Reflections

From the very first lecture, the JOUR1111 course gave me a brilliant insight into the contemporary world of journalism. It clearly identified aspects of journalism that I did not know existed, and gave excellent pointers on how to communicate effectively.
Much of the course's analysis of new media platforms such as Web 2.0, 3.0, twitter, blogging and so many more, taught me that journalism is an ever evolving field, catering for a broad range of interests.
The lectures focussing on photo and audio journalism made me realise what kind of skills are needed to become a journalist. As our world is evolving, and technology is mush easier to access, journalists must become skilled in many areas in order to lead a successful career.
When it came to defining public media and commercial media, I found that I came to respect the ABC and SBS much more as media outlets. Their aims in providing quality content for their audience seemed much more sincere to me, than those outlets which are commercially funded such as Ten and Seven.
The Ethics and Agenda setting lectures made me realise how powerful the media can be in influencing the way people think, and how content can have certain affects on particular audiences. Ethic's was a hard idea to wrap my head around, however, it is clear that as journalists, we have to assess everything we write, photograph or film in order to present the right message.
News values was practical in defining what the contemporary audience expect in their everyday newspaper, and Investigative Journalism took that idea one step further, explaining that sometimes journalists must look further than just the plain story to find a deeper truth.
I particularly liked the guest speakers Skye Doherty and Steve Molk, who introduced fresh perspectives of the world of media, and defined what they thought was most important in modern journalism.
Finally, the assessments. I felt all the assessments gave me a hands on introduction to journalism. The media use diary was interesting in assessing how young adults utilise technology and access current news, which further reinforced the need to familiarise myself with new technologies and media platforms. The factual storytelling exercise was fun, and even though I didn't get the marks I wanted, it was interesting analysing what stories people find interesting or unusual in Australian society today. I also enjoyed writing the annotated bibliography, which further taught me how to critically analyse contemporary news.
This blog was a learning experience I definitely won't take for granted. I fully understand the need for budding journalists to try differing media types in order to sharpen their skills and get a head-start for their career. Although sometimes unmotivated, the constant requirement to blog allowed my to re-asses what I have learned in this course, and appreciate journalism much more as a powerful and necessary part of our society.

Steve Molk

Guest speaker Steve Molk's main idea in his lecture today, was that it is possible to say what you want on social media, and get recognised, as long as you work at it. He discussed how we, as journalism students, should start learning how to use all kinds of social media, and constantly work on our writing style, in order to give ourselves a head start for our future careers.

He discussed how twitter is now a major source for finding news, and that many public figures that use these types of media are now more accessible than ever before. Even as budding journalists, we have the power to speak our minds, and speak to those of importance on order to get our own questions answered.
Steve also mentioned that 5 years ago, blogging as a social media outlet, was nowhere near as popular as it is today, which proves that it is growing in both popularity, and acceptance as a recognised media outlet.

Opportunities for careers related to blogging are becoming more common, and the ability to write a blog is becoming a more sought after skill. He mentioned blogs such as his own http://molkstvtalk.com/, which started as simply writing stuff about something he liked, and growing to a recognised blog, with many of his articles being published in well known newspapers.

The main points that I took away from Steve's lecture, were that as a journalists, we should maintain our own personal opinion, and not be afraid to voice it. In light of this however, we must also be willing to listen to other people's opinions, whether they relate to ours or not, to stay level headed, and to keep writing.

Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Much of what is broadcast in the media relies on cultural, religious and social connotations to reinforce its significance. Media relies on the public to experience specific reactions to certain instances and/or images, which relate to contemporary issues of great importance. This bibliography attempts to pinpoint instances in the media where religious and cultural instantiation is perceived in relation to certain events of social significance.

Hoover, S.M. (2011). Media and the imagination of religion in contemporary global culture. European Journal of Cultural studies, 14 , 610-625. DOI: 10.1177/1367549411419980.

This article, written by Professor Stewart M. Hoover, effectively examines how the ‘mediation’ of religion in contemporary society has greatly impacted upon the way religion is communicated and conceptualized throughout the globe.  Professor Hoover, respected as an expert on religion in the media at the University of Colorado, USA, skilfully addresses key ideas on the media’s ability to ‘instantiate’ religions (Stewart M. Hoover, n.d.). He uses pertinent examples such as the Bali bombings, 9/11 and the 2008 US presidential election to successfully pinpoint the idea of religious power within the media, and how instances are manipulated for certain effect. Hoover draws upon key intellectuals such as academic Author Benedict Anderson to support his argument. He intelligently utilizes Anderson’s “notion of ‘imagination’” to underline the idea that media’s influence on religion and spiritual thought aids in disconnecting traditional perspectives of religions from their true source (Hoover, 2011). He precisely examines religious and political use of new media platforms, and how the representation, and reception of religion is changing in our rapidly evolving society of free speech and developing broadcasting technologies. He further stresses the idea that this extension of religious and spiritual reach can be used for both good and bad means, through the control of religious “symbols, values and truth claims”(Hoover, 2011). This article is both relevant and well researched, which helps in adding to the believability of Hoover’s claims.

Gregory, David. Williams, Brian. (Writer). (2011, May 1) NBC News Special Report – Full Length – Osama Bin Laden Dead. [Television Report]. United States of America: NBC.

This NBC coverage of the death of Osama Bin Laden on 1st May 2011 was broadcast live throughout America. Throughout the broadcast, hosts David Gregory and Brian Williams constantly discuss the past efforts to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden, while awaiting the President’s address. Much of this conversation is conducted with government officials and senior journalists, who convincingly supply running details of present and past situations, and what the death of Bin Laden will mean to America. Much of this pre-announcement discussion however, is simply speculation as to how Bin Laden was killed, which amuses the public, but does not provide any solid information. On the bottom right of the screen, images of Bin Laden are displayed, which hold both religious and cultural connotations that, as expressed in Hoover’s article, are used to symbolise terror on America. These images are also followed with images of the aftermath of 9/11, which again relates to Hoover’s comments on instantiation in the media. The presenters refer to 9/11 and the American ‘humiliation’ often, in order to reinforce the significance of Bin Ladens Death. Throughout the broadcast, on the top right hand of the screen (directly on top of the images of Bin Laden), remains a picture of the white house, which presents a powerful image of American domination. This broadcast is entertaining and well researched, but unfortunately reinforces cultural and religious stereotypes.

Griffin, Jennifer. Fishel, Justin. Associated Press. (2011, May 2). Usama Bin Laden Killed in Firefight With U.S. Special Ops Team in Pakistan. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/01/usama-bin-laden-dead-say-sources/

This web article for Fox News written on the 2^nd May 2011, delivers a concise account of the death of Osama Bin Laden, as well as the reactions of the people and reliable quotes from president Obama’s announcement to the American public. Fox News—renowned to have a very patriotic view—presents the matter from a very American stand-point in order to emphasise their great achievement and strength. The large picture dominating the top of the article immediately places religious and cultural connotations connecting religion and terror to Bin Laden. These religious implications are addressed further down in the article however, as the authors make it clear (aided by Obama’s speech) that “Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims,”(Griffin, 2011). The information relating to Obama’s speech presented in the article is reliable, and the information regarding how Bin Laden died, and how his body is being treated, is attributed to ‘Government Officials’(Griffin, 2011). The word ‘terrorism’ is used, along with 9/11, (which both carry heavy cultural, emotional and religious undertones) to add importance and fear to the report.

ABC News. (2011). Osama bin Laden dead. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-02/osama-bin-laden-dead/2697808

This group of images on ABC News Australia’s website present a silent but powerful portrayal of the significance of the death of Osama Bin Laden. The 29 images present a less Americanised perspective of the effect of Bin Laden’s death, and represent both American and Afghani people celebrating. The religious, cultural, political and social symbolism in this particular media report is very powerful, and can therefore speak for itself. This symbolism however, can be both positive and negative, depending on the individual's perspective. Pictures of Bin Laden are displayed, as well as American Presidents Obama and Bush. There are also pictures of the Twin Tower attack, Pakistani soldiers, pro-Taliban activists, mourning Americans, American soldiers, and even the coffin of an Iriqi victim of an Al Qaeda attack during November 2010. It is clear that in this piece, ABC is attempting to present every side of this story as possible. The use of pictures to tell this story is very effective, as the use of a visual replay of events is instant, and has a more emotional affect on its audience. As raw evidence of the events surrounding Bin Laden’s death, it is easy to believe these pictures tell the truth, however, they are just as easily open for interepretation.  

References

ABC News. (2011). Osama bin Laden dead. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-02/osama-bin-laden-dead/2697808

Gregory, David. Williams, Brian. (Writer). (2011, May 1) NBC News Special Report – Full Length – Osama Bin Laden Dead. [Television Report]. United States of America: NBC.

Griffin, Jennifer. Fishel, Justin. Associated Press. (2011, May 2). Usama Bin Laden Killed in Firefight With U.S. Special Ops Team in Pakistan. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/01/usama-bin-laden-dead-say-sources/

Hoover, S.M. (2011). Media and the imagination of religion in contemporary global culture. European Journal of Cultural studies, 14 , 610-625. DOI: 10.1177/1367549411419980.

Stewart M. Hoover. (n.d.) http://journalism.colorado.edu/faculty/stewart-m-hoover/

Investigative Journalism

Our second last JOUR1111 lecture stated that most good journalism can be defined as investigative journalism. As all journalism involves an investigative process, the practice of 'investigative journalism' is more far-reaching than one would think.

The lecture stressed that there are five basic 'in's' of investigative journalism:
-Intelligent: the journalist must clearly know what they are talking about.
-Informed: must consider all the facts, factors, who they are, other people, "who is pulling the strings?"
-Intuitive: journalist (to some degree) much rely on their gut instinct to know what is right to do.
-Inside: to get the information you want, you have to be able to get the informant to trust you.
-Invest: no good journalist ever got anywhere without a little (or a lot of) effort.

Much of what is published as investigative journalism, goes deeper than the average news piece. It incorporates critical thinking, and an active and thorough approach to get to the facts. It aims to expose breaches in societies norms and morals, as well as "provide a voice for those without one, and to hold the powerful to account". Investigative journalism also aims to follow the standards emphasised in this quote by Sir Theodore Bray, editor-in-chief Courier-Mail (1965)": ‘Newspapers clearly have a function beyond mere reporting and recording – a function of probing behind the straight news, or interpreting and explaining and sometimes of exposing … The press lives by disclosure.’

It is clear that the future of investigative journalism is under threat from on-line news sources, which is not only unfortunate for investigative journalists, but also the educated public who want a deeper truth, not just the news.

As I have stated before, The Global Mail http://www.theglobalmail.org/ is an excellent website for investigative journalism, and a site I would be extremely sad to see become lost in a society of fast news and fleeting interest.

Agenda Setting

Week 11's lecture on Agenda Setting focussed on how media platforms present information, in order to create particular meaning. How the public reacts to certain issues in the media, relies on how it has been treated in the past, and how it is being treated now. Many organisations and media outlets have agenda's which they communicate to the public through representation in the media.
This lecture stressed four "interrelated" agenda's that are communicated to the public:

"1) PUBLIC AGENDA - the set of topics that members of the public perceive as important.
2) POLICY AGENDA - issues that decision makers think are salient. (i.e. legislators)
3) CORPORATE AGENDA - issues that big business & corporations consider important.
4) MEDIA AGENDA - issues discussed in the media."

These agenda's are made prominent by the amount of media coverage they receive, which indicates to the public their degree of importance. e.g. an issue that an organisation thinks is very important, will receive much more media coverage than one that is not as important.

Similar agenda setting can be viewed in my annotated bibliography, relating to 9/11.

The way we perceive contemporary events and situations has a direct relation to how it has been represented in the media. Much of how we see things today has been influenced by the the way the media has represented it in the past.To gain a proper view of events, we must step back and critically evaluate what we are being told.

There are two theories relating to agenda setting:
1) That it focusses on what the public should focus on in the media.
2) That it focusses on how the public should receive an issue.

It is apparent that large media organisations set the media agenda. Issues that are published first by such organisations as the NY Times, are quickly gobbled up by smaller organisations, and broadcast throughout the world. This type of agenda setting is mainly for the public's benefit, and does not abide by political agenda's.

The 24 hour news cycle changes the way the agenda of the media is set. These news outlets must be constantly updated with information that is new, interesting and important.
Agenda setting changes the way the public perceives issues of importance in the media, which can be beneficial, although the public must also be aware that what they are reading is written for a particular purpose, and for a particular effect.

News Values

In current society, it seems practical that media outlets follow what are known as 'News Values' when researching and distributing their news stories. News Values are those values that will guarantee public interest.

Monday's lecture showed that the most 'valued' news topics that gain the most interest in the media fall under two themes: "If it bleeds it leads" and "If it's local it leads". Globally, and in the Australian society, these values continue to produce front page news stories, though they differ slightly from culture to culture.

An example in today's media of a headlining story under the theme of "if it bleeds it leads", is this account of a mother being hit by a bus, which was a most viewed in the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-child-rolled-or--was-knocked-to-the-side-investigators-try-to-piece-together-tragic-bus-accident-20120503-1y0bs.html

In the lecture, it was interesting to learn that news values can also differ within different news outlets. News values don't always fall under the two headings above, and journalists and editors must make the decision whether or not their stories will attract public interest based on their own instincts. Even academics have tried to determine which values make the most 'newsworthy' stories, though their ideas all tend to differ.

I believe the most accurate analysis of news values came from Murray Masterson (1995), who believed the most important news values are:
1.Significance – IMPACT!
2. Proximity – location plus emotional, historical,
cultural  & social significance
3.Conflict – war, govt, celebs, sport, neighbours
4. Human interest –  a bunch of stickybeaks
Murray Masterson (1995)
Newsworthiness: Another Thought?
The “Big 6” news values (descending order)
5. Novelty – ‘the unusual’ ‘Gee-Whizz!’
6. Prominence – high profile, famous for being famous.
(list from JOUR1111 slide)

These values are quite broad, and encapsulate what I find most interesting within the news in Australia.

Media outlets must follow and understand these news values in order to maintain interest, and satisfy the public.

Factual Storytelling

Down From the Cold and into the Warmth

The Thomas Family In Australia 2011

Making the move from Scotland to Australia may seem a terrifying transition, but for the Thomas family, fitting in is just another part of life. Having lived in Scotland for 17 years, Sophie Thomas found settling into the Australian lifestyle easier than anticipated. Sophie, her mother Nicki, father David, and sister Hannah moved to Australia in August 2010 and settled in to the coastal city of Cairns. Their move, prompted by a change in David’s career which found him working on the Great Barrier Reef, brought the family new opportunities, and a life very different to that offered back home.

Apart from being over 14,000km from Scotland, the family found moving to Australia a smooth transition. Upon arriving in Australia, Sophie and her family were met by family friends, who were kind enough to drop everything and help them settle in. The owners of their new apartment were welcoming; everyone wanted to know where they came from and why they had moved; and their friends would invite them over for social barbeques to meet new people. The Cairns community seemed very warm, welcoming, and helpful, a far cry from the cold atmosphere back in Scotland.  

In 1993, David and Nicki Thomas made the decision that their house in John O’Groats, in the North of Scotland, was not a suitable place to bring up children. As a result, in 1994, they left the decrepit old country house, and moved to the sheltered climate of Dunnet, 30 minutes west. For five years the family lived a quiet life in Dunnet, while David skippered the John O’Groats ferry, and Nicki juggled working at the hospital and looking after Sophie and her younger sister Hannah.

Although the Thomas family were born and bred Scotsmen, moving to a new village in Scotland was always a challenge. The villagers in Scotland were generally weary of strangers, and therefore the family seemed to encounter hostility from the Dunnet locals, which made relocating difficult. This was clearly not just a small issue, as the Thomas family were set to encounter further hostility from the villagers of John O’Groats when they moved back in 1998.

As a child, Sophie understood little concerning her family’s initial exclusion from the community, however, even at the age of five, she knew something was wrong. The John O’Groats locals were clearly wary of strangers and upon starting school, the divide between the locals and Sophie’s family was obvious. She recalls standing with her sister and mother as well as her cousins at the school bus stop, and witnessing a clear physical divide between them and the local families. Although Sophie’s father David had a distinct family connection to the village of John O’Groats, for at least 10 years after their arrival, the family were never really treated as locals. Without this connection however, it was plain they wouldn’t have been treated as locals at all.

John O’Groats was unmistakably a proud community, and the locals were not willing to let strangers take their life and work away from them. The other ‘new’ families to the village, who (unlike Sophie’s family) had no ties to the community, were excluded by the locals and left to make a living on their own. Life in John O’Groats was steady and continuous. No one left, and hardly anyone moved in. On the odd occasion that a family did move in, there were no smiling faces to help them settle in and no barbeques to welcome the new neighbours. The villagers were stubborn; their roots too deep to be budged by foreigners, and therefore they made no attempt to make anyone new feel at home.  

The steady environment of John O’Groats, and Wick (where Sophie attended high school), gave life a certain routine which residents found comforting. However, this consistency became frustrating at times for Sophie and her family. For this reason, it was unsurprising that as one of the ‘new families’, the Thomas’s broke with tradition and decided to leave Scotland. In 2009, after waiting five years for VISA’s, the Thomas family were finally able to leave the monotonies of Scotland, and to the surprise of friends, they departed in 2010.

It came as a shock to Sophie, just how easy it was to settle into the relaxed environment of Australia, compared to the unfriendly atmosphere back home. As foreigners in a new country, Sophie and her family were never excluded or treated differently. The transient community of Cairns was accepting of new residents, and the locals worked hard to help these people feel at home. When starting school in Australia, the Principal went to great efforts to ensure that Sophie was fitting in fine, as well as the other foreign students starting out.

The unwillingness of the John O’Groats people to accept unfamiliar families frustrated Sophie. It seemed ridiculous that her family found it so easy to fit into Australia as foreigners, while it was so difficult to fit into a community back in Scotland, as Scotsmen. Those family’s which displayed the most hostility happened to be those who had worked their land through generations, and were too stubborn to accept that anyone new could be of any benefit to the community. This unfriendliness is still a problem in the small villages in Scotland, but little is being done to help integrate families into the communities such as John O’Groats and Dunnet.

As a permanent resident, Sophie’s life in Australia has opened her eyes to different ways of life, and opportunities in education and sport that weren’t available back in Scotland. Although her heart will always remain in Scotland, she has never regretted her family’s decision to move to Australia, and has greatly appreciated the warmth shown to her by the community of Cairns, and the people of Australia.  

Photo courtesy of Sophie Thomas