Thursday, 26 April 2012
Factual storytelling!
Note: Click the ^ next button if the video stops progressing.
Alternative link: http://portal.sliderocket.com/BRSQP/My-Presentation-2
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
How do we know? Lecture 8!
So this week's lecture was taken by Doctor Harrison! It was quite an interesting topic, it was all about ethics. This wasn't the only reason it was so interesting but the way the lecture was conducted. We were handed out sheets of paper with Good-Bad, Ethical-Unethical and told that the following may offend people. It was definitely intriguing!
We were shown the following advertisements:
So what would you rate these advertisements? Good, Bad? Ethical, unethical? On a scale of 1-5?
How low do they have to go to 'try' and get our attention? How does that reflect on their view on us? Is this what they have to do to draw us in?
Many questions immediately come to mind through these advertisements. What's even worse? Not all of these advertisements were even complained about.
How do we know these are wrong? How do we know these are tacky?
Doctor Harris elaborated on the three ethical theories:
- Deontology
-Consequentialism
- Virtue
But what are these theories about?
Deontology is based on rules, principles and duties. You will do the right thing by following these rules.
Consequentialism is all about the outcome. It doesn't matter how you got there as long as the outcome is good/what you wanted. 'The greatest outcome for the largest amount of people' - I wonder how often that is put into practice, but what does that mean for the rest of the people involved..? Who has the right to determine what the greatest outcome for everyone is?
And lastly virtue is based on good habits which indefinitely leads to happiness or goodness. Virtue is the dispositions of character.
So if one was to follow the rules, the codes, the principles, what codes are out there for us to follow?
-MEAA code: Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance
-PRIA code: Public relations institute Australia
-AFA code: The advertising federation of Australia
-AANA code: Australian association of National advertisement
Keep an eye out on the television, on the billboards, even the advertisements on the buses... think to yourself, is that moral? Is that ethical? Is that an effective ad? Then step back and question what has lead you to those answers. Are advertisements justified as long as they get the audience? - Consequentialism. Are these advertisements following the rules? Are these advertisements demonstrating a good character of those who designed them?
Hmmm...
We were shown the following advertisements:
So what would you rate these advertisements? Good, Bad? Ethical, unethical? On a scale of 1-5?
How low do they have to go to 'try' and get our attention? How does that reflect on their view on us? Is this what they have to do to draw us in?
Many questions immediately come to mind through these advertisements. What's even worse? Not all of these advertisements were even complained about.
How do we know these are wrong? How do we know these are tacky?
Doctor Harris elaborated on the three ethical theories:
- Deontology
-Consequentialism
- Virtue
But what are these theories about?
Deontology is based on rules, principles and duties. You will do the right thing by following these rules.
Consequentialism is all about the outcome. It doesn't matter how you got there as long as the outcome is good/what you wanted. 'The greatest outcome for the largest amount of people' - I wonder how often that is put into practice, but what does that mean for the rest of the people involved..? Who has the right to determine what the greatest outcome for everyone is?
And lastly virtue is based on good habits which indefinitely leads to happiness or goodness. Virtue is the dispositions of character.
So if one was to follow the rules, the codes, the principles, what codes are out there for us to follow?
-MEAA code: Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance
-PRIA code: Public relations institute Australia
-AFA code: The advertising federation of Australia
-AANA code: Australian association of National advertisement
Keep an eye out on the television, on the billboards, even the advertisements on the buses... think to yourself, is that moral? Is that ethical? Is that an effective ad? Then step back and question what has lead you to those answers. Are advertisements justified as long as they get the audience? - Consequentialism. Are these advertisements following the rules? Are these advertisements demonstrating a good character of those who designed them?
Hmmm...
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Each pathway is different
Once we leave school we embark our journey into the big wide world. But who knew we'd all choose completely different paths to each other. I have been reflecting on this year and it only just hit me how much things have changed!
(This is me ^ and my group of friends from school. Yes I realise we look weird, but we are a bunch of normal high school girls, I swear)
We all started in the same place, going to the same school and oh my how things have changed! Using my friends and myself, I will illustrate how much things change and how different one's pathway can be once one leaves the comforts of high school...
Okay so we'll go right to left, back row to front row.
Girl number one: Bree
The path she decided to pursue was to take on full-time work, travel and save. She works one full time job and a casual second job. This path is often taken upon by those that aren't fond of University. She has no plans of further tertiary studies and plans on saving for an apartment to lease whilst she goes travelling. She has already travelled to Hawaii from her work savings.
Girl number two: Kaytea
The path Kaytea took was to embark on a journey of University at Sunshine Coast to undertake a degree in psychology.
Girl number three: Madeline
Madeline was also interested in University and decided that QUT was the option for her. She commutes when needed and has decided to study Criminology. Her main residence is still on the Sunshine Coast.
Girl number four: Shanae
Shanae's path has been very rocky as she has tried to establish what pathway best suited her. She began the year at Sunshine Coast University but soon realised that this was not working for her and lost the motivation and decided uni life was not for her. Instead she decided to take a gap year and work full-time. She still lives on the Sunshine coast.
Girl number five: Courtney
Courtney's path has probably been the one with the most change. She has moved from Sunshine Coast to Brisbane with her family where she does a Bachelor of Arts at UQ, with rare visits to the Sunshine Coast. She has the full-time Brisbane City life!
Girl number six: Me!
So I am a bit of a sook when it comes to my home, I love the Sunshine Coast and my pathway is still being worked out. I currently commute to UQ doing a Bachelor of Arts and live at home. I have the part-time Brisbane City life.
Girl number seven: Michelle
Michelle, similarly to Bree's path chose the path of full-time work however she is working in the hospitality industry and gaining certificates and other qualifications. She still lives on the Sunshine Coast.
Last but not least, Girl number eight: Karina
Karina has chosen to do a Fashion course in Tafe as well as working part-time. She does Tafe on the Sunshine Coast and loves it!
None of these pathways are wrong, or bad, but I used these examples to demonstrate a personal insight into how life is after school. Everyone literally goes there separate ways and we often don't realise it until much later on in life. Life can easily become a routine thing, as we become consumed in University, Tafe, full-time work or just our everyday problems, and it is often a lot more difficult to stay in touch with those we once called our closest friends. But all hope is not lost, friendships can remain close, it just requires a little more effort. Everyone is trying to find the pathway that best suites them and its a weird thing that each pathway is so incredibly unique. We have our own personality, interests, likes and dislikes, passions and places we want to go in life, it's such a nice sense of freedom that we can be whoever we want to be, and do anything we put our minds too. I think it's just important to realise that everyone's path is different, no path is wrong, and that if you are like me and are still trying to find your groove in life, stress-less, things will work out how they are meant to, and you will find what pathway is for you.
(This is me ^ and my group of friends from school. Yes I realise we look weird, but we are a bunch of normal high school girls, I swear)
We all started in the same place, going to the same school and oh my how things have changed! Using my friends and myself, I will illustrate how much things change and how different one's pathway can be once one leaves the comforts of high school...
Okay so we'll go right to left, back row to front row.
Girl number one: Bree
The path she decided to pursue was to take on full-time work, travel and save. She works one full time job and a casual second job. This path is often taken upon by those that aren't fond of University. She has no plans of further tertiary studies and plans on saving for an apartment to lease whilst she goes travelling. She has already travelled to Hawaii from her work savings.
Girl number two: KayteaThe path Kaytea took was to embark on a journey of University at Sunshine Coast to undertake a degree in psychology.
Girl number three: MadelineMadeline was also interested in University and decided that QUT was the option for her. She commutes when needed and has decided to study Criminology. Her main residence is still on the Sunshine Coast.
Girl number four: Shanae
Shanae's path has been very rocky as she has tried to establish what pathway best suited her. She began the year at Sunshine Coast University but soon realised that this was not working for her and lost the motivation and decided uni life was not for her. Instead she decided to take a gap year and work full-time. She still lives on the Sunshine coast.
Girl number five: Courtney
Courtney's path has probably been the one with the most change. She has moved from Sunshine Coast to Brisbane with her family where she does a Bachelor of Arts at UQ, with rare visits to the Sunshine Coast. She has the full-time Brisbane City life!
Girl number six: Me!
So I am a bit of a sook when it comes to my home, I love the Sunshine Coast and my pathway is still being worked out. I currently commute to UQ doing a Bachelor of Arts and live at home. I have the part-time Brisbane City life.
Girl number seven: Michelle
Michelle, similarly to Bree's path chose the path of full-time work however she is working in the hospitality industry and gaining certificates and other qualifications. She still lives on the Sunshine Coast.
Karina has chosen to do a Fashion course in Tafe as well as working part-time. She does Tafe on the Sunshine Coast and loves it!
None of these pathways are wrong, or bad, but I used these examples to demonstrate a personal insight into how life is after school. Everyone literally goes there separate ways and we often don't realise it until much later on in life. Life can easily become a routine thing, as we become consumed in University, Tafe, full-time work or just our everyday problems, and it is often a lot more difficult to stay in touch with those we once called our closest friends. But all hope is not lost, friendships can remain close, it just requires a little more effort. Everyone is trying to find the pathway that best suites them and its a weird thing that each pathway is so incredibly unique. We have our own personality, interests, likes and dislikes, passions and places we want to go in life, it's such a nice sense of freedom that we can be whoever we want to be, and do anything we put our minds too. I think it's just important to realise that everyone's path is different, no path is wrong, and that if you are like me and are still trying to find your groove in life, stress-less, things will work out how they are meant to, and you will find what pathway is for you.
Bringing back the dead, what next?
Now I don't know how many of you have watched/heard about this, but it is honestly amazing. Human technology has reached a peak. I want you to watch this clip... and all of it... and see if you can pick up on it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0Xg1YWV68
The clip is of the famous rapper Tupac Shakur, featuring Snoop Dog, as they perform onstage during the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Fesitival at the Empire Polo Field on the 15th of April in Indio, California.
Now it is no mistake that Tupac Shakur died on the 13th of September, 1996. Yet technology has made this performance so incredibly special and realistic that until the end, you would have no idea that it wasn't real. Tupac appeared as a hologram at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and wow'ed the audience with its realistic appearance. They have cleverly taken a performance done by Tupac from years ago with Snoop Dog and brought it to the future via the hologram. It is crazy that they have now come up with a way to almost bring back the dead to do a concert long after they have deceased. What on earth will they come up with next! I had shivers whilst watching this clip, the way Snoop Dog interacts with the hologram is incredible and makes it so much more realistic. The finale of him just disappearing into thin air is truly captivating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0Xg1YWV68
The clip is of the famous rapper Tupac Shakur, featuring Snoop Dog, as they perform onstage during the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Fesitival at the Empire Polo Field on the 15th of April in Indio, California.
Now it is no mistake that Tupac Shakur died on the 13th of September, 1996. Yet technology has made this performance so incredibly special and realistic that until the end, you would have no idea that it wasn't real. Tupac appeared as a hologram at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and wow'ed the audience with its realistic appearance. They have cleverly taken a performance done by Tupac from years ago with Snoop Dog and brought it to the future via the hologram. It is crazy that they have now come up with a way to almost bring back the dead to do a concert long after they have deceased. What on earth will they come up with next! I had shivers whilst watching this clip, the way Snoop Dog interacts with the hologram is incredible and makes it so much more realistic. The finale of him just disappearing into thin air is truly captivating.
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Save me a spot!
I've decided it is about time I voice my opinion about a certain dilemma I face everyday I go to university. This has, believe it or not, actually caused me to lose sleep on various nights. This issue I know is relevant not only for me, but for many individuals. I firstly wish to say this is not attacking the University Of Queensland whatsoever.
First of all let me explain my situation: I live at Sunshine Coast, I work at Sunshine Coast, and I adore the Sunshine Coast lifestyle- no offence Brisbane, but I'm not much of a Brisbane City girl. Already this might raise a few problems. The Sunshine Coast University doesn't offer the courses I am interested in, and thus University of Queensland was my preference for Uni. However with this, I made a decision that I did not want to move to Brisbane, my life is on the Sunshine Coast and I'm not quite ready for the complete change. (As in the past few months most first-year's have pretty much had life altering changes!) So that leaves me with limited options: Move to Brisbane, or commute. Needless to say, I chose commuting. Many people endure the commuting lifestyle on an everyday basis. There are two main ways to commute, by public transport or by car. After experiencing both I have discovered there a long list of pro's and con's for both options which has made my choice of how I commute very challenging. Here is the list I came up with:
Option 1) Public Transport- Often is the obvious choice, however it isn't as good as it seems.
Pros:
-Cheaper
-A sense of adventure: will you be able to find your way from point A to point B, ultimate independence
-You can study
-You can sleep
-You don't have to be stuck in traffic
-Ultimately, you can switch off
-You meet interesting people
-You might meet people going to UQ
-It teaches you life lessons and helps you grow
-It is pretty clean
-You get to see nice scenery
-Gives you plenty of time to yourself, to think or listen to music
Cons:
-Instead of 4 hours in the car, it takes me 6 hours in total (per day) to get from Nambour Railway Station to University Of Queensland, St Lucia campus. (On top of an 8 hour day of uni, 6 hours is a long time)
-It can often be quite expensive, with the 2 trains and bus I have to take one way to get to my destination, and then 1 bus and 1 train back- Even with a go card.
-You cannot really fully sleep because once you start to drift off you risk either missing your stop, being abruptly awoken by the overhead speaker announcing the millions of stops every 5 minutes or simply leaving your stuff, including laptop, unguarded.
-Travelling on public transport by yourself is actually kind of scary, who knows who you will meet.
-On somedays I finish at 6 o clock at night, thus meaning I am travelling on public transport between 6-9 at night, paranoia kicks in.
-In meeting new interesting people, you always get to meet the drunks, the crying babies, the druggos, the creepy people who stare, the people that feel the urge to sit right next to you even though there are many other seats on the train/bus, the 'tough' gangsta guys, the 'tough' gangsta girls, the people who you wouldn't want to meet in an alleyway and the list literally goes on. (Might I just add, I did not make up this list, but I have experienced all of these people on the train, just this year!)
-You always hear stories about people being threatened, robbed, raped, beaten etc on trains- not a comforting thought!
-There is no eating or drinking on public transport which makes the 3 hour trip very difficult.
-There is wireless internet however usually cuts out, and the paranoia makes you second guess bringing out your laptop.
-You have to leave an hour or two earlier than what you would in a car
-You get the random police checks/transport officers asking for you to whip out your go-card and than painfully having to listen to the many people whom haven't bought a ticket for various reasons.
-Public transport can be very unreliable at times, trains running late, buses running late, buses being full making you have to wait to the next bus, making you risk missing your train, forgetting your go-card... the transport people are not one's to listen to excuses
- The aircon is ALWAYS freezing whether it be hot or cold weather
-The mission to get off the train, to the car, in Nambour, is scary and a mission!
-The list goes on
So driving in a car is looking pretty good right about now... right? WRONG
Option 2: Driving in a car
Pros:
-2 hours quicker than public transport
-Time to be alone, uninterrupted thinking time, time to reflect
-You can listen and sing to music
-Only takes 1/2 tank of petrol = $20, not too bad cost-wise
-No waiting, just jump in your car and go to uni, and drive back home, no need to wait for trains and buses
-No sharing seats with strangers
-No creepy people
-You can drive straight home
-You can eat and drink (although might not be wise whilst driving, but you can always pull over)
-You can control the temperature of your surroundings
-
Cons:
-Traffic
-You have to pay attention the entire time
-It's tiring
-It often makes stopping at Fast food stores VERY easy and tempting and this forms BAD HABITS!
Okay the biggest con about driving needs it's own title and underline:
PARKING
As I go to uni all day, this means that I need parking that can accommodate me all day.
1) Paid parking, whilst the uni provides all-day parking for a reasonable price, this is usually full up by 8 in the morning. Next option- Casual parking, this is also usually full up by the latest, 9, as well as the costs per hour meaning I have to pay $1.50 an hour, which again, isn't that bad, however when I have to spend up to 8 hours parked, 8x1.50= $12 per day parking two days a week is $24.00, on top of petrol costs ($45.00) this can be quite expensive! Not to mention it means I need to have cash on me at all times, which being a teenager is not always possible! (I don't have a credit card either so that rules that option out)
The solution? Go early... Well on Monday's I don't need to be at class until 1, so if I am to successfully get a park I would need to leave at 6 in the morning, arrive at 8, try and find a park, then spend 5 hours studying or keeping myself entertained, followed by 5 hours of lectures and tutorials, followed by 2 hours of driving home to arrive at around 8... *maths calculation* that is a 14 hour day...
Next option: Try and find a park elsewhere... proves to be harder than it seems. I have driven around everywhere, even as far as Fairfield to find a parking spot free and without a limited parking time. I thought I was clever and found a nice quiet street to park on, not too far from the uni.. probably about 2km's, which I had make my parking home for a couple of weeks. To my surprise, I returned to my car one day to realise I had been visited by a Parking Infringement man, who decided to leave a lovely present on my car- a $50.00 parking fine. Next option..........?
So this leaves me with my, and I'm sure a lot of other's dilemma, to park or not to park.. that is the question!
First of all let me explain my situation: I live at Sunshine Coast, I work at Sunshine Coast, and I adore the Sunshine Coast lifestyle- no offence Brisbane, but I'm not much of a Brisbane City girl. Already this might raise a few problems. The Sunshine Coast University doesn't offer the courses I am interested in, and thus University of Queensland was my preference for Uni. However with this, I made a decision that I did not want to move to Brisbane, my life is on the Sunshine Coast and I'm not quite ready for the complete change. (As in the past few months most first-year's have pretty much had life altering changes!) So that leaves me with limited options: Move to Brisbane, or commute. Needless to say, I chose commuting. Many people endure the commuting lifestyle on an everyday basis. There are two main ways to commute, by public transport or by car. After experiencing both I have discovered there a long list of pro's and con's for both options which has made my choice of how I commute very challenging. Here is the list I came up with:
VS
Option 1) Public Transport- Often is the obvious choice, however it isn't as good as it seems.
Pros:
-Cheaper
-A sense of adventure: will you be able to find your way from point A to point B, ultimate independence
-You can study
-You can sleep
-You don't have to be stuck in traffic
-Ultimately, you can switch off
-You meet interesting people
-You might meet people going to UQ
-It teaches you life lessons and helps you grow
-It is pretty clean
-You get to see nice scenery
-Gives you plenty of time to yourself, to think or listen to music
Cons:
-Instead of 4 hours in the car, it takes me 6 hours in total (per day) to get from Nambour Railway Station to University Of Queensland, St Lucia campus. (On top of an 8 hour day of uni, 6 hours is a long time)
-It can often be quite expensive, with the 2 trains and bus I have to take one way to get to my destination, and then 1 bus and 1 train back- Even with a go card.
-You cannot really fully sleep because once you start to drift off you risk either missing your stop, being abruptly awoken by the overhead speaker announcing the millions of stops every 5 minutes or simply leaving your stuff, including laptop, unguarded.
-Travelling on public transport by yourself is actually kind of scary, who knows who you will meet.
-On somedays I finish at 6 o clock at night, thus meaning I am travelling on public transport between 6-9 at night, paranoia kicks in.
-In meeting new interesting people, you always get to meet the drunks, the crying babies, the druggos, the creepy people who stare, the people that feel the urge to sit right next to you even though there are many other seats on the train/bus, the 'tough' gangsta guys, the 'tough' gangsta girls, the people who you wouldn't want to meet in an alleyway and the list literally goes on. (Might I just add, I did not make up this list, but I have experienced all of these people on the train, just this year!)
-You always hear stories about people being threatened, robbed, raped, beaten etc on trains- not a comforting thought!
-There is no eating or drinking on public transport which makes the 3 hour trip very difficult.
-There is wireless internet however usually cuts out, and the paranoia makes you second guess bringing out your laptop.
-You have to leave an hour or two earlier than what you would in a car
-You get the random police checks/transport officers asking for you to whip out your go-card and than painfully having to listen to the many people whom haven't bought a ticket for various reasons.
-Public transport can be very unreliable at times, trains running late, buses running late, buses being full making you have to wait to the next bus, making you risk missing your train, forgetting your go-card... the transport people are not one's to listen to excuses
- The aircon is ALWAYS freezing whether it be hot or cold weather
-The mission to get off the train, to the car, in Nambour, is scary and a mission!
-The list goes on
So driving in a car is looking pretty good right about now... right? WRONG
Option 2: Driving in a car
Pros:
-2 hours quicker than public transport
-Time to be alone, uninterrupted thinking time, time to reflect
-You can listen and sing to music
-Only takes 1/2 tank of petrol = $20, not too bad cost-wise
-No waiting, just jump in your car and go to uni, and drive back home, no need to wait for trains and buses
-No sharing seats with strangers
-No creepy people
-You can drive straight home
-You can eat and drink (although might not be wise whilst driving, but you can always pull over)
-You can control the temperature of your surroundings
-
Cons:
-Traffic
-You have to pay attention the entire time
-It's tiring
-It often makes stopping at Fast food stores VERY easy and tempting and this forms BAD HABITS!
Okay the biggest con about driving needs it's own title and underline:
PARKING
As I go to uni all day, this means that I need parking that can accommodate me all day.
1) Paid parking, whilst the uni provides all-day parking for a reasonable price, this is usually full up by 8 in the morning. Next option- Casual parking, this is also usually full up by the latest, 9, as well as the costs per hour meaning I have to pay $1.50 an hour, which again, isn't that bad, however when I have to spend up to 8 hours parked, 8x1.50= $12 per day parking two days a week is $24.00, on top of petrol costs ($45.00) this can be quite expensive! Not to mention it means I need to have cash on me at all times, which being a teenager is not always possible! (I don't have a credit card either so that rules that option out)
The solution? Go early... Well on Monday's I don't need to be at class until 1, so if I am to successfully get a park I would need to leave at 6 in the morning, arrive at 8, try and find a park, then spend 5 hours studying or keeping myself entertained, followed by 5 hours of lectures and tutorials, followed by 2 hours of driving home to arrive at around 8... *maths calculation* that is a 14 hour day...
Next option: Try and find a park elsewhere... proves to be harder than it seems. I have driven around everywhere, even as far as Fairfield to find a parking spot free and without a limited parking time. I thought I was clever and found a nice quiet street to park on, not too far from the uni.. probably about 2km's, which I had make my parking home for a couple of weeks. To my surprise, I returned to my car one day to realise I had been visited by a Parking Infringement man, who decided to leave a lovely present on my car- a $50.00 parking fine. Next option..........?
So this leaves me with my, and I'm sure a lot of other's dilemma, to park or not to park.. that is the question!
Monday, 16 April 2012
Tutorials
I thought I would write a conjoined blog post about both the tutorials I have thus far attended. The first one I was a little nervous for because like every first class attend you don't know anyone, and you have no clue what to expect. It took me forever to find the classroom as I hadn't really been to this part of UQ before but luckily I was greeted by a friendly face who I soon learnt would be my tutor. It is very helpful when the tutors take the time out of their lesson to allow the students to get to know each other, because it is extremely important. Being an extremely shy girl when I don't know anyone, I probably would have continued on the whole semester without having the courage to introduce myself to the people next to me. But luckily, we commenced the tutorial with a getting-to-know-the-people-around-you exercise which really helped us open up and it made things a lot less tense. I am finding that Journalism is extremely interesting because it is so different to my other courses. The assignments for one thing are so different and interesting and are tasks that are almost fun to do. When I first learned that our on-going piece of assessment for Journalism would be blogging I was happily surprised.
Before this course I have only had one other encounter with blogging, but that was in grade 8 and wasn't really that exciting. But there is something so fascinating with journalism and blogging. I guess it is the freedom to have you're own opinion and knowing that people would read it. Even though I have only had 2 tutorials so far, I have learnt so much already. I have realised so much about my current relationship with Journalism and Communication and these are lessons that will influence me for the rest of my life. The most dominant lesson that has impacted me is how small my world knowledge is. I am so consumed with what is happening around me that I don't take the time to watch the news and thus I am oblivious to what is happening in this big wide world. I think I used to pull away from watching the news because it was always so depressing and I didn't think it had much relevance to me so I found no reason to watch it. But as I have grown up I realise that there is more to this life than just me- crazy I know, but I think often we forget that simple little fact. Even just beginning both tutorials with news that has been happening around the world has pushed me to actually go out and listen/read the news. Because for the past two tutorials I haven't been up-to-date with what has been happening and some of the things are really basic-knowledge things. The news has become so much more interesting and I think I have just been exposing myself to the wrong type of news. I have only been exposed in the past few years to social types of media such as magazines, entertainment news, Facebook and so on, which only serve to give me news that might interest me, more like gossip news then real stuff. But since this realisation of my limited world knowledge I have pushed myself to visiting the more public media, ABC, BBC etc to get the real news. It fascinates me, even if it is depressing, to hear the real stories. I think that's why I got into Anthropology and Journalism as my majors because to me they work so well together.
My original idea of a career was to travel and write about everything to do with humans. Behaviour, events, religions, races, different cultures and societies and to just allow others to understand the real stuff happening around the world that they might not hear about through entertainment media. I want to dig deeper than the superficial news and to give a voice to the voiceless. At the beginning of this course, I have to admit I wasn't very sure that Journalism is the right path for me, but it is getting more and more interested and at the moment it's probably one of my most interesting classes. The assignments aren't just a couple of 2000 word essays but instead it is engaging with different types of journalism and communication. It is practical and real-life journalism that we are experiencing and it gives us a taste of what we are getting into. I quite enjoy attending journalism tutorials, because you learn so much in such a short amount of time. You are updated with all the latest news that you may not have known about, and there are so many interesting lessons embedded into one tutorial such as headlines, the importance of the picture chosen for an article and so on. Overall, JOUR1111 has exceeded my expectations and I am really enjoying it. It has sparked in me an interest for news and I look forward to what I learn next!
Before this course I have only had one other encounter with blogging, but that was in grade 8 and wasn't really that exciting. But there is something so fascinating with journalism and blogging. I guess it is the freedom to have you're own opinion and knowing that people would read it. Even though I have only had 2 tutorials so far, I have learnt so much already. I have realised so much about my current relationship with Journalism and Communication and these are lessons that will influence me for the rest of my life. The most dominant lesson that has impacted me is how small my world knowledge is. I am so consumed with what is happening around me that I don't take the time to watch the news and thus I am oblivious to what is happening in this big wide world. I think I used to pull away from watching the news because it was always so depressing and I didn't think it had much relevance to me so I found no reason to watch it. But as I have grown up I realise that there is more to this life than just me- crazy I know, but I think often we forget that simple little fact. Even just beginning both tutorials with news that has been happening around the world has pushed me to actually go out and listen/read the news. Because for the past two tutorials I haven't been up-to-date with what has been happening and some of the things are really basic-knowledge things. The news has become so much more interesting and I think I have just been exposing myself to the wrong type of news. I have only been exposed in the past few years to social types of media such as magazines, entertainment news, Facebook and so on, which only serve to give me news that might interest me, more like gossip news then real stuff. But since this realisation of my limited world knowledge I have pushed myself to visiting the more public media, ABC, BBC etc to get the real news. It fascinates me, even if it is depressing, to hear the real stories. I think that's why I got into Anthropology and Journalism as my majors because to me they work so well together.
My original idea of a career was to travel and write about everything to do with humans. Behaviour, events, religions, races, different cultures and societies and to just allow others to understand the real stuff happening around the world that they might not hear about through entertainment media. I want to dig deeper than the superficial news and to give a voice to the voiceless. At the beginning of this course, I have to admit I wasn't very sure that Journalism is the right path for me, but it is getting more and more interested and at the moment it's probably one of my most interesting classes. The assignments aren't just a couple of 2000 word essays but instead it is engaging with different types of journalism and communication. It is practical and real-life journalism that we are experiencing and it gives us a taste of what we are getting into. I quite enjoy attending journalism tutorials, because you learn so much in such a short amount of time. You are updated with all the latest news that you may not have known about, and there are so many interesting lessons embedded into one tutorial such as headlines, the importance of the picture chosen for an article and so on. Overall, JOUR1111 has exceeded my expectations and I am really enjoying it. It has sparked in me an interest for news and I look forward to what I learn next!
PUBLIC media: Lecture 7!
So the last lecture was all about Commercial media where as this week's lecture was all about the other kind of media, Public Media.
So if commercial media is profit driven, public media, being opposite, is audience driven.
Mission statement: to serve or engage a public.
That's it! Pretty simple stuff, but that's not to say that, because it's not profit driven, that it does not make a profit. But rather the profit is put back into the broadcasting, and back to the people through public media. It is just not owned/run by the government but rather by common people, such as me and you. But it still needs funds from the government which leads to a dilemma...
"There is tension between being a watchdog of the government while being allocated funds by the government. It has to bite the hand that feeds it."
The public media are channels such as ABC, SBS, Channel 4, NHIC Japan, NPR, CBC and the list goes on. People usually have to standpoints about the style of these kind of channels. People such as my grandfather or my dad absolute love these kind of channels. They are serious, broadsheet style, they present news of importance over interest and the stuff they produce has been well thought out, as opposed to being quick and unchecked. There are also very little advertisements and it is very straight to the point about what it is broadcasting, and most of all it reports the news majority of the time, unlike the profit driven commercial media which focuses on drawing the audience with the kazillion ads and the hosts talking about what they think we want to hear- gossip and the most interesting stories. News is an extremely important mechanism of public media. However, as more common with people such as me, or even perhaps SOME of the younger generations who aren't as fond of the news as the older generations might find these channel's style quite boring, elitist, uninteresting, poorly presented and out of touch. This could be because we are so used to commercial media delivering the things that would attract us, where as public media is delivering the stuff we NEED TO KNOW.
What do the public media stations believe is the role of public media?
BBC states:
Public media is:
1) embedding a 'public service' to others
2) it should have service for the public
3) value for license fee money
4) weighing public value against market impact
5) public consultation
It is all about public servicing broadcasting, it needs to be:
- Geographical universality: available to everyone
- Universality of appeal: it should cater for everyone not just particularly people and/or groups.
- Special provision for minorities
- Distanced from all vested interest
So what are the overall functions of PM?
-Nation building
-National heritage
-National identity
-National conversations
Public media communications/functions:
-'The Press'
-Entertainment
-Utility
-Social
-Propaganda
So what should public media continue to do to keep/expand it's audience?
1) Quality is important, and if done right, can become a great advantage of commercial media
2) Make themselves relevant
3) Engage with the democratic process
4) To inform the public
5) to be independent
But most of all is needs to continue to have public value. It needs to continue to be audience-motivated as opposed to profit-motivated. We need public media to find the important stories around the world that is often left out of the commercial media news. I find when I need to know directly what is happening around the world, I go to the sites of public media. For me, it is straight to the point, not as opinionated, and as previously stated it is all about importance rather than interest.
THE END. :)
So if commercial media is profit driven, public media, being opposite, is audience driven.
Mission statement: to serve or engage a public.
That's it! Pretty simple stuff, but that's not to say that, because it's not profit driven, that it does not make a profit. But rather the profit is put back into the broadcasting, and back to the people through public media. It is just not owned/run by the government but rather by common people, such as me and you. But it still needs funds from the government which leads to a dilemma...
"There is tension between being a watchdog of the government while being allocated funds by the government. It has to bite the hand that feeds it."
The public media are channels such as ABC, SBS, Channel 4, NHIC Japan, NPR, CBC and the list goes on. People usually have to standpoints about the style of these kind of channels. People such as my grandfather or my dad absolute love these kind of channels. They are serious, broadsheet style, they present news of importance over interest and the stuff they produce has been well thought out, as opposed to being quick and unchecked. There are also very little advertisements and it is very straight to the point about what it is broadcasting, and most of all it reports the news majority of the time, unlike the profit driven commercial media which focuses on drawing the audience with the kazillion ads and the hosts talking about what they think we want to hear- gossip and the most interesting stories. News is an extremely important mechanism of public media. However, as more common with people such as me, or even perhaps SOME of the younger generations who aren't as fond of the news as the older generations might find these channel's style quite boring, elitist, uninteresting, poorly presented and out of touch. This could be because we are so used to commercial media delivering the things that would attract us, where as public media is delivering the stuff we NEED TO KNOW.
What do the public media stations believe is the role of public media?
BBC states:
Public media is:
1) embedding a 'public service' to others
2) it should have service for the public
3) value for license fee money
4) weighing public value against market impact
5) public consultation
It is all about public servicing broadcasting, it needs to be:
- Geographical universality: available to everyone
- Universality of appeal: it should cater for everyone not just particularly people and/or groups.
- Special provision for minorities
- Distanced from all vested interest
So what are the overall functions of PM?
-Nation building
-National heritage
-National identity
-National conversations
Public media communications/functions:
-'The Press'
-Entertainment
-Utility
-Social
-Propaganda
So what should public media continue to do to keep/expand it's audience?
1) Quality is important, and if done right, can become a great advantage of commercial media
2) Make themselves relevant
3) Engage with the democratic process
4) To inform the public
5) to be independent
But most of all is needs to continue to have public value. It needs to continue to be audience-motivated as opposed to profit-motivated. We need public media to find the important stories around the world that is often left out of the commercial media news. I find when I need to know directly what is happening around the world, I go to the sites of public media. For me, it is straight to the point, not as opinionated, and as previously stated it is all about importance rather than interest.
THE END. :)
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Commercial Media! Lecture 6
This weeks lecture was all about commercial media. We are bombarded with commercial media almost everyday. Whether it be some newspapers, TV channels with our favourite shows.. channel 7, channel ten, channel 9, even to the digital channels such as GO, 7Mate, 7Two, Eleven, One etcccc. All these channels which are meant to benefit us are actually putting more cash into THEIR pocket. It is purely to draw more of the audience to the advertisements, consequently to the businesses. Billboards on streets, some radio stations, magazines etc are all full of commercials to attract us to these businesses.
"Affluence and consumerism are not bad, but they are not enough. We need more. We need values, and meaning. Historically, this has been the role of the content makers. They cannot fulfil this purpose if they are entirely subsumed into the business of media, if their sole purpose is to 'monetarise audiences."
(Quote from The Content Makers: Understanding the Media in Australia)
So what exactly is commercial media?
As explained by our lecturer, commercial media is profit-driven media production which isn't government-funded, it solely depends on business success, its purpose is to create and attract audiences in order to be able to advertise to them... What sly people!
The major players of commercial media are News limited, Fairfax media, APN, Nine entertainment co., WIN corporation, Southern Cross Broadcasting, 7 West Media, Channel Ten, with other contenders being Telstra, Optus, Austar and Macquarie.
These media producers do a lot more then what we know. Each produce a large variety of media in order to create it's audience. This includes newspapers, cable TV, film, sports, magazines and books, radio, outdoor advertising, digital media, events, telecoms and the list goes on. All of which target different age groups in order to allow for more people to be exposed to the advertisements.
So what is the form and function of commercial media?
The form of commercial media is subscription, sponsored and subsidised. The function however, is propaganda, commercial and social.
But here is the million dollar question:
Can commercial media deliver on both profit and social functions? Or has it become to much about making the money to be any real benefit to us?
I believe it can't. It has to focus on one or the other, and at the moment, money, has become the major priority. So what is the true price of good genuine and quality media!
"Commercial = corrupt; lack of quality, profit over-rides social responsibility." -John McManus
So what impact has all this profit-motivated media had on what media we are getting?
- Dumbing down
-Tabloidisation
- What people often refer to as 'Mickey Mouse' news.
Media needs to find a balance between profit and delivering quality media. Would people pay more for good quality? Is that the secret weapon to a win-win situation?
Aim of media:
-Make a profit so they can continue to run
- Create and deliver good quality and extensive news
Can it be achieved? Or will one always have to suffer at expense of the other?
I guess we'll just have to keep waiting and see!
"Affluence and consumerism are not bad, but they are not enough. We need more. We need values, and meaning. Historically, this has been the role of the content makers. They cannot fulfil this purpose if they are entirely subsumed into the business of media, if their sole purpose is to 'monetarise audiences."
(Quote from The Content Makers: Understanding the Media in Australia)
So what exactly is commercial media?
As explained by our lecturer, commercial media is profit-driven media production which isn't government-funded, it solely depends on business success, its purpose is to create and attract audiences in order to be able to advertise to them... What sly people!
The major players of commercial media are News limited, Fairfax media, APN, Nine entertainment co., WIN corporation, Southern Cross Broadcasting, 7 West Media, Channel Ten, with other contenders being Telstra, Optus, Austar and Macquarie.
These media producers do a lot more then what we know. Each produce a large variety of media in order to create it's audience. This includes newspapers, cable TV, film, sports, magazines and books, radio, outdoor advertising, digital media, events, telecoms and the list goes on. All of which target different age groups in order to allow for more people to be exposed to the advertisements.
So what is the form and function of commercial media?
The form of commercial media is subscription, sponsored and subsidised. The function however, is propaganda, commercial and social.
But here is the million dollar question:
Can commercial media deliver on both profit and social functions? Or has it become to much about making the money to be any real benefit to us?
I believe it can't. It has to focus on one or the other, and at the moment, money, has become the major priority. So what is the true price of good genuine and quality media!
"Commercial = corrupt; lack of quality, profit over-rides social responsibility." -John McManus
So what impact has all this profit-motivated media had on what media we are getting?
- Dumbing down
-Tabloidisation
- What people often refer to as 'Mickey Mouse' news.
Media needs to find a balance between profit and delivering quality media. Would people pay more for good quality? Is that the secret weapon to a win-win situation?
Aim of media:
-Make a profit so they can continue to run
- Create and deliver good quality and extensive news
Can it be achieved? Or will one always have to suffer at expense of the other?
I guess we'll just have to keep waiting and see!
Monday, 2 April 2012
My Solution put into place: TIME FOR SOME NEWS
As I mentioned in my Media Use Diary, I am too caught up in my own little world, I need to start paying attention to news stories, and the things happening around the world. So here is my first post about the events happening around the world:
From BBC News Website:
1) Earth hour occurred last week on Saturday night, (31st of March) as cities all over the world participated and turned off the lights for a time of darkness. Here are some images from around the world:
I think it is remarkable that no matter what is going on around the world, people can unite for a good cause. If people can come together and do this, imagine what else can be achieved under a united thought and motivation.
2) Drought in West Africa could become a Humanitarian disaster and major food crisis in Africa. These images captured my attention as soon as I saw them, the same man features in both images, his facial expressions tell his story better then any words possibly could...
Talk about capturing the moment, I am speechless after looking at this photo. I know people say text is powerful but HOLY, photos really are worth a million words. You can read about stuff, but you don't really feel the connection to the people, until you see the people, until you can witness the desperation, the pain and the fear for their survival on their faces. This photo is amazing. Instantly that quote by Eddie Adams popped into my head...
"If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, it's a good picture."
This photo rips out my heart. How can we be so consumed in our own worlds when things like this are happening around the world. These are the things that need to be all over our media. This is real life, this is happening in OUR world, we just don't hear about it because it's not directly around us. These things should be impossible to ignore. It's discussing that we can become so consumed in the gossip of celebrities yet we are clueless when it comes to the rest of the world, the people whom need us to know about them, to be consumed in their problems... What are we doing!?
3) Syria eyewitness: Homeless refugees tell of 'slaughter'
The video on this link tells a heartbreaking story of wives and children whose husbands/fathers were taken away. Some even tell their stories of witnessing their fathers/husbands being slaughtered 50m away from them, they could hear the screams...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17259471
Some quotes from the video:
"We're homeless," a woman shouted. "Why? Because we asked for freedom?"
From BBC News Website:
1) Earth hour occurred last week on Saturday night, (31st of March) as cities all over the world participated and turned off the lights for a time of darkness. Here are some images from around the world:
I think it is remarkable that no matter what is going on around the world, people can unite for a good cause. If people can come together and do this, imagine what else can be achieved under a united thought and motivation.
2) Drought in West Africa could become a Humanitarian disaster and major food crisis in Africa. These images captured my attention as soon as I saw them, the same man features in both images, his facial expressions tell his story better then any words possibly could...
Talk about capturing the moment, I am speechless after looking at this photo. I know people say text is powerful but HOLY, photos really are worth a million words. You can read about stuff, but you don't really feel the connection to the people, until you see the people, until you can witness the desperation, the pain and the fear for their survival on their faces. This photo is amazing. Instantly that quote by Eddie Adams popped into my head...
"If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, it's a good picture."
This photo rips out my heart. How can we be so consumed in our own worlds when things like this are happening around the world. These are the things that need to be all over our media. This is real life, this is happening in OUR world, we just don't hear about it because it's not directly around us. These things should be impossible to ignore. It's discussing that we can become so consumed in the gossip of celebrities yet we are clueless when it comes to the rest of the world, the people whom need us to know about them, to be consumed in their problems... What are we doing!?
This is what journalism is all about for me, giving a voice to the voiceless.
3) Syria eyewitness: Homeless refugees tell of 'slaughter'
The video on this link tells a heartbreaking story of wives and children whose husbands/fathers were taken away. Some even tell their stories of witnessing their fathers/husbands being slaughtered 50m away from them, they could hear the screams...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17259471
Some quotes from the video:
"We're homeless," a woman shouted. "Why? Because we asked for freedom?"
"We were walking out altogether until we reached the checkpoint," said one of the women, Um Abdo.
"Then they separated us from the men. They put hoods on their heads and took them away."
Where do you think they are now, the reporter asked. The women replied all at once: "They will be slaughtered."
"They started beating them up. Then they moved them into a street next to a school. They killed them all. I saw it. I was 50 to 100 metres away. Their hands were tied behind their backs. A soldier held each one still on the ground with his boot; another soldier came to cut their throats. I could hear their screams."
She said: "My father went to open the door. I told him: 'Don't. Run away.' He said 'Why? I haven't done anything wrong.' He opened the door. They took him. I was clinging on to him but they took him anyway.
"As well as my father, they took my uncle, my cousin and my brother. I went outside and saw them pushing them to the ground. Then they killed them. I heard my father shout 'God is great' as he died. The others, too. The soldiers shoved us back inside with their guns."
The main things I have realised from this encounter with world news is that I am extremely attracted to the photos, they speak more to me than the words do. The second thing I have discovered is that our Western news is so superficial and absolutely rubbish compared to the devastating news happening all over the world, yet we only hear about nonsense. I honestly couldn't find one story about Australia/America/UK etc that I found was worth repeating. If I am to be a journalist I want to be one that travels and encounters the people I write about. I want to get to know them, and hear their stories, I want to take their photos- this I will need to learn and practice- but I want people to have the same reaction I have had to these real stories. I realise that I haven't posted many, but this is depressing stuff, no denying, but it shouldn't be ignored simply because it makes us feel bad. I think that was the reason I slowly stopped watching the news, because it was full of negative stories, but this is real life, I need to 'man up' and realise this is what we need to know, because it isn't just a story, it is real-life for so many people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)