Drawing conclusions
Crime and policing has been an interesting and ever changing category in the media over the past few months. At no point did I struggle to find something to write about as it has become clear that we have a fascination with crime, an obsession reflected in news media coverage.
Whether it be annectodes about a seven year old boy stealing his dad's car in the U.S, exclusives on gross police misconduct or reportage on war, all have their place in the media. Scarily, it is their place in the media which determins the way these events are construed by society at large and therefore we are again reminded of the social responsibility vested in journalists.
Obviously the Cronulla riots over December 2005, took up most of my blogspace as they escalated not only into war on the beaches, but also a media event. What is undeliable is the sheer extent of the coverage,which spread across every medium in the Australian media and also reached overseas news outlets who largely generalised that Australians weren't as accepting as the world had previously thought.
So the coverage was extensive, but was it of respectable quality? To answer the question bfiefly, yes and no. I will elaborate further on this when I post my essay question and outline online, however what stood out for me was the media's progression from an unfavourable war approach to a peace approach which suggested non violent alternatives to the problem rather than using the media as a tool for inciting more violence.
As a student studying the quality of the coverage, it was beneficial to see a range in quality from warmongering by outspoken shock jocks, to the papers bleated call for peace around Christmas. Even the Hoff made an appearance which is always pleasing. The opinions section also provided some refreshing insights on an issue about which everyone had something to say. Although I intend to be critical of a large section of the reportage in my essay I am greatful I have so much to work with in terms of varing type and quality of news.
Whether it be annectodes about a seven year old boy stealing his dad's car in the U.S, exclusives on gross police misconduct or reportage on war, all have their place in the media. Scarily, it is their place in the media which determins the way these events are construed by society at large and therefore we are again reminded of the social responsibility vested in journalists.
Obviously the Cronulla riots over December 2005, took up most of my blogspace as they escalated not only into war on the beaches, but also a media event. What is undeliable is the sheer extent of the coverage,which spread across every medium in the Australian media and also reached overseas news outlets who largely generalised that Australians weren't as accepting as the world had previously thought.
So the coverage was extensive, but was it of respectable quality? To answer the question bfiefly, yes and no. I will elaborate further on this when I post my essay question and outline online, however what stood out for me was the media's progression from an unfavourable war approach to a peace approach which suggested non violent alternatives to the problem rather than using the media as a tool for inciting more violence.
As a student studying the quality of the coverage, it was beneficial to see a range in quality from warmongering by outspoken shock jocks, to the papers bleated call for peace around Christmas. Even the Hoff made an appearance which is always pleasing. The opinions section also provided some refreshing insights on an issue about which everyone had something to say. Although I intend to be critical of a large section of the reportage in my essay I am greatful I have so much to work with in terms of varing type and quality of news.
posted by mad at 8:56 PM
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