the daily current

Photoshop ethics ...

2007-04-03T10:49:00.000+10:00

As part of my media communications degree, I do a unit called Journalism Ethics and Issues. Today's lecture was by a member of the Australian Press Council (APC), Gary Evans [2nd from top].Gary discussed an instance where the Cairns Post newspaper decided to publish an photo of a scene where two people had been shot after an all-day seige on 17 March, 2001 [can't find the story online -- comment

Silicon Valley humour ...

2007-04-02T12:27:00.000+10:00

Have you heard about the latest innovations from Google?Well, there's the `Toilet internet Service Provider` (TiSP), a new wireless broadband service that connects you to the web via your household plumbing. It's the latest in `dark porcelain` research. Here's how it works.But if you already get enough sewer content through the internet, you can always try Gmail paper. Sick of annoying pop-ups,

It's just a jump to the [L]eft ...

2007-03-12T17:11:00.000+10:00

If you were an alien who had crashed into Earth and, for some reason, decided to read today's Australian, you would be forgiven for thinking it's a dominantly Left-wing journal in cahoots with the US Democrats.On page 15, you'd see at least half the page devoted to a piece from the by Andrew Sullivan - `America in a Right awful mess` - about the damage the Scooter Libby conviction has had on the

Back on board

2007-03-01T15:23:00.000+10:00

After a massive three month break I'm finally back at uni and my nose is back where it feels safe - pointing at the spine of an open book.I'm not going to bore any of my zero hundred readers with mundane details about my holiday - let's just say that after three and a half months off I'm glad to be using my brain again.Loads of interesting issues have come to the media foreground since the end of

Come on save your soul ...

2006-11-08T15:47:00.001+10:00

If you have any doubts as to whether Saddam Hussein's death sentence was delayed by the Bush Government to boost voter support for the upcoming election, then have a look at this prediction in The Notion by Tom Engelhardt.It's not the first time George Bush has PR'ed his way to the polls. But will it work this time??? - well I don't give a rat's kak; I'm just amazed the amount of spin that goes

Customer comes first -- especially in media

2006-10-27T11:27:00.000+10:00

There's so much debate in Australia about the future of our media landscape -- media laws, media regulation, media delivery platforms, media ownership and content production and consumption -- that it's hard to keep track of what decisions are being made about what. But the media is not just going to be a new landscape, in fact, it won't be a landscape at all. The Australian media industry will

How have the September 11 attacks changed the news?

2006-09-16T16:38:00.000+10:00

I was reading this week's edition of the Weekly Spin from PR Watch and it had a link to this study done by ADT Research.The US study basically shows that news on terrorism and foreign policy have pushed out a lot of the other domestic topics like drugs, crime and technology. It's only logical to expect that such a major topic like terrorism will be given more news focus, even if it is to the

New Media: New Assignment ...

2006-09-07T20:56:00.000+10:00

The Economist: “New online models will spring up as papers retreat. One non-profit group, NewAssignment.Net, plans to combine the work of amateurs and professionals to produce investigative stories on the internet.”Take a look at NewAssignment.net. Looks like a really interesting concept that will colaborate the work of amatuer and professional journalists around the world.I don't think I'll

The ultimate journalism software ...

2006-09-06T19:33:00.000+10:00

He died as he lived ...

2006-09-04T21:05:00.000+10:00

Steve Irwin had a passion for what he did and an undenying belief that Australia was the greatest country on Earth. For that, it was sad to hear of his death today.His love of the natural world was inspiring.My thoughts are with Steve's family. The world will be less lively without him.--Photo: ABC_____________________________________________________________

The final frontier ...

2006-08-29T21:59:00.000+10:00

Blogging from outer-space?And I thought blogging from my local McDonald's was adventurous ...

While we're at it ...

2006-08-28T21:54:00.000+10:00

"The gap between predictions and reality has left Americans deeply discouraged."In the spirit of having a go at US foreign policy [ie; the previous post], may I direct you to Alan Cohen's story just published the NYT. He writes about the pessimism George Bush and his government have preached over the past five years.Mission abolished ...

Sometimes I just don't know ...

2006-08-28T10:27:00.000+10:00

Well, it looks like the US' crosshairs are focusing on Iran now.And why would they invade Iran? I asked.Then I remembered -- oh yeah, that whole `unknown unknowns` thing, that explains it all. You know, the US knew they didn't know whether there were weapons of mass-destruction in Afghanistan/Iraq, so they invaded. And now they don't know whether they know if Iran is being naughty with nuclear

ABC cancer at Toowong

2006-08-18T12:02:00.000+10:00

Aside from being broadsided by the mainstream news media, ABC managing director Mark Scott yesterday went to the ABC building at Toowong to discuss the recent breast cancer scares in the studios.Read the full report of the ABC's progress here [.doc file].I know a couple of people who work at the Toowong studios. They say positions are opening up for cadetships because people are leaving.Good news

Distorting the facts ...

2006-08-18T11:39:00.000+10:00

I know this is an old article by Ken Inglis, and its on a fairly old topic, but it tells somewhat of a revelation.Shouldn't the media (mainly the Sydney Morning Herald [just look at the headline]) have checked its facts before it started blaming the Howard Government for purposefully appointing conservatives to the ABC board so as to make the ABC more favourable to his policy?It turns out the

Google goes old school ...

2006-08-03T08:31:00.000+10:00

Who said radio was dead?If the comforting sighs of the wireless are becoming redundant in households around the world, then why is Google jumping on board?"The deal is the latest development in Google's push to expand beyond the Internet into the traditional media marketplace, and follows a series of tests with print media and radio outlets."The Google deal is through the US's largest satellite

They make the world go 'round ...

2006-08-02T12:03:00.000+10:00

It's good to see that in a time of economic and political uncertainty that Australians keep the big issues in mind:"Nearly 40 per cent of Victorians and South Australia said [the price of bananas] was a bigger financial concern than interest rate rises, compared with 30 per cent of Queenslanders."Um, here's a solution ... DON'T BUY BANANAS! [???]What I love is the way politicians are using the

ABC moves into vodcasting

2006-08-01T13:44:00.000+10:00

In addition to their new jtv service, the ABC is expanding their new media services to incorporate vodcasting, which is basically podcasting except it deals with both video and audio data.But will the vodcast be as popular as we all hope? `No` said Rupert Murdoch in an interview with Newsweek earlier this year:"[H]ow many people really want to get video on a tiny screen when they already have

Tactics of fear - the fear of fear ...

2006-07-29T10:51:00.000+10:00

If the war on terrorism doesn't create a fearful enoughclimate amongst voters, why not ratchet it up by mentioning thespectre of a World War III?Bill Berkowitz uses the topic of fear tactics to popularise his own fear tactics about a possible WWIII.Here's the article, are you scared???

TV goes JJJ-ish

2006-07-28T14:10:00.000+10:00

JTV is here! It's good to see television networks, and indeed news and current affairs services, using new media technology to innovatively respond to the demands of the current interactive audience.JTV is a new concept born from the Triple J network to cater for Australia's changing and developing youth media audiences. It combines music, radio and film with a healthy dose of Hack style current

Why is it so?

2006-07-20T08:52:00.000+10:00

"Hezbollah was not prepared for Israel's swift and damaging reply"If, like me, you're confused about the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and aren't satisfied with the Australian mainstream media's coverage of the situation, have a look at the first-hand blogs from citizens and experts in the Middle-East.It took about a week before I heard/saw a mainstream news bulletin that actually explained why

hi ho, hi ho ...

2006-07-17T09:20:00.000+10:00

It's back to uni today, and I've already managed to misread my timetable. Go me!Anyway, I'll be contributing a lot more regularly seeing as though my brain's off holidays and actually thinking stuff again.Cant wait until Jonestown is published. Is Alan Jones really homosexual? ...There's a blooper.Here are some more of Al`s best bits, courtesy of Triple J`s Hack program.--Dwarfs courtesy of TBG

Roll 'em in, chew 'em up, spit 'em out ...

2006-07-17T09:13:00.000+10:00

Want to audition for the next Aussie Idol?You too can share in the success of previous finalists.Hit 'em up, raw hide ...

eBay would have a field day ...

2006-07-05T17:29:00.000+10:00

These guys got more than they expected when Tom Petty invited them in for coffee.More priceless sentimentality than you can poke a gavel at - handle it with care ...

Damned if you do ...

2006-06-19T13:59:00.000+10:00

"First they say it is OK to mine uranium from three sites but not from others. Then they say it is OK to sell uranium, but not to enrich it. And then they say, well, maybe it is OK to enrich it, but we shouldn't use it to power our towns and cities. It is policy anachronism piled on contradiction, capped by inertia."Read John Howard's full nuclear argument in The Age.If there's one thing Howard

2-0 -- should've been 0-0

2006-06-19T12:19:00.000+10:00

I watched the soccer this morning - Australia v Brazil. And seeing as though i'm out of touch with all other current affairs going on I thought I'd write a small review of the game.--BEEP! beep BEEP! beep BEEP! - 1:30am? I'd only been asleep for two hours, but my alarm was insisting there was something worth getting up for.It took me a while to realise why I was awake, but the reason was soon

Not dead, just busy ...

2006-06-11T13:23:00.000+10:00

I thought I'd write a courtesy post just to let all [zero] of my readers know I haven't given up on the blog [even though it's no longer compulsory that I keep one for uni].I've just been bloody busy with end-of-term assignment and whatnot.I haven't even started reading my free book I was so excited about.Nevertheless, there's been plenty going on in Australian media, and I'll start posting again

a + b = laughter

2006-06-01T10:06:00.000+10:00

It's hard to come up with a correct formula for comedy, but Tom Gleisner reckons Working Dog Productions has come up with a winner.All I can say is thank god they're here, it's about time Aussie comedy got a fair go.--*photo: ten

At the end of the day, it's all about ...

2006-05-31T21:27:00.000+10:00

?... chasing cheese down a hill [???]?

KCB201: I'll tell you what I think ...

2006-05-31T13:58:00.000+10:00

For Virtual Cultures we have to write a 500 word post about how we feel about our blogging experience; what we've discovered, how we've developed, skills, knowledge, etc.Well can I just say - I've really discovered myself through this blog, I now hold a deep sense of recognition with my thoughts and I feel one with my keyboard [*if saying this will get me an HD, please stop reading now*]. Well,

KCB201: May I ask who I'm talking to?

2006-05-31T13:04:00.000+10:00

Here are a few modern day buzzterms that are usually shuffled out around universities and research institutes:everyone's a journalisteveryone's a publisheropen informationfree communicationfreedom of speechWell, stats released from the ABS today suggest these phrases may not be as substantial as I thought. What we need to ask when we reference these words is who are we actually talking about?

Six to one ...

2006-05-31T08:41:00.000+10:00

Hang on, hang on. So John Howard and Mark Vaile are bitterly opposed to a merger between Queensland's Liberal and National parties, but Howard [Liberal leader] is more than happy to have Vaile [National Leader] as Deputy Prime Minister in the Federal Coalition?Am I the only one who can't see the difference between Queensland's proposal and the Federal Coalition?If the merger goes ahead, it's the

Packin' dacks ...

2006-05-30T14:13:00.000+10:00

I've written a few posts about the advertising industry and have thus realised what an interesting subject it is to follow. I guess advertising goes hand in hand with the media; one would not exist without the other ...It turns out Channel 9 - more specifically, James 'packyerdacks' Packer - is suing IceTV for allowing viewers to skip through their ads.IceTV is a popular new electronic program

It's OK to be old and stale ...

2006-05-29T22:00:00.000+10:00

The newspaper industry is struggling enough without universities encouraging it's antiquity:Heres a quote from our Journalism Style Guide:"Avoid the word 'yesterday' wherever possible in broadcast journalism. It makes the news sound old and stale. Use it in print journalism."Hah. Yeah, go on, newspapers thrive on being old and stale (aren't they still chiselling words on slate?) ...--*photo:

KCB201: I've got that funny feeling ...

2006-05-29T20:48:00.000+10:00

Does anyone else get that childish feeling when they read a book that's just been published? Anyone?No? Ok it's just me then.Last night I downloaded Yochai Benkler's new book, The Wealth of Networks: how social production transforms markets and freedom.You know the one, John gave us the link in week 8? Benkler has made his whole tome available under the Creative Commons License.And a

KCB201: Breaking [not stroking] the news

2006-05-26T11:55:00.000+10:00

For the last few assignments, I've been doing a bit of research into new media and, in particular, the role of bloggers and the effectiveness of blogging.There is this widely viewed concept that now `everyone's a journalist` [page of links], and I came across a number of articles that explained bloggers aren't really journalists in a true sense of the word.I don't think they are; I don't think

Five people shot dead in US

2006-05-23T20:53:00.000+10:00

What a tragic story:While you're reading the article, take note of the incredible detail the journalist goes into. Bear in mind, this shooting occurred TODAY.All the victims are named, the shooter is named, the family's domestic past is described, and the arrest is vividly written.Newswriting like this would never appear in Australian media. I'm amazed at how freely the whole event is explained!-

KCB 201: Love a funny little cartoon with a serious message?..

2006-05-21T17:09:00.000+10:00

In Virtual Cultures, we're bang in the middle of discussing the freedom of the internet, who should own it, and how to regulate content.I have presented my views on internet regulation in a previous post [basically, I think popularity for the internet has spawned from citizens' growing desire to communicate on an unregulated platform in an increasingly regulated and limited media environment,

Its as if the mag has no value...

2006-05-20T14:13:00.000+10:00

Now, we all know glossy magazines are usually all shine and no brine, but how about the latest phenomenon of packaging gifts with mags? It's as though the editors acknowledge the words inside are worth nothing so they throw in something more tangible to add value.But I do love the gender roles displayed:Women's mag Vogue Entertaining threw in an oven mitt;EVE offered a lovely scarf, whereas;

It's a gold rush, alright...

2006-05-19T15:20:00.000+10:00

Have you heard about all the money being thrown around for Channel Nine's 'special' on Brant Webb and Todd Russell? It's incredible!Firstly, Nine paid Webb and Russell $2.6m - outbidding Seven's first and final offer of $2.25m - for their story. (and, I assume, their souls as well).2.6million! They'll want the thing to rate it's pants off. That's about $1 for every Australian who tunes in.Nine

Thought for the week...

2006-05-18T21:31:00.000+10:00

Do you think the 'do not call' register will be inundated with so many phone calls it will eventually put itself on the 'do not call' register?

Torino photos

2006-05-18T17:59:00.000+10:00

If you like photojournalism, and you liked this year's winter Olympics in Torino, have a look at this awesome slideshow.*Note, the song `Afterglow` by INXS came on the radio just as I began the slideshow. Good song, it really added to the effect... really, it did. I'm not just being a tosser...

KCB201: In-game ads

2006-05-18T16:34:00.000+10:00

The `gamer` demographic is right in the "advertising sweet-spot", according to this article/survey by comScore.A couple of days ago, I commented on Courtney's blog, Arbitraty Culture, in response to her post about the future of advertising. I added a link to an article which explains how advertising could be seen in Grand Theft Auto.Well, the comScore article illustrated just how seriously

Moaning Lisa: Critics leave Da Vince Code groaning

2006-05-17T11:41:00.000+10:00

`Maybe the next day I'll forget about it,`That's what one critic said after seeing the premiere of The Davinci Code in Cannes today.It looks like the film won't match the success novel - I suppose this is nothing new.Apparently the film isn't that much different to the novel anyway.I did wonder how they would arrange the plot of the movie to be different to the novel. Anyone who's read the novel

More than a blogging...

2006-05-17T11:13:00.000+10:00

It seems blogging has become far more recognised in the academic world.I'm currently in a tutorial for a subject called Journalism Info. Systems,the second subject this year to ask me to `create a blog`.Once again, having already established a blog of my own, I'm at an advantage.JIS is based on the (relatvely) new online journalism movement, and presents all the different techniques for gathering

KCB201: Played to death

2006-05-16T19:58:00.000+10:00

Here's something for game maufacturers to add into their end-user licence agreements:`The company will not take responsibility if you kill yourelf as a resultof this game`. [I wouldn't be surprised...]A 13 year-old Chinese boy, Zhang Xiaoyi, commited suicide in 2004 after playing `Warcraft: Orcs and Humans,` a product of the popular Blizzard Entertainment, for 36 hours straight.`I want to join

KCB 201: Not before time...

2006-05-16T17:44:00.000+10:00

It appears changing the format of mP3s and putting them on your mP3 player is no longer illegal... finally.Also, did you know taping stuff off the TV or recording off CDs wasn't illegal? Well it will be under the new copyright laws, but it wasn't... I know everyone does it, but I didn't know it was legal.Confused? Read all about it here, read or podcast Stephen Long's report on the proposed

.:|| HIGH TIDE REPORT ||:.

2006-05-16T14:35:00.000+10:00

I know, I know, it's late, I know (I have a feeling that I'll start every HIGH TIDE REPORT with those words), the HIGH TIDE REPORT is supposed to come out on Thursdays. God I've been busy though... better late than never. __________________________________________ As I reported last Sunday, long-standing TV journalist Richard Carleton has died of a heart attack. I really liked Errol Simper's

KCB 201: Free Speech Freat

2006-05-16T13:39:00.000+10:00

I often hear people hollering about the US and how free and democratic their communication policies are.As usual, the US Government is all preach and no teach. Have a look at this article, where two ABC journalists' phone calls are being tracked by the CIA. And the control of information doesn't stop there. George Bush is making it easier and easier for his government to spy on people like

KCB 201: Internet regulation: an oxymoron?

2006-05-16T10:46:00.000+10:00

Internet regulation... oooh, I cringe every time I hear it - internet regulation... eeerrghh. `Internet` - good;`regulation` - sure; `internet regulation` - nggarrhhh h h h.Our last Virtual Cultures lecture was on internet governance. Wow, what a topic: what a can of worms! Our lecturer, John Banks, all but assured us it would be a boring lecture, but it turned out to be one of the most

KCB201, Community Participation Task: Virtual Community Report

2006-05-09T21:51:00.000+10:00

The online community I chose to describe is Digital Photography Review.DPReview was very helpful when I was looking for a new camera, as it has reviewed just about every digital camera on the market and new reviews come out as soon as new cameras hit the shelves. Also, they have the option of comparing any two cameras side by side: something no magazine or department store assistant will ever be

The Miners Are Out

2006-05-09T07:48:00.000+10:00

Brant Webb and Todd Russell were rescued from the Beaconsfield Mine this morning at about 5.00.They walked out of the mine, having been trapped in a 1.2 x 1.2m cage for the past 13 nights.I can't believe two men who have been kneeling and sitting for over 300 hours have the ability to walk normally.The men are being treated at Launceston Hospital now. Psychologists say they must stay together

Death of a journalist

2006-05-07T15:41:00.000+10:00

Richard Carleton has just died at Beaconsfield gold mine in Tasmania.He asked a question at a press conference and then left, collapsing to the ground and dying soon after.I believe the cause is a heart attack: Carleton had a history of heart disease.John Howard has extended his deepest sympathies to Richard Carleton's family and colleagues."Whatever Richard was he was not a shade of grey, he

.:|| NO HIGH TIDE||:.

2006-05-07T13:20:00.000+10:00

There will be no HIGH TIDE media report this week as I am far too busy with uni assignments.This is a shame because there has been no shortage of interesting topics surrounding the Beaconsfield Mine and the 10th `anniversary of the Port Arthur Massacre.HIGH TIDE will return next week--cartoon courtesy of http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/

Who wants what they don't need?

2006-05-03T20:45:00.000+10:00

Isn't is sad that mobile phones have achieved such market saturation that telcos will soon be marketing them to young and un-needy consumers?`Telcos aim mobile telephony at a pubescent market`Maybe they could advertise phones to kids through video games?..--The wrong language is taking over the blogosphere: bloggers should watch their language.--Boing Boing; read about the controversy and

It's all about the he said/she said...

2006-05-02T16:33:00.000+10:00

*Journalist interviewing a politician should always think*`Why is this bastard lying to me?`(Harold Evans)*Pollie being interviewed by journalist should always think*`How will this bastard distort what I'm saying?`

KCB 201: Google Idol

2006-05-01T15:01:00.000+10:00

Gidol is more than a fun internet craze. It's a prime example of what the experts call "consumer-generated content", where ordinary folk either usurp the big corporations and advertising agencies or are used by them to spread a more believable, spin-free message. {SMH}--photo: The Back Dormitory Boys

SPAMINATOR

2006-04-30T10:36:00.000+10:00

Have you, like me, been recieving calls from these numbers?* 02 8219 0500 * 02 8303 8320* 03 8102 9565* 03 8558 0556* 03 8558 1441* 03 8558 1442* 03 8558 1443* 03 8558 1444* 03 8558 1445* 03 8558 1446* 03 8558 1447* 03 9540 2950* 03 9540 5101* 03 9540 5189* 03 9645 2474 <-- I've been called by this numberDON'T CALL BACK, IT'S A SCAM!Apparently it's all part of a massive scam where they ring you

.:|| HIGH TIDE REPORT ||:.

2006-04-28T14:43:00.000+10:00

Well, I said HIGH TIDE would be published on Thursdays, and it's 2:00 Saturday afternoon, so I'm quite proud of my diligence and commitment...______________________________________________________Today's Media and Marketing liftout provided some great information on the state of the mainstream Australian media landscape:The editor obviously wanted the front page to be all about the kids;Read

announcing::: the ~HIGH TIDE MEDIA REPORT~

2006-04-28T14:15:00.000+10:00

I've decided that since I get so much of my material from The Australian's Media and Marketing lift-out, every Thursday (or Friday if I'm lazy) I'll write up a bit of a synopsis outlining what's going on in Australian media. It will be called the HIGH TIDE MEDIA REPORT. The material won't necessarily be entirely from Media, but a lot of it will be. HIGH TIDE will also give me a chance to post

Respected soldier/gun-crazed sniper? Let the SMH decide...

2006-04-25T13:43:00.000+10:00

Private Jacob Kovco was around guns for much of his life.This is how Chantal Rumble and Cynthia Banham from the Sydney Morning Herald chose to angle yesterday's story about Australia's first military death in the War on Terror.According to military reports, Kovco accidentally shot himself while cleaning his pistol in Baghdad last Friday.Here is Brendan Nelson's media releaseThe media release

Where are all the journalist activists?

2006-04-19T21:26:00.000+10:00

That's the title of an article written by Margaret Simons in today's edition of Crikey!She says none of the journalists are acting as forces against the new cross-media ownership laws proposed by Helen Coonan. Yesterday was the closing date for inquiries about Coonan's discussion paper.All I will say is that I agree with her. Who will stand up for media diversity, free expression and fair

Let the egg puns begin!

2006-04-13T20:38:00.000+10:00

Why doesn't the Easter bunny deliver to farmer Joe's house?===============================================That's where his eggs-girlfriend lives.Thank you, you're too kind(applause)

KCB 201: Convergent media a dinki-di favourite

2006-04-13T17:18:00.000+10:00

Multi-platform media content should have television industry traditionalists afraid, according to a story (not avail. online) by Brian Buchanan in The Australian's Media liftout today.Buchanan attended the MIPTV-Milia TV trade fair this week, and said there were two key points: that content is now produced across many media platforms; and user-created content is on the rise.It's fairly obvious in

Internet Quota :: that's really got my goat-a

2006-04-12T15:18:00.000+10:00

HEY! (red text means me anrgy person) I figured out why my blogger account is slower than a bloody wet week:Am I the only one who didn't know QUT students are limited to how much internet we can use?Yeah, we all have a quota of 150MB and if we go over they slow down our internet speed!?!?!?!Turns out I've clocked up 222MB, and so they've slowed me down.Now I'd be fine with this if I came into uni

Ripped Off

2006-04-12T07:41:00.000+10:00

I can't believe we have to drag our sorry, hungover arses to uni on the Monday after the holidays!Tuesday's ANZAC Day, surely they'd just let us have the Mon and Tues off, surely!Bugger me... now I have to front up at 8.00am the day after holidays.And then our community project proposal is due on Thursday, and I've got a news story due on the Tuesday. It's a bit harsh, isn't it?Well, looks like

Digital Radio

2006-04-11T14:34:00.000+10:00

Digital television has been available to the public since 2001, and it's time to broaden the horizons and include radio: humble, yet prolific. I'm currently researching for a story on what digital radio will mean to the Australian news and entertainment media landscape, and more importantly, what it will mean to you and I: what will it offer us? Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan

Bloody Blogger

2006-04-11T14:11:00.000+10:00

Is anybody else finding the Blogger server R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W ?Maybe it's had a big night on the blog grog...

KCB 201: new direction for the daily current

2006-04-11T13:21:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone.For a university subject called Virtual Cultures, I am required to create a blog and talk a bit about the unit. Virtual Cultures explores... well... virtual cultures. No, wait, let me expand: we explore the culture that can be found... within... a... virtual... um... society (???). OK, it's a fairly self explanatory name. But how could we explore virtual cultures without exploring the

Journalism... seriously?

2005-10-25T16:08:00.000+10:00

May I draw your attention to an Online Opinion article written by Eric Beecher: Dumbing Down the Media. It was emailed to me today. Eric talks about the decline in journalistic quality and the factors to its demise.While I agree with most of the article, I don't share his view that the media has 'dumbed down' its audience to the extent that quality media 'cannot attract a broad constituency

Uninteresting Title; Interesting article...

2005-10-21T09:42:00.000+10:00

I encourage you to read this article, by Erica Iacono, on the Public Relations Week website. I found it through a link in Jozef Imrich's excellent blog, Media Dragon.The article outlines 10 media trends which are occurinng within modern media industries. It outlines portable video content, blogs, the rise of celebrity news, media transparency, growth of Hispanic media, problems for newspaper

Would you pass the relish, Rupert?..

2005-10-19T18:32:00.000+10:00

In an act of undoubted good faith, media mogul and owner of the worlds largest communications holdings organisation, News Corporation, Keith Rupert Murdoch, has offered inviations to a dinner party at News Corp.'s Manhattan headquaters.The places are selling on eBay for a reported AU$33,000. The money is going straight to the Jerusalem College of Technology--I have no idea why he's chosen that

Death of television: Pt II

2005-10-19T15:44:00.000+10:00

I saw this article, The Death of Television, in Margo Kingston's web diary today.The article, written by Adam Penenberg, asks whether the internet will replace television as we know it, and has some interesting comparisons of the music and TV industries and their proposed reactions to the emergence of the internet.I wrote a bit about the death of TV in a previous post, Television Approaching its

Practice makes perfect?

2005-10-18T09:57:00.000+10:00

Jayant Patel practiced medicine for years--but he didn't get any better...

Why complain?

2005-10-17T09:46:00.000+10:00

I don't understand why everybody's getting up-in-arms about Howard's new Industrial Relations reforms. They seem more of a reinforcement of fair employment than a conspiracy against blue-collar workers.If you believe the ads Labor aired on TV a few weeks ago, then you believe that a poor old single mum could be kicked out of her job if she falls pregnant or has to take time off to look after her

Greg Cary, 4BC Brisbane, interview

2005-10-10T14:25:00.000+10:00

Last Friday, 7th October at 4.00, my dad and I strolled into the swanky new 4BC studios at Cannon Hill, Brisbane. I don't know who was more excited: me, the young Media student about to interview one of the most prominent figures in talkback radio in Australia, or Dad, a long-time 4BC listener about to meet the man he previously only new as a phantom of the airwaves between 12.00 and 3.00pm

It wasn't his milieu anyway

2005-10-03T14:46:00.000+10:00

Greg Cary said on 4BC that the move is in response to ACA's waning 6:30pm ratings--I'm assuming he means compared to Today Tonight, who has been taking the cake for some months. ACA are obviously looking for a similar host to Naomi Robson (Today-Tonight), ditching the staunch masculinity of the long-standing Martin.Personally, I think Mike Munroe has been the best host of ACA in my time,

Nothing New...

2005-09-29T19:30:00.000+10:00

Queensland needs another broadsheet newspaper!I know, I know, it's not the most revolutionary idea, but it's a pertinent one, and one that gets bandied about without much constructive discussion.With the Courier Mail being tabloidised without remorse, Queenslanders are left with only one other major newspaper to choose from, The Australian. The Australian, while being an excellent source of

DIARIES ARE NOT A TEXT!

2005-09-27T18:50:00.000+10:00

OK -- I know I'm on holidays this week, but I just have to comment on the incessant referencing to the Latham Diaries as though it's some kind of political or journalistic text book.The press have had a whale of a time publishing article after article based centrally on something written in the Latham Diaries. He's even affecting Labor's opinion polls.I've had enough!It's narcoleptic muck-raking

Express Post

2005-09-23T09:57:00.000+10:00

Just a quick comment on Australia's anti-siphoning laws:They currently allow free-to-air television broadcasters priority over pay TV operators to bid for key sporting events. With the upcoming "refreshment" of Australia's media policy, these laws are very vulnerable.Foxtel, who are expected to turn a first-time profit this year -- and owned by Packer's PBL, Murdoch's News Limited and Telstra,

They should call him the Parkin Inspector-General

2005-09-20T20:41:00.000+10:00

[I know, I know--it's a corny headline, but it was too ironic to pass up]The deportation of peace activist Scott Parkin this week has reached such heights of controversy, that today the government called for an inquiry into the affair.Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS), Ian Carnell, will be heading the inquiry--although, I understand the IGIS is actually bound to conduct all

he's gotta be renowned for something... diary-ah?

2005-09-19T14:54:00.000+10:00

I know this guy--he was a bit of a boof-head at school, played rugby and stuff. He decided to try his hand at politics; failed just about every political aspect--one day he punched a cabbie. Then his health failed and he had to retire. Now he's on $100k a year for doing bugger-all, not to mention all the money he gets from selling a few hundred pages of conceited diary entries some bozo decided

Big Brother--cut

2005-09-19T12:30:00.000+10:00

Finally, the gratuitous content shown on Big Brother has been brought to some resposible justice. The ACMA, shown in this press release, has found Ten Network licensees in breach of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice for broadcasting three episodes of Big Brother Uncut.The ACMA has initiated an investigation into the episodes following 'considerable public comment' (incessant

Libs laughing after Latham's Labor lashing

2005-09-16T09:52:00.000+10:00

Well, won't the government be rubbing their hands together with all the publicity of the Latham Diaries in the media? His interview with Andrew Denton was hastily pushed forward to last night, with fears that it would already be old news by next Monday.Latham's not shy of a snaky word about the flailing Labor Party, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Howard government.Here’s a few

new-nano

2005-09-15T22:21:00.000+10:00

Throw away you'r dodgy old ipods people, Apple have just released their new upgraded iPod Nano. It's about 5 million times thinner than the first ones(and only weighs 42 grams), and with more features like alarms, clocks, games notes, and longer battery life. I want one!I also hear rumours that they're testing some kind of iPod-phone gadget... where will the convergence end?One problem though:

Mcgrath: Awww, Mum, you're embarassing me

2005-09-14T22:07:00.000+10:00

How about this guy. He's got his hands on some letters from Glenn Mcgrath's mum, Bev, and threatened her with publishing them on the internet. Bev refused to pay, so he put them up for sale on eBay. What's worse, it's all completely legal.The ACMA can't do anything, the BSA wields no power to do anything, the government can't do anything, so the police aren't doing anything.This form of blackmail

'Give me a virtual home among the cyber-gumtrees...'

2005-09-13T15:24:00.000+10:00

hmmm... doesn't quite have the same fluency, does it?Well, it seems as though people are willing to buy, rent, sell and develop land and homes that exist entirely in cyberspace. They're calling them 'micro-nations'.The other day I heard that some guy in the US who bought a piece of cyberland, is now selling off portions (of course the price increased) of it to willing cyber-bidders/idiots. And

Television approaching its final screening...

2005-09-12T21:36:00.000+10:00

I attended a lecture of Joshua Green's last week and he expressed his ideas that television as we know it will be dead in a few years. I agree. Without some serious and revolutionary changes to the industry, I can see the current format petering out into an uninteresting media format at the bottom of the consumer barrel.For example, my daily media consumption routine exists as:- I wake up to the

Internet Regulation: how? why?

2005-09-07T22:02:00.000+10:00

The other day I was asked to comment on internet regulation in Australia. I thought, internet regulation... what? is the internet meant to be regulated? And how the hell do you try and regulate such a massive source of content where anyone can publish anything?Turns out the Australian government has a whole heap of useless regulations and initiatives in place to make broadband internet content

The Shortcomings of Australian Tabloid Media

2005-09-07T15:36:00.000+10:00

Here's a few words on tabloid media in Australia. The quotes are taken from text books: I'll reference them as a 'comment' when I get home. I feel strongly about this, and just as strongly about misrepresentation (generally) within tabloid media. It's a bit scrawly (I originally wrote it in speech format), but I'd love to hear comments from anyone who takes the time to read it.___________________

google America?

2005-09-05T20:32:00.000+10:00

A ponder:If there is a Google Pakistan, a Google Russia, and a Google Namibia; how come there's no Google America? Isn't the US the home of Google?And for that matter, how come there is no url suffix for the US? Just '.com'I thought nobody owned the internet...Strange. Any ideas?Chris

A Place for Media Watch?

2005-09-01T11:20:00.000+10:00

So many people seem to be rubbishing the 'self apponted' Media Watch lately, and it prompted me to ask 'is there a place for Media Watch in Australian media?'. Well of course there is! Who else will monitor those yahoos at tabloid newspapers, magazines, talkback radio shows and current affairs programs like ACA and Today Tonight?The buggers pretty much do what they want. They take interviews out

Australian TB radio content

2005-08-31T13:30:00.000+10:00

Speech on Talkback Radio: Should it be subject to more stringent regulation?Here's most of the script from a debate I'll be participating in tomorrow at uni. I love the topic, and unusually my personal opinion is in synch with the side of the argument our side has to take. We're arguing negative to the above statement.________________________________Some people will have you believe that speech

media convergence

2005-08-30T14:03:00.000+10:00

Here's a bit I did on media convergence, the newest and certainly most radical topic dominating talk in the trendiest places in the world... or is it nuclear power? or Paris Hiltons home documentary?... I'll let you decide.__________________________________________To me, media convergence is one the most obvious types of convergence in the creative industries. I see, hear and read about it every

G'day Govenors!

2005-08-27T12:46:00.000+10:00

Hello everybody, I'm very new to all this 'blogging' bizzo, but I like the concept so I thought I'd create one for myself. I don't even know the chances of getting responses, but here goes anyway.I don't know if you're able to read my bio, but I'm a 20 yr old Media and Communications student at Brissie's QUT. I'm really interested in keeping up to date with what's going on in the world, and