Science and Certainty

The purpose of Science is to achieve 'The Truth', however, human condition is that no one can ever know the real truth; we can only hold an honest opinion on something. As journalists we should 'play dumb' we should never say we know the truth as nothing is for certain. This has been explicit in the news recently on the Hillsborough disaster as Kelvin Mackenzie's bold headline "The Real Truth" was proven to be lies.

Kant believes that the universe is unknowable, he regards phenomena (objects as they appear created by the mind) as true only from a certain point of view. Kant divides truth into two categories: Apriori Truths and A posteriori truths

1. Apriori Truths are known before experience, they are true by definition
e.g All Bachelors are unmarried men or All Triangles have 3 sides

2. A Posteriori Truths are known after experience, they are true by observation
e.g All Bachelors are messy

Aristotle, Bacon and Newton eventually discover everything out like clockwork, forming a perfect picture of 'The truth', but this is now abandoned by scientists since Einstein, yet 99% of people are still Newtonian.

Before Kant science was based on causation. Plato even believed that the forms existed independently of human consciousness in a immaterial world of eternal perfection.

Mechanistic materialists such as Bacon, Newton and other empiricists thought that the cosmos is the sum total of many things. Although they are of varied sizes large or small, they are still there as objects even if you can see them or not. Kant's idea similarly to modern theoretical physics is that the cosmos is like a computer game where the objects, landscape, space and time are created in consciousness and then fade away again; first into apparent distance and then disappear entirely again. "We see space and time because we wear space and time goggles" Russell on Kant.

Kant was not a pure idealist or a solopsist, "things" really are there but in noumenal form, this is the unperceived object and thing in itself; something like an immaterial soul. Schopenhauer believes there is only one universal noumena which is the "will" of the universe as a thing in itself.

From Kant, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche we inherit the idea that existence is not a predicate of any possible object, nothing 'causes' existence, existence is a necessary precondition of perception or consciousness. This is the big breakthrough idea of the scientific revolution.

From Newton to Einstein

During the time of the Copernican revolution questions arose: Does the earth really orbit the sun? Where is up, where is down? Where is the centre of the universe? Perception is essentially subjective dependent upon time of the day lighting condition and even our own moods.

Newton was regarded as objective for 200 years, true independently of perception. Newton's laws of motion describes motion as one point to another, but this raises speculation as to whether there can be any motion if there are infinite distances? Newton's laws of motion had been 'read off' nature like a mirror.

Kant's categories of perception is that we see the universe in 3D because we are 3D beings.

Einstein rejects the idea that the universe has a time, according to Einstein's experiments he believed that time is a mental phenomena and there are different types of time which has been confirmed by space travel.

Logic - Deduction Vs Induction

Deductive logic is when you take a general proposition and you make it particular. For example Aristotle's Syllogism:

All men are mortal, (General Proposition)
Socrates is a man,
Therefore Socrates is mortal (Particular Proposition)

Deduction preserves truth and respects authority above all else. It produces particular truths from a general principle. Whereas Inductive logic is the opposite and a particular truth becomes general.

It is not possible in the system to doubt or overturn the axioms as this would cause reality itself to collapse.

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon is the founder of modern inductive method, his most famous work titled 'The advancement of learning' highlighted Bacon as the originator of 'Knowledge is power'. Bacon was a strong believer that philosophy should be kept separate from theology as philosophy should be dependent upon reason; he is an advocate of the doctrine of 'double truth'. (The idea that separate sources of knowledge - religion and philosophy - might result in contradictory truths without detriment) 

Bacon was against syllogism, his book 'The Organon' was a direct attack on Aristotle. 

He also rejected the Copernican theory, which is the idea that the sun is the centre of the universe and the earth rotates around it. 

You can access my notes from 'The clockwork Universe' lecture here, about scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton 

Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein was a philosopher who focused on logic, mathematics, mind and language. His most famous work titled 'The Tractatus' outlines that the 'world consists of facts" and there is no object truth only "language games", and even logic itself is a "language game".


Vienna Circle
The Vienna Cicle was an assosiasion of philosophers that formed in honour of Ernst Mach in the 19th Century. One of their main philosophical theories was the verification principle, which is a method whereby the truth of any proposition is the way in which you verify it. If a proposition cannot be verified it is neither true or false.

Karl Popper rejected this on logical grounds because he said that something could be true but you may not able to verify it, therefore the verification principle itself cannot be verified.

TV Reporting

Today, we were given a master-class in TV reporting. This is potentially one of the most valuable lectures we will have, taught by an experienced man in the industry himself, Mr Angus Scott. I will share with you what knowledge he passed down, about the core foundation and training in producing a successful TV report.

First things first, it is essential to do your research, don't just automatically think you have a story, you need to think in pictures as well as words. Ask yourself what sort of footage will compliment your text. Although it may sound silly know where you are going, and more importantly get there early! Forward planning is the most crucial stage, you will be in a better position to shoot something if you know your stuff, especially if your time is limited. Now, imagine you show up to the scene, you're ready but your battery has suddenly died, or you've got no tape in your camera. This triggers panic, and leaves you with no option but to stop and head back, empty handed with no story, no interviews and no footage at all. So remember to always check your equipment and kit before you head out, and it certainly doesn't hurt to take spares! Soon as your camera is set up, start rolling, you don't want to miss anything! It's always better to have too much footage then too little, no doubt. Another thing worth emphasising to you is never be afraid to ask, talk to people, get their permission and approval. If you're in a public space then reporting restrictions don't apply but remember legal issues when it comes to filming, for example you cannot trespass or invade people's privacy. 

When filming your package, it's great to illustrate your story in a variety of different ways. For instance, in a sequence, or by using different size shots e.g wide pans or close ups. Always maintain continuity and don't forget to shoot for longer so when it comes to editing you have more footage to play with. It's vital to shoot cut aways, in order to cover up a jump between two clips. When filming interviews, you have to apply the rule of thirds. This is where the interviewee must be eye level with the top third of the frame and positioned either to the left or to the right. They must NOT be centred, directly facing the camera or positioned at awkward angels. Take a look at the example below: 

Time management is key in journalism here are some tips to take into consideration when piecing together your VT. 

- Headline - 8-10 seconds 

- Begin with establishing shot, roll to out of vision (OOV), use best photographs, then back to presenter to round up

- Introducing the story should take 30 seconds long, approx 90 words, the out-word will then signal the pre-recorded VT which should be just over a minute (Fat Minute)

- Include 2 or 3 interviews, approx 15 seconds each with a balanced view.

- If your going to include still images, add an effect for movement. 

- If your going to record a PTC (piece to camera) it should be a maximum of 20 seconds.

- End it by signing off with a Standard Out Que (SOQ) 'Christina Michaels, Winchester News Online, Winchester'. 

PTC - Piece to Camera

It is advisable to never start with a PTC, it should only be there to add something to the piece. Place yourself in the heart of the action, and if you can talk and walk then movement adds a change of dynamic. Just remember to walk before you talk. 

Interviews

Always get cut away shots. Film the interviewee before you interview them doing something relevant to the story, this sequence acts as an intro shot providing the reader with background. 

Wrap Up

When you are travelling back start to write your story, think of suitable headlines and report back to your news editor about potential ways of editing your footage e.g graphics, pictures

Writing the Introduction

Write the link in which the presenter will read before your VT is aired. The introduction is the most important, it has to grab the viewers attention, use the 5 Ws 'Who? What? Why? When? Where? Remember not to repeat what you said in the link in the opening introduction.  

Writing up the story

Use one idea per sentence, speak in the present tense and in plain English; it's hard enough for the viewer to take everything in let alone if you are waffling on using jargon. Simplify numbers to avoid complications and for a more visual appeal, illustrate them using graphics.

Packaging 

Start with your best pictures! You want to entice the reader instantly, there is no point teasing them, they will just switch over if they are not interested. There is also no need to name the interviewee, simply add a caption on screen. Bare in mind that you are telling a story, use a sequence, and words which compliment the footage rather then describe what they already see. Limit yourself to grabs of 20 seconds max and end the story with something that means something, don't end on an interview! Always finalise the package by signing off. 

If you attend a press conference, get there early, be the first to choose where to position your camera and get ready to roll. Ask if there are any one-to-ones because once again if you don't ask you won't get. Lastly, if your going to join a media scrum, be prepared for the crush. 

If you take this all on board you'll be producing perfect packages! Good Luck!