Annotated Bibliography

Introduction into Journalism and Communication

Semester 2, 2011

Annotated Bibliography

Dunlevy, G., Marszalek, J., Ag, K. (Oct 13, 2011) LNP leaders at odds over dirt file fallout. National Nine News Online.

(Web Address: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8359424/treasurer-never-met-dirt-digger-mciver)

This article addresses the recent issues that have occurred in the LNP and ALP in regards to the “Dirt File’ dossier that was revealed earlier in October this year; it explains the confusion and uncertainty of the LNP regarding the necessary disciplinary actions after the leaking of a file containing embarrassing and personal information about Labor MP’s. The author begins the article by introducing the names of well-known LNP members as primary sources and recapping their own, and other interviews with the likes of LNPs leader Jeff Seeney and parliamentary member Campbell Newman. The tone throughout the article suggests both the confusion and the severity of the issue and that ‘Mr Seeney wants the person responsible for engaging dirt file author Robert Hough to quit the party, or be sacked.’ Quotes from Mr Seeney and LNP treasurer Barry O'Sullivan that no well-known person made contact with the creater of the document, giving the reader the opportunity to make judgements of the story themselves by providing evidence that there is much confusion surrounding this document and that statements made by people from both the LNP and ALP are a result of previous heated discussions and this particular document was not a planned route of attack. The article does not provide bias towards either party and makes allowances for the reader to form own opinions based on primary, valued sources.

Van Vondren, J (Oct 12, 2011). Qld Opposition caught out over dirt scandal. ABC News(TV)

Web Address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3rQ0OMXkWQ)

This article on ABC news covers Campbell Newman’s reactions to the issues regarding the LNP being caught commissioning sleaze files on certain government members. The article is introduced by the news anchor in a tone of disappointment and disapproval, using derogatory words such as ‘sleaze’ to portray the negativity of the article and making the audience have a adverse opinion on the story before all the facts are presented. The scene then cuts to the reporter, Van Vondren, at parliament house in Canberra. She uses quotes from MP’s such, as Campbell Newman, to give credibility to the story, while making negative remarks by insinuating, with voice and visuals, that there are lies and secrets behind the scenes. The story then cuts to an interview with Campbell Newman himself, giving primary evidence to allegations and his own disappointment at his party’s behaviour; while most previously believed that he was involved. It then flashes back to a previous interview with Newman about the ALP’s actions in relation to find information about his family and using it in personal attacks; this gives Newman less ground to say he was not involved as the Van Vondren is insinuating that it was retaliation to what the ALP was doing. Throughout the article, the tone and vision of disapproval and confusion from the reporter is continued as all the primary evidence used from interviews does not allow the audience draw a full, justifiable conclusion.

Guest, A. (Oct 12, 2011). LNP caught with 'personal dirt files' ABC News Radio.

            This radio story is about the gathering and release of information about the personal and sex lives of Labor members of parliament. The story is introduced by the main news reader in a disapproving tone with the use of sarcasm, referring to the information as contentious party research. References to previous LNP and ALP disputes gives the listener background information to establish the value of the story and begins the formation of where their opinions lie. The newsreader then gives the mic to reporter, Annie Guest, who continues the disapproving tone; though no primary or secondary sources have provided evidence yet in the story. The use of backlogged, secondary recordings from another source is then used to quote Campbell Newman saying he wants nothing to do with the sleaziness. Quotes from previous Campbell Newman recordings are used in varying contexts to provide the listener with information to form their own opinions of the situation. Later in the story, however, a new recording of Newman is offered as stand up evidence that his party, and the stories surrounding it are accurate, though he has nothing to do with it. Without the use of images, Guest is able to paint a picture of confusion, frustration, betrayal and disapproval to the audience by the use of her language and her tone of voice.

Zelizer, B. (2011) Journalism in the Service of Communication.  Journal of Communication: 61 (1-21)

            This article discusses the role of journalism in the disciplinary growth of the study of communication. The author looks at how journalism started and how it has progressed differently in geographical regions, ultimately affecting that regions knowledge of communication. The article is very much centred around how the importance of journalistic knowledge has diminished as communicative studies has progressed, and how scholars do not contribute the origins to anything relating to journalism because the meaning of the word has become so blurred. Zelizer validates her research article by using primary and secondary sources, such as Dennis & Wartella and Robinson, 1988, 1996, who have conducted research into the origins of communication and how re-evaluations of its historiography have linked it to journalism. By using relevant information from previous theories and studies, the author is able to authenticate the grounds to her research and establish importance of factual knowledge to the audience. Zelizer talks of the multiple disciplines of communication being highly important to its origins and that development of journalism has played several parts in different timeframes to each discipline. Using rhetorical questions and quotes from her previous writings, Zelizer maintains a dignitary and factual writing style throughout her article, making it academic though still interesting to the reader. The use of varying language styles, both formally academic and simplistic, the article appeals and is readable by changeable audiences and provides insight into relevant information for our time.

Reference list:

Dunlevy, G., Marszalek, J., Ag, K. (Oct 13, 2011) LNP leaders at odds over dirt file fallout. National Nine News Online. (Web Address: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8359424/treasurer-never-met-dirt-digger-mciver)

Van Vondren, J (Oct 12, 2011). Qld Opposition caught out over dirt scandal. ABC News(TV) Web Address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3rQ0OMXkWQ)

             Guest, A. (Oct 12, 2011). LNP caught with 'personal dirt files' ABC News Radio.

              Zelizer, B. (2011) Journalism in the Service of Communication.  Journal of Communication: 61 (1-21)

       This article discusses the role of journalism in the disciplinary growth of the study of 

Lecture 11

This lecture was on investigative journalism, we watched a video first up which was soooooo funny. We were presented with 2 quotes which summursesd  investigative journalism, how isnt all journalism about asking question? I do believe however investigation journalism is a little be more in depth probing deeper into people minds to find the facts and the truth.

Why we search for facts, isnt people truth? NO!! they are not because all of people are corrupt because of sex, money and power. The reasons why there are people who are investigative journalist is because they have to right to tell the facts and what is wrong, they have the right to prob as they are the voice of the voicless and the light in the darkness of this corrupt world. We can see this in such programs as 4 Corners on the ABC.

However I believe that there is allot more investigative journalist today becuase of the new aged media which is helping reaching out to the people. The internet has allowed people to show the world important this that we should know.

However, in doing investigative journalism, you have to trust not one and always check the facts, these are the what a journalist should use when investigating
interviews, - giving people their chance to say what they want and give a balanced argument.
observations,- investigation of technical issues. screunity of government and business practices.
documents, - law suits , legal doc through the Freedom of infomation
These are the main three, use the infomation to line up the facts from other sources. However there are more techniques briefings, leaks, trespass and theft.

However there are threats of IJ, however it is the internet because of money, since it is easy to use there are less need for people therefore less journalist.

Investigative Journalism, is about finding facts, exposing the truth and letting the little man get the facts right. IR  is the best thing to help people get both sides of the  story.


 

Week 10 - News values

News values are very important, because if we didn't have people organizing for us what are the most valuable pieces of news there would be thousands of news headlines bombarding us.
This weeks lecture was on the news values, which is how does news become in the NEWS!

There are no doubt many types of ways people can get the daily fix of the NEWS!! from newspapers to it on our iPads, however what makes events news worthy is 2 main ideas, the impact of the news which in Arthur MacEwen words "news is anything makes a reader say "gee whiz"" which is true and the second one is Audience identification which is anything that a reader can relate to or anything of interest. However as stated in the top of the paragraph, that people get their news from different medias and thus provides the value of news is very different, because in some counties a new media might be politically inclined one way therefore only reporting of certain type of news, though in Australia according to our fine lecture Dr Bruce Redman, in his experiences Austrlaian journalist haven't been pressured into leaning towards a certain view, meaning that the journalist in Australia dont have to conform to a particular way in value of news and can report on anything they wish (there are limitation though)

However it doesn't stop there, culture also effects news values, as news in Australia such as bush fires might not effect anyone in the Middle East because there is no relation.

In 1965 Galtuge and Ruge two journalist created a list of 12. these 12 were different topics which the news at the times was based on...however this is I'm presenting is the same but updated for today's world.
1: Power nations/elite (people who are in control and the powerful)
2: Celebrity (famous people)
3 Entertainment (sport/fashion ect ect)
4: Surprise
5:Bad news
6: Good news
7: Magnitude
8: Relevance
9: Follow up
10: News agenda
11: Uniqueness
12: Exclusivity
 it is these 12 factors that create news and according to the adding hypotheses, the more factors an event satisfied the higher the probability that it becomes news. Therefore the more the factors the news has more chance it becoming headlining news ie a celebrity have a baby, covers celebrity, good news and surprise, which is 3 factors therefore it has a higher chance of becoming news.

News values have been around since the first news media, and will continue to be around. However it is the job of journalist to syphen through all the events to find the headlining news, and with the list of 12 they'll be able to find the headlining news pretty easily.

Week 9 - Agenda Setting

Agenda Setting is very important in understand how the news world works. As Dr. Redman puts it "Agenda setting is a theory but like all good solid theories is all a bit obvious really"  

Agenda setting is how individuals conception of reality is socially constructed through a process of communication. This means that a person perception of the world is constructed through the media they listen, watch or read.

Like the Journalism Blog all of these topic are interrelated and that they are not constrained just to journalism. There are four different agenda groups

§  Public agenda - what the public thinks is important. 

§  Policy agenda – what politician think are important

§  Cooperate agenda – what big corporations think are important
§Media agenda – issued discuss in the media

You ask where is agenda setting came from, to be honest probably from the first mass print, however the first theory in agenda setting came from the 1920's from Harold Lasswell which said "the mass media "injects" direct influences into the audience. Also known as the "magic bullet"." 

At the time the largest media was the newspaper and films, therefore that is how allot of peoples perception of events was made. However the precetion of people could be used for "evil" which Adolf Hilter used, this was called propaganda, he used film to show even one in the world on the 3rd Reich was the best thing ever to happen and people should be worried. For the short answer, Hitler's plan world people saw into this race and were scared especially when they knew they were that "ayran" race. However lets go depper into the agenda setting family:

In the agenda family there are seven members which are:

o   Media gate keeping

§  How individuals control the flow of message through a communication channel – who controls the news, however this has become less of an issue with the internet as freedom to write is encouraged. 

§  Fox vs MsnBc are a gate keppers, on is very left winged and the other right winged. Therefore they show different news topic and if they show the same they have different opinions.

o   Media advocacy

§  The purposive promotion of a message through the media,

§  i.e health issues, or even political.

o   Agenda cutting

§  Most the truth or reality that is going on in the world isn’t represented

§  Issues like AIDS take a backseat to Justin Bieber’s new haircut.

o   Agenda surfing

§  Bandwagon effects: how existing public opinion influences other towards that opinion.

o   The diffusion of news

§  The process through which an important event is communicated to the public

§  How, where, when the news is released.

o   Portrayal of an issue

§  The way an issue is portrayed will often influence how it is perceived by the public. Different media outlets with different portrayals can cause the public to formulate their own perception.

o   Media dependence

§  The more dependent a person is on the media for information, the more susceptible that person is to media agenda setting

§  Facebook and twitter can cause this. 

These seven member show how the agenda setting is created how how news media used their way in creating agenda. However like most theories there are strength and weakness to it. The strengths are that 

•It has predictive power because it predicts that if people are exposed to the same media, they will feel the same - say that people will view the world a certain way if they only have a selected number of media outlets. 

issues are important. 

• If people aren’t exposed to the same media, they won’t feel the same issues are important, that if they have a wide range of media exposure the people can look at the world and organised which things are more important than others such as celebrity news vs the famine in Africa. 

•It has organizing power because it helps organise existing knowledge of media effects.

However it also has weaknesses 

• For people who have made up their minds, the effect is weakened.- this implys if some has made their mind up on a topic theyll stick to their 'guns' and not change and also:

•NEW MEDIA is a whole new ballgame in terms of Agenda setting - as the media grows and the the Earth gets olders, new problems arise and that means new agenda setting keeps on changing. Which brings us finally on to:

24/7. 

The news today is basically 24/7, as suppose to pervious generation where there was only the 6pm news, news and the media are at our finger tips. However to think we can chose what we want to watch and what type of agenda we cannot, as the media is will chose what is important, such as when a election campaing starts, the media will chose only to look at a couple of main evnts such as a Carbon Tax or Refugess and forget the rest of the world. Showing that people cannot only have one or two news sources if the want the whole picture, they need to look around and see that not all the news outlets play nice, as they pick wants on the agenda tonight.

Assignment 2 - Story

December 2008, was bloody hot to be blunt, it was two weeks into the pre-season, of the 2009 rugby season for the 1^st XV rugby squad, into the gym walked a small Torres Strait Islander, and next to him a big 120kg prop, from Cairns, his name Frank Lowah. It was through rugby than I met Frank Lowah and created a great friendship, I have chosen to do my story on this incredible person, who has come from a large family, with a typically background of not doing much, to make something of himself and give him a future.

Cairns is one of the most dense population of Australia where Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders live and congregate for native activities, however for one of these locals, he has made his way into the heart land of Australia and now is working for the Australian government. Frank Lowah is a 19 year old, born on the Island of Moa, and raised in Cairns. I had the pleasure of being one of Frank friends through is later education life, and I thought it is appropriate to do this story on him, especially being able to overcome many stereotypes and hardships, to be where he is today.

Mr Lowah’s, journey stated at Cairns West State School which eventually moved into Trinity Bay State High School, which are statically 85% Indigenous populated schools. This is where he was given his first and major hurdle of his life, was, which was the stereotypical view on how indigenous people view education, as many Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals, had fallen into a trap, which is eventually dropping out after high school and going to work back on the Islands as a Cray Fisherman and/ or start a family early. However Mr Lowah had commented responded to this “This I think was not a racist thought, it was just an observation of a cycle of behaviour which Indigenous Australia living in Cairns has fallen into and because the children didn’t know any better they accepted this as the normal.” However Frank had an ace, he was being from an educated family, they pushed him to excel at school and do something meaningful with his life and become some body and not the stereotypically person and break out of this cycle. However things did get worse personally for Frank, his family life was crumbling which made it hard for Frank, since he was the oldest he wanted to try and protect his brothers and sisters, while his parents fought however eventually his parents separated from each other, Mr Lowah believes that this was for the best. However I digress, racism is no doubt one of the hardest things any person has to do deal with, however historically Australian Aboriginals have had the hardest times. Frank stated when he was going from the Queensland Public school system, “The often degrading surprise from non-Indigenous teachers and peers how they reacted to my intelligence, as if it was a solar eclipse and the hurtful comments to them which were made by my fellow Indigenous students who saw my drive to better myself as a comment to them as their lifestyle was obsolete.” However the racism Frank experienced was more judgemental than suppressive, as Frank had a dream to go on a break this cycle and go on to a world class University, to make something of him. Frank continues to work hard and this eventually paid off, he was offered a scholarship to attend St. Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly. (St Peters Lutheran College is one of Queensland highest ranked academic schools). “This was a dream come true” said Frank, his scholarship was two things his intellect and also his sporting ability in Rugby Union. This scholarship was offered to Frank, by the AIEF (Australia Indigenous Education Foundation).

In early 2009, Frank packed up his bags and travelled 1700km to Indoorpilly. Being from a smaller city and community the larger and denser city of Brisbane was overwhelming at first, and also dealing with home sickness was no easy personal task to over come. However as Frank explained “It was easier to overcome my home sickness, because of the new environment I was in, there were allot of other Indigenous people around me in boarding, therefore it was easier for me to make new friends and have a safety net especially when I felt home sick, I’d have people feeling the same.” Frank over came these little speed bumps in his journey and realised that where he was now nurtured his intellectual gift. Through his hard work of a B+ average, he was in prime position to step into a new role and do what he set out to do and make something of him.

2009 ended, and 2010 started with a bang this year Frank was senior at St Peters, and Frank continued where he left off, however this year would be different, Frank wanted to show what he was and following his dream he became a role model for the other boarders and becoming Head Boarder boy, the top dog in the boarding house. With this additional responsibility Frank was able to keep his B+ average, and with this B+ average Frank, didn’t realise it et but it would get him to where he was today.

As part of the AIEF program Frank and many other Indigenous people were a part of, Frank was different he was placed because of his exceptional grades into a program under the Government program title Learn! Earn! Legend! Which encouraged Indigenous youths to stay in school and pursue a career in the Australia Public Service through the Various Government based Departments. During this time he was based in the the Federal Member for the electorate of Leichhardt (Far North Queensland) Jim Turnour’s office. While Frank was in his office, he demonstrated his willingness to learn, participate whilst also demonstrating his office capabilities and his ability to go that bit further. Months, after the  Learn! Earn! Legend! Program finished, Frank receives a promising and a life changing phone call, the, AIEF (Australian Indigenous Education Foundation), and they informed him that was the new Admin Assistant/ Assistant Adviser position for the Office of Senator., Mark Arbib. Frank applied for the position with an outside chance while in the Learn! Earn Legend! Program. That is where we would friend Mr Frank Lowah today.

Frank Lowah, some would say came from a disadvantage in life, being from Cairns and aboriginal, which stereo typically perceive as people who live of wealth fare, he set out to break this stereotype, and he did. I was lucky enough to become a friend of Frank and see him try and succeed, however I also did see him fail at things however it didn’t stop him from trying. I saw Frank cut from the 1^st XV rugby team twice and again and again Frank made his way back, while most people just hung up the boots, Frank wanted that 1st XV jersey and made his way back into the team.  Frank Loawh is an incredible person, striving to become something and eventually help his other indigenous “brothers” also break out of this cycle.

I asked Frank in this interview, now that you are working in politics, do you think you’ll want to go to university? He replied “I would like to go back and complete both an international relations and a law degree, however I am at this point in time I'm willing to learn anything and everything that can help to improve my current job. AS I want to go work either in Australia and help other Indigenous children break out of that vicious cycle and fight stereotypes, or go  to work overseas at an embassy and continue strengthen Australia relations with our neighbours.”

Frank Lowah, with is his boss Mark Arbib. Frank Lowah, a fighter, a brother a mate. 

Week 8 Public Media

This I promise you my reader not to digress as much as last week.

This week lecture was the other side of the coin, which we call media. It was the public arena, as soon as we started the power point I was confronted with this quote "The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens’ – Nigel Milan (former Managing Director of SBS), as I sat there are stared into my computer I thought, how true this is, today's commercial media is about ratings and money, while the public sector is trying to inform us of what really is important.

In Australia there is only one main out source of public media, which is the ABC, the ABC in my opinion is probably the best media outlet for news, I have come to believe this is because the news programs which they present do not have the "viewer grabbing pieces" which I do not care for, while ABC do have allot more international news and more concerning news which I am interested in. Also some of their other programs inform me over what else is happening in a satirical format, such as THE Chasers War on Everything.
However it not just my opinion that ABC is better, but 41% of Aussies get their news source from the ABC every year.

However public media does more than just informs it builds nations, where as commercial media is a cauldron on international programs search for the quick $$, public media bring us allot of home grown Aussie TV as well as tries to build National heritage Identikit and conversations. However this is probably contributed to the influx of the government.

·      

Finally the best thing about public media, is the politically non-bias which is expected, because it allows the viewer to get both sides of the story. 

TO recap, public media is about inform, Independence and home grown media, with a style of straight shooting, a little bit boring and non bias, while commercial is all about the MONEY and ratings, however the the style is allot more fun however some stations are view politically bias, ie FOX

Lecture 4 - Listening to the News

This lecture on done on lectopia, not in a classroom, listening to an interview on the ABC radio, my job was to listen and pick on anything interesting that I hear; this is what I heard.

• ·         Radio is very different from tv, as the work different and how you need to present your self.
• ·         Radio is allot more interment, its “inside your head” as you arnt paying attention to it as much as your are usually multitasking, when listening ie driving or making a meal. 
• ·  During interviews they are usually very relax the guest, as they are trying to learn and prob, with out head banging. However I feel that tv is the same, however the guest are under pressure as there are heaps of people watching them however, that why they resersh, while radio, there is no obligations to answer a question(s) .
• That there are two types of interviewers, people who listen and want to let the guest talk - giving the guest the space. While the other type of interviews is the headbutter and ready to attack a guest if they say something not 'normal' such as a political view. 
• Radio  using certain times slots to bring different types of shows, as conversations is one on one serious and humor conversation. While afternoon is humor, as people have had the whole morning of news, the ABC feels like people need a laugh and want to join in. This where talk back radio comes in. 
• In talk back radio, they have to filter the people are there are the 'Abe Simpson" people, angry viewers and prank calls they have to filter and see who should be on.
• There is allot of respect in the field of Radio.
• People view radio as not dying, but a slow media, trying to not out do everyone but try and inform and giving people selection. Radio is not dying but is expanding with new media such as podcast, which allow people to catch up on a show if they miss it.
• In conversations Richard feels that his views are the - stay at home mums keeping up with the world and also older people however is main age group he fells is 30-40. lol. However he feels he has a job that is giving people a public service.
  Then the first interview finished and the next interview started with Steve Austin (evenings)
• This was mainly just a recollection of Steve Austin and how he got into radio.
• The evening ABC show was mainly about trying to compete to TV, trying to make it matter in a 3 hour set, using talk back to help people get things off their chest.
• Austin think that he has a very wide rang of audience from 4 y.o - 100 y.o, however he believe that women dont listen as much, however this is probably based on people who ring in,
•