actress Mia Farrow on the cover and delved into her personal life. It was the start of a trend of celebrity gossip.
Present times:
Today celebrities are very familiar with social media and tightly manage their image and brand through pr, which means that stories are harder to get. Celebrity news sources have transitioned online, and celebrity journalism is open to anyone with a phone. The readership of tabloid magazines is ageing, with 50% of all British newspaper subscribers being aged 55 and over, the generation that grew up with these tabloids, and the younger generation get their news digitally, therefore there is a decrease year by year of circulation of magazines. Paparazzi is not a thing of the past, they still exist and often celebrities will now call them to get shots of them to enhance their public image. There are sources of invasive and investigative journalism such as TMZ which go beyond the manufactured image of celebrities to uncover the truth and are willing to pay for their stories from others. TMZ is also known to scan through court documents to report on celebrity legal matters. AI has become more and more prominent in journalism, and can be used to write articles and generate images, however AI is outdated and cannot keep up with present news so doesn’t massively replace celebrity journalists but as it becomes more advanced it may have more of an impact on the industry. Reality TV and social media can make anyone a celebrity, aswell as the rise of influencers have increased the pool of sources for celebrity journalism.
What's ahead?:
AI is constantly advancing and adapting, so it is expected to play a much bigger role in journalism. From AI written articles to possible deep fakes creating fake stories, AI will continue to be more and more prevalent. We can predict that print celebrity journalism will go extinct as there is less demand from the audience. Celebrities have already started managing their own brands for many years and this will continue on in the future and could pose a massive risk to the journalism industry as celebrities won’t have to go through them to address their audience, it removes the middle man, and their images may be more protected and controlled which will make it ever harder for journalists to find stories. Instead journalism will look towards fans and insiders for information, known as crowd-sourcing, as they cannot get information directly from the celebrities. However there may be a greater appreciation for slow news, quality over quantity and journalism that is made by people rather than AI generated.
I put this rough script into ChatGPT and asked it to give me an outro aswell:
The landscape of celebrity journalism is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with the rise of social media, technological advancements, and changing audience preferences.
Once the gatekeepers of celebrity narratives, traditional media outlets are seeing their influence wane as celebrities and influencers take control of their own stories, aided by the direct and immediate reach of platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. This shift raises the question: is celebrity journalism, as we know it, on the brink of extinction?
### Looking Back
The golden age of celebrity journalism began in the 1970s, with the rise of tabloid magazines like People and The Star. These publications capitalized on public curiosity, offering intimate glimpses into the lives of stars. The debut issue of People featured actress Mia Farrow, drawing readers into the world of celebrity gossip. This was the beginning of a powerful trend, where celebrities' personal lives became public interest, fueling an entire industry. Tabloid culture grew rapidly, delivering tantalizing stories and feeding off the public's insatiable appetite for scandal.
### Present Times
In today's digital age, however, the landscape of celebrity journalism has shifted. Social media gives celebrities direct access to their audiences, allowing them to carefully craft their own public personas bypassing traditional media. Sites like Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) provide a space for stars to share curated moments of their lives, leaving little room for gossip or speculation.
As a result, traditional tabloid magazines are losing relevance. In the UK, 50% of newspaper subscribers are over the age of 55, signaling an aging readership. The younger generation prefers to get their celebrity news from online sources and social media, leading to a decline in print circulation.
While paparazzi still exist, their roles have evolved; today, many celebrities willingly collaborate with them to enhance their public image rather than hide from them.
Though celebrities are taking control of their narratives, there are still outlets that push beyond this manufactured image. TMZ, for example, continues to thrive by uncovering the stories celebrities would prefer to keep hidden, often through invasive means like scanning court documents and paying for insider information.
Moreover, the rise of reality TV and social media influencers has expanded the pool of "celebrities" available to report on, keeping the field of celebrity journalism alive—albeit with new faces.
AI is another significant force in modern journalism. While it has the capability to write articles and generate images, AI still lacks the ability to keep up with breaking news in real-time.
### What's Ahead?
As AI continues to evolve, it could further disrupt the industry by automating news production. From AI-generated content to deepfakes potentially fabricating stories, the technology could further erode the need for human journalists, but could pose ethical challenges. However, there may be a growing backlash, leading to a greater appreciation for authentic, high-quality journalism produced by humans.
At the same time, print celebrity journalism seems destined for extinction. As digital consumption increases and celebrities continue to manage their own narratives, the need for traditional outlets will diminish.
Also, Journalists may increasingly rely on crowd-sourcing for stories, gathering information from fans and insiders rather than directly from celebrities who tightly control information.
Outro:
In conclusion, while the landscape of celebrity journalism is undeniably changing, it is not necessarily dying—rather, it is evolving.
The rise of social media and AI technology has given celebrities unprecedented control over their own narratives, forcing traditional outlets to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. Celebrity journalism in the future will likely be defined by the balance between AI advancements and a renewed appreciation for more thoughtful, authentic human-driven storytelling, alongside a celebrity class that has become its own media machine. The middleman role of journalists may be shrinking, but the audience's desire for behind-the-scenes glimpses into celebrity lives remains strong—though the sources and methods of obtaining these stories will undoubtedly continue to evolve.
One thing is certain: the public's fascination with celebrity culture is unlikely to fade, and journalism will find new ways to meet that demand, even in a rapidly changing digital world.
Generated by ChatGPT, 23rd September
Edited by Rachel Eaton 24th September
Celebrity journalists:
Josie Copson https://www.instagram.com/josiecopson/?hl=en
Questions:
How has social media affected the way you work?
What challenges does AI pose in the world of celebrity journalism (to your work)?
23/09/2024:
I lost time on the weekend which on the project due to illness, so as I lost valuable time, I decided to refresh myself about my work so far and see what I needed to do to start production. I set about writing a more in-depth script so that I can start production on Tuesday and Wednesday. I used the bullet points that I had created last Thursday with ideas of what the celebrity journalism industry was like in the past, is like now and what it could be like in the future. I had a lot of information about the current state so I had to do more research to get information for 1974 and the future so I have a better understanding. In particular I wanted to research TMZ and more sites like that as they may have a future due to use of crowdsourcing for their stories. I also looked for possible sources of quotes for my primary research. I put my rough script into chat gpt to see how I could word it and also asked for ChatGPT to give me an outro that concluded all of the information I had researched and put into the script. I then went through the generated text to find phrases I could use to make it more simple but also informative.
24/09/2024:
I edited the ChatGPT generated script which I created using the initial script I had written using all my research, and used ChatGPT to make it more understandable and more concise in its explanation. To edit it I got rid of some sentences and phrases, and merged things together to make it flow better. Then I set about finding sources for primary research.
25/09/2024:
I decided due to time that I would use footage from the internet and do a voiceover using my script rather than doing PTCs. This will be less time-consuming and easier to edit, but it will also test my creativity more and will add to my skills. I will have to think about the quality of my audio recording aswell as my screen recording. I will use Microsoft ClipChamp as it allows screen and voice recording in the editing process, making it easier. I used my wired lavalier mic and plugged it into my laptop. I recorded directly onto ClipChamp and then edited it removing any gaps or mistakes.
28/09/2024:
I filmed the intro and outro of my documentary script as a PTC. I filmed it on my phone using Open Camera, a camera app with DSLR settings, and used my clipped my wired lavalier mic on to record audio. I held up my phone using a stand to stabalise the shot. I planned to mix the PTC with the audio that I had already recorded and some screen-recorded footage from the internet.
30/09/2024:
I uploaded my PTC to my OneDrive so that I could put it onto ClipChamp and start editing. I also contacted Josie Copson, a Metro Tv reporter and someone with years of experience in celebrity journalism working with OK! Magazine, Cosmopolitan and now Metro. I first emailed her with a list of questions and asked for a quote. I spent and hour looking for footage and made a list of videos and photos that I can use in my edit, with links to the source. I found stock footage that was free to use on Youtube.
2/10/2024:
I edited the audio and ptc recording together in ClipChamp.
3/10/2024:
I continued editing, screen recording stock footage from Youtube and imported photos from the internet. I made sure that I know what I was using so that I can credit it in the description of the video. The edit is just over 4 minutes long.
I finished editing it in ClipChamp adding all of the stock footage and pictures and exported it. I then decided to import it into Adobe Audition and edit the audio because it is echoey. I tried to add the 'de-noise' effect in Premier Pro however it made little impact so I decided not to use it. I will search other ways to sort out the audio, however it is not a severe issue and depends on device whether it sounds echoey or not.
I posted the finished video to Youtube
Evaluation:
There are some strengths ad there are some weaknesses of this project.
Strengths:
Good primary research conducted
Had plan B options prepared
Was resilient with the project despite challenges I faced
Weaknesses:
Didn't conduct secondary research- I reached out to a source however didn't recieve a response
No calendar for production
Rough edit- the audio is bad quality and a lot of stock footage was used
Lost motivation at points of the project and found generatng ideas hard
Next time I could schedule it better so that I am more clear on what I need to do when. This will increase my productivity aswell as the quality of the end product. I would also reach out to possible secondary research sources sooner and would find more possible sources. I feel that going into the next project I will be more confident and will achieve a better result next time.
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