Innovation- Long form

Innovation-Long Form Features

In the UK, each publication has its own writing structure that makes them unique from one another. Each newspaper differs slightly by having it’s own writing style and layout which determines the type of audience that reads it. Traditionally the Sunday Times have an educated audience with around 48% of its readership achieving a degree level and higher (Times Media). 

With the print journalism in ‘crisis’ each publication is competing to widen their audience and increase the readership to keep them-selves alive.  This is evident online where they are expanding and making the websites more interactive and easier to read to attract a wider audience than the printed versions. The new innovation of long form news stories is an attempt to provide the audience with further material and information than the written articles in the papers.

This is an increasingly popular and effective way for the newspapers to get readers onto their site whilst engaging a new audience. The websites are also mobile orientated so can be viewed from mobile phones and tablets which are becoming increasingly popular when viewing things online. Buzzfeed revealed in a survey last year that of 50,000 people watching/ reading online, around 65% of them revealed they would rather watch/read longer articles on their mobile phones and tablets. This could be due to the companionship people have with their mobile phone and also the immersing scroll that online features provide instead of the readers having to turn lots of pages.

The Sunday Times (Christina Lamb) produced a popular feature called ‘My Year with Malala’ about the Pakistani schoolgirl that was shot by the Taliban in January 2012. As the article features online, it is written at length and contains an enormous amount of detail. This allows the audience to build a connection with the writer and her experiences.

http://features.thesundaytimes.co.uk/public/malala/

In this particular feature, Christina Lamb spent nine months with Malala and her family to find out about their lives before and after the Taliban shot her. The article is written based on the story that was currently being written and is very descriptive, full of facts and overall very interesting. By putting this feature on the website it allows ‘The Sunday Times’ to include a lot of detail which engages the audience into the article. It also attracts other audiences who may have taken an interest in the news story that broke out when the Taliban shot Malala.

The piece contains interactivity through the use of video that could not feature in the newspaper. The first video contains recordings and images along with a voice over from Christina Lamb. This short video appears to be a way for Christina to portray her own views of the situation whilst giving a brief incite into Malala’s lifestyle. The majority of the text remains free from Christina’s opinions as it is written as a story based on her experiences.

By containing videos it involves the readers that may not want to read lots of text. Although the video doesn’t go into a lot of detail it still informs the audience of what the text is about. The video is embedded into the text and provides those reading with a break whilst supplying images to look at.

The only problem with some of the videos being embedded into the text is that they do not always relate to the text. This slightly disrupts the reader when they are in full flow reading as they watch the video and then have to remember what was happening in the article. However some of the videos are engaging as they highlight just how famous Malala has become and the authority she holds in society.

I find the embedded images very effective as they disappear into the text as you scroll down the page. This allows you to view the large images clearly until you carry on reading the article. The main video that contains Malala and her father along with the strong images and footage appears at the end of the article. This is to encourage people to scroll through the article and read parts of the descriptive text. The final video is very powerful as it is contains a first person account from Malala, along with an interview with her father regarding everything that the family endured in 2012.

 found this article on the Sunday Times website really effective as it hooked me in and encouraged me to read the whole article. I really enjoyed the descriptive tone of the text combined with the images and videos as it continuously reminded me that the situation was real life. The point of this article was to promote the book that came out last year. It appears to be successful, as I have just ordered the book online!

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/?forceredirect=yes#/?part=tunnel-creek

I also looked at the 2013 Pulitzer prize winner for feature writing; ‘Tunnel Creek Avalanche produced by John Branch from the New York Times to compare with ‘My week with Malala’. This particular feature written by John Branch was also inspired by a news story that broke out in 2012. The Tunnel Creek Avalanche gained a lot of media coverage when it happened, as the 16 people involved in it, of which some died, were professional competitive skiers and members of the free skiing media group including reporters and photographers.

This particular long form feature includes five sections to explain different parts of the journey to Tunnel Creek all the way through to the word spreading about the tragedy. It is a very detailed feature that includes strong interviews with the people that survived the avalanche. This builds up a vivid image of what it was like to have experienced this incident and forces the reader to sympathise with the victims.  The piece contains a selection of images and text about the person next to their interview to make you feel as if you know them and provides you with an incite into their personal life.

The piece contains a lot of description and metaphors to create an image for the reader whilst keeping them engaged in the situation as it unfolds. It starts with an account from Elyse Saugstad who survived the avalanche, ‘Snow filled her mouth. She caromed off things she never saw, tumbling through a cluttered canyon like a steel marble falling through pins in a pachinko machine.’

Many of the quotations used from the survivors contain a lot of emotion and enable you to capture the moment and how it must have felt to be trapped in such a scary situation.  ‘It really felt like I had died then, and that I was reborn into a nightmare’, was a quote from Brenan when he found his friend ‘Brixey’ dead under a pile of snow.

The images embedded into this snow feature are of amazing quality. They provide the audience with an incite into the conditions up the mountains. The feature also contains lots of graphics and diagrams that explain aspects in detail so the reader keeps up with the tragedy unfolding. One of the most successful diagrams is the simulation style graphic showing the speed of the avalanche as it moves downhill reaching up to 65 mph. This shows that the piece caters for a wide audience and doesn’t assume that the readers all understand skiing and the set up of it. I felt that this piece was educational as it taught me about the courses they took and where each person was at different times along with the safety precautions they were equipped with.

Alongside the interviews embedded into the text are clips of the interview with survivors for the audience to watch. It links slightly to what they have quoted in the text however emphasises their emotions as they relay their experiences. It also appeals to the people that wont have read the text, as they can still understand what is happening through the videos and graphic diagrams throughout the piece.

It is clear that these long form features take a lot of time to plan and write. It is obvious that the journalist spends a long time interviewing the people that feature in the articles to make sure they capture their experiences. In both of the features, Christina and John have ensured that there are enough images and interactive parts included in their features to make it work effectively. It provides the audience with an experience rather than just reading an article in the newspaper.

The homemade videos that both features include are important as they continuously remind the audience that the situations being written about are real life. The footage of Ron Parkey where he discovers someone is dead beneath him from the beeping of his beacon is chilling for the audience to watch.

Long form features seem to be increasingly popular with the audience online as it provides them with interactivity that the newspapers cannot do. The features are written in depth and contain a lot of description, which builds up the tension. They provide the audience with the experience of what they are reading rather than just the facts of it. Long form features keep the audience on edge as it builds up the story and includes accounts from everyone affected by the incident. I personally enjoyed reading and watching the long form features online as they made me feel as if I was there with the journalist and that I was part of what happened. As society today is shifting towards online I think that long form features are going to become popular with journalists. They have the potential to engage a larger audience than those who enjoy reading magazines and newspapers.

Images are screen shots from both The New York Times feature and The Sunday Times. Links are both above.

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I found it hard to write about an innovation for this particular work and struggled to find something to write about. But when I found these long form articles online it became clear that this was something I could write about. The idea of long form features is a new style that I found a lot more interesting to read. It isn't the 'norm' for newspapers online to produce features like this which is why I saw it as an innovation. It also captures a larger audience online than that of the newspaper and I think it is a positive thing for the newspapers and magazines to use. I enjoyed discovering some of these long form articles which is why I chose to write about it for this essay.

Confessional Interview- David Whitehead

 

 

 

As you can see the whole version does not fit on the blog, so I have also written it up below to make it easier to read.

David Whitehead is a very rare case of this disease. When I researched it on the NHS website it made it clear that most people that have this illness are smokers and have been exposed to fumes over a long period of time which is not what happened in David's case. There is also no mention of having to go on oxygen or how severe the disease can actually get which made David's story even more unique. I found David on a media contacts website and went to his home to carry out the interview. It was very interesting to see how he has adapted his lifestyle to cope with the demands of the disease. I was also really surprised at how relaxed he was about having to live this way. David was a lovely, genuine man and I hope his interview can raise further awareness of Tuberculosis.

 

 

 

  T  he familiar sound of the ventilator woke me up from my six hours sleep. I felt the oxygen mask clasped to my face as I was being forced to breathe deeply. I was used to this awakening after being continuously attached to an oxygen tank.

 ‘David are you ready to get up’ the sweet sound of my wife Anna, who’s my beloved wife of 55 years and my full time carer. We met when I was 24 as her father was the Operations Executive of the RF section in WW2. I was 18 in the Navy when he ordered me to look after his three daughters on the ship, HMS 4th. His eldest daughter who was just 16 at the time, was Anna. I knew straight away that she was the one. We eventually married seven years later.

Anna and I

  At the age of 24, the Navy went ashore with the Army in Cyprus. It was very cramped and dirty as we all lived together in a large tent. We all shared bedding, food and diseases. It was here that I caught

Tuberculosis and spent a year in hospital. 

  365 days of injections into my behind and continuous treatment to kill the bugs was the least of my worries. I couldn’t wait to get back to the Navy. I was being treated by the best team around who had looked after King George VI when he had cancer.

  Towards the end of my stay I had an operation that left me with half a lung. I have a scar reaching from the top of my neck round to my side where they opened me up. 

    

  Reading ‘My Family and other Animals’ used to make me laugh during that time. I was determined to carry on. I had just enough puff to get me through the Navy physical tests. I was back.              

                                           

  At  27, I developed  Ankylosing Spondylitis a form of arthritis that affects the spine. This was not diagnosed for a further 15 years. My spine is locked which forces my head to be constantly tilted forward. It also prevents my rib cage from working properly and causes me to have extra difficulty with breathing. This was extremely painful whilst it was active; but fortunately it went into remission at age 40. I continued to serve in the Navy as Captain of the Air Ministry of Defence. I was very passionate about serving our country and nothing was going to stop me.

      

  I was adamant I would serve in the Navy until I was 55. I was promoted to Sea Commands Captain when I reached 50. This was to be one of the best and worst days of my life.

Me in the Navy at 18 years old

   I found out that 24 Captains were to be removed onto the dry list. I was one of them. The chances of being promoted from the dry list were slim. I was forced to retire from the Navy at 50.

         

  I then went on to work for a successful company called ‘Raycord’ selling post war goods such as old radios. I was director of the company and worked there for 15 years. 

  My office was a large tower block based in London. I had to climb hundreds of steps each day carrying my heavy brief case. My breathing started to deteriorate with age and I started to find climbing the stairs difficult. I always struggled to breathe when I reached the  top. It didn’t bother me, as long as I didn’t have to run anywhere. I would always let a bus go rather than run to catch it. 

  

  Working in the office became harder and harder. The vents pumped pollution from the city around my office. My lungs were deteriorating quickly.

  In 1980 Anna and I bought a house in France. One warm day when the pollen levels were high, I saw my French  GP. He was shocked to see me so out of breath and wondered what had happened to me. I had no choice but to go on oxygen at this point. The thought of it worried me but as soon as I got the oxygen, I realised what I had been missing. I was informed that there was no life expectancy at this point. I could die at anytime.

  I have a concentrator that filters the normal air and provides me with 93% oxygen. I have them in different sizes to cater for my needs . They all supply me with continuous oxygen through the tube up my nose. If you get more carbon dioxide  than your body is used to it can affect the way it functions. I used to constantly fall asleep after I had finished my breakfast which was rather embarrassing. At first, I was only on 2 litres of oxygen a minute but since then it has been deteriorating slowly and I am now on three litres a minute. I have been on oxygen for eight years and I am still alive!

  I also have a ventilator that involves me wearing an oxygen mask whilst I sleep. This forces me to breathe deeply and takes out the carbon dioxide from my body. I am lucky that most nights I don’t have trouble sleeping and get around six hours a night.

     

  I don’t have a problem about dying. Young people don’t worry about dying. So why should I? Everyone has to die at some time. No one can escape it.What does worry me is the method of it. I have always had a fear of suffocation. When I was in the Navy, I would always pray that I wouldn’t die from  drowning. Now, I live each day terrified that I will suffocate to death. 

  The GP’s and Specialists have assured me that this will not be the case. They think something else in my body will give up by then. A heart attack would be an easy, quick death. But we can’t choose our method.

    

  I feel like a dog on a lead, but I will not let this stop me from doing anything. We still go on cruises, stay in France for six months and I work for my family’s ‘Trust Fund’ buying and selling houses to raise money for my grandchildren.

 I can go on aeroplanes with my oxygen tank, though I get shoved through the food tray hole when we visit the Azores in Portugal. At the smaller airports I am carried down the steep ramp by two lusty men, strapped to what looks like an electric chair whilst I stare at the concrete ground 20 metres below me.

Me in my new wheelchair

 

 I am lucky. I am 80 years old and as far as I know do not have any other defects. My peers have bad hips, prostate cancer and have gone deaf and blind. Some suffer from Alzheimer's. I’m lucky that my mind is still going strong and I can still see and hear the beautiful world. I have my wife Anna alongside me; who keeps the house running, the garden pretty and our family content. I can still drive, eat and

do most things that normal people can do, apart from walk. 

    

 I have a new electric wheelchair along with a lift fitted into the car that makes it easier for me to go out in. I have even had a lift fitted into my home. I have tube attachments on each floor of my house that allow me to connect into them as I get out of the lift. Being on the end of a tube continuously is a nightmare as you always have to coil it up wherever you go. I have even had a shower fitted into my bedroom as my lift cannot reach the top floor of the house.

My lift and tube station

 

 I have adapted my life well to cope with my disease and I think I am doing rather well. The doctors have never given me a life expectancy, but I doubt I have more than five years left. I try not to  think about death and when my time will come. Instead, I carry on going to our lovely home in France, working on the property development and sitting at my desk reading the papers, which is where I spend the majority of my time. 

             The most important thing is that I’m happy, stable and able to breath, thanks to my oxygen tank.

My main oxygen tank

Maya Oakley- Fashion Stylist Interview

                    
                   Maya Oakley- Fashion Stylist

Maya Oakley is a popular freelance fashion stylist who sources the clothes and styles the models/celebrities for photo-shoots. She has worked for big magazines such as Marie Claire, Red and Cosmopolitan. She frequently styles models for Grazia’s advertorial section that is funded by commercial clients but needs to feel like editorial content. She usually chooses the products to shoot and has input on the style and concept for the shoot. Maya also used to be contributing editor at the Daily Mail and has styled celebrities such as Mylene Klass, Kate Garaway and Lorraine Kelly. She has also styled some Premiership footballers for Adidas campaigns. 

Maya Oakley

‘It’s important to understand the clients brand identity and to keep the end result in line with the editorial voice of the company you are working for.’

Maya started off studying Media and Communications at Brighton University where she graduated with a first degree. She also completed lots of work experience at a variety of magazines during the University holidays. Her first job once she graduated was at Habitat magazine as their press officer, which she managed to secure due to a contact from her work experience.

'I don’t think having a degree is essential. It is the experience and contacts you make along the way that makes the difference. Having the ability to get along with anyone is an essential skill to have! If people enjoy the day and have fun working with you they are more likely to book you again.'

   ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously, we're not heart surgeons after all’

‘I think work experience, whether it is freelance or at a company is good, as a lot of graduates think they know everything and I learn something new on every job and I’ve been doing it for 15 years!’

She built up lots of contacts with other magazines whilst working at Habitat and was offered a job as an Editors PA for ‘Woman’s Journal’. When you start on a magazine the main role is usually to co-ordinate sample call-ins and returns so most interns will be in a fashion cupboard sending back clothes. However this wasn’t the case for Maya as she was given the opportunity to style some fashion pages.

Maya realised this is what she enjoyed doing most and decided to go freelance. This was a good decision as she has children and the commitment when working for a magazine company is high.

‘The benefits of being a freelance journalist are that you work for yourself so you can take time off and manage your own diary. I can also take time off during the school holidays so that I can spend time with my children. My partner is a photographer which is a bonus as he understands the industry and that shoots can finish late!’

Maya has an agent to represent her and organises meetings with clients and photographers who are interested in working with her. Over the years she has built up a good range of clients to help her in the industry.

Styling for River Island
Photography Helen McCardle

It is important to remember that images can become dated very quickly and stylists need to continuously update their work. Maya reads lots of fashion magazines to see what styles are currently in trend. She also keeps up to date with what is on the catwalk so she has an idea of the trends that will be coming in each season. She has a large audience of followers on social media where she also gains ideas for fashion pieces. Plus she is always at the shops and enjoys people watching to see how the public put their looks together.

                 ‘This is an industry where you are only as good as your last photo shoot’

When Maya needs models she sends a brief to the relevant agencies. They then send a list of girls that are available for the stylist to cast in order to select the best one. ‘It is important that you choose a model who is perfect for the style of the clothing and shoot intended.’

If a shoot is editorial it has a PR clothing credit so companies can loan the clothes from their seasonal look for the stylist to select from. They can also select clothing from the companies style books or do a showroom appointment where they can select pieces they like.

‘It is vital to build relationships with the PR’s as they are bombarded with requests from lots of stylists.’

The better the publication, the better the range of brands that will loan. If the job is for advertising, there is a clothing budget where you would buy ‘wardrobe wear’. If you work with a company like Debenhams, Next and Marks and Spencer they supply clothes for the stylist to put together. Maya particularly likes Zara as they have a really good range of current trends. She also likes Whistles and the online website, Asos as they always have a version of what you are looking for.

Styling for John Lewis in Grazia magazine
Photography Jonny Storey

‘I am a huge fan of the high street. A few designer pieces such as a good bag or coat will lift an outfit but if you are confident you can wear very simple things and look stylish. Many stylists wear jeans and trainers as we're often on our hands and knees pinning clothes or doing up models shoes.'

    ‘If you turned up on a shoot in heels it would give you away as an amateur! ’

It appears that being a stylist can be stressful and involves long hours for preparation. Maya has an interest in holistic health and has a diploma in herbal medicine which she enjoys outside her working life. She also likes to go to Yoga a couple of times a week. This helps her remain calm as she is constantly thrown into new situations each day.

‘I think when you work in the image industry, which can be quite frivolous and fun and at times very stressful, it is nice to have a meaningful hobby and something else to concentrate on.’

Maya has been very lucky in her stylist job as it has taken her all around the world. In the last six months she has been to LA, Cape Town, New York and Barcelona. She also enjoys other perks of the job such as discounts in shops and gaining freebies.

Styling for Grazia magazine
Photography Dan Smith 

‘I definitely didn’t dream of becoming a stylist but fell into it and love the variety it offers. Every project/shoot is different and you meet so many people! You never know who you might meet next and where it will lead you. I always wanted to be a children’s book illustrator, so a creative field was definitely on the cards.’

Maya’s advice to upcoming journalists in the fashion industry is to: 

‘Try as many different things as possible, be prepared to work very hard and get a foot in the door. Don’t think you will get your dream job straight away, there may be an indirect route to get you there. Assist lots of people and make as many connections as you can as these will bring many opportunities your way. I think social media is important and many employers/ brands respond to it, but remember once its posted it’s out there forever and many future employers will Google you! 

      ‘Most importantly believe in what you are doing and other people will believe in you too ’

 

Maya's styling for H&M
Photography Tom Andrew

   

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I was unsure how to layout this feature so used a similar style to Glamour magazine when they interview actors and other stars. I wanted to highlight some of her main quotes and advice as these are the main things to take away from the interview. I really wanted to include the images of some of her styling as they emphasise her potential and made the interview look a lot more interesting. I was able to do this by finding out the photographers names to attribute their work.

I learnt a lot from Maya who is clearly 'up there' in the industry. She was a good person for me to interview as her role is very similar to my directing role for the fashion magazine. She gave me a lot of tips and advice and helped me understand the things that large institutions look for. She gave me a wider understanding of the expectations, hard work and fun that you can have as a stylist and I was very grateful to be able to get an interview with her as I am aware she is very busy at the moment.