partings

So it's the end. Of an era - not my blogging career. 

It's the final week of JOUR1111 and aside from next week's quiz, this is the final straw. The final hurdle. Adios. Ciao. Au reviour. Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye. 

So it's been an enjoyable experience - unusual though. An introduction to the bazaar and intriguing online world of blogging and tweeting. Something that I will definitely aim to continue. 

To conclude, I'm going to conclude with a quotation from my journalistic inspiration - Christiane Amanpour -  who someday, I want to WILL work alongside and who's accomplishments I could only dream achieving. 

"Because if we the storytellers don't do this, then the bad people will win." 

We have an obligation to write, to report and to investigate. An obligation to create good journalism, accurate and innovative journalism, that intrigues and captivates readers - bringing to their attention news that actually contains merit and truth. 

That's a world of journalism that I wish to be apart of, and that's a world of journalism I want to create. 

Journalism is thrilling by nature - and I cannot wait to be apart of such an exciting world. 

Until we meet again...

xoxo 

Dear Today Tonight

A story framed around the fact that a woman had her first child naturally at age 50 is not news. 

Frankly, I could not care less. I mean, that's wonderful - really, it is. For her and her husband and their family. Not for the entirety of Australia. I mean, women are becoming more and more able to naturally have children later in life. We see so many examples of older woman having babies both naturally and through fertility help services, I really don't think that it's major, breaking news. 

Just look: it happened last year too. 

http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/news/inthemag/8277597/i-had-a-baby-at-50-without-ivf

In fact, below are some findings from the Australian Institute of Family Studies: 

"Australian women are having children later. The median age at which women have their first baby was 27.3 years of age in 2000. Current teenage fertility is the lowest since 1921."

This is basically just in keeping with my last post. 

50 Australian troops died in Australia on Wednesday. The whole Baden Clay case broke out on Wednesday, yet a 50 year old pregnancy is still number one on Today Tonight's headlines? 

Wow. What has Australia's journalism industry come to? 

Clearly just a fertile breeding ground (pun intended) for feel-good and human interest stories. 

I hope we can change this. 

xoxo 

60 MINUTES OF CELEBRITY GOSSIP

"But were you really in love with him?"

This was one of the interview questions on 60 minutes last night. 

I know 60 minutes really isn't the benchmark for great, innovative and real journalism - but it has its journalistic merits. 

Anyway, Karl Stefanovic is sitting there with the gorgeous bombshell Delta Goodrem and after saying that she was open to any questions at the beginning of his interview, ALL of his questions were about her love life. 

More particularly, about her supposed 'genuine love' with 10-years-her-junior Nick Jonas. 

They're actually really cute together, but I cannot believe the whole interview was framed around her love life. I mean, she's being called 'the diva dividing Australia' and besides one question regarding her sincerity on 'The Voice', there was NOTHING about her 15-year-old debut, or her recent single, her upcoming album or her plans post 'The Voice'. 

I find it tragic that I, as a first year journalism student, can brainstorm better questions than those post by a reporter with 18 years of experience with WIN/NINE. Wow. 

I hate how the journalism industry is suffering. We really need shows that aren't so fluffy and Perez-Hilton-esque and are actually newsworthy and possessive of news values. 

Well, a girl can dream, can't she?

xoxo

"I'm the kind of guy who likes sitting on his ass watching television," Steve Molks, Entertainment Jounalist. 

Yesterday we were lucky enough to have Steve Molks from 'MolksTvTalk' as a guest lecturer. 

Well. 

If there was any denying that Twitter has revitalised and irrevocably altered the journalism industry, there isn't anymore. 

Molks conducted a quick 'show of your hands poll' about where the now very small number of students in our lecture absorbed their news from; newspapers, online news sources and social media mediums. 

When asked who ascertained their news from newspapers, only two girls raised their hands. I'm proud to admit that I was one of these. 

But when Molks said 'well, what about online newspapers?' there was an overwhelming divide, with almost every person sitting in the room raising their hand. Wow. The internet's effects on the journalism industry are evident - even just by collection information from a JOUR1111 lecture. 

I am a proud newspaper buyer - The Australian. Everyday. 

It compliments my morning coffee perfectly - and I find it a great source of information. 

I am also proud to admit that I am a subscriber to the Economist. I know it's nerdy, and I do get mocked relentlessly but it provides an incredible, weekly, up-to-date world scope magazine, or 'weekly newspaper' as it's more aptly named. I've never found another magazine which is quite as filled with news and perspective. Brilliance. 

And speaking of the Economist, what an interesting publication. Firstly, it's no-byline policy. I find this fascinating. Concurrently and consequently, I also love the message that it sends. 

NOTHING - NOT EVEN THE NAME OF A REPORTER - IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE NEWS ITSELF. 

To be, this upholds and operates with intrinsic news values. This is news in its truest form - news for news, not for reporters benefit. 

Another interesting thing about The Economist is its advertising campaigns. For example: 

David Abbott, creator of the campaign about 20 years ago, envisioned 'a campaign of words rather than pictures'. It's a newspaper filled with words - so this is a rather accurate advertising ploy. 

The underlying thought of the ad campaign is that 'if you're an Economist reader, you're smarter and intellectually above the average passer-by.' 

One of the newer Economist ads: offering you an invitation to the elitist club - for only £3.00.  

Another one of the advertisements is The Economist's trademark red background, with Thunderbirds character 'Brains' in the lower righthand corner. 

"And [you're] not just smarter [than the average person], but more successful, more interesting and witty, and - whisper it - better paid. Thus if you are like Brains, you will know what it's an advert for, even without a logo," BBC, 2004. 

The Economist campaign need not even make any reference to the newspaper title 

Brand Marketing Manager, Jacqui Kean, says that one of the most crucial aspects of the campaign is the audience having to 'decode' its meaning. People talking about the ads, the ads creating controversy - and it works. Just look at me - I'm blogging about it. 

"This means the advert is saying something about the product, but also giving a reward to people who work it out, so they feel as if they are in a virtual club of Economist readers," says Kean.

Sean Brierley, Advertising Handbook author, believes the Economist's ads are "the ultimate aspirational campaign", appealing to the inner snob in all of us. 

"What is fascinating about the Economist's campaign is that it has never emphasised the quality of the editorial product, but it has always concentrated on the self-image of the readers. Intuitively, I would say that this is indicative of the fact that though many people buy it, not many read it." 

"It is a badge brand - one that executives like to be seen with, but are hardly ever seen reading. This is not to say that the Economistis not an excellent publication, but its marketing/advertising reflects the fact that the self-image and self-esteem of the readers is more important to the brand's success than the quality of the product."

Regardless, in the 20 years since Abbott floated the campaign, sales have risen from 70,000 to 500,000. Now try and argue that the campaign isn't successful. 

The campaign directly correlates to the self-image of the reader. Being seen with The Economist makes you seem smart, gives you free entry to the executive club, puts you above and beyond majority of society, it is designed to 'massage the ego of consumers'. Sales alone show that it does just that. 

You can read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3746752.stm

ANYWAY, back to Steve Molk (sorry, all The Economist advertisements got me really excited...).

Twitter and online insta-share mediums have revitalised and changed the journalism industry. 

"Twitter can spread news easily, and that's why so many journalists love it," Molks said, before following on with real life examples. 

Molks told us of cricketer Michael Clarke and his 'secret fairytale wedding' to Kyly Boldy. 

Clarke releases five photos of his wedding on twitter: no press conference, no interviews and no exclusive. Simply the tree photos below and a status stating:

"Happiest guy in the world. Married @KylyBoldy yesterday in front of our gorgeous families. Couldn't be happier!" 

But it got the information out there - in fact it went viral, and all from his own Twitter update. 

I think Kyly looks beautiful. She had input in the the design of her dress, which was done along side her 'good friend' Alex Perry. Just, wow. 

Kyly Boldy: wedding day. 

In fact, the irony of this was that when Molks stated 'Michael Clarke married his girlfriend' the girl in front of me whispers to her friend "what? when!?" Clearly Twitter doesn't reach as large an audience as conventional mediums, but it does reach enough to encourage other online articles to surface. 

Read here: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/lara-bingle-reacts-to-ex-michael-clarkes-secret-wedding-to-kyly-boldy/story-e6frewz0-1226358860569

One of the major benefits of Twitter for journalists, according to Molks, is that right now we can start earning the trust of our sources. 

We have the option for direct online contact with politicians, entertainment industry and sporting industry professionals. All with the simple click of a 'follow' button. 

MolksTVTalk "I don't fall into the traditional entertainment reporter" stereotype

annotated bibliography

JOUR1111 Annotated Bibliography

“And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.“ Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent and ABC News’ Foreign Affairs Anchor.

This annotated bibliography will explore current news stories relating to coffee and its ability to prolong death through three news platforms: The Australian newspaper, YahooShine and The Globe And Mail. Through use of an online article, a blog and a video report, three different journalism mediums will be analysed, presenting different perspectives of the new research, building global rapport with different audiences whilst maintaining interest and credibility. 

Flew, T., (2011). Is journalism best located in the creative arts or as a communication discipline? Australian Journalism Review, 31 (1), pp. 31-35. Retrieved from: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/41988/1/AJR_July_2011_ERA_flew.pdf

Journal author Terry Flew is a Professor of Media and Communication at Queensland University of Technology. With almost two decades of experience in the field of journalism and media, Flew is overly qualified in areas of journalism disciple, particularly involving the contentious mutual exclusivity existing between the fields of communication and creative arts. Flew monopolises on personal experience examples to validate proficiency and ascertain reader appeal. The article examines the implications of journalism research and its place in the creative arts sphere, when history shows there is a collectively reinforcing relationship between artistic and communication disciplines. Flew discuses that journalism in Australia is more a facet of the creative and performing arts discipline than a communication, or “new humanities”, one (Flew, T., 2011). However, journalism also propositions the field of communication with a place in the “real world”, exploiting the media as a “useful vehicle for modernity’s dissemination”.  Even if assumptions fuel an association between journalism and communication, this only envisages a particular kind of modernity, which proliferates regardless (Zelizer, B., 2011). In a society where journalism is filled with varying debates around the “fact-seeking” and “truth-telling” roles of the professional journalists, journalism research operates to inculcate ethical and professional values. Flew concludes that journalism is required, by nature, to cater to both disciplines.  Use of citations to other ‘big name’ research journalists and the Australian Research Commission adds credibility to the author’s point of view and establishes the trustworthy nature of the article. 

NewsCore. (2012, May 18). Coffee Drinking Linked to Longer Life. The Australian Newspaper. Retrieved from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/coffee-drinking-linked-to-longer-life/story-fn3dxity-1226359863824

The author of The Australian’s newspaper article entitled ‘Coffee Drinking Linked to Longer Life’ relies on data from the study conducted by and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that people who drink 6 or more cups of coffee a day can lower their chance of death by up to 15%. Reliance on research conducted by National Cancer Institute researcher, Neal Freedman gives the story needed factual basis and credibility. The story’s embedded links to Wall Street Journal articles also provides its own cross-referencing, further establishing its dependability and the accuracy of its information. However, the NewsCore byline does raise some suspicion about potential bias and the company does own both newspapers referenced in the story. One of the other less-biased sources may offer a more well rounded perspective, however why a story on this topic would have a hidden agenda is rather questionable. This fact-based story leaves little room for author freedom and more presents a collection of facts and arguments that were initially created by the authors of the original study. The information presented in this piece is almost identical to that presented in the other media stories below, allowing for the conclusion that this now prominent news story was product of a press release.

Morris, C. (2012, May 17). Coffee Linked to Longer Life, According to Large U.S. Study, YahooShine. Retrieved From: http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-on/coffee-linked-longer-life-according-large-u-study-175111048.html

Canadian lifestyle Blogger Carolyn Morris also relies on the New England Journal of Medicine Research’s study for her article entitled ‘Coffee Linked to Longer Life, According to Large U.S. Study’. The author monopolises on facts from the case study, Statistics Canada and dietician Anar Allidina, giving the entry a strong truthful base and presenting as a reliable informative source. Morris uses Canadian daily coffee drinking statistics to appeal to a local audience and gain reader rapport, framing the article from a local viewpoint. The local twist does not detach itself from a global audience, but simply offers a Canadian perspective, still pertinent to the rest of the world. After quoting scientific analysis from both Neil Freedman (the author of the study) and dietician Anar Allidina, Morris discusses how coffee is the second highest consumed beverage in Canada, second only to water, giving the story applicability and relevance. Morris concludes that coffee may not only be good for us in the short term, but in the long term too – appealing to her audience probably drinking coffee as they read. Blogging is one of the newest forms of journalism, coining the title ‘J Bloggers’ from Australian Media Academic Nicola Goc. This medium, however, is considered journalism if the same code of ethics, entertainment values and privacy requirements are met as for an article for The Australian or a report for The Daily Globe and Mail (Gant, S, 2007). Whilst a blog is generally not one of the most reliable information sources, this is a very reputable source. Written by someone experienced in the field, Morris presents the facts presented in the original case study, similarly to The Australian article and The Daily Globe and Mail video report.

Associated Press. (2012, May 16). Coffee May be Key to Living Longer. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/video/video-drinking-coffee-may-extend-your-life/article2434917/

The Globe and Mail video report entitled ‘Coffee May be Key to Living Longer’ actualizes the realism and applicability of the story.  Filming in a small, local coffee shop is both a familiar and comforting setting for the audience and contextualises the story in terms of everyday routine. The new research report about the positive effects of coffee is not the report’s basis but use of medical opinion propositions the story as a reliable source. However, the doctor interviewed for this report is not named or credited raising suspicion as to the story’s reliability. The coffee shop setting of this video report is filled with work-bound men and women, collecting their coffee orders and continuing on their way. This is likely to be a very recognisable and common regime for majority of the report’s audience, which ascertains audience appeal and triggers interest due to applicability. Whilst no sole reporter is credited, the ‘Associated Press’ byline ensures that the original source is dependable. Lack of reporter and doctor acknowledgement however, makes The Australian article and even Morris’ blog entry seem like more reliable sources. Alternatively, the fact that this video report is on a well-known newspaper website does mean it’s likely to be a credible resource.

Journalism is changing in nature. Traditional forms of newspaper articles and television reports are now accompanied by a myriad of online resources and blogs. The Australian, Yahoo Shine and The Globe and Mail have all presented similar but unique recounts of the coffee research report, which all uphold the traditional news values vital to good journalism. These sources all maintain credibility and reliability, engage and stimulate their respective audience and present a point of view, whilst some do each of these better than another. These three media stories position journalism in both a creative art and communication discipline, showing no mutual exclusivity exists between the two realms, exactly as Flew argued in his journal article.  

investigative journalism

What is investigative journalism? 


"What somebody, somewhere wants to suppress; all the rest is just advertising" 
Lord Northcliffe, Owner of The Times and The Daily Mail. 


The In's and outs of investigative journalism!
Investigative 
Intelligent 
Informed 
Intuitive
Inside (they're going to have to trust you)
Invest (a lot of yourself) 


I love the in's of investigative journalism. It's so poetic, yet so accurate! 


Dr Redman mentioned in the lecture, that Brisbane was known as a 'one paper town'. Ironically, we also have no upper house - is it really that we don't like cross checking everything? Well, especially not where the Courier Mail is concerned. Unlike Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane only has the Courier Mail, and whilst I am purely an Australian/Financial Review subscriber, it would be nice to have another Brisbane paper that was a source or real, serious journalism. Ah, well, a girl can dream. 

Speaking of the parliament, I'm going to use this as an excuse to talk about Youth Parliament a little more. I was a participant in both 2010 and 2011, and am on the executive this year. 

I seriously love youth parliament - it's nerdy, but I've met the most brilliant people. 

The JOUR1111 4pm lecture was then propositioned with the question "is Wikileaks journalism?" We came to the consensus that no, it is merely a source of information, not a collection of writings with any news values whatsoever. 


In the legendary words of Sarah Palin, we should "hunt down Assange like Osama." I really do love Sarah - she provides me with endless amusement. 


My personal favourite is during an interview with Katie Couric when Palin fails to name even one magazine or newspaper that she's read, even after being asked 3 times. Watch and giggle below. 

Hilarious. 


Anyway, to conclude the lecture, and this entry, I'll leave you with an old journalism saying.




"If your mother says she loves you, check it out." Assume nothing and always check your facts - the trick to writing a good article, and being successful in the field at all. 

a little big of AGENDA SETTING

"Agenda Setting is a theory, but like all good, solid theories is all a bit obvious really!"

Redman, 2012. Thankyou Dr Redman - your definition was very helpful!

There are 4 main agendas:

1) PUBLIC AGENDA - the set of topis 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.

However, the 4 main agendas are interrelated, as shown in the picture below!

Anyway, information regurgitation is absolutely no fun. 

What is fun, however, is examples!

My favourite that was discussed in the lecture was the "I'm A Mormon" campaign that's being run at the moment, aiming to convince the USA that being a Mormon is actually a good thing and that Mitt Romney is a VERY capable leader...

Read about it here: NEW YORK TIMES - Mormon Ad Campaign

The advertisement is impossible to find online! However, here's one example of an 'I'm A Mormon' advertisement: http://mormon.org/brandon/

news values, again and again and again.

"News is what a chap who doesn't care much about anything wants to read. And it's only news until he's read it. After that it's dead." 
Evelyn Waugh, English Author.


I love the immediacy of news. I have to say, as much as I do not like the way out society is moving 'online', the internet is the perfect release platform for news. Just like the story, the internet is immediate. It really is a perfect match.


But what about the stories themselves? Are they compliant with this 'news values' umbrella? And what exactly are these news values that, as journalism students, seem to be hammered into us? 


News Values:
1. Impact
2. Audience Identification
3. Pragmatics - ethics, facticity, practice
4. Source Influence


The thing that society hears frequently and probably knows the most about is: if it bleeds, it leads!


However, it also stands that "if it's local, it leads!"


The Sunday Mail, however, isn't a fan of blood, sweat and tears and on Sunday, I was very disappointed. The front page story on the paper this past weekend was '51-year-old woman celebrated first mothers day'. 


You can read a related story here: 
Say Hi to Australia's Oldest First-Time Mum


That's not frontage news of a paper - that's the cover of WHO or New Idea, or some other celebrity news tabloid. Surely, there was something more terrifying or newsworthy happening in Australia - let alone the world. Good one Courier Mail - that really improves your credibility. 


Anyway, an analogy that was used in the lecture was that 'editors are "human sieves of the torrent of news' (Evans 2000). I find that statement beautiful - that the editor's job is to place stories through 'sieves', eradicating the unnecessary and being left with a clean, consistent and perfect product. 


Factors of 'newsworthiness' include negativity, proximity, recency, currency, continuity and uniqueness - just to name a few. 


Clearly the Courier Mail doesn't consider these - not for its front page stories anyway. I really wish it had more credibility as a newspaper, it's a much more convenient size than the Australian. 


However, unless I want my morning coffee accompanied a paper akin to Cosmo magazine, I really have no option. 

"part of out heart lost in a pen stroke"

^ this was the title of Frances Whiting's column in the Courier Mail about two weeks ago now. 

I love her. I find her witty and just down-right amusing. 

Frances Whiting - the original, and the best. 

Anyway, her article (that I tore out, hence cannot remember the Sunday it was published) was written around the cancellation of the Premier's Literary Awards. 

Frances, completely unbiased as a previous host of the event, is very upset that they have been cancelled. To be honest, as am I. $230,000, really? Oh that'll save the state budget.

Personal opinions aside, I love how she characterises writers.  

"Oh I know, I know, there will be many of you who think writers are just a bunch of hopeless procrastinates, sitting around in cafes sipping lattes and whining about how hard writing is, how no one understands the process and how difficult can it be to get a decent cup of coffee in this town."

This honestly just sounds like me. Sitting in coffee shops is my life - although I believe I do know where the good Brisbane coffee is. 

Brew - Down some lane, Brisbane City. 

Flamingo - Winn Lane, Fortitude Valley.

Campos - James Street, New Farm. 

Mugged - Oxford Street, Bulimba.

Our Haus - Riding Road, Hawthorne. 

Puk - Main Street, Kangaroo Point. 

Merlo - James Street, New Farm. 

...I could go on for hours. But anyway. Frances is most upset about the awards being cancelled for one particular reason:

"It's because writing matters. 

It does.

For anyone who has ever soothed a child with words from a storybook, or laid beneath a tree and opened up the first pages of Escape, or sat on a train or a plane or a bus and taken an altogether different journey, or switched on their bedside lamp and reached for the words that will take away the day, writing matters."

   

I find that description beautiful. People can say that writing doesn't matter, but where would we be without it? Even completely disregarding journalism, nothing beats the feeling of curling up with a new book and a cup of tea. Well, coffee maybe, but that's it. 

So when you get your U Magazine with this Sunday's Courier Mail, read Frances. That's what I'll be doing. 

how a journalism student spends her friday night

Today's lecture was prefaced with: 

"Warning. 

Some of the following material may offend some viewers." 

Intrigue? Yes. 

The answer? Ethics. 

How far is too far to go when advertising a product? It's interesting to see which advertisements revived complaints compared to those that don't. 

This advertisement received none. But I think quite rightly so. To be honest, I find this ad just simply a clever play on a well known saying, nothing super offensive. 

 This advertisement received none either (thank goodness!). I remember when this ad was by the Brisbane airport and I used to laugh relentlessly whenever we drove by. I don't find anything offensive about this ad either - it's just an incredibly clever ploy used by Air Asia. How witty. 

This 'Voodoo' advertisement apparently received many complaints, apparently due to its 'gender stereotyping'. I actually quite like the ad - it's saying 'if you wear these tights, you will become strong and empowered and have the ability to walk all over men.' The rest of the public obviously didn't interpret it that way.

This advertisement is just odd. It doesn't even showcase the supposed 'shoes' that it's advertising. Saying that however, it did attract a lot of media attention. Subtle and reasonably cheap campaign by Windsor Smith? Very well played. This one was the recipient of MANY complaints, so many that it earned itself a prime position as a story on A Current Affair. This campaign received over $43 MILLION in FREE advertising, and Windsor Smith still refused to take down the ad. Maybe not the most accepted advertising campaign, but it was undeniably a successful one! 

The iconic 'Where the Bloody Hell Are You' video advertisement was banned in the United Kingdom. I don't find it horribly offensive/necessary/enlightening. I'm so half hearted about this it's not even funny. I think banning the ad all together may have been going a little far.. 

This Australia Day Ad, however, I find disgusting. It generalises Australian population, doesn't at all concede with Australian's 'multicultural and diverse' stigma. It also makes Australian's seem uneducated and condescending. Fortunately, many people seemed to agree with me, and this campaign received numerous complaints. I wouldn't normally have anything against advertising campaigns, I try to find the humour in everything. I found nothing funny about this, though. I just thought it was a very poor and counteractive advertisement. 

The MEAA CODE is the journalism code of ethics. It maintains principles of honesty, fairness, integrity and respect for the rights of others. Pretty standard, human-righty-esque principles in my opinion.   

I do think, in some instances, these principles may need to bend a little. Saying that, though, they should never be completely breached. That's not with journalism, however, that's just with life. 

Ethics should be taken seriously but people should also learn to appreciate the humour in every day life. And if you're someone in the public eye, you should expect to read about yourself in public media. 

If people learn to see a little joy in every situation they're faced with, their lives soon become a much happier forum. 

Take it from me, I'm not only happy from the obscene amounts of caffeine I consume. 

It's ranging outside, it's midnight and I worked a ten hour shift today. 

I'm in a jumper, happy that winter's finally here(ish) and going to make a hot chocolate (ho-cho!) before crawling into bed. Happy days!

goodnight and sweetdreams, 

xoxo