A2 Weekly News Update 7

My story this week comes from the Daily Mail, and it is the ungoing story as to whether Cheryl Cole is pregnant or not. Cheryl has been through many a relationship and marriage, divorcing with her first husband Ashley Cole in 2010, then marrying her second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini

 

in 2014 after a three month courtship, but later divorcing him as well. Now she is currently dating One Direction star Liam Payne, with whom she has a 10 year age gap with.

In recent press releases, Cheryl has been seen to sport a pregnancy bump, but there has been no official announcement of this news. I have included a few images of Cheryl and Liam that have been released and will leave it up to you as to whether you think she is or not.

The Daily Mail are extremely hot on celebrity gossip and stories, and Cheryl is a figure who has been on our screens and in the news frequently for many years. As there has been no official announcement, every paparazzi is attempting to get the best picture of the 'bump' and so the invasion of press Cheryl will be getting is extremely high, it has been spoken about on Lorraine, when she stated on 29th November 2016, "Have they still not confirmed whether or not she's actually pregnant? she asked in disbelief.

Why do I find this article interesting?
To some extent I agree with this, however in other respects I understand that Cheryl is now 33 years old, and since she was with Ashley Cole way back in 2004, she has had pressure but on her to have a child, and each time she settles down into a relationship, the pressure to have a child is there. So perhaps Cheryl is not announcing her news because she wants to reduce stress levels for herself and the baby. Additionally, the amount of coverage this story has had from other newspapers such as the Sun and the Daily star, prove that the nation are hungry to know whether Cheryl and Liam will be welcoming a bundle of joy into the world very soon.

Relationship with Music

My relationship with music has definitely developed over the years, from starting as something I would always want to listen and dance too when I was young, to despising any kind of music in primary school, to then listening to music because it made me happy, music is something to different to everyone one of us, but for me music is not something I listen to when I’m sad, or angry. I struggle to create relationships with music or lyrics because I have never been one to relate to it in such a way, but for me the biggest relationship I have with music is that it makes me feel safe and complete. In my car, if it’s quiet, it feels like something is missing, but when the radio is on I feel better. It is a non-emotional comfort blanket for me.

When I was little, I was the youngest of 10 cousins, so every Sunday we would go to my Nana and Grandad's to have dinner, and my eldest cousins would put on their CD’s and make up dances to them, the community that the music created in my family was personal and inclusive and we would all get up and dance. Then when I became older, I joined a street dance club and we would be dancing to the songs I heard on the radio, so I could sing along and be familiar with the beats.

In the High School Musical Stage, everybody knew the words to the songs and everyone knew the dance moves, and although I could never relate to the songs, I would sing them as though I was in the film about to graduate from school, (cringe I know), but that is what people would do around me, so it was hard not to be sucked into the infectious stage.

Nowadays, as a gymnast we perform to instrumental music, and I find that the mood of the piece dictates how you perform, we recently performed a display to ‘Run Boy Run’ by Woodkid, and the fast and strong beats meant I couldn’t help but feel power in my body, and that is the effect music has on me.

I can’t help but start dancing when any songs comes on, because that is the kind of person I am, and I know that some individuals can relate to music when certain situations arise, but as I previously mentioned this isn’t something I have ever experienced. But my biggest influence is definetly my Mum, having multiple CD's blasting in the car through my childhood, and we'd sing with the windows down.

'AMY' Documentary Review

The documentary 'Amy' was directed by Asif Kapadia and produced by James Gay-Rees and George Pank. Kapadia is a film maker but more interestingly he is British, this highlights that a more personal and realistic film would be created as Kapadia is aware of what goes on in Britain. It depicts and tells the story of jazz singer Amy Winehouse and through a series of interviews with her friends and family, video footage recorded, and phone calls that have been retracted; the audiences are able to see on a very personal level the ups and downs that Amy battled with in her lifetime.

The reason this documentary was so effective for me, was the fact that Amy's voice was used throughout the film, from interviews, phone calls and home footage, the creation of this film seemed so much more real because we could hear her voice.

For me, the main thing that was highlighted was the intrusive treatment the media presented Amy with. They were constantly sticking to her like glue and picking up every little thing she did wrong. For me one of the most interesting things about the documentary was when towards the beginning, one of her friends recorded her as a young 14 year old singing Happy Birthday and when she asked Amy if she was going to be famous one day, Amy replied saying that if she ever became famous, she would probably top herself, and in my personal opinion, the media killed Amy Winehouse.

The story of Amy Winehouse was thrown about like a tennis ball after her death, but this linear structured narrative guides us as an audience through her life, and demonstrates not only the influence the media had on her actions, but similarly the actions her father Mitch and boyfriend Blake had on her as well. Amy stated during the documentary that she found songs hard to relate to because the lyrics weren’t real, so through her love of jazz music, this was primarily her aim so that her audiences would be able to relate on an intimate and personal level with her.

Kapadia was extremely clever in making this film, because the footage that is included and the person information given out makes it seem as though this film was destined to be made. High and low points were captured, and the audiences were quickly exposed to the truth of Amy, in the respect that she was not a lady who held herself with grace and tranquility, she was a young, reckless but very mature artist who was not afraid to speak her mind, and for a women in today’s society to be this way and challenge the stereotypes of the typical ‘female singer’ would mean that the paparazzi and the press would be all over them, and would not stop to understand Amy was not trouble nor a bad individual, she was just different.

I have wanted to see this documentary for a long time, and for me the one thing that stood out of it aforementioned earlier was the vile and ferocious attack the media threw at Amy. The claustrophobic tunnel they created for this young star meant that sadly, it was inevitable she would die, but I don’t mean physically die, I mean die as a person, and I believe Amy Winehouse was killed by the media years before they pronounced her dead. 

Songs from my Childhood

Songs that I associate with my childhood-

Mum's song- Robbie Williams- Let me Entertain You


My song- Cheryl Cole- Fight for this Love
(I don't like this song anymore but when it comes on it takes me back to the good old days)

A2 Weekly News Update 6

My story this week comes from the Radio Times, it isn't specifically a news story but to me it was an interesting one. On Good Morning Britain this week, Bill Turnball was a guest and was reunited with his former co-presenter Susanna Reid, who now presents with Piers Morgan. It was evident there would be some banter about the reunion, however what interested me the most was the media coverage.

Headlines such as 'Piers Morgan was furious' and 'Anger strikes as Reid and Turnball are reunited' were spread online, yet I watched this show and there was no sign of any frustration from Piers.

This is a typical example of how the media exaggerates situations that happen on television, if someone had seen that article but hadn't watched the show, they would be intrigued because it gives off the impression that there was an argument when there wasn't.

What do I think about this article?
I wanted to use this as my news update because it is a big eye opener as to how exaggerated things are, and considering this wasn't the most interesting of stories and it can be blown up to this extent, it makes me wonder how exaggerated major
news stories are

TV Scheduling

TV Scheduling is the times at which different programs are shown on TV. The decisions made by the channels are significant because the ratings of the show can depend on the time it is shown to the audience. Since television has started, the routine of the programmes has seemed to fit into a daily routine where the news will always be in the morning, at dinner time and at 10 o'clock. These times are prime for the audience of the news, and as it feeds out essential information it must be scheduled at a time where the dominant audience will be watching.

Scheduling is split into 3 main concepts: Hammocking, Inheritance and Pre Echo. Pre echo is the technique of scheduling a less popular or a brand new show just before a popular show which would attract the audience who may have tuned in early. Additionally to this, Hammocking is when a less popular show is put into two popular shows so that the less popular show would automatically be watched by those waiting for the next show, which then gains this show more ratings. Then similarly to this, Inheritance is the concept of putting a less popular or new telvision show after the popular one in the hope that the audience won't turn off.

There are many different techniques to scheduling and I have stated and explained some of them below:

Stripping is the technique of broadcasting the same programme each week, on the same day. This allows the audience to become familiar with the scheduling time and then they get into the routine watching the programme. This is used for both soap operas and news programmes which are reoccurring shows. However when a new series is on, the scheduled time becomes precious to the audience because they know they have to be watching at that specific time.

Zoning is where similar genres of program are scheduled one after each other. The assumption is made that the audience of the genre will stay watching as they're preferred program or genre will continue. This is done on ITV2 with the likes of Family Guy, American Dad and South park.

Offensive scheduling is when a channel has the confidence of beating a rival programme with its ratings so it will be scheduled at the time as another show. This can be risky and can also upset viewers as they may be an audience for both shows and will have to miss one to see the other. Contrasting to this, Defensive scheduling is when a channel is aware of the high ratings a program will gain so they choose to schedule their show at a time where the minority appeal to the show,

The 'Watershed' is the period of television shown after 9pm. This includes explicit language, sexual references or scenes, violence and drugs. It is at this time to prevent young children from seeing it, additionally this is the time where adults are able to wind down and watch programmes that are relative to their age. 

A2 Weekly News Update 5

My story this week comes from the Sun online, and highlights the very recent controversy over FIFA banning England and Scotland players from wearing poppies on their shirts for the World Cup qualifier next week.

Fury erupted over the ruling by football’s governing body that the symbol is a political statement and can’t be used for the Armistice Day game. But players hit back saying that they wish to wear the poppy as a symbol of respect to all those who fought for our country. But what is stopping FIFA from allowing this to happen?

In my opinion, I think that, regardless of the fact this is a political symbol, it is a symbol of respect and just because a federation are bothered about what it may mean, at the end of the day it has been around for years and years and is now a tradition for everyone to wear. So in my opinion I find this story quite frustrating as it is being made out that this symbol is going to cause tension when in fact it is harmless and has so much meaning.

Gogglebox

A2 Weekly News Update 4

My story this week comes from the Daily Mail online, and it sparks conversation about an issue that isn't thought of so much during the Halloween season. TV personality and acid attack survivor, Katie Piper, has spoken out in disgust at the use of halloween makeup to create cuts and scars for effect.

• Katie's ex boyfriend Daniel Lynch hired Stefan Sylvestre to throw acid on her face in an attack in 2008, since the incident the TV personality has undergone more than 300 surgical surgical procedures in attempt to help the burns she suffered. Katie has spoken out to say 'It's not even Halloween and I've had over 20 photos on my feed of make-up artists posting Halloween gore-overs. 'It's distasteful and offensive to make temporary burns, scars and disfigurements on someone's face for Halloween. 'Some of us have these differences all year round. When did Halloween turn into people imitating accident victims?' 
• She then posted a photo and attached the caption next to it, "'I enjoy Halloween just as much as the next person but please don't dress up as someone that has had trauma happen to them,even if you don't care about other people's feelings how about remembering non of us are immune and it could be you one day with those injuries no Halloween make up needed'
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• I think this is a very important article because halloween is a traditional in Britain, and has been for many years. But more recently it appears that the makeup and special effects are picking up a lot and becoming more poplar, and Katie Piper does have a point in that some people do have the scars and cuts that people create for this occasion, and it is offensive to those as they may see it as being mocked.