Tag Archives: media

A lone gunman is now considered a siege

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Sometime between 11 am and 12 pm yesterday I heard through the grapevine that a man with a gun had been spotted at Queen Street Mall in Brisbane CBD. The police was quick to lockdown the area and issuing a PSPA. I was too far away to rush there to cover it for the first bidder wanting a journalist on the ground. But I already had a commitment I could not step away from — the memorial service for Whiskey Au Go Go 40th anniversary in The Valley.

Still I had a bit of a conundrum to tackle. At the time I was in the South Brisbane area, and The Valley is located in the north, past Brisbane CBD, across the Brisbane River. While on the bus I was frantically trying to find out how to get across the river, then past The CBD, to get to The Valley. Most routs passing through that area had been shutdown – terminating just before The CBD at both ends. I hate being late for things, I absolutely abhor it, something that you grow up with in Norway, being taught to feel shame if late.

The bus dropped us off on the corner by the Cultural Centre, as the bus station had been closed off. Luckily it was near the train station. I rushed towards the station, hoping to catch the next train heading towards The Valley. I do not take the train that often. Only if I have to or going to the airport to get away from this massive island for a bit. I assumed I were on the right platform, not sure if the train that had stopped was heading towards The Valley, I asked one of the train personnel. I was told, in a very apathetic voice, that the train was heading towards where I was going. Still not sure because of the what-ever response I got.

Lucky for me that I trusted the train personnel, I made my way towards the memorial service for Whiskey Au Go Go 40th anniversary after stepping off the train. But that is not what I want to talk about now — I will file that write-up on Monday. What I want to highlight is what I read regarding what was going on in The CBD – the lone gunman.

In a country with strict gun laws, you do not expect this to happen too often, a person being in a public area, waving a gun around, having the area locked off and flooded with police. Such an event will make most of the media drool from their hungry mouths to not just be the first to cover it, but be the one with the highest ratings. Turning reporters into hungry vultures, circling around, hoping someone will die so they can swoop in and feast on the carcass on the ground while it is still warm.

It had to happen, someone had to up the ante to make it sound like something sinister were about to happen. Suddenly a lone gunman in The CBD was at that point referred to as a siege. A person that allegedly had no intentions to hurt anyone else other than himself, as he was claimed to be pointing the gun at himself while yelling at the police to shoot him. An event I find it difficult to justify calling a siege. But alas, that is what the media is like here — all about sensationalism.

It is more tempting to refer to the police action as a siege, as they came in as a group, armed and ready to take action against someone, and taking control of an area. But that would of course be going too far for the media here, especially in Queensland, as the police and media do not get that well along here after a certain coverage of a certain police officer — Chris Hurley.

Yet again the reputation, as I see it, of journalists have been dragged down in the mud. An event being pre-judged by greedy journalists wanting to create a name for themselves, by sacrificing a person that was crying out for help. A cry that seems to have been tossed aside, down on the ground and swept under the carpet, for the sake of stirring the public— by inciting fear for the sake of ratings —to see that person as someone that wanted to cause harm to the public, when all he wanted, and needed, was help. No wonder journalists are often seen as untrustworthy vultures.

Hopefully we can learn from this, at least those of us that are willing to improve, to understand how it should not have been handled. An event like this needs to be reported, no doubt about that at all, but only report what is known, what information is available. Avoid the assumptions, the fear-mongering — report only the facts. Then, when new information is available, add to the follow-up reporting — still with emphasis on accuracy.

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Dokter’s Weekly Report #25

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It is time again for a journalism-heavy report. Filled with commentary and links to articles regarding my obsession with journalism.

My favourite is the first link. Not just showing my bias regarding writing style, but it also highlights the need for constant, fluid change. It is foolish to try to reinvent the wheel, but there is nothing wrong with improving and adapting it.

Finishing the report with a link regarding the idea of individualism within a relationship. That some have this idea that some partners needs “fixing” or need to change to suit the other person.

Tomorrow will hopefully be tolerable.

Linkage

The Need for a Digital “New Journalism” – Read it
This is the type of article I might re-read from time to time. If you are only going to read one article this year about journalism, this is it. As someone that is inspired and driven to journalism by Hunter S. Thompson and his Gonzo Journalism, I could not agree more with the author of the article. Fuck quotes! It is time journalists are trusted for their coverage. Too bad so many ruin it for the rest of us.

Using research in journalism – Read it
What is sad, when reading this article, is that you would think that would be expected. That journalists would prefer research over opinions when writing about most topics.

We need more criticism of the media, not less – Read it
Agreed, especially in Australia. More journalists need to stand up and dare to provide some critique. However, the criticism needs to be informed. It needs to be done with purpose. Or else it is nothing but ill-informed whinging.

A newspaper reporter who loves his job – Read it
That is why we do it.

Say whatever you like, but it’s a sorry day for freedom of the press – Read it
No wonder Australia ranks as number 26 in 2013 Press Freedom Index from RSF. While in Sweden, a journalist’s source is protected by the constitution. Nor do citizens in Australia enjoy constitutional freedom of speech.

Public servants baulk at FOI changes – Read it
This is what often happens when there is no constitutional guaranteed freedom of speech. The government becomes less transparent.

The journalist and the police source – learning from an unfortunate case – Read it
Even if the public deserves to know, it is important to know when that should be and how it might affect everyone, even your sources.

She’s scheduling his free time. He’s having a meltdown – Read it
One of the last things you want in a relationship is to be treated as some kind of employee. Being a relationship means that you share responsibility, it does however not mean you are attached to the hip of each other.

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