Multimedia Reporting

Discussion: The Power of Voices and Speech Patterns

When we hear someone speak, what are the different things we pick up on? What are the things we assume about them?

“NPR Voice”

During a recent long car ride whose soundtrack was a medley of NPR podcasts, I noticed a verbal mannerism during scripted segments that appeared on just about every show. I’ve heard the same tic in countless speeches, TED talks and Moth StorySLAMS — anywhere that features semi-informal first-person narration.

If I could attempt to transcribe it, it sounds kind of like, y’know … this.

That is, in addition to looser language, the speaker generously employs pauses and, particularly at the end of sentences, emphatic inflection. (This is a separate issue from upspeak, the tendency to conclude statements with question marks?) A result is the suggestion of spontaneous speech and unadulterated emotion. The irony is that such presentations are highly rehearsed, with each caesura calculated and every syllable stressed in advance.

In literary circles, the practice of poets reciting verse in singsong registers and unnatural cadences is known, derogatorily, as “poet voice.” I propose calling this phenomenon “NPR voice” (which is distinct from the supple baritones we normally associate with radio voices).

It took me YEARS to start WRITING how I actually SPOKE in real life. #pubradiovoice

— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) January 29, 2015

“He was hinting at the difficult balancing act reporters face in developing their on-air voice. It isn’t just a challenge of performance — and it’s not as simple as channeling some “authentic” voice into a microphone. It requires grappling with your identity and your writing process, along with history of your institution.”

Decoding identity on the air

Here’s an actual intro by Ira Glass: sound similar?

Challenging the Whiteness of Public Radio

Podcast: ‘White voice’ and hearing whiteness as difference, not the standard

Does public radio sound too white? NPR itself tries to find out.

The reason the sound of your own voice makes you cringe

Why your voice IS a “podcast voice”

On accent bias in the industry, by Baruch’s own Gisele Regetao:

The Many Voices of Journalism

Podcast: Gisele Regatao on NPR’s accent bias

Common speech patterns in today’s world that everyone (men, too!) use all the time:

Upspeak

Vocal fry

“Like”

According to Ira Glass:

“…listeners have always complained about young women reporting on our show. They used to complain about reporters using the word “like” and about upspeak… But we don’t get many emails like that anymore. People who don’t like listening to young women on the radio have moved on to vocal fry.”

Why old men find young women’s voices so annoying

99% Invisible podcast responds to criticism about women’s voices

So all of this leads us to the question: How can we be intentional about how we use our voices to tell the best stories as effectively as possible?

Luckily, in radio/podcasting, speaking naturally is what we actually WANT. No one wants to listen to a robot, or someone who sounds like they’re reading.

How I learned to stop worrying and love my voice

Update: The new additional instructional recess, updated spring break dates, and what that means for this class.

• We won’t “meet” again until next Thursday. If you feel you don’t have the right computer equipment/reliable internet at home to complete the documentary and portfolio website assignments, please let me know so we can get you set up in this interim period.
• Now that the dates for spring break have been changed, I’m changing the due date on your scripts to Tuesday, April 7. The sign-up sheet for edits still applies, it’ll just be on a different day.
• Considering how much this is putting us behind, I’m simplifying the final project to just a video rather than a whole multimedia project with different elements. The logistics are just too complicated and with the constantly moving goalposts of the last couple of weeks, you won’t have as much time to complete it as you’d need.

Also, here’s that episode of The Daily I mentioned that relies on lots of recorded online audio.

https://soundcloud.com/user-88360655/practice-assignment/s-dyo6iWLAGHe

Script

Host intro: COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, has rapidly spread from its origin in the city of Wuhan, China to almost 100 countries. With more than 150 reported cases in the state of New York, many individuals and organizations have begun to implement cautionary measures to prepare for the further spread of the virus, Therese Rodrigues, a student at Baruch College, is here to report on this pandemic. 

AMBI: Students talking inside of Baruch Cafe

TRACK: The Coronavirus has rapidly spread across the United States, and it is projected that the virus will continue to spread for months. I’m here with fellow Baruch student, Anthony Tellez, here to give his thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic.  

AMBI: Student skateboarding. 

TRACK: Where were you when you first heard about the Coronavirus?

ACT: ANTHONY: I was actually at home, because I have various news apps on my phones, I get a lot of alerts, so I was probably at home when all of that went down. 

TRACK: And what were your initial thoughts when you first heard about the COVID-19 outbreak?

ACT: ANTHONY: I thought it was a bit crazy, given you know that the focus was solely on China, but, I didn’t think that it would go further than that. I found it amazing that they shut down the whole city of 11 million people. But now that there are cases around the world of people who don’t have a travel history, especially in the United States, I think it’s more concerning. 

AMBI: Students talking inside of  Baruch Cafe

TRACK: Some New Yorkers are starting to take serious precautions in everyday activities. Hand sanitizers and face masks have been wiped off store shelves, and many feel anxious and unprepared. 

TRACK: Now that there are many confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in New York City, how have you and those around you been impacted? 

ACT: ANTHONY: It hasn’t impacted me as crazy. I see people on the train with masks, hand sanitizer, refusing to touch the poles on the train. I think it’s a bit hectic given the situation we’re in, but I haven’t seen any major impact in New York City, as of yet. 

TRACK: Many CUNY students feel as if there hasn’t been enough done to ensure their safety during these uncertain times. 

AMBI: Students talking inside of  Baruch Cafe

TRACK: How do you feel CUNY has responded so far to the outbreak?

ACT: ANTHONY:  I think they’re a bit- I don’t know- I think they’re waiting around for something to happen to initiate some sort of action. I understand that they’re putting in hand sanitizer,  changing the soap, but that’s really the extent of it. I really haven’t seen any major issue- like we’re going to do classes online, or shutting down school at least. I know there’s some petition to shut down the school, but, I’m not sure what their response really is, but I know that certainly, they need to step their game up like the private institutions across the city. 

TRACK: CUNY has yet to close its doors and switch to remote learning, a move which many private universities across the state of New York, such as Columbia, NYU, Hofstra, and Syracuse have already done. Some professors have switched to online instruction already, while others refuse, saying that as long as school is open, they will continue their regularly scheduled sessions. Fears across New York City continue to grow, and there is much uncertainty of the extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak will affect the city. Only time can tell. For Baruch College, I’m Therese Rodrigues. 

 

 

https://soundcloud.com/user356114795/classassignment/s-Amc1CscmmxI

Script

Host intro: Valsenia is a sophomore at Baruch College, looking to get a take on how others feel about how the institution is handling the coronavirus.

Ambi: People having conversations inside of the school cafe.

Track: I am walking through the cafe, at Baruch College, to meet with Therese. Where were you when you first heard about the coronavirus?

Act: Therese: I was at probably  home watching the news, my dad probably told me about it. I don’t really remember. I just remember seeing a lot of updates on my phone about it.

Track: Did you think it was something serious at that time?

Act:Therese: I thought it was something serious but I didn’t give it much thought because it was in China, so I was just like “That’s really sad.” But I didn’t really give it much more thought after that.

 Track: Now, how has it impacted what you’ve seen or how you, like, move?

Act:Therese: Its been a little… I guess it’s more real, obviously, now that it’s here. Uhm, I haven’t really changed the way that I move around or what I do. I’ve just been a little more cautious, you know, carrying around hand sanitizer with me, watching my hands more, but, other than that, nothing has really changed, for me atleast.

Track: Do you feel like overtime it will get better or worse?

Act:Therese: I think that it’s going to get worse before it gets better, especially since, I feel like, the US isn’t really prepared to deal with it, as some other places might be. So I think it’s going to get a little worse before it gets better, but I also don’t think it’s going to be the end of the world or it’s gonna cause mass scale destruction, like some people are painting it out to be.

Track: What have you seen your institution doing to change things or help the problem?

Act:Therese: Nothing much, to be honest. I feel like CUNY has done the bare minimum. They’ve sent out a lot of emails about we’re gonna watch it and they’ve been giving out hand sanitizer, apparently. But, other than that, that’s all they’ve been doing; they haven’t taken any steps to prevent it or switch to online classes, like a lot of private universities have been doing.

 

My radio pitch will focus on Corona Virus how this virus is affecting the education system and students. I will interview students and discuss about that how covid-19 is affecting the classes. what challenges they are facing while taking online classes.

 

I want to focus on the shady PR practices of companies during the coronavirus pandemic, specifically retail store American Eagle Outfitters/Aerie (which up until a few weeks ago was my employer for 4.5 years). They recently put out a statement online (after facing backlash for not closing their stores at the start of the pandemic) that they will be making sure their associates will be paid during their store closures and that they will provide access to medical testing and treatment if needed. However, based off of statements from my former coworkers and comments made by numerous associates online, there was a company-wide decision to cut all part-time/hourly associates’ (essentially non-management) hours prior to this statement being made. Associates were informed that they will be given paid leave according to their scheduled hours, however this now leaves a majority of employees with 0 hours and 0 income during this difficult time. I would focus on the stories of the employees left without pay, and how they are dealing with it/fighting against it.

My Radio Story will focus on NYCHA Housing Workers who have to still come into work. Some business are being forced to stay open despite the COVID-19 growing worse each day. There are considered “Essential Businesses”

NYCHA Housing is one of those Essential businesses but some NYCHA Workers believe that they should stay home as well. While some are on the field, cleaning buildings, other work from Office- like environments, where bacteria are usually spread.

As the Corona Virus getting raged in America, lots of Chinese international students decided to come back to China. However, because of the travel restriction, the journey to come back home is a unique experience for them. And, the life in a concentrated center for quarantine is an add on. it’s the trick point for lots of international students to decide whether to come back or not.

So, I am thinking to have one interview with a Chinese governor about the general information about people coming back and the current policy. And I am thinking of doing one Chinese international student who is coming back and one who stays in the U.S.

There is an organization in my neighborhood that is going out and delivering groceries to those who are afraid or more susceptible to the coronavirus. I would like to interview some of the members and volunteers on why they feel they must help others and ask if they aren’t concerned about their own health being put on the line for others. Additionally I would like it to lead into the video assignment where I follow them around while they deliver groceries to those in need.

I want to focus my second radio pitch on how the coronavirus impacted many college students’ futures. Spring is usually the time when many students, especially those who are graduating, are trying to figure out their futures and plan for the next few years. I keep hearing stories from my friends, however, who are frustrated or worried because tests such as the MCAT for medical school has been postponed, the CPA exam for accountants is up in the air, and certain internships or full-time jobs have been revoked because so many businesses are currently closed or operating at a limited capacity. I want to speak with two or three students who are currently going through this, or who are potentially feeling financial burden because of their current situation, and how their futures might be impacted for months or years to come.

Also, if anyone didn’t see my final photojournalism essay, here is the link: https://nycdiana.exposure.co/cuny-community-rallies-back?source=share-nycdiana