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.

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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,
• 
  

Lecture Week 7

As promised this is the blog about commercial media. Heads up this will mainly be about me ranting allot.

There are two types of media public and in this case privetly funded. Public media is the ABC and SBS while privately funded is Channel 7and 9. Commercialism media is all about the $$ and it is a very cut throat world. It all about competing for ratings. That's why channel 9 will put Top Gear on against a Channel 7 big show so that people will have to chose. However the commercial media doesn't stop there they try and get people attention with using their logo with anything ie newspaper, apps and now sporting teams, because if some recognized the logo on something they use they are more likely to spend time of that channel.

Now there are wars every where between channels and free to air vs subscription tv. However they all have to play by the same rules which are set out by the country in this case Australia which have very high standards. Even though commercial media is about profit they have to get the consumer confidence which can only come through the news which is to provide news which is relevant and truthful because in today's television news is growing and is easily accessible and more importantly if a channel gets an exclusive story they'll have leverage over their compeitiors.

In this blog I've said profit it allot, commercial television get their profit from the advisement, which other companies place at certain times ie prime time. However if a channel doesn't get high rating and people don't watch it, it means it will lose companies advisement on it which means less profit.

However commercial media has changed from television and now to the internet with the news big boys ie FairFax, using their control to drag people to their sites, however since there are millions of sites out there is Wikipedia, it is harder to compete in the internet arena, because the internet is allot bigger.

This is the last point of my rant and also about the lecture, Dr Redman showed that how media is changing, it is no doubt becoming more tablodised, which means more concerned about celebrities, which is so true, look at traditional media ie magazines and most of the selves are about celebrities and not about current events. So what does this mean about commercial media?
Commercial media is about profit, who has the exclusive stories and best tv shows all in a hunt for you guys to watch their channel, go to their websites and read their maginzese and paper.

Overall this lecture was amazing and by far my favorite, what Dr Redman said was true about today's commercial media. It is exciting to see whether or not the commercial media giants will change their ways in the future or they will always and only be concerned with profit and viewer ratings.

Lecture 5

Ethics are very important in today's world because the line between, good taste and down right dirty has become blurred.

In today's lecutre, Dr Redman showed allot of ads in the beginning, show were understandable with the fruit having similar shape to what some people have called a penis, which is still in good taste as it fruit. While beer ads were typical and just dirty. However ads can be seen as able to step across the boundaries and explore, some are in good humor ie the Fernwood ad while some a just stupid and not appropriate. That is why companies must abide by certain rules and practice codes which go on and on and on. In the blog I'm not going to type them all cause 1 I'm lazy and 2, there are alllllllllooooooooottttttttttt.

However I just want to side track and talk about ethics in the televised media. Recently and event has happened which lead to the termination (jobs termination) of a few people at channel 9, when the said they were near the crime scene of Daniel Morcomb which they were in Chapel Hill. These guys stepped into that realm of un ethical, because they were lieing to their audience for ratings (wait for 2 weeks for a blog about commercial media) however radio has done it for years, using a effect to pretend that the traffic report was actually in a helicopter when they were just in the studio. However, it just shows that ratings matter and not the truth all the time.

However back to the lecture.  I believe that these codes are abit over the top some times, personally Id like to see some fun come back not so much as to de grade tv, but to see some un politically correct humor, since Australia as become a very politically correct nation.

Overall this lecture was about ethics and how there a only faint lines separating vulgar from descent and that there are agencies out there looking at every ad and enforcing their will if it isn't playing by the rules.

Lecture 3

This Lecture was very interesting, admiring cause it was full of pictures, as it was about pictures telling stories, and me having the mind of a 4 year old, enjoyed watching pictures for about a hour.

However the saying that a picture tells a thousand words is so turn especially which was re-enforced today. This lectures show that if the moment is right the perfect picture can tell the whole story without even having written anything on paper or word. This was most evident in the PKK which was a women holding a rifle trying to help free the Kurds in Turkey.

However Dr Redman, showed there is a science to taking the perfect picture, especially with all the camera jargon, which kinda lost me cause I'm not personally a camera person. However he shows one example of Johnothan Thurston at a funeral, which the pictures were taking with a camera phone, it just a camera a phone and all the photographer used were her surroundings, showing that you dont need a fancy camera but wits as well.

This lecture show me how technology is changing meida and that with the help of the camera, that pictures can tell the whole story and how they are very usefully and helping finishing and starting a store.

Lecture 2

This is the first "proper" lecture to say and to kick it off the class had the pleasure of having Rod Chester, a wrtier for the Courier Mail speak, about the different types of text in the news today. Obviously there are dozens of types and hundereds of way of presenting them. It was interest to hear his current project of taking pictures of every days and recording events and publishing them in the paper. This showed me personally how the news today inst just about the facts and what is happening locally and internationally. But the news is becoming more personal with human interest piece and point of views articles ie left or right wing depending on the media outlet or the person.

However the format which Rod presented how to write a newspaper article didnt changing much from when I was in school. which was the typical who, what, when, where, how and why. However it shows the writing media basic format is a winner, because why change something that has been so effected in driveling news, However the way the Rod showed the class the different way of opening the article was interesting to me. It shows it doesn't always have to a formal matter, but can be informal with a joke and a quotation.

It was a pleasure to hear from Rod today as he had showed me that even thought the typical format of news writing hasn't changed but how they get people to read is continually developing.

Lecture 1

A new semester is upon me and with it four new subjects. This is my blog relating to JOUR1111and the idea of the blog is apart of my assessment to comment of the lectures that where on Monday. Our Professor that shall be guiding me this semester is Dr Bruce Redman.

In today's lecture it was the normal, what Journalism 1111 is about, the assignments and the times of tuts and consolations. Nothing really interesting to comment on because it was mainly introductory. However during the lecture the not that stood out was how technology is changing Journalism. I'm curious about this statement and wondering how technology is changing Journalism. However this can only be answered in 13 or so weeks. SO stay tuned to this blog for weekly up dates.