Facebook Armageddon set for November 5

Facebook is thought to be in danger due to the actions of an anonymous group of internet hackers who have threatened to shut down the social site on November 5. The group behind the threats is believed to have been responsible for crashing the Australian government website in February 2010 and have issued a youtube statement declaring that "Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and giving clandestine access to information security firms so that they can spy on people from all around the world." The November 5 date carries echoes to Guy Fawkes day and one revolutionary man's actions to bring down parliament in 1605. 

Personally, if I had such amazing computer skills and hacking capabilities - I would find better things to do with my time. 

Lecture on 'Page One'

In an enjoyable change from the standard lecture curriculum, the second last class of this semester took the form of a film viewing in the Schonell Theatre. Journalism students were treated to a screening of Page One, a documentary that details a working year of the New York Times newspaper. I really enjoyed the film and have a new found admiration for the outspoken, gruff and unapologetic journalist David Carr. The film described the collapse of several other significant and prestigious newspapers who had buckled due to the loss of advertisers and the competition from online corporations. The film addressed concerns that the New York Times was in a similarly precarious position and although the subjects acknowledged the need for cutbacks and internal changes, they say that the paper is still going strong and will remain one of the fundamental media institutions. New media platforms such as twitter, blogging, youtube and the iPad were also a topic of conversation, as new journalists and old journalists debated the pros and cons and addressed the critical nature that such platforms have within journalism today.  to the game attested to the critical role that such portals play.

Ethicality and journalistic integrity was a subject of heavy debate within the film as well, especially between supporters of online newspapers as opposed to the journalists working within print media. The scandals of Jayson Blair and Judith Miller were used against advocates of the New York Times who believed that such stories demonstrated the failing nature of the paper and that new stories were covered first and foremost by online journalists. The New York Times adamantly contested such arguments by pointing out that most news stories covered online and other media magazines have their origins in the Times and that the stories are merely being recycled.

The Abrasive Voice that is David Carr

The collaboration of the New York Times with Julian Assange was also central to the documentary, which is an issue that is still getting a lot of media attention within the present. Assange only had raw information and he was aware that it was only through newspapers, like the Times, that he could achieve maximum impact and audience attention. The publication of the Afghan war logs caused a lot of scandal and many other wikileak material is still being researched, verified and published by the paper.

As mentioned, my favourite 'character' within the documentary was definitely David Carr, as his seemingly harmless disposition and raspy voice would lure you into a false sense of security before he would voice an opinion, raise an argument or insult you. Even when Carr was interviewed or involved in panels with other journalists who clearly did not like him, a great deal of respect was afforded to him and you could tell that his opinion mattered.

I thought the documentary exemplified many of the talking points of the lectures, dealing with newspaper values, ethics, controversies, online competition and investigative journalistic practices to name a few. It was surprisingly funny and entertaining, addressing serious issues in an intellectual and stimulating way.

Photo of the Week

Given the impressive thunder and lightning storms we have experienced this past week, I thought it was time to include a photograph of a remarkable weather event or a natural phenomenon that was captured on film. I came across this stunning photograph that was taken after the eruption of a volcano in Chile. A plume of ash and gas reacted with the cool atmosphere, resulting in a spectacular electrical storm that is the very definition of  power and majesty. The remarkable photograph was taken by Carlos F. Gutierrez in 2008 and received 1st prize in the Nature category of the World Press Photo awards. 

Public Beheading of a Sorcerer

In front of dozens of witnesses, a Sudanese man in a Saudi Arabian car park was beheaded following the guilty verdict of a sorcery trial. Abdul Hamid Bin Moustafa al-Fakki was blindfolded prior to being decapitated by the executioner on September 20. Accused of concocting a spell designed to cause a man to leave his wife, Mr Hamid was arrested by a member of the Mutawa-een or religious police. The Sudanese native was denied legal representation and is the 44th person and the 11th foreign national to be put to death in Saudi Arabia this year.  The event was captured on film and shows the mass gatherings of crowds who watched the event unfold and did nothing.



I find it shocking that such events are still occurring and that superstitious and fear of magic and witchcraft is still a driving factor within communities. The punishment itself is extreme and brutal and the lack of legal rights afforded to the accused demonstrates the utter powerlessness such individuals have.

Lecture on Investigative Journalism

Robert Scheer wrote that "what passes for investigative journalism is finding somebody with their pants down - literally or otherwise." It may not be the most profound statement but investigative journalism is all about uncovering truths, unearthing scandals and presenting well-researched and provocative stories to the public. Some of the most controversial and high-impact stories revolve around the trifecta - Money, Sex and Power.

Investigative journalists must be:

• Intelligent and well-prepared
• Informed on their topic and versed in the facts of what they are covering 
• Intuitive - have a gut feeling about when something is not right and what needs to be explored past face value
• Creative - willing to get inside the story in a participatory or undercover sense
• Willing to invest time and energy into uncovering and producing a story

The Deeper Meanings and Purpose of Investigative Journalism

1. Critical and thorough journalism - actively intervene and spend time participating, consulting sources and delving beneath the surface of events. 
2. Custodians of conscience - based on keeping society in line with accepted morals and values and and exposing any civic vice that is occurring.
3. To provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account - form of social justice by representing the 'little guy' or the disenfranchised.
4. Fourth Estate/ Fourth Branch of Government or Watchdog - represent the interests of the common public and ensure that free information is available to enable the functioning of democracy and to render those institutions and personalities accountable for any breaches in trust or acts of dishonesty. 

To summarise, the four main Principles are:

• Active Intervention
• Exposure
• Public Interest 
• Fourth Estate/ Watchdog 

Investigative journalists should aim to be sceptical and not cynical - otherwise the job will eat you alive. 

 - it is what the public is interested.

The aim is to cut through the agenda of events and circumstances that are fed to them. John Pilger, an Australian Investigative Journalist believes that "It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and myths that surround it."

Some of the Trailblazers within the field who have made a splash and caused serious change include:

W.T. Stead and "The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon" - the
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and "The Watergate Scandal"
Chris Masters, Phil Dickie and Shaun Hoyt and "The Moonlight State"
Julian Assange and "Wikileaks"

Types of Investigative Interaction include:
- Interviews with on-the-record sources and sometimes with anonymous sources such as whistleblowers
- Observations on public, legal and social issues and the effects of government and business practices
- Documents including law suits, legal documents, tax records, briefings, corporate financials and freedom of information material

Threats to the field culminate in the expansion of online news platforms. Less money and time is being given journalists to probe issues and therefore the quality of investigative journalism is diminishing. Many journalists also chain themselves to the computers to do their research instead of wearing down their shoe leather and investigating in person. The advent of pay walls may also pose a problem to investigative journalists as corporate owners may be less willing to assign time and funds to a job that is essentially being performed by citizen journalists for free.

Public Relations is also considered an enemy of investigative journalism was PR selectively uses facts to present certain issues to the public and persuade them into accepting a viewpoint. PR is resistant to exposure, with PR officers advising their clients to dodge questions while they clean up stories.

Annotated Bibliography on the Media, Crime and the Acquittal of Amanda Knox

Tales of the ‘Angel-faced killer’ or ‘Foxy Knoxy’ have captivated audiences on an international scale, with the murder of British exchange student, Meredith Kercher, becoming a media sensation and debated topic within Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States in particular. Amanda Knox was convicted and imprisoned for the death of her roommate in 2007 and following a lengthy appeal process was recently acquitted of the crime on the 3^rd of October 2011. The following articles discuss the value and newsworthiness that is attributed to criminal cases, especially when there is a female, sexual element involved. They also explore the impact that public relations has had on influencing the media and the common spectator.

Sacco, V.F. (1995). Media Constructions of Crime. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 539(1), 141-154. doi. 10.1177/0002716295539001011

The author of the article is a Professor of Sociology at Queen’s University and has published a plethora of articles and books pertaining to the study of criminal events. With a strong background in criminology and urban sociology, Sacco is particularly interested in the public perception of crime and the sensational publicity afforded to certain cases. ‘Media Constructions of Crime’ addresses the concept of news values and how crime constitutes a large part of media reportage and discussion. Sacco argues that the perspective of the police is often privileged and glorified in order to illustrate their effectiveness to audiences. The dramatization of crimes involving atypical circumstances or a celebrity element is also addressed, where the media distinguishes clear villains from victims in order to present a compelling narrative to audiences. The article is well researched with reference to other elite criminology and media journals and uses infamous case studies such as the Menendez Brothers’ shotgun murders, the O.J. Simpson trial and Lorena Bobbit incident, in order to exemplify its arguments. Sacco also comments on the shifting interest and evolving definition of appropriateness within the media landscape, as highly sexualized and controversial crimes that would not traditionally have been covered become front page and headline material.

Burleigh, Nina. (2011, October 5). Amanda Knox: Fascination With ‘The Evil Female’. CNN International Edition.   

Author, journalist and contributing editor to Salon.com and Elle Magazine, Nina Burleigh is a respected writer who also acts as an adjunct professor at Columbia University. Having written the non-fiction novel The Fatal Gift of Beauty: The Italian Trials of Amanda Knox, Burleigh is uniquely qualified to comment on the acquittal of Amanda Knox and offer informed opinions on the treatment and perception of the case within the media. The article was published online by CNN International, which is one of the largest and most reputable news organizations within the world. CNN International covers a wider variety of issues ranging from current affairs to the arts, politics and business. Burleigh’s article is an opinionative piece that criticizes the prosecution and public’s vilification of the female while ignoring the male criminal element. The online story adopts a unique angle that focuses on the persecution of Knox rather than on the actual acquittal, arguing that the Italian mindset is predisposed towards a negative and mistrustful view of beautiful women. Sacco’s arguments about the sensational and celebrity status attributed to crimes involving a sexualized aspect or a compelling perpetrator are relevant to Burleigh’s article, as both authors argue that many other crucial facets of a criminal case are neglected as a result of the media’s desire to focus on what they deem the most valuable and newsworthy element.

Pisa, Nick. (2011, October 3). Guilty: Amanda Knox Looks Stunned as Appeal Against Her Murder Conviction is Rejected. Mail Online.

Pisa’s article is a remarkable example of journalistic misconduct, as it publishes a false outcome of the Amanda Knox trial in its efforts to be ahead of other competing news outlets. The headline reads ‘Guilty,’ with the story offering a fake description of a distraught Knox surrounded by her weeping friends and family. The level of fabrication is astounding, with the article containing fake quotes from the prosecution and stating that Knox and Sollecito were taken back to their respective prisons and were due to undergo suicide watch and routine psychological evaluations. The portions of the article that refer to the circumstances of the murder and the subsequent investigation and prosecution are accurate, implying that research has been performed and that the predicted guilty verdict was simply overlaid on top of the piece. The article appeared on the website Mail Online or dailymail.co.uk that is owned by the United Kingdom newspaper the Daily Mail. Despite its popularity, the online news-site is extremely tabloid-like and is not to be trusted without outside corroboration or a subsequent follow-up report. The article exemplifies the competitive nature of journalism and how news ethics that are hinged upon the truth are often sacrificed in an effort to be the first to break the story.

Sawyer, Diane. (2011, October 3). Amanda Knox Acquitted, Innocent and Set Free. ABC News (Television broadcast).

Hosted by veteran news-anchor Diane Sawyer, the ABC News Special Report is a breaking news edition of the Amanda Knox Acquittal. The report contains live footage of the judge’s verdict, capturing the flood of emotions that ensue after Amanda Knox and Raffaelo Sollecito have been cleared of the murder. Interviews with on-scene correspondents, Elizabeth Vargas and Josh Elliott, are featured towards the end of the segment, summarizing the reasons for the appeal’s success and proffering a first-hand account of the verdict and the public’s reactions. The creation of a special report to address the appeal demonstrates the centrality of the Amanda Knox case within the American media, with the ABC team promising full details on their website and in their World News nightly report. The news report demonstrates a unique reversal of the victim and villain roles referred to by Sacco, with the reporters’ commentary empathizing with the persecuted Knox and describing the hostile responses aimed at the Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, who spearheaded the witch-hunt against Knox.  The ABC special edition is very well rounded, using live footage, ongoing host and on-site reporter commentary, identifying broader issues, such as the fact that the Italian justice system was also being tried by the public, and concluding on a sensitive note by reminding viewers to remember the victim and her family.

Photo of the Week

After watching page 1 which captures a year behind the scenes of what is arguable the world's most prestigious paper The New York Times, I thought I would include the following photograph taken by Irish photographer Seams Murphy. The image depicts the wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is facing heavy legal and political ramifications for exposing thousands of classified United States secrets and documents online for public perusal. Julian Assange and repercussions of his actions have become a massive media phenomenon and the photo evokes the impression of a man who is under intense public and governmental scrutiny and who is the subject of persistent spotlight and inquiry. The blue glow cast over his face heightens the spectacle of the man and the story he embodies, holding the stoic Assange under its eerie and probing gaze.