Chapter 13

Online News: Journalism strands converge

1. What do media companies need to do in relation to convergence before they can expect their journalists to work in converged news rooms?

There are a series of options a media organisation must considered before converging news rooms and mediums. Initially that must establish an online presence to determine if there is an audience that is willing to participate in the new media format. Once this presence is established an organisation should communicate with journalists the new expectations so that they may adapt to the new writing style that will be expected in the online world.

2. What would be the likely outcome if someone who just wanted to work as a print journalist because they would be nervous on television, was told by the company they worked for that they must report for television as well as print?

If a print journalist was informed that they had to report for television it is highly likely that they would provide an ordinary performance and therefore hinder there career. On the other hand if the journalist flat out refused to do television reporting it is highly likely that the journalists job may be in jeopardy for refusing a job.

Chapter 12

Broadcast journalism: the worlds town crier

1.Do you think the ABC should be privatised? What impact might this have on journalism?

The ABC should not be privatised. The ABC is a significant component of the Australian media, with holdings in broadcast, print and radio and provides a higher degree of objectivity and high-brow articles. If the ABC were to be privatised it would essentially become more commercial and profit driven which would be significantly different to the role it now maintains.

2.You are a television news director with two strong job applications. One is from a ‘telegenic’ male, 28, with reasonable skills and experience. The other is from a female, 38. She is of average appearance but has considerable skill and experience. Your present reporting staff consists of four females and one male, none older than 32. Who do you hire and why?

Each applicant have there advantages, in this instance I would hire the male. While he is not experienced this may be developed over time, and would fit better into the position of people his age – therefore ensuring the consistency of the reporting staff. In addition to this as he is not as experienced he may be more eager to work and be less head strong or ego driven in regards to the stories he is given.

3.Given the strengths and weaknesses of each medium, which do you this in the best communicator on any given story: radio, television, the web or newspapers?

Each medium has its strengths however I believe that the internet is the strongest in that it is not limited to a timeframe or word count. It can encompass the strengths of the other mediums including audio and video whilst linking to other relevant articles at the user’s discretion.

4.During the last federal election campaign do you think the broadcast media focused more on issues or personalities? What could have been done better?

The November 2007 federal election I believe the broadcast media focussed on a variety of issues including the campaign proposals made by candidates and the personalities of each. A strong focus was portrayed on the liberal party and the relationship between John Howard and Peter Costello, as well as Julia Gillard running with Kevin Rudd. Personalities are always an important component of the broadcast of an election, but I believe the broadcast media also gave considerable weight to the policies each party offered.

Chapter 11

Reporting for duty

1. I would write the story. while the police officer has made a considerable threat in refusing to speak to the journalist in question, his threat would only add to the severity and impact of the story. This story is in the public interest, and therefore it represents a large proportion of the key news values. In addition to this the chief-of-staff would like you to write the article therefore if you don't someone else would, and the police officer would not speak to you anyway, therefore there is little consequence in writing the article. 

2. I would look into the agencies available to help this woman. all threats of suicide must be taken seriously. in addition to this i would still report the story but not use names, and be careful of the descriptions i used.

3. I would report the story. Many of these DUI stories have been reported in recent times, and have not ruined a career. In addition to this there are benefits to reporting the story for example scooping competition newspapers. as you have had contact with the celebrity it may be plausible to get a quote that will balance the article. 

4. i would conduct an investigation into the jurors, but would not make any direct allegations. i may write a small article that states allegations have been made, but would not directly state specific details about any of the jurors. 

Chapter 10

The Story Factor

1. I would not want a rival newspaper to scoop the story, and if it has been a slow news day would jump at the chance to write a feature piece. While the source may have good reason to delay it so that they have time to verify facts – it would be better to write the article, being careful of wording and use “allegedly”. If the story turns out to be partially untrue facts can be clarified in a later edition.


2. The Journalist would have to weigh up the public’s right to know about the resort, and the job security of those involved. Arguably if the resort does have a filthy kitchen and is losing money then there would be limited job security for employees anyway, and therefore I would continue writing the story.

3. I would delay the production process – and edit the person’s names out of the paper. The newspaper would not want to be caught up with breaking judge’s orders as it will have a negative impact on both the journalist and the newspaper.

4. As a junior journalist I would have to follow the editors orders as they are the direct superior and may give the story to another journalist who will write it from there angle, so there is little to lose in doing it this way. I would consider the arguments the police rounds reporter makes and perhaps include them somewhere in the story, if it complimented the editors wishes.

Chapter 9

Interviewing: a core skill

1. Which would you choose: a direct quotation that is accurate but unclear and embarrassing to the speaker, or one that is clear but is inexact and makes the speaker appear more eloquent than he or she really is?

I would use a direct quotation in that it has a higher impact in a story. Although the direct quote may be somewhat unclear the story and the rest of the article should clarify what is not represented in the quote. While the quote may be somewhat embarrassing to the speaker it would encompass the state of the speaker at the time, and add significant weight to the article.


2. Is it ever justified for a journalist’s to intimidate a source with a threat of ‘public exposure to get important public information?

Media Mogels who have threatened to negatively expose persons for personal gain is not justified; it is a breach of journalist morals and the code of ethics. In light of this however I believe that journalists can be justified to intimidate a source with a threat of public exposure – if it is in the public’s best interest. If the person is a high profile politician keeping or misleading the public I believe that the journalist should threaten public exposure to expose the actual truth.

3. Is it a reasonable strategy for a journalist – male or female – to use ‘personal chemistry’ to get information from sources when there is public interest at stake?

Personal chemistry is open to debate. If this refers to a journalist simply using connections that they have favourable relations with then I see there is no harm in using the personal chemistry to get the story – this extends to flirting. However if personal chemistry is referring to sleeping with someone to obtain a story I believe this is ethically wrong and going to extreme measures to gain an advantage.


4. What potential dangers could come back to haunt a journalist who gets to close to a source?

If a journalist gets to close to a source, it may impact the journalist’s future or article in a variety of ways. For instance an article may be indivertibly written with a bias opinion, there may be issues with working with the source in the future, and the source may negatively impact the journalists reputation.

Chapter 8

Small Path, Big Story

1. Which type of story would you rather do and why:
a. A ‘paper chase’ conducted entirely by computer and telephone that takes half the time it would have taken if you had left the office?
b.A ‘paper chase’ involving visits to half a dozen government offices and in-person interviews that puts you under extreme deadline pressure?

While both types of paper chases would be interesting, I would rather complete the first paper chase that would not put me under deadline pressure. This would allow me to write a more accurate story that would report the facts whilst meeting the house style, and doing the story justice. This style of story would be easier to write and would be also more convenient on a busier news day.

2. Would you be willing to pursue a corruption investigation or an investigation into organised crime if it included many unpaid hours of extra work and personal risk?

I would be willing to pursue such a story if I had a solid lead or evidence to justify the unpaid hours. Such a story may be rewarding if it achieves a good outcome however if the lead and evidence was not solid I would be less inclined to pursue a wild goose chase.

3. Would you be willing to act together as a unit with competing reporters at a media conference in an effort to get maximum information if it meant giving up your best question which you had intended to ask privately after the conference?

Yes, I would be willing to act as a unit, in this field journalists tend to rely on each other for information and they would also have to forgo their best question at the press conference. Also it is my understanding that in these situations private question time is not always possible so it would be better to ask the question while you are certain that you will get a response. By relying on my own personal skills as a journalist I would then hope that I could write the better article based on the information we obtain.

4. Who really owns government-held information: the government or the people? Why?

I believe that the government have the right to withhold information from the people when it is doing so to protect society. There are instances where the people should not need to be aware of facts in that it might be detrimental to a society’s well being.

5. If you were assigned to report on the proceedings of a conference and you had to choose between attending different sessions being conducted at the same time, how would you decide which to attend?

In this instance I would consider the values of news-worthiness and what would be the most appealing for my readers as a story. For instance if I was assigned to an environmental conference I would attend a session on climate change rather than biodiversity due to its timeliness, impact and currency angles.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: A word’s worth


1. At what educational level of readers should newspapers be aiming? Do you think your main metropolitan newspaper is hitting the mark?

A newspaper should be compelling and informative and yet simplistic in its approach. I believe that newspapers should be written for a target audience of at least a student in secondary school, years ten and above. Articles that include longer words and phrases send mixed messages to their audience and therefore should be kept concise and simple. I do believe that the metropolitan Newspapers are hitting the mark. I believe that through the use of house guides, journalists are very limited to the complexity’s they include in their articles in order to appeal to the greater number of readers.


2. To what extent do you think reporters should be able to interpret news events and inject their thoughts into news stories?

I believe that journalists must be careful when interpreting news events and implementing their own thoughts and opinions. The influence and power that a journalist holds can be very significant within local communities and therefore blatant bias on the journalist’s behalf may take valuable information away from a story. This is not true where the journalist is a specialist in a field and personal opinion is required but for the recounting of news events, I believe journalists should avoid injecting their thoughts.


3. English is a growing and ever-changing language as new words evolve and old ones fall into disuse. What then of the idea of a global language? Does it really matter that our language is being tainted with Americanisms and US spellings?

While English is widely recognised as an ever expanding and dominating language I believe that labelling it as a global language would be presumptuous and striping cultures of there ethnicities. In comparison it is evident that Cantonese and Mandarin are also becoming widely recognised as one of the most spoken languages in the world, however this is due to population and the rapid economic expansions evident in China. Science Fiction – in particular “Firefly” have made predictions that a hybrid language of both Chinese and English will be evident in the future where they will be interchangeable as more people will grow more accustomed with the Asian language.

As for the Americanisms and US spellings, it is rather concerning for a traditionalist to witness what has been referred to as “the death of the English language”. However these spellings and US colloquialisms are only display Americas influence and global power that are evident in many other walks of life and culture.


4. Based on your own experience and your reading of newspapers, do you think newspapers have a serious commitment to accuracy?

No I think that newspapers are letting standards slip as with their commitment to accuracy. The Australian has made several mistakes of late including spelling errors. In particular in the issue 16th August there was an article that mentioned Amy Pearson and then listed her as being “pictured” there was no picture accompanying this article, and I assume it was edited out during layout.


5. What would you do if you made a serious mistake in a story you wrote but no one contacted the paper to complain?

If it was a serious mistake I would write a retraction to correct the errors in the initial article.

Chapter 6

Upside Down Pyramids

1. Would you include balancing comment (in the form of a source’s statement) in a story if you knew that the statement was untrue but could not say so or prove that it was untrue and the source insisted the comment be included?

Yes I would include the balancing comment. A comment from a source is important in that it presents an unbiased story to the public free of persuasion from the journalist. If there is no evidence that the quote is untrue then the journalist has no right to apply bias in the article. The text states that “by providing a comment from both sides of a story fairness and balance essential to the content of the story” p.134.

2 .Because you could not locate a source for balancing comment, would you withhold a story on which you have worked hard? Would your decision change if you knew that an opposing newspaper was planning to run a similar story, reducing the value of your effort?

Page 135 of the text states:

“If people either refuse to comment or cannot be reached for comment, it must be made clear that they were given the opportunity and this should be mentioned high in the story. That makes it obvious to the readers that an effort was made in good faith to be fair and to balance the story.”

Therefore if the journalist has attempted to create fairness but one side has refused to comment it is clear in the article that the journalist would not be held accountable. As a journalist I would still run the story although a competing newspaper was running a similar one. By two papers printing the story a greater balance and diversity of coverage is allowed for.

3. You are sent to report from the scene of a major uncontrolled fire in a high-rise building. People are trapped inside. What dangers should you look out for? Who would you interview? When would you start writing the story?

On arrival at the scene of the story it would be important to note the key hazards of the fire to ensure the safety of myself and others – but also it is important to not get in the way of emergency persons who are attempting to do their work. While the story is important it is equally important to be aware of any potential hazards that may occur.

4. It would not be appropriate to interview emergency workers whilst they are working, however after the fire if one is available they would be suitable, persons who got out or lived in the building, and onlookers.

From your reading of news stories, do you think the inverted pyramid remains the most effective method of structuring material?

Yes, I believe that the inverted pyramid is the effective method of writing a news story. It has benefits to all those who are associated with news, journalists, editors and newspaper readers in that editors may cut stories easily without losing key information. Journalists have a stylised writing guide so that standards are maintained. And newspaper readers may gain key information quickly without having to read a whole article.

Chapter 4

A ‘know’ for news

1. How did Australian news outlets give proximity to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?

Proximity is concerned with the ‘where’ aspect of news. Australian journalists gave proximity to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by drawing attention to the following aspects:
· Relations with Indonesia are always given news coverage because of the close proximity and partnerships in place
· Giving significant news coverage regarding Australians who had died in the tsunami or had been injured or missing
· Paying attention to the similarities in coastlines, and tidal actions at the time of the tsunami
· Reports were made regarding North Western Australia feeling the quake that cause the earthquake
· Economic and trade ramifications for both countries
· Strong focus on Australian aid sent to Indonesia


2. If you were a reporter covering a story about a mentally ill Australian woman who was found by Queensland police in Cairns talking what they thought was German who was subsequently arrested and found herself locked up in an immigration detention centre in South Australia for 10 months, what main news value would you focus on when writing the story? In order of importance what would be the next two subsidiary news values?

If I was a reporter writing regarding the case of Cornelia Rau I would focus on the human interest aspect of the story. The key features of a human interest story fit well with the key elements of this story in that her situation does not significantly fit other news values, but would be of great interest to Australians. I would highlight the proximity of the story in that it took place in Australia and highlights faults with Australian immigration law and policy. Finally I would focus on currency, when stories of this nature emerge debate is generated regarding immigration camps.

3. As a reporter, which information would you feature more prominently:
a. A mayoral announcement about an urban renewal plan to resolve inner-city crime problems; or
b. A comment by Prince Charles, in Australia on a visit, who says after the mayor’s speech that such problems can often be attributed to building regulations formulated by city councils?

The comments by Prince Charles would feature more prominently due to his ‘celebrity’ status and would be of higher interest to readers.


4. Define ‘news’ in 20 words or less

News as defined on page 77 of the course text is a contemporary event, issue, circumstance or tragedy. Also: a surprise, expose, embarrassment, conflict, accident, dilemma or procrastination.

Chapter 2 - Agents of Power

1. Which media function do you think is most important and why?

Of the three media functions, inform, educate and entertain, I believe that the media’s ability to educate and inform that is the most important. The text argues that both of these media functions overlap each other, and I argue that whilst the media’s ability to inform communities is significant, there ability to do so whilst educating the public is more significant. The combined effects of these media functions are further beneficial to a society then if they were to be carried out separately. For example in a political election campaign the media is responsible for informing a society about the progress of candidates, however they can further enhance society’s knowledge by educating society about campaign promises, and its follow-on effects.

2. To what degree should journalists be concerned about their employer’s profitability and readership figures?

In the current media climate specifically that of print media, many concerns are being raised regarding readership figures and the profitability of their medium. I do not believe that it is the job of the journalist to be significantly concerned by such claims. While it is alarming I believe that a journalist should concentrate on the quality of writing. In saying this a journalist should be aware of their audience so that they may perform better their media functions.

3. Is it reasonable for the owner of a media outlet to direct editorial policy and to make editorial decisions on political and other issues?

Society has expectations of media outlets to present unbiased accounts in regards to political and social events. While it is evident that particular mediums may represent a political spectrum more favourably than another, editors will argue that they are specifically represent their readers who hold this political opinion. While I believe that it is not reasonable for a media owner to direct editorial decisions I do believe that bias in this instance is not inherently wrong. For media tyrant Rupert Murdoch to make editorial decisions regarding political events could have detrimental effects on media coverage/bias due to the sheer capacity of media outlets he owns.

4. Does investigative journalism really matter? Does it sell newspapers or increase ratings?

Investigative Journalism is a significant component of the media’s role as a watchdog. For example the media’s role in the uncovering of the Australian Wheatboard case. While it is argued that investigative journalism is costly and will result in “dead-ends” in many cases it is beneficial when truths are revealed behind government agendas. I don’t believe that it would sell newspapers or increase ratings – especially in the long term of the paper, and the nature of online, broadcast and radio media outlets.

5. You are the editor of a newspaper that is losing money. The biggest advertiser has been convicted of drink-driving. Your newspaper has a policy of recording all such convictions. Even your own son’s conviction has been published. The newspapers general manager – your boss – tells you the advertiser will no longer advertise with the newspaper if you publish the report. The decision is yours alone, but you are told the loss of advertising could mean the paper’s closure, or at least the retrenchment of several editorial and print-room staff. What do you do?

In this instance I believe the journalist is ethically responsible for the reporting of drink driving conviction. While the paper may suffer a loss of revenue in advertising, the loss that it would face by not reporting would be far more significant. Other news outlets will release the story and society will question the integrity of the one newspaper that failed to report the instance.