America’s week of horror started with a devastating event: the Boston Marathon was rocked by two explosions near the finish line. No two primary news sources or agencies could agree on the “facts”. First, hundreds were injured, then 179 people were injured. Then there were two people arrested… Oh, no, wait; it was one man……
DetailsThe current North Korea v America (and pretty much everyone else) crisis has the whole world on the edge of its sanity. Will he or won’t he? I reserve judgement on the the feasibility of Pyongyang’s threat but it definitely is scary knowing that nuclear threats can be thrown around like a child’s toy. It…
DetailsEaster was especially exciting last week. The Newsroom opened its doors to all Macleay’s first term J-students and pretty much anyone else we found wandering around campus. Everyone’s favourite production apparatchik Tony Kleu spent the wee hours of the morning baking hot cross buns for everyone and a few special ones for me. One of…
DetailsCONGRATULATIONS FROM THE EDITOR!! This week, our beloved newsroom has found its stride! Enthusiastic “newbies”, inside media jokes and constructive critiques filled the atmosphere of our buzzing headquarters. For the first time this year, everyone knew exactly what they needed to do and where they needed to be. I am so proud of my team.…
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When I was a young girl my father taught me some telephone etiquette: “Smile when you speak. People need to hear you smiling.” In my late teens, as I was writing up the newsletter for a performing arts company, the director told me, “Don’t sound so depressed when you write.” When I became editor of…
DetailsTechnology has definitely added infinite resources, mediums and previously unimaginable possibilities to journalism. You can hold a whole broadsheet newspaper inside the palm of your hand. People in Papua New Guinea can know by lunchtime what PM Julia Gillard had for breakfast this morning… and say a little bird called “Twitter” told me. Technology has…
Details“Time waits for no man” …and it speeds up for journalists. That is one of the many lessons learnt this week in Australia’s first student-run newsroom. Chasing press conferences, nagging reluctant sources, the newsroom students learned how to be ahead of the news rather than scrambling to catch up to it. There is always pressure…
DetailsThe Oscar Pistorius saga that has saturated our media shows what I believe is an incredible flaw in media practices. Trial by media. While I, as a journalist, would prefer that the media always be fair and balanced, in this instance the Fourth Estate has left a lot to be desired. One report said that South…
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The Newsroom had a successful launch in September 2012, attracting media attention and a growing audience. The inaugural Newsroom team covered major stories of 2012 such as the US Presidential Election, Superstorm Sandy, the Royals’ visit Down Under and even the Aria Awards. We’re back after a summer break with a new team of Macleay…
DetailsWhen I look at my Facebook profile I’m always disappointed: it’s boring in comparison to the social media masters I know. Nifty netizens comically update their status, post funny pictures and comment on stuff, mostly in ripping one-liners. The social side of Facebook is lots of fun but the news feed is where people get…
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