Factual Storytelling

To Let Go

 If you looked at her, she would look just like any other girl. Happy, laughing and freaking out over university assessment. Her hair is a golden brown, she has big brown eyes and a huge smile - one of those smiles that you can’t help but smile at. Her name is Anna and she is a nineteen year old university student studying law and international relations. But less than two short years ago she experienced something that nothing could have prepared her for.

It was 2010 and November was coming to a close. Anna had graduated from high school and had just attended her valedictory dinner. The night ended with much excitement and a sense of freedom was spreading fast through her body. Excitement for schoolies to start the next day, excitement for the future, excitement because she had just completed a major part of her life. But early the next morning she would wake up to what would be the most terrible day of her life.

Anna woke up at her usual early hour and went downstairs to make herself breakfast and her mum, Linda, came and joined her. They were chatting about the previous night when Anna’s mum turned to look out the window at their view of the Gold Coast skyline, like she did every morning. But this morning she was faced with a heart-wrenching view – her husband, Jim, lying face down on the grass. Her face drained of colour, Linda let out a scream and sprinted outside with Anna close behind, her heart pumping at what she had just seen. Once at Jim’s side, they turned him over. His face was purple. His breath, non-existent. Linda immediately attempted CPR, frantically trying to get Jim to breathe, while Anna fled to the phone and called the ambulance. The operator on the phone started asking her questions about her dad’s lifestyle and health – all of which were more than fine because he exercised daily and ate healthily. The operator then taught the two of them how to appropriately perform CPR. Anna was still quite calm, despite the shock of seeing her dad like this, because she thought he would eventually be fine. She had hope.

By this stage, Anna’s older brother, James, and their family friend staying with them, Rosanna, had heard Anna and her mum screams and had rushed outside. Rosanna, a nurse, attempted to perform CPR on Jim but was too weak, so James took over doing compression after compression. After what felt like an eternity, the ambulance finally arrived. The paramedics hooked Jim up to machines and tubes and started using defibrillators on him. The paramedics then started joking about something, probably trying to ease the atmosphere of the situation but this only infuriated Anna. They should have been putting all their efforts into trying to save her dad’s life, not joking about something stupid.  Jim’s body jerked up and down from the shocks. Again and again the paramedics tried, but Jim remained lifeless and his heart remained silent. They had to give up. They had to let him go. Anna’s dad was pronounced dead early that morning from cardiac arrest. What should have been the happiest and freest moment in her life suddenly turned into the most painful and heartbreaking moment.

For ages, Anna and her family sat together in shock, not saying a word. Unable to take it anymore, Anna ran to her room and locked herself in and the first person she called was someone she was friends with, but not particularly close to. Sometimes talking to someone you don’t know well is easier than talking to a close friend. After she hung up the phone, she just sat in her room for a very long time, still unbelieving of what had just happened. How could her dad be dead? He was healthy, fit and the best person she knew. He had done nothing to deserve this. How could this have happened to him? To her? Over the day, people started to arrive at her house to expressing their sorrow and surprise at Jim’s passing. Saying how ironic it was that a heart attack claimed his life because he had been so fit and so healthy. And for a long time this consumed Anna’s thoughts, angering her even more at why it was her dad who died. Emotionally drained, she took a long walk with Rosanna that evening, trying to clear her head because the fact that her dad was gone was still not a reality.  

So many emotions were still coursing through her. Guilt for thinking it might have been better if her mum had died instead of her dad because her dad was a much stronger person and would have been able to cope better without Linda. But she felt so terrible for even thinking this in the first place. Her mum is still always so sad. She detested how many people suddenly cared so much - people who had never made an effort to talk to her or even say hello to her before. She hated how carefully everyone started to treat her, as though she would break down at any second and couldn’t just have a normal conversation. She just wanted people to treat her normally. But what she loathed the most were the friends that didn’t do anything, who practically ignored the whole thing - the friends who just didn’t say a word. Perhaps they didn’t know what to say, but something is always better than nothing and they should have known that. But at Jim’s funeral, quite a number showed up and Anna appreciated this more than she could express. The feeling that people were there for her was especially comforting.

After trying to block it out for more than a year, Anna finds it harder to keep doing so, perhaps because she pushed it out of her mind for so long. Her dad’s death is now a reality and she has been dealing with it. She still talks about him to her close friends, even just casually in passing and though she doesn’t show it, they know it still pains her. Nowadays she prefers not to tell people about her dad’s death because she finds that they treat her differently afterwards and pity her. But from her dad’s death, the thing she found that she appreciated the most were how some people she really didn’t know at all, reached out to her and shared their own losses with her. The fact that other people knew exactly what she was going through, not just imagining how it would feel, was reassuring. Because nobody could imagine what she had gone through unless they had been through it themselves. You don’t know how to let go until you have to.

Ethics: the good, the bad and the ugly

Ethics: a system of moral principles.

For lecture 8 the voice of Dr John Harrison greeted me through lectopia. As journalists, we all must make sure that what we produce is ethical or let's face it, there could be some preeetty bad consequences!

 But what makes something ethical? Is it just part of our conscience telling us what is right or wrong? Do we follow what the hegemonic group in society thinks? Or is it simply the nature vs nurture debate that guides our way of thinking?  Because everyone is going to have a different view on what is ethical and what is unethical depending on where they were brought up, how they were brought up, what they have experienced and what they believe in. Some (ahem, I) might even say that in some cases, a sense of humour is all that is needed to tip the scales in what you think of as ethical and unethical. And seriously, if you think of everything in media advertising as unethical, then get a life. For example, this delightful ad that Dr Harrison presented in the lecture got me a thinkin':

I, for one, think that this ad is hilarious. I mean, it's ethical in the fact that it is against smoking but it does so in a way that makes it easier to read and accept instead of the usual dark and confronting advertisements. Some may say it's tacky, but I think it's effective in that it's eye catching and that it also speaks to the younger generations because we are all just sooo obsessed with sex(ual things).  

Anyway, moving onto ethical theories. Who knew there was a set of proper ethical theories? Not I, kind sir, not I. The three ethical rules are as follows:

Deontology: I won't lie, when I first typed deontology I typed "dentology" and immediately thought it had to do with dentistry. But alas, I was wrong. Deontology is all about rules, duty and moral obligation.

Consequentialism: As you would suspect, consequentialism is about the right or good outcome (or more obviously, consequence) no matter how you came to that outcome.

Virtue: Oh virtue. Sigh. Virtue is about one's inner character. I know that sounds all spiritual and hippy, but it is what it is!

As I mentioned before, journalists must produce ethical work. And much like the magician's code (apologies, I just watched the finale of How I Met Your Mother), journalists must adhere to their own ethical code of conduct. The code was designed to assist people working in advertising in order to help them do the right thing whether it be in their day to day lives or when they were faced with some sort of conflict. The code isn't a straight set of rules as such, but more a set of guidelines that include principles and specific issues and it sets the standard for people in the advertising workplace.

Oh, student life

   Here I am, on my day off, still telling myself that it will be a productive day when it is about 5pm and alas, I have not done much but watch the new Gossip Girl, New Girl and Cougar Town. Sigh. I have also been compulsively refreshing the new arrivals on ASOS because I think that I just might be addicted.

So, just to let the rest of you ASOS addicts out there know, they are offering 10% off for uni students! Woooooo! Finally! I have always been envious of the UK students with their 25% off and although our 10% may seem a bit stingy, who cares! It's better than nothing!

Also, have you seen the March edition of ASOS magazine featuring the lovely Elizabeth Olsen? (And yes indeed! She is the younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen!) She is lookin' fiiiiiiine! Somebody steal me those clothes stat.

Discounts are pretty much what I live for and as I am a poor, lowly university student, why should I have to pay full price for anything? Get on it! And with all this atheist vs christianity vs whatever else stuff going on, as far as I'm concerned, ASOS can be my God! (But I actually am a Christian. Awkward).

Public Media.

   First off, let me just say that this is the first lecture I have actually been able to go to! Hurrah! Because fortunately, the lecture I usually go to at this time was cancelled. And I must say, this lecture was a pleasant experience in comparison. I've never had a lecture in the John Hay building and I liked the room. It's quite intimate so it was easier to keep my focus.

So anyway, this week's lecture was on public media. One might also refer to it as commercial media's sworn enemy. But whatever floats your boat. Public media does have a more genuine feel about it because they're not so much about the money as commercial media is. Whatever monetary value they bring in, is only put back into the system to bring the public more news in more ways. Public media is not for profit. It is there to serve and engage an audience all with the pure purpose of giving the public news as best they can. Public media has to have a universal appeal and cater for all kinds of tastes - now that would be tricky! - it must also have geographical universality and it must be distanced from all vested interests. Public media should liberate a broadcaster, not restrict them. 

Although I admire public media's purpose - purely to serve and inform the public - I consume about zilch of it. When I consume media it will be commercial media about 99.9% of the time. Why? Because it's a lot more entertaining. I would say that commercial media places a greater importance on entertaining and selling rather than informing, whereas public media would be the opposite. 

If you were to go onto ninemsn.com.au (a website that is currently my homepage), it would be very probable that there would be at least a few stories on celebrities, television shows and whatnot. But if you were to go onto http://www.sbs.com.au/, you would only come across "real" news stories that contain substantial and quality material. Just compare their homepages, you can already clearly see the difference.

I suppose whether you like public media or commercial media would have something to do with age groups and what your interests are. But I would definitely prefer Ninemsn to SBS. I'm not gonna lie, putting the SBS link there was the first time I've ever been on that site. 

Commercial Media.

   "What is commercial media?" I hear you say? Well, oh young one, I have just typed it into Google and the first thing that has come up is the definition of advertising. Commercial media is a profit-driven media production. Notice the word "commercial"? Commercials! Advertisers! I never really thought about it before until now. Advertisers would have to be the main customers of commercial media. I just wish that the choice of advertising wasn't so ANNOYING! I can't tell you how many times I have punched a poor, unsuspecting cushion on my couch because of how annoying ads can be.

Exhibit A: Karicare Happy Toddlers. Sure the product might make toddlers happy, but the ads don't make ME happy. Honestly. Those laughs make me want to kill something. Plus they are on pretty much every two minutes which means if I'm watching a show, all I will hear for half of it will be some stupid toddlers and their stupid, annoying laughs. ARGGHHHH. Plus, all those stupid 'dings'. Whyyyyyyyyy.......

Exhibit B: Webuyanycar.com.au. Most annoying song ever. It is effective though. But in the worst way possible. I would buy every car in the world to get this ad to stop playing. And it just seems to go on forever...

Sadly though, it is commercials like these, that keep commercial media up and running. It's kind of a depressing thought to think that television shows, news programs, etc, only exist just to support advertisers (that's a harsh way of looking at it), but I suppose it's the end goal for most things these days - to make money. Commercial media does have other purposes though. In order to make their money, they must generate an audience and by observing their audience's patterns and behaviours they can predict what sort of things to advertise in order to maximise the effectiveness of this advertising. It's just like all the tailored ads we see on the internet, though not AS tailored as that. That stuff is kind of creepy. 

Advertisers not only advertise through commercials, they also advertise effectively through sponsoring programs. And they match a certain brand to a television show. For example, we've all heard of the "Ahh Bra", as Bruce mentioned in the lecture, and another product has come up called "Eyesential" which is a wrinkle defying serum. I often see these particular ads on Sunrise or The Morning Show on channel 7 where they have a special advertising segment where people from the company come in to talk about their product and offers. This is effective because it fits the type of audience who would typically watch that show - middle aged women/people. But money making sure is at the top of their list. Another type of effective advertising on television is product placement. I notice this mostly in shows like Masterchef. What with the Campbell's Real Stock and fresh produce from Coles. 

Advertising is everywhere! 

One whole century.

   Titanic. God I love the movie. I know I'm a girl, BUT SERIOUSLY! Best movie ever. Apart from the awkward, "I'll never let go", and then she totally does. Even though she's talking about a promise. But it's still kinda funny. And yes, I'll admit, I still cry during that bit. And many other various parts in the film which I shan't disclose because that would be harmful to my already diminished reputation.

I know it was one hundred years ago yesterday that the RMS Titanic sank but here is my little contribution for it, even though it is a day late.

Sound.

   Almost up to date on my lecture blogs! I really wasn't as productive as I'd hoped I would be for our mid-sem break. Fml. Oh well, moving on!

So week five's lecture is on sound and the power of radio! I never really listen to much radio apart from Triple J's Hottest 100 (I am totez a hipstaaahhh) and the odd listen now and then. And if I am, for some ridiculous reason, sick of listening to my iPod, I shall listen to it. But I'm warning you, this occasion comes about once in a blue moon because let's be serious here - I have great taste in music. Anyway, getting back on track. I've always thought about how hard it would be to host a radio show. As Bruce mentioned, it is a very intimate form of media and it needs to be so much more engaging than television. If you tried to put television material onto radio and radio material on television it would just be terrible. With radio you really have to entertain and pull your listeners in - something that I imagine would be insanely hard to do, especially if you were hosting the show on your own.

Radio is not just a simple conversation. So much thought goes into the content and the audience. For a radio show to be interesting and engaging, the interviewer really needs to know their audience - particularly what interests them and what they want to know. With good radio hosts (the ones that I like, anyway), I've noticed that they will always try to inform the audience to the best of their ability and in the most entertaining way possible. But in order to do this, a great amount of research is undertaken on the topic they are speaking about or the person they are interviewing. Another skill radio hosts have is making the conversation comfortable. An interviewer should always make the person being interviewed feel comfortable enough to be able to answer questions promptly and with the right amount of detail. And I think most radio hosts do this by just having a good sense of humour and having the ability to laugh at themselves. Being a radio presenter would take some serious skillz man!

I do think that radio is a great form of media - it hasn't begun to die out like other forms of media (I'm talking to you, newspapers). Podcasts have definitely helped with this though, so now certain radio stations can broadcast their shows at any place and at any time. I think that it's just something people like to have playing because it makes them feel involved and up to date with society and trends. It's also very convenient because it's not something that you have to take time out to do - you can always multitask while listening to the radio and even though you may be doing something else, it is still very engaging because you will find that you are always listening out for what the radio presenter will say next.

You sunk my battleship...

   So the other day I went to the pre-screening of the new movie Battleship. I thought it would be interesting to see Rihanna acting and, to my pleasant surprise, she wasn't too bad. There was one pretty cheesy monologue from her when her and her team were looking at the first alien they'd caught, but apart from that I would give her a thumbs up. I must say, she makes a darn good badass. But I think we all knew that anyway, what with her 'tough girl' persona.

The movie itself was alright. If you've seen the trailer, I don't think it would be fair to say that it didn't meet your expectations. The movie was a typical Hollywood blockbuster. It had the occasional cheesy line, the big explosions and the romance. Though I noticed that they didn't include the line, "you sunk my battleship...". Probably a good choice.

I thought that Taylor Kitsch (I first saw him on the television series Friday Night Lights) was a good choice for the lead role of Alex Hopper. He combined being a slight douche with trying o save the world quite well. Or so I thought. Hopefully others thought the same too! His reviews for the recent Disney movie, John Carter, weren't too great. Of course Liam Neeson was great. I can just never get over how gigantic he is! And what of his low, gravelly voice? So intimidating.

And if you love Eric from the HBO series, True Blood, I'm sure you won't mind seeing him in Battleship in a nice marine uniform. He plays Alex Hopper's brother, Stone. What a totally hipster name.

Everyone loves a man in uniform, right? ;)

One thousand words

   Everyone has heard the phrase "a picture says a thousand words" and for the most part, this is what week 4's lecture is on.

We've all seen those iconic photographs such as the "Tank Man" who stopped four advancing tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. This shot was taken by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press.

I think it's safe to say that this expresses so much more than one could possibly put into words. It just goes to show the true power of a good photograph and how well it can tell a story.

A picture must have some meaning to it if it is going to tell a good story. In order for it to be a great picture it has to make you feel something! That is great photography.

Another point Bruce brings up is the editing process in photo journalism. The part that particularly stands out for me is a commercial from Dove that I first saw a couple of years ago. It shows just how much somebody can be changed and enhanced with the right lighting, styling and editing. It's quite remarkable. But sometimes (especially in the US) it goes over the line and the person hardly even resembles themself anymore - whether it be their chest, hands, face or body that is edited in order to fit the definition of what beauty is seen as in today's society. Watch the video here, it's very intriguing. And check out this gallery on ninemsn.com.au - it's full of before and afters!

Just today, I was on the train sitting near a mother with her two young daughters. The older daughter who was turning seven soon demanded that she wanted lots of makeup for her birthday. And the younger daughter, who is turning six this year, said that she wanted perfume for her birthday because her perfume now was "tinny" (tiny). I mean don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to smell nice or anything but the fact that these girls were so young made it just a tad disturbing.

The ideals we have in today's society are being drilled into us at such a young age, especially the perception of beauty. Take the show Toddlers and Tiaras, for example. I don't know if you've ever watched the show but it is scary stuff. It seriously freaks me out. Shudder. They're like little dolls who have come alive and are taking over the world. But more to the point, we shouldn't be drilling these ideas into children's heads from the moment they are born. I don't think it's healthy. Because if they don't see anything but these Photoshopped and highly edited perfect people in photos, then the standard is set so high for them and they are likely not to acecpt themselves or others as being beautiful because from what they have been taught, that sort of beauty is not real - though they just don't know it yet.

The power of text.

Text [tekst] (noun)

1. the words of something printed or written.


Week 3's lecture is on text (if it isn't already obvious enough) and guest lecturer, Skye Doherty, made an appearance to share her expertise in this area.

Text is something we can create and mold to our liking. It is flexible and we can chop and change it to our heart's content. We can control and fine-tune it to the last degree. This is perhaps part of the reason of why it is so powerful. One simple sentence can draw an entire audience in. And if the rest is worded with as much care, it may even get the audience to read the entire story. 

One of the first points Skye brings up is the 'inverted pyramid'. I first heard of this last year in my reporting course and I have to say, it is pretty straight forward. If you want to bring readers in, you've got to have the most important elements of the story at the top - 5 W's and the H. You've got to captivate the reader when they first lay eyes on it so that they feel compelled to continue reading on. The same goes for online newspapers. Though online, readers also have access to related stories, videos, photo galleries and many more options that aren't as readily available with physical newspapers.

But the main thing that I'm taking away from this lecture is not just the power of text itself, but the way it gets powerful in the first place. Text, as well as photos and hypertext, must be placed in the correct position in a newspaper for it to be published. It has to contain certain appeal and it must also be the truth. Without these elements, reading a newspaper would be unappealing (though it already is to some), it could be unjust and untrue and if you're really unlucky, legal action could be on the horizon. But let's hope not! 

By sticking to what Skye outlined in this lecture, we should be all good! And now that I am far more educated on the world of text, let's see if my writing changes for the better.

Cheerio my little cherubs.