Tag Archives: war

A week without sensationalism

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I wasn’t sure what to expect. Nor was I sure I would actually make it. A week away from the news within the country I live – except for the outlets I write for. All I wanted was to see if it would be any different.

It was different, but not what I expected.

At the end of last week was when I could put my finger on what was different. What I had been missing out on, or maybe more correctly, been saved from.

It was this sensationalism that seems to be too common in the media here. Too much focus on spin and freak-show news. Forget about analysis and informative news. That’s too much of a time consumer. Just get the far-out stories and generate clicks and gossip.

Not just that, the lack of criticism astounds me. Why is it that only Media Watch has the balls to criticise the media loudly?

Judging by some of the attitudes I’ve encountered, the media in Australia will be the last to change to adapt to what is happening with journalism now. I’ve tried to tell some journos they need to look beyond Australia’s borders to see what other countries are doing wrong and right. Instead the assure me that it’s no concern of Australia.

Which is probably why we don’t hear so much about famous Australian journos anymore. They made themselves stand out in war reporting during WW1 and WW2. But that’s long ago now. What happened to the risk-takers? Where is the urge to be progressive and innovative?

I guess lazy tabloid journalism is what happened.

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Dokter’s Weekly Report #7

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What a beautiful world we live in. If you criticise a certain religion you might end up starting a war. What will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and launches us into WW3? Because seriously, it almost seems imminent now.

This is the world we live in and I honestly don’t like it.

I don’t like or support hate-speech, but I do however support freedom of speech. I support the right that you can criticise a religion, even mock it, without risking starting a bloody war over it.

Which is one of the reasons journalism won’t die any time soon. Where there is conflict, there will be journalists covering that conflict.

But some conflict we would be fine without.

Linkage

New York Times bans quote approval, kind of – Read it
If you have conducted an interview, this whole silly dance of approving quotes is a bit useless. If you don’t want something go to print, don’t tell the journalist. Or at least say it’s off-the-record.

You’re being more closely watched – Read it
Can’t say I’m surprised. With the “she’ll be right” attitude, Aussies won’t be up in arms about it until it kicks them in the arse and hurts like hell.

Why you’ll never have the latest version of Android – Read it
It might seem petty, but this is one of many reasons that keeps me far away from Android. Why bother buy a device, which most likely supports the latest version, when it’s very unlikely you will ever enjoy the latest features.

Don’t believe everything you read: Why journalism still matters – Read it
It’s all well and good that this is repeated, but tell that to the newsrooms, the editors that keeps saying they need to cut spending.

Is journalism’s future bright? – Read it
Depends on who you ask.

Google snaps up Instagram-rival Snapseed to boost Google+ – Read it
And it seems that the fear Snapseed will die like Sparrow might come true. This is so far from being innovative. Instead of trying to make something better, they just buy the competition. Why hasn’t Google been taken to trial for anti-trust yet?

Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses ‘would not be published today’ – Read it
Both a bit sad and scary. Sad and scary that this is the world we live in.

France in embassy alert over Prophet Muhammad cartoons – Read it
Make fun of a Christian, worst that might happen is that they will tell you that you’re going to hell. Make fun of Muhammad and you might risk starting a war.

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