Inside the New York Times!

The second last lecture for JOUR1111 was really interesting. We were asked to watch a really fascinating documentary called 'Page One' which shows what happens inside the New York Times. It was interesting mainly due to David Carr, a media desk reporter, whose vibrant character was brought out in the movie. The only thing that was missing in the documentary were women! Where are the women in New York Times? It would have been more interesting if they took bits of the women working in the office as well. Nonetheless, the documentary was interesting and inspiring.The documentary discusses about the sources and implications of an online pay-wall. It shows how meetings are held to decide which article goes on the front page of the newspaper. The relevance of Twitter to reporters is also emphasised in the documentary. The documentary also touches on many other issues concerning media companies like sending a journalist to Iraq. I was truly inspired by the documentary, it showed me how life as a journalist really is.

The trailer for the documentary is available on: http://www.magpictures.com/pageone/

Are you ready to be spooked out?

Halloween is celebrated on the evening of 31st October and is usually celebrated grandly by the people in the UK. It has been gaining popularity in many other countries like in Singapore. On the night of halloween you can even see adults wearing the craziest outfits, trying to enter clubs and pubs. Every halloween there will be at least a 100 other people wearing witch hats and devil horns in a club. We have all grown a little sick and tired of the hats and horns haven't we? I decided to come up with a blog post that will display three crazy halloween outfits (worn by adults) that I came across! Take a deep breath and be ready to be freaked out!

I think no one would have guessed that it was actually Heidi Klum behind this very scary halloween costume, which depicts a Hindu goddess

HAHAHA. How creative!!

Snake Charmer?

Investigative Journalism

The great British newspaper publisher Lord Northcliffe once said: “News is what somebody, somewhere wants to suppress; all the rest is advertising.” Investigations is the key of journalism. Investigative stories require a lot of time, effort and resources from journalists as well as media companies. Investigations can be done through interviews, observations and analysing documents. When a journalist tries to report on matters which an organisation or a person wants to keep a secret, it is investigative journalism. 

Dr. Redman spoke about the importance and purpose of investigative journalism during the lecture. Investigative journalism is critical and thorough journalism whereby active intervention is the key idea. Journalists have an active role to play. Investigative journalism is also the custodians of conscience where exposure is the key idea. Through investigations, journalists can reveal previously hidden information to audience members. Investigative journalism serves public interest by providing a voice for those without one. We can hear the plight of the suppressed and exploited souls around the world through journalists. Investigative journalism also serves as a fourth branch of government and its particularly important in Queensland because there is an absence of an upper house (a house of review). Therefore, anything decided in the lower house will go through and no one's there to overlook it. Therefore it is important for journalists to represent the interests of those without power to balance the power of government. 

The major threat posed to investigative journalism is the growing popularity of online news. With online news, media companies have less money to spend hence they hire lesser journalists which means there is lesser time for investigations to take place. However, investigative journalism is essential as it helps to uncover important stories that people try to hide. The future of investigative journalism looks bright with YouTube contemplating about launching a service dedicated to investigative journalism. To find out more about the service that YouTube is thinking of launching, please visit the following website. http://theconversation.edu.au/can-youtube-save-investigative-journalism-3411

Yes Facebook, you got me hooked!!

How many of us would actually take a moment off in the midst of an important event, whereby we are the centre of attraction, just to update our statuses on Facebook? Well, Danna Hanna did just that in the midst of his own wedding ceremony! He asked the minister to give him and his bride time for a social media update. He took his cellphone out in order to update his relationship status on his Facebook profile, before kissing the bride! He requested that his wife do the same. 


As I sit on my bed, trying to study for the exams, my phone keeps vibrating, notifying me about updates from Facebook. I cannot resist the temptation of logging into my Facebook page to check the updates, every few minutes, in the midst of 'studying'. I am officially hooked onto Facebook. I have to seriously look into deactivating my Facebook account for the next few weeks, till exams are over (NOT happening!)


Social media has become an essential tool for most of us, these days. We use Facebook as a place to store and share videos and photographs with friends, to get updates on important news and to keep in touch with friends. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check my phone for any updates on Facebook. I have even managed to get my mom hooked on to Facebook. Facebook has become the main source of communication between my family and friends, back in Singapore, and I. It has been about 4 years since I created my Facebook account which replaced my friendster account. Life will never be the same again, if Facebook becomes non-existant (Unless something similar/better comes up). 

News Values

The news worthiness of a story can actually be determined by news values. There are many news values that have been identified. Unexpectedness, negativity(bad news), reference to elite nations or persons are some of the news values.

On their wedding day, Prince William and Kate Middleton made the front page of many newspapers worldwide. Many people were eager to see the dress Kate Middleton wore and how the wedding took place. The news value that this article has is 'elite persons and nations'. If it was a wedding of a prince in any other country, it would not have received as much publicity as this wedding had received.

This article is about a 13 year old boy, Alfie Patten who is already a father. It made the front page because it has a news value, 'unexpectedness'. It is something out of the ordinary.

"If it bleeds, it leads. If it's local it leads." Daniel Morocombe's disappearance was big news in Queensland because it happened here. After 7 years and 9 months when his bones were found in August this year, it was also major news. The articles about Daniel Morocombe have news values such as, negativity, follow-up and meaningfulness incorporated in it.

Without relevant news values and worthiness, articles would not be of great interest to the readers. Therefore, it is important for writers to examine the newsworthiness of a story before publishing it. 

Emmanuel Kelly

I know I am so outdated but I just came across this on YouTube. It made me tear. I love the song he sang! Really inspiring and he did a good job moving people with the song and his story of course!

Agenda Setting

The hypodermic needle model

The hypodermic needle model shows the mass media 'injecting' direct influence into the audience.  I do agree that the media has a huge impact on public opinion. An example is what happened following the 9/11 attacks. The media gave a huge coverage of the event and portrayed Osama as being guilty for the attacks as they were told by the authorities. Many people were furious and supported the war on terrorism. The same happened with the war on Iraq. Imagine if the media had received inaccurate information, the public would have supported the wrong cause. 

The flawless faces we see on television, celebrities with perfect figures and shows that encourage plastic surgery influence us in a lot of ways. Many people are influenced to buy the products that their favourite celebrities advertise for, in the hopes that they'd get to look 'perfect' like the celebrities. The ideal images of successful people portrayed on TV are usually slim. Over the last few years, this has caused more and more teenagers to become anorexic.

There are two assumptions when it comes to media agenda setting. First is that 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. 

Media can be gatekeepers. It can help in the promotion of a message (media advocacy). Media can also choose to not represent most of the truth or reality going on in the world (agenda cutting). The media follows the crowd and trends ('bandwagon' effect). For example, following the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, almost all the television channels, newspapers and magazines were talking about the wedding. The diffusion of news or the process through which an important event is communicated to the public is also an important part of the agenda setting in the media. An example is when Osama's death was announced by President Obama, it was done on a Sunday night. Sunday is usually considered as a slow news day so it was smart that the announcement was made on a Sunday so the news could get published in the papers the very next day. 


To conclude, I believe that the media influences us in many ways. There are positive messages conveyed by the media as well. For example, the messages on conservation of the environment and adoption of pets. We should definitely be aware of the negative effects of the media. We should learn to form our own opinions and not let the media create our opinions for us. 

An extraordinary talent, Steve Jobs dies

Steve Job's Commencement Speech at Stanford

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” -Steve Jobs

Whether it matters or not he is definitely going to be one of the richest man in the cemetery and he has done many wonderful things he can definitely rest in peace now. I was really shaken when I heard the news that Steve jobs had passed away. He was really an extraordinary man, inspiring and ridiculously talented. His commencement speech at Stanford in 2005 was so inspiring that I have listened to it countless times, since it was uploaded on YouTube. 

“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” This is one of my all-time favourite quotes by Steve Jobs. 

Steve Jobs will always be remembered. With his wonderful ideas and innovations (the Personal Computer, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, iPod), he has impacted the world and how we work. He has been an inspiration and will continue being an inspiration. I will definitely watch the video of his speech at Stanford for many more years to come.

"I am GAY"-Storytelling Exercise

"I want a boyfriend, I want a boyfriend, I want a boyfriend...who can fetch me from home and send me to and fro university. Oh no wait, what I really need is a chauffeur, not a boyfriend!"

That was the first thing that caught my attention when I came across my ex-classmate's Facebook. Well, statuses of this nature usually do not grab my attention. But this time it did, mainly because my ex-classmate is actually a GUY! 

Quiet, tanned and carrying a unique purple bag, I noticed a Malay guy on the first day of my Secondary 3 class. He sat in the row next to me and it was the first time I have really noticed him, in spite of being in the same school for two years. It might have been because we were in the same class for the first time. When everyone was asked to introduce themselves, he stood up and said in a timid voice that his name was Zakaria. 

Zakaria and I were classmates for two years. Throughout the two years, he spoke very little and was always quiet although we managed to talk a little to each other, mainly about schoolwork. He was very helpful, intelligent and fashionable. He was always the one carrying unique bags and was always on trend, changing his glasses regularly. Since we graduated from school, we went our separate ways and did not manage to keep in touch. Therefore when he added me on Facebook, I was excited to finally get in touch with him. I explored his Facebook page and realized he was actually gay!

In secondary school, I would have never guessed that he was not straight. This is the reason why I was a little shocked to discover this fact. When we started being on friendly terms again, I asked him how he realized he was gay. He said, “I guess I just knew it. Or rather, I know that I have feelings for men. But, as you grow up, you are restricted to the society's norms and specific gender roles that you tend to suppress your true feelings and act normal.” That was the reason why he had to hide the fact that he was gay for years.

In Singapore, it is really unusual to have gay people publicly proclaiming that they are gay, because the society is still close-minded and very judgmental especially when it comes to ones sexual orientation. Singapore law, as in many other countries, prohibits homosexual relationships. Therefore many homosexuals tend to keep their sexual preferences to themselves and suffer in silence. If they were to come out and acknowledge their true sexual preferences, they must be prepared to face the challenges posted by the very Asian nature of Singapore’s society.

In Zakaria’s case, he had his own share of challenges when he eventually opened up and went public with the information that he was gay. His very first challenge was to feel comfortable enough to tell people that he is gay. He only felt comfortable last year when he was 20 years old. He said that the media had played a huge part in helping him feel comfortable and ready to face the society with the truth. The Internet provided him with a vast amount of information on homosexuality and the issues encircling it. He added that the increasing amount of gay characters shown on movies and shows also assured him that the boundaries of the society has been somewhat pushed and that in today’s society there might be more people who can really understand or at least tolerate and accept him being gay.

His family was his real challenge! Coming from a strict Muslim background and being gay was the hardest challenge for him to overcome. His parents couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he is gay and went on to preach that it was a sin, ‘haram’ and unreligious. Being afraid to upset them further and as a respect for their feelings he avoids discussion on that matter when he is in their company.

Another challenge he faced was dealing with all the discrimination and prejudice in school and National Service (NS). In Singapore, every male citizen and permanent resident has to undergo military training for 2 years. He had to endure a lot of teasing and loneliness as he was ostracized for being different. Luckily for him, he was brave and undeterred.  Eventually he overcame his predicament, did well and passed out after the two years of training. He said, “ I eventually became brave and could overcome the adversities because I always tell myself that those who try to make me feel like a fool are just ignorant about my situation and I need to be brave. I would rise up and proof myself. Of course, I had my moments of depression and isolation.” He even felt embarrassed about himself initially because the people who teased him really made him feel like a fool.  Lucky for him, he has come to accept himself for who he is and has learnt that being gay is not the only defining point of who he is, there are other important aspects like his character and his accomplishments. He is blessed for having close friends who love him for who he is.

There are so many people out there who are not as lucky as Zakaria. They are unable to break their silence and face the truth. Basically, they are afraid to face the society and are afraid of being ostracized. Zakaria also had something to say to these people, people who do not try to understand but be judgmental about others.

“I can respect and understand if people don't accept us, at the same time, please do not judge us by our sexual orientation. We are not sexual products, we have more substance than that.”

Sir Elton John married David Furnish in 2005 and showed the world that life can be normal even if you are gay. They now even have a baby. People should not judge others based on their sexual orientation. As Zakaria said being gay does not wholly define a gay person there are other aspects to being a human.