Supanova Pop Culture Expo

Masses of superheroes, masked vigilantes, cosplay characters and an array of Stormtroopers, Jedi Knights and Darth Vaders queued at the gates of the Gold Coast Entertainment Centre this weekend. On a normal weekend, a Jedi Knight and Darth Vader would use their lightsabers and the power of the force to destroy one another, but this weekend they united as they ventured into the galactic fantasy world of Supanova. 

I, myself know that I am a massive geek, so when it was announced that Supanova was being held on the Gold Coast for the first time, I jumped at the notion of sharing this weekend with others like me, celebrating our geekyness together. The one thing that intrigued me the most was the amount of hand made costumes and weapons that were being worn by the attendees at Supernova. The costumes screamed creativity, originality and were a delight to see, in comparison to costumes that were purchased. 

Supanova features multiple stores that contained everything from Sci-Fi to fantasy, and television to film. The stores were selling comic books, action figures, games, and anything that involved "Star Trek, "Dr. Who" and "Star Wars" just to name a few. 

There were also multiple celebrity guests that were there to meet their fans and answer questions at a Q and A seminar. Fans were also able to purchase personalised autographs, and professional photographs, with these guests and at times, it would take hours to get through one queue because the crowds and queues surrounding the guests were massive. 

The first guest I had received an autograph from and professional photo with was with "Twilight" and "Nurse Jackie" actor, Peter Facinelli. Overall, Peter Facinelli was a very nice, humorous guy, and I was lucky enough to share a joke and a few laughs with him. 

The second and most anticipated guests I had the pleasure of meeting were James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) from the "Harry Potter" films. After queueing for approximately two hours, I was able to get them to sign my "Harry Potter" book and was able to pose in a photograph cuddled between them.

While I was there, I was able to attend the Phelps twins Q and A seminar. I was excited about attending the seminar and hearing their stories, as I am a massive fan of the "Harry Potter" series and I have grown up watching all of the films and have read all of the books. 

It surprised me to hear that both James and Oliver Phelps believe that they are nothing like their characters, because while they were answering fan questions they were making sarcastic quips and jokes just like their characters would in the films. Similarly, when a fan asked them if they finished each others sentences like their characters they both answered no, but ironically throughout the seminar they would finish each others sentences and would say the same thing at the same time. 

Each year the crowds at Supanova keep growing larger, the celebrity guests keep getting better, and the costumes are becoming more creative. The costumes worn by the people at Supanova on the Gold Coast have inspired me to dress up at the Brisbane Supanova event later this year. Whether you are or aren't a "Star Trek", "Dr. Who" or "Star Wars" fan you should experience Supanova at some point in your life. It was an experience that I will never forget and will continue to take part in for the rest of my life.

Agenda Setting

When: Week 11

What: Lecture 10

Who: Dr. Bruce Redman

This weeks lecture was taught by Dr. Bruce Redman and was about Agenda Setting. This lecture was the third last lecture for JOUR1111 this semester, and I was, unfortunately, unable to attend. Instead, I listened to the lecture recording and viewed the powerpoint on Blackboard. 

The Pre-Amble: The Four Agendas

During the lecture, Dr. Bruce Redman identified four types of Agenda that together form Agenda Setting, and this is what they are:

1. Public Agenda - A set of topics that members of the public perceive as being important. 

2. Policy Agenda - Issues that decision makers think are salient or prominent and are of particular interest to the public (i.e. legislators). 

3. Corporate Agenda - Issues that big business and corporations consider important.

4. Media Agenda - Issues discussed in the media.

What is Agenda Setting

In this weeks reading "Agenda Setting" by Renita Coleman, Agenda Setting was described as "the process of the mass media presenting certain issues frequently and prominently with the result that large segments of the public come to perceive those issues as more important than others". 

This means that the more the media covers a story, issue or event, the more the audience will think about it and perceive it as important. 

Two Basic Assumptions of Agenda Setting in the Media

The first assumption is that the mass media does not merely reflect and report reality they filter and shape it. The second assumption is that media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues.

The History of Agenda Setting

The Agenda Setting theory can be traced back to the 1920s where American political scientist and communications theorist, Harold Lasswell formed the "Hypodermic Needle" model. The "Hypodermic Needle" model is where the mass media injects direct influence into the audience. The Agenda Setting theory can also be found in Walter Lippman's book "Public Opinion" where Lippman argues that the mass media creates images of events in the public or audience's minds. Lippman's notion has remained prominent even in contemporary times where images from things like the Queensland Floods and the Royal Wedding still linger in the back of your mind. Dr. Bruce Redman stated that this theory was also used in the 1930s, where Adolf Hitler and Leni Riefenstahl used the power of images to influence the public into supporting a particular ordeal and group. 

In 1968, the Agenda Setting theory, was developed by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw during the Nixon presidential campaign in  Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Bruce Redman stated that the theory was developed when McCombs and Shaw surveyed 100 undecided voters on the key issues and measured that against the content that was displayed in the mass media. Their survey resulted in the hypothesis that the mass media had set the agenda by emphasising specific topics more than others.

The Agenda Setting Theory

Dr. Bruce Redman identified two main types of Agenda Setting theory and these were first level Agenda Setting theory and second level Agenda Setting theory.

Dr. Bruce Redman stated that first level Agenda Setting theory is for the most part studied by researchers and emphasises the major issues and the transfer of the salience of those issues. At this level the media suggest what the public should focus on through coverage. Second level Agenda Setting theory is essentially, how the media focuses on certain attributes of an issue and how they suggest how people should think about an issue.

What Agenda Setting Does and Why

During the lecture, Dr. Bruce Redman identified what Agenda Setting does and why the mass media does it.

What Agenda Setting Does

• Transfer of issue salience from the news media to the public.
• Transfer of issue salience for both issues and other objects such as political figures.
• Elite media companies like the "ABC", "CNN", "Sky News", etc. often set the agenda for issues in other media. 

Why does the mass media set the agenda?

- Redman 2012

The Agenda Setting Family

1. Media Gatekeeping

Media gatekeeping is the exposure of an issue by the mass media and how the mass media reveals the issue to the public.

2. Media Advocacy

Media advocacy is the deliberate promotion of a particular message whether it's an anti-smoking, drug and alcohol campaign, or the promotion of healthy dieting and health issues, just to name a few.

3. Agenda Cutting

Most of the issues that are happening in the world are represented in the media. Instead of presenting large issues like HIV and Poverty, take a backseat to the engagement of Brad and Angelina or Lindsay Lohan starring on Glee. Because large issues like HIV and poverty don't receive as much time in the media, they are cared about less by the public.

4. Agenda Surfing

Agenda surfing is when the media "surfs" or follows a topic or trend. This notion is very prominent in contemporary times with the spread of the Kony 2012 video over various social websites and the internet on a whole. 

5. The Diffusion of News

The diffusion of news is When, where and how an important event or issue is communicated and released to the public. Dr. Bruce Redman demonstrated the diffusion of news using the announcement President Barack Obama made when Osama Bin Laden had been found and killed. He stated that the announcement had been rehearsed and prerecorded, and was released to the public days after the event took place.

6. Portrayal of an Issue

The portrayal of an issue by a media outlet can influence how that issue is perceived by the public. If media outlets portray the same issue differently the public can formulate their own opinion.

7. Media Dependence 

Media dependence is when a person is dependent on the media for information and news, and because of this, they are more susceptible to media agenda setting. In contemporary times a large majority of the public depend on social websites like Twitter and Facebook for information and news.  

Strengths and Weaknesses of Agenda Setting Theory

The Strengths of Agenda Setting Theory

• The agenda setting theory has explanatory power because it explains why people prioritise similar issues as more important than others.
• The agenda setting theory has predictive power because it predicts that if people are exposed to the same media, they will see the same issues as important. 
• The agenda setting theory has organising power because it helps organise existing knowledge of media effects. 
• The agenda setting theory can be proven false. If people aren't exposed to the same media, they won't find the same issues as important.
• Its meta-theoretical assumptions are balanced on the scientific side.
• It lays the groundwork for further research.

The Weaknesses of Agenda Setting Theory

• Media users may not be as ideal as the agenda setting theory assumes. The public may not be well-informed or completely engaged in contemporary news, which could cause them to be ignorant of certain details. 
• If a person has already formed an opinion on an issue, the effect of agenda setting theory is weakened. This usually applies with politics and elections because the public has already made up their mind on who they are voting for.
• News cannot create and conceal problems. The effect can merely alter the awareness, priorities and salience the public attaches to a set of problems.
• The internet, tablets and other types of new media have formed a whole new ballgame in terms of Agenda Setting. 

Agenda Setting Examples

In the lecture, Dr. Bruce Redman identified climate change as an example of agenda setting. Another example of agenda setting that I believe is very prominent in contemporary media is the war on terror.

JOUR1111 Annotated Bibliography

My Annotated Bibliography

My Annotated Bibliography will analyse three contemporary news items surrounding the disappearance and death of mother-of-three Allison Baden-Clay and one academic article about the representation of crime stories by the media. The three news items that are being analysed are a television broadcast by “Ten News at Five”, a newspaper article in “The Courier Mail” and an online article by the “Brisbane Times”. The academic article is titled Crime in the News: How Crimes, Offenders and Victims are Portrayed in the Media and its authors are Jessica Pollak and Charis Kubrin.

Kubrin, C.E. & Pollak J.M. (2007, January 1). Crime in the News: How Crimes, Offenders and Victims are Portrayed in the Media. The Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 14, p 1070-8286.

The authors, Jessica Pollak, a research associate at the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation and Charis Kubrin, the co-editor of Crime and Society: Crime, 3rd Edition and co-author of Privileged Places: Race, Residence and the Structure of Opportunity (George Washington University Online Community, n.d), conducted a study that examined how crime stories are represented in the media. In the study, Pollak and Kubrin examined and compared 71 crime stories across two old media platforms, the newspaper and television and documented the similarities and differences (Pollak & Kubrin, 2007. p. 59).

Pollak and Kubrin found that for a crime story to be portrayed in the media it had to be rather violent, which infers the statement “If it bleeds it leads” (Pollak & Kubrin, 2007. p. 78). They also found that, across the two mediums, objective facts (type of crime, location and time of crime, and sex and age of the victim or offender) were equally mentioned and that subjective or unnecessary facts (race of the offender or victim and the offender and victim relationship) varied immensely (Pollak & Kubrin, 2007. p. 65). Across the mediums, the offences caused by juvenile offenders were portrayed as “senseless and irrational”, and juvenile victims were portrayed as “innocent” (Pollak & Kubrin, 2007. p. 78).

Bellow are three news items surrounding the disappearance and death of Allison Baden-Clay and all of which have been a prominent news story across contemporary local media platforms, inferring the statement “If it’s local it leads” (Redman, 2012). The primary audiences of the three news stories are people who knew Allison and her friends and family, and members of the community, state and country who are interested in Allison’s story.

Henry, R. (Reporter). (2012, May 11th). Ten News at Five. [Television Broadcast]. Brisbane, QLD: Network Ten.

Renae Henry, winner of the 2012 Young Australian Journalist of the Year award by the Walkley Foundation, conducted the “Ten News at Five” television broadcast surrounding the funeral of the deceased Allison Baden-Clay (The Walkley Foundation, 2012). “Ten News at Five” is a news program that is produced by “Network Ten” and is presented on the free-to-air television channel, “Ten”. “Network Ten” is a platform for commercial media, which means that it generates a large majority of its profits through advertising, promotions and commercials. The television broadcast began with live coverage of Renae Henry standing out front of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Ipswich, where Allison’s funeral had commenced earlier that day.

Renae Henry briefly outlined the events of the funeral and the people that were there to mourn and pay their respects to Allison, which included her family, friends and husband, Gerard Baden-Clay and their three daughters. Recorded footage of the funeral and Allison’s friends and family were also displayed throughout the television broadcast along with Renae Henry’s voiceover. The television broadcast also featured the recorded voices of Allison’s sister, Vanessa Fowler, and best friend, Kerry-Anne Walker, as they said a final goodbye and pledged justice for Allison. In Renae Henry’s television broadcast, the imagery and video footage depicted an accurate representation of Allison’s funeral, reflecting the emotions and the undertone of the event to the audience. The coverage of Allison’s funeral was respectful, compassionate, nonintrusive and of good taste, and it allowed the audience to form a perception of who Allison was; a loving, caring, unselfish women and model mum (Henry, 2012).

Kyriacou, K (2012, May 12th). Only Talent Missing was Self-Confidence. The Courier Mail, p. 4-5.

Kate Kyriacou’s newspaper article in “The Courier Mail”, Only Talent Missing was Self-Confidence, described Allison Baden-Clay’s youth as a ballerina up until her corporate success at Flight Centre and marriage to husband, Gerard Baden-Clay. “The Courier Mail” is owned and produced by “News Limited”, which is predominately owned by Rupert Murdoch, and like “Network Ten” it is a platform for commercial media. The newspaper article featured interviews from various people who were involved in Allison’s life. These people included Australia Youth Ballet director Inara Svalbe, fellow ballerina Krista Reeves, old school friend Kirsten Willow, Flight Centre founder Graham Turner, and friend and work colleague Sue Rennick and they all described Allison’s personality or a moment they shared with her.

Like Renae Henry’s television broadcast, Kate Kyriacou’s newspaper article expressed the kind, grieving words from the people who loved and cared about Allison, her friends. Kirsten Willow stated that she and her old classmates were devastated about the death of Allison, stating that they haven’t been able to sleep (Kyriacou, 2012). Alternatively, the people that were interviewed in the newspaper article were people that knew Allison in the past and not in contemporary times like Allison’s best friend, Kerry-Anne Walker and Allison’s sister, Vanessa Fowler who were depicted in the television broadcast. In the newspaper article, the large amount of descriptive content and photographs enabled its readers to form a perception of what Allison was like as a child and what she was like as an adult.

Callinan, R & Jabour, B. (2012). The Reclusive Side of a Grieving Husband. The Brisbane Times. Retrieved May 12th, 2012, from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/the-reclusive-side-of-a-grieving-husband-20120512-1yj5w.html

The “Brisbane Times” online article published by Rory Callinan and Bridie Jabour, claimed to depict the withdrawn behavior of Allison Baden-Clay’s husband, Gerard Baden-Clay. The “Brisbane Times” is owned and run by “Fairfax Media” and like “Ten News at Five” and “The Courier Mail” it is a platform for commercial media. The online article described Gerard’s behavior and actions since the disappearance of his wife, Allison, as “reclusive” and stated that he has a “low profile stance”(Callinan & Jabour, 2012). The online article also claimed that Gerard’s behaviour had “prompted an online frenzy of conspiracy theories”(Callinan & Jabour, 2012).

In comparison to the “Ten News at Five” television broadcast and “The Courier Mail” newspaper article, the “Brisbane Times” online article had a slanted view and was somewhat biased. The online article contained many subjective facts and Pollak and Kubrin describe these facts as unnecessary to the telling of the story and “more often than not, add a layer of bias”(Pollak & Kubrin, 2007. p 65). It could be perceived by the audience that both Rory Callinan and Bridie Jabour infer that Gerard is hiding something and perhaps has something to do with the murder of his wife, Allison. The article ceased to mention that Gerard is a grieving husband and father, who has to protect his three children from the trauma of losing their mother. The article proceeded to explore Gerard’s past and home life with Allison and his three children. Rory Callinan and Bridie Jabour revealed this information by reposting direct statements from Gerard’s blog.

APA Style Reference List

• Kubrin, C.E. & Pollak J.M. (2007, January 1). Crime in the News: How Crimes, Offenders and Victims are Portrayed in the Media. The Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 14, p 1070-8286. 

•  George Washington University Online Community. (n.d.) GW Alumni Online Community Events. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/GEW/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2098741

•   Redman, B. (2012). Week Nine: News Values [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from JOUR1111, University of Queensland Blackboard Online: http://www.elearning.uq.edu.au/

• Henry, R. (Reporter). (2012, May 11^th). Ten News at Five. [Television Broadcast]. Brisbane, QLD: Network Ten.

•   The Walkley Foundation. (2012). Young Australian Journalist of the Year. Retrieved May 16^th, 2012, from http://www.walkleys.com/young-australian-journalist-of-the-year

• Kyriacou, K (2012, May 12^th). Only Talent Missing was Self-Confidence. The Courier Mail, p. 4-5.

• Callinan, R & Jabour, B. (2012). The Reclusive Side of a Grieving Husband. The Brisbane Times. Retrieved May 12^th, 2012, from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/the-reclusive-side-of-a-grieving-husband-20120512-1yj5w.html

Ethics

When: Week 8
What: Lecture 8
Who: Dr. John Harrison

This week's lecture was taught by Dr. John Harrison and was solely about Ethics. I am quite honoured to have been taught by Dr. John Harrison because his knowledge of Ethics is phenomenal. This week's lecture was my favourite lecture, so far this semester. Dr. John Harrison is an extraordinary teacher. His lecture was fun, engaging and even funny at times. 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Dr. John Harrison began the lecture with a decision making activity. My peers and I were shown a slideshow displaying ten advertisements and we were told to decide whether the advertisements are ethical, unethical, good taste and bad taste. 

I was quite surprised by the results as a vast amount of the commercials that I deemed as unethical were seen as ethical by others. I was somewhat offended by a statement that was made in the tenth and final commercial. The commercial was written, directed and filmed by Dr. Bruce Redman and was titled "Flamin' Fool". 

The doctor in the "Flamin' Fool" commercial stated:

This statement upset me, as I have undergone numerous operations and all of which have marked body with large scars. I understand that the concept of the commercial is to make people understand that pouring fuel on fires is dangerous and can sometimes result in burns and scars, but to some people scars are an uncontrollable part of life. I respect my tutors and lecturers immensely, but I believe that the "Flamin' Fool" commercial was ethical but was of bad taste. 

RSPCA Commercial

I believe that the following "RSPCA" commercial is ethical and is of good taste. 

Burger King Advertisement

I believe that the following "Burger King" advertisement is unethical and is of bad taste. 

The Three Paradigms of Ethics

During the lecture, Dr. John Harrison described three paradigms of ethics that a person uses to decide what is ethical or unethical, good or bad and right from wrong. This is what they are:

• Deontology
• Consequentialism (aka Teleology)
• Virtue

Deontology

Deontological ethics are based around rules, principals and duties. When it comes to ethics in journalism and communications, there are a vast range of rules, principals and duties that a person in the profession has to adhere to. In the journalism profession, some of the principals include accuracy, truthfulness and objectivity, just to name a few. Deontological ethics are formed by and imbedded in the various journalistic codes of ethics.

Consequentialism

Another paradigm of ethics is consequentialism. During the lecture, Dr. John Harrison described consequentialism as when the end justifies the means. In journalism, this could mean that it doesn't matter how the journalist acquires information, as long as the journalist acquires the information that they need.

Virtue

Virtue ethics differentiate from deontology and consequentialism immensely. Dr. John Harrison stated during the lecture that virtue ethics are about "intrinsic values". He also described intrinsic values, as the values that drive the way a person lives their life and the values that drive a person's work practices.

Dr. John Harrison stated that he prefers journalists who are driven by intrinsic values over those who practice deontology and consequentialism. A person who is driven by ethics or intrinsic value, is a person who has good character and is a person who is driven by courage, justice, temperance and prudence. 

What Codes are There?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: My Emotional Journey

It was two days before my 19^th Birthday when I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome

I have always been a healthy person. There isn't a history of any forms of medical illness in my family, so it came as a shock to me when I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Three weeks before my diagnosis, my weight had increased rapidly. I would consistently feel sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdomen, and I would occasionally feel dizzy and nauseous. This was when I came to the conclusion that I needed to seek medical attention, as I knew there was something wrong. My doctor insisted that I wasn’t ill, claiming that there was a chance that I was 21 weeks pregnant. To prove his prognosis, my doctor requested that I was to have an ultrasound immediately. I knew that he was wrong. 

The ultrasound was the most horrific and traumatic experience of my life. The ultrasound technician examined me, and then informed me that I had an ovarian cyst that was 10 cm x 15 cm x 18 cm in diameter. She then stated that there was a possibility that the cyst was cancerous, and there was a chance that I’d never be able to conceive a child. After hearing this news, I began to panic and cry hysterically. How could I possibly have cancer? I have always been a family person, and my ultimate goal in life is to one day have a family of my own. Within a second, my dreams and my future had been snatched away from me. 

Later that day, the stabbing pains in my lower abdomen had increased. I wasn’t able to stand, keeling over in pain I began to scream. I was than rushed to the emergency ward at the "Mater" hospital where the nurses and doctors sedated me with morphine, and held me at the hospital overnight for observation.

During my hospitalisation, the doctors examined my ultrasound and informed me that the cyst was attached to my left ovary, meaning that my right ovary was perfectly fine. This to me was a massive relief because a person can still conceive a child with one ovary. They also stated that I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and told me that I shouldn’t do any form strenuous exercise. They explained that if I did any form of strenuous exercise, there was a chance that the cyst would twist, causing damage to both of my ovaries and internal bleeding.

Public Media

When: Week 7
What: Lecture 7
Who: Dr. Bruce Redman


The lecture this week was about Public Media. Overall, the lecture was intriguing. One thing I did notice was that Dr. Bruce Redman mentioned the "ABC" a lot more than the other public media broadcasters. He spoke very highly of the "ABC", which I assume is because Dr. Bruce Redman has experience working for the "ABC".

Public Media in Australia

Public Media on an International Level

Public Media in Australia - Community Media

What is Public Media's Role in a Democratic Society?

Dr. Bruce Redman stated that the role of public media in a democratic society is to "support the public and the democratic process". 

Public value is a key element that all public media should contain and is described by the "British Broadcasting Corporation" (BCC) as:

1. Embedding a 'public service ethos

2. Value for license fee money

3. 'Weighing public value against market impact'

4. Public consultation

In Australia, we no longer have a license fee for broadcast stations. In the United Kingdom, a license fee is needed to keep stations like the "BBC", available. In Australia, public consultation is very important to broadcast stations like the "ABC" and "SBS". Public consultation is where a group of individuals, namely people from the general public, express their views and opinions on a stations actions. 

The "SBS", over recent days, has opened their "SBS" radio station to public consultation. Luciana Fraguas stated in an article on the SBS website, that the "SBS" is seeking public consultation so that it can review its radio schedule. 

In 1985, the "Broadcasting Researching Unit" defined public service broadcasting as involving:

• Geographic universality. Public service broadcasting stations should be available to everyone across Australia, no matter where you live.
• Universality of appeal. Public service broadcasting stations should provide for all tastes and interests.
• Public service broadcasting stations should provide special provision for minorities, whether its ethnicity or religion.
• Public broadcasting stations should recognise their special relationship to the sense of national identity and community. In Australia, national identity is all about who we are as Aussies and the indigenous members of our community.  
• Public service broadcasting stations should be distanced from all vested interests, and in particular from those of the government of the day.
• Universality of payment. One main instrument of broadcasting should be directly funded by the corpus of users. 
• Public service broadcasting stations should be structured so as to encourage competition in good programming rather than competition for numbers.
• The public guidelines for broadcasting should liberate rather than restrict broadcasters. 

(http://www.nosuch-research.co.uk/pppp.html)

The ABC

In Australia, there are two major players in public media, the "ABC" and "SBS". The "ABC" has produced a vast range of channels and stations, across television and radio. In Australia, the "ABC" owns four television channels; there is "ABC1" which is available on free-to-air television and there are three digital channels. ABC's three digital television channels include "ABC2", "ABC3" and "ABC News 24". The "ABC" also owns a large number of radio stations. There is "ABC Local Radio", "ABC News Radio", "ABC Radio National", "ABC Classic FM" and "Triple J". The "ABC" also owns three digital radio stations, "ABC Dig Music", "ABC Country" and "ABC Jazz". The ABC also produces some of my favourite television programs, Chris Lilley's "Summer Heights High" and "Angry Boys".

What the ABC Produces

SBS

Dr. Bruce Redman stated that, "SBS" is sometimes described as:

This is because the "SBS" television stations play a lot of world movies and soccer games. Overall, I thought that this statement was hilarious. 

"SBS" owns two television channels, there is "SBS One", which is available on free-to-air television and there is "SBS Two", which is a digital channel. "SBS" also owns the radio station, "SBS Radio". 

What the SBS Produces

The Functions of Public Media

There are four functions of the public media. The four functions include nation building, national heritage, national identity and national conversations. 

Nation Building

Dr. Bruce Redman stated that the function of nation building in public media is to communicate and to unite the whole nation.

National Heritage

National heritage in public media is when a channel or station does a segment or documentary on their nation's history. At the moment, a lot of stations are currently covering the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the "Titanic". Next Wednesday in Australia, the "ABC" and "SBS" will be covering the ANZAC parade.  

National Identity

The function of national identity in public media is to identify who and what we are as a nation, as Australians. The national identity of Australia also includes the indigenous members of our community. 

National Conversations

National conversations in public media includes sporting events and games such as the "State of Origin", "Wimbledon" and the soccer grand final.

Commercialisation of Public Media

Unlike commercial media, public media doesn't make profit from advertising or commercials. The public media generates a large majority of its profit from retail shops and chains. British broadcaster, "BBC", owns an online shop called "BBC worldwide". Similarly, "SBS" owns an online soccer shop called "The World Game Shop" and the "ABC" owns a shop called "The ABC Shop". 

These retail shops and chains sell products that feature content from the broadcaster. "BBC World Wide" and "The ABC Shop" sell DVDs, book, CDs and toys. "The World Game Shop" sells football and supporter gear. 

News - A Key Mechanism of Public Media

During the lecture, Dr. Bruce Redman stated that news is a large part of public media. This is because news is cheap programming and the public want to view it. 

The 'Style' of News

The style of public media is extremely diverse in comparison to commercial media. Public media is seen as very serious and a broadsheet' style. In comparison to commercial media, public media presents news stories about politics and topics of importance, instead of news stories about celebrities and entertainment. Before broadcasting news stories, public media broadcasters check their facts, and they make sure their stories are concise. As a result, public media broadcasters aren't often the ones to break a news story to the public.

Unfortunately, the news style of public media, is often seen as boring, elitist and of limited interest. It can be poorly presented because of a lack of funds and is out of touch. 

Public Media function/communications style

During the lecture, Dr. Bruce Redman described five communication styles used by the public media. 

• The Press - News programs, Q&A programs and current affairs. 
• Entertainment - Programs like, "Angry Boys" on the "ABC" and "Wilfred" on the "SBS".
• Utility - Weather programs and traffic reports. 
• Social - Programs about sport, cooking and DIY. 
• Propaganda - Programs that are thought to be very biased, such as "CCTV" and "Fox News". 

Challenges for Public Media

In the future, public media needs to produce quality programs and better presented news programs. It also needs to become relevant. In contemporary times, Australian broadcast stations aren't catering for a younger audience, and I believe that they are rather boring, they need to be more entertaining. 

Public media needs to engage with the democratic process. This means that it needs to provide programs that give the public a voice, a chance to express their beliefs and opinions. It has to continue to inform the public with accurate, balanced and truthful news and current events, and it needs to be independent. 

I consume a large majority of my news from commercial media programs. Although a lot of their news stories lack relevance, I believe that they are more interesting. They are presented better and they provide news stories that are important to me, celebrity stories and current affairs. Until public media programs can provide this, I intend on sticking to commercial media programs, no matter how 'important', public media claims to be.


PS: My favourite thing that has come from public media is Chris Lilley. Thank you "ABC", there is no question about it, he is a comedic god.