Combining the knowledge of three
highly experienced journalists, professors and authors, this journal discusses
the values of journalists and journalism in regards to their consumers; the
public. In comparing traditional journalism with the growing industry of public
journalism, this journal analyses a multitude of surveys collected to further understand
the points of views of the journalists and the readers they are catering to in
simple terms of what matters most. A conclusion was reached that public and
traditional journalism are entirely different and are developing in separate
directions. However, trust in traditional journalism is declining and this in
part has to do with its failure to meet expectations of ‘being a good neighbour’:
caring about the community, highlighting aspects of it, understanding those
within, and offering solutions to the problems – the core values of public
journalism. This journal is an amalgamation of many surveys that introduce common
factors used to create the journal’s own survey to expand on these findings. Factors
such as ethnic groups, age groups, gender, financial backgrounds, educational
backgrounds and other aspects in these findings and the effects this has on the
reception of the news were heavily considered and calculated. A point was made
of this survey being conducted only in a south-west area of the United States
and recommendations were put forward for other surveys and further
investigations to be undertaken in mind of this. In essence, this journal
contained thorough detail, evaluation and deep reflections creating a valuable
piece that encourages the merging of journalism with the community.
Norington, B. (2012,
May 10) US president Barack Obama backs same-sex marriage ahead of US election.
The Australian, retrieved from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/us-election/us-president-barack-obama-backs-same-sex-marriage-ahead-of-us-election/story-fn95xh4y-1226351575041
This account focuses entirely on
the American story of President Barack Obama’s new affirmation in his belief
that same-sex marriage should be legalised. The report is straightforward,
providing details of events speculated to have induced this announcement, the
importance of such a statement by the US President to the gay and lesbian
community and how this sentiment falls in with the rest of the country. There
are no outright comments or particular indications to bias and the article is
balanced with mentions of the opposition in both the presidential election
campaign and of the social same-sex marriage debate. In stark contrast to its
television and radio counterparts, this newspaper article maintains a basic
read with only facts and simple statistics with no comments, besides quotes
from the interview with President Obama, or specific mentions of either expert
or opposition opinions on the political or social aspects of this historical
news. Meanwhile the other mediums report
this same story with references to a minimum of two professionals each to lend
support, credibility and extra twists for the public to contemplate. Rather
this is a fast production of traditional journalism, with little mind to the
community as an audience, a method and form of journalism that is proving to be
accepted less and less by the public, according to Heider et.al.
Kennedy, S.
(Reporter) (2012, May 10) Obama comes out in support of same-sex marriage, ABC – AM Radio.
Kennedy’s radio report is a
detailed account of President Obama’s comments of supporting same-sex marriage
in an on-camera interview. The attention is directed towards the claims that
the President was almost forced to voice his own opinion by his Vice President,
but overall dictates a rather positive portrayal of the historical
announcement. There is primary information with quotes from the President in
the headlining interview as well as expert comments from presidential
correspondents analysing this move in a political sense and what outcomes can
be expected as a result. This is further gathering of evidence apparent also in
the television coverage of this same event on Channel 10’s ‘The Project’. However, akin to a mentioned Australian
newspaper story, there is no reference tying this news to Australia or the
relevance to its audience. This report is concise and informative, but once
again lacks the neighbourhood support desired from a majority of the public
audience other than a controversial but meaningful topic most individuals seem
to have some formulated opinion on.
Obama Comes Out
(2012, May 10) The Project – Channel 10 [Television
Broadcast]. Sydney, NSW.
A popular show on a major
channel, this particular report addressed US President Barack Obama’s
declaration of favouring same-sex marriage; a decision that has recorded him
into history. The report runs minutes longer than others and takes on two
angles. The first is the implications in the US after this announcement and significance
of this within the President’s re-election campaign. A Washington editor of the
well-known newspaper The Atlantic
provides information on both the political and public outcomes due to his
experience and access to sources. The second draws the story closer to home through
discussing the fallout in Australia and Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s
unchanging opinion in opposing same-sex marriage. Another journalist, a
columnist for News LTD explains the
differences between the US and Australia’s political systems and how, despite
the immense support in Australia to allow same-sex couples to marry, there is
no obligation for the current government to follow the US President’s example.
There is a notable lack of actual political experts in this report, however,
which brings some questions into the intent behind the story. But this program
is casual in nature and aims to deliver the news and allow for feedback from the
audience through social media, a feature of public journalism and one that
proves to be increasingly popular. This segment provides similar information as
the radio and newspaper but in a simplified manner that is also entertaining
for their audience.
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