Week 13

Week 13

ABC Media Report - “Against the media tide “
Date 30th October 2008

Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2402119.htm

Quote “There's no shortage of quality journalism in Australia or overseas. I think what's happening is, and I don't mean this as a reflection on your question, is that people are being more judgmental about the actual practice of journalism, you know, the ethics behind it, the style of writing, whether people recognise the line that divides opinion from news. Those issues don't really concern us because we're only picking the very cream, and that's one of the great strengths of The Week, is that we're getting rid of the dross. I do this joke with the staff where I say, 'We only take the pith'.”
-wow, pretty ballsy statement. He might be correct, maybe not. Either way it’s a pretty big leap of faith he’s made. I kinda hope it works out. This underdog attitude he has in regards to how the media works and its good and bad sides being interconnected; is pretty cool stuff actually.

The Australian lift out – “Kath & Kim secure full US network season”
Date 3rd November 2008

Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24591248-7582,00.html

In the biggest case of “who didn’t see that coming?”, Kath and Kim (The US version) has been axed from Australian television.
I don’t wanna talk about it anymore. But EVERYONE saw this coming. Personally, I didn’t even watch the show. Not out of spite or anything, I just didn’t watch it, out doing better things with my time.

Oh, ok, I just watched some.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWpZWnNEDsg
yep. Pretty boring actually.
In case you were a little curious, the American version of “thank god you’re here” did alright for itself. I wonder why that wasn’t in the papers? I never heard a thing about it.

Well, that’s the end of this blog. That’s all the wisdom you’ll be getting from me.





And finally, in case of emergency.

good night, good luck

Week 12

Week 12

ABC Media Report - “The New Blue Media“
Date 23rd October 2008
Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2395910.htm

This was fascinating, but I think maybe the author has gone a little overboard. Yes , Stewart claims his show is to be comedic first, and I think that it is. Honestly, if you actually watch it for a news program above anything else, you might as well kill yourself. The subjects they talk about, the way they approach it and, the criticisms they offer. I f they were all taken seriously then you’d get incredibly depressed, it’d paint a picture that the whole world’s screwed and we’ll soon all be dead.
But if you step back from all that, and actually take it all into perspective, you kinda laugh. And that’s what these programs do, often they step back from all the media reports and actually say, “hey, you know what? I think we’ve gone crazy here. “
Ultimately, those shows make fun of whatever it is that’s in the public sphere, which for better or worse, is on the minds of Americans at the time. Mostly its about showing how insane other American news sources are.
And to accuse them of being too liberal, well, they are allowed to be, its not trying to be fair or balanced, its aiming to be funny. They can support whoever they want, the shows just s caps off a wider appreciation for what’s happening within the media for viewers, it shouldn’t be their only news source.

And I’ve seen the video of Colbert making that speech. It’s funny, you know who laughs in it? BUSH LAUGHS! He’s chuckling away right next to Colbert. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=X-oMlBSiX3g Whatever criticisms the world has of Bush you CANNOT deny that he has a sense of humour about himself. Colbert understands, Bush understands that, now we wait for the rest of the world to grasp that.
The idea is to step back and laugh; they aren’t trying to solve any problems here. Christ.

The Australian lift out – “ACA local editions to pulp populist image“
Date 27th October 2008
Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24555234-7582,00.html

“rather than consumer stories and neighbourhood disputes.”
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER.
They’ll never be able to do this. Why? Their viewing audience.
They couldn’t possible try and change. The fact is this shows popular with a certain collective of viewers that aren’t interested in “bigger issues”, they want bogan news.

Bogan news. It’ll be the death of us all.

Week 11

Week 11

ABC Media Report - “Local Voices“

Date 16th October 2008

Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2393117.htm

Wow.
This womans amazing. Funnell’s right saying it’s nice to hear something nice about media like this. Makes you feel like we aren’t gonna ruin this planet and end up living in trees biting our neighbours in the neck because we’re all high off crazy fruit.
Truly amazing stuff. People who manage to fight for development and a real level of excellence and quality in finite journalism like this should be praised and respected.

The Australian lift out – “Growing switch to community radio and local content “

Date 20th October 2008

Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24520435-7582,00.html

I chose this story because funnily enough, two weeks ago I subscribed to community radio in Adelaide myself. Three D (93.7 fm). http://www.threedradio.com/
And why? I’ll tell you, commercial radio is about as interesting and enjoyable as deep sea fishing. It’s bland and its boring and its repetitive and its single minded and its designed for idiots and I just can’t take it anymore…
Even triple J, which I used to love, is getting pretty tedious. When I started listening to Three D it was amazing, the music was interesting, varied, enjoyable and expressive. Sure, not all of it is great, but for the most part, it’s a much more exciting outlet.
So I think it’s no surprise these findings are starting to emerge, I really hope that we see a rise in community radio, I really do. Its basically the last safe threshold holding back the masses from diving back into the pungent soup we all emerged from.
OK, little bit overboard. But seriously, to sum up;
Commercial radio = stinky
Community radio = heart of gold.

Week 10

Week 10

ABC Media Report - “Mankind is no Island “

Date 9th October 2008

Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2384099.htm

If you wanna watch the film, here it is as reposted on youtube. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk

Personally, I found it a bit preachy. And some of the writing was a bit too much like songs you’d hear in church. But the idea of a mobile phone film being the winner of all these prizes is quite interesting. Especially when the film is given power by the fact its was filmed by a mobile. You kinda think, oh wow, something so small and simple can capture so much emotion. But come on, let’s not go overboard.
But does that mean the mobile phone is the new digital video camera? Probably not, at least, not yet.
For a short film, yes, this idea works, but short films and feature length movies will always be too separate to be united like that.


The Australian lift out – “US, British network stars heading for Australia “

Date 13th October 2008

Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24484668-36418,00.html

I think in a couple of months time we will all be so sick of “Australia” most of us will just leave the country to get away from it all. It would be nice to get that money into Australia’s (let’s face it) struggling film industry. But at this cost? Surely not.
If you wanna watch the tourism Australia ad mentioned in the article it’s here.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc
This is just so bad its funny. It’s SO LAME! SOOOO LAME!
I DON’T LIKE Baz Luhrman, he writes like a monkey smells.
It’s one hell of a 40 million dollar cliché.

Week 9

Week 9

ABC Media Report - “Spinspotter “

Date 2nd October 2008

Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2380044.htm

This is a solid gold idea. It means a real challenge to those in the PR field. I predict that if they can get it started up, there’s real underground potential. Unlike other web 2.0 crazes, you can’t really buy this one out. Sucked in Murdoch, droopy old bastard.

Really, IMAGINE! Scanning your articles to cut the crap, literally. It’ll take a lot of work though. PR people are trained in thinking on their feet, not falling into routine. It’s a bit like developing a magic sword to slay a very smart dragon.
Wow, what an incredibly bad example I have given.


The Australian lift out – “Kath & Kim creators say US version 'noice' “

Date 6th October 2008

Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24450568-30540,00.html

Jeez, I remember how angry and critical people got when Kath and Kim moved from Aunty to Seven. Incredibly defensive. Moving it from Aus to the US seems to be even worse.
My prediction (and everyone else) is that it will only last a couple of weeks on our television. It might not even be that bad; but we Australians are just so damn stubborn we won’t watch it.
Look at the American version of the Office, those who loved the British poo-poo’ed it. But in the US its taken over, winning emmy’s and ratings. I’ve seen it, I thought it was funny myself, but jeez Australians can be arseholes when we wanna.

But, honestly, from what I’ve seen. It looks rubbish.
Summed up; American humour does not include the same ironic twist Australian humour does. We laugh at K&K because we think we’re better than them. This won’t fly in the US.

Week 8

Week 8

ABC Media Report - “The Process is the product “Date 18th September 2008

Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2366067.htm

I don’t think I even understand what it is they’re trying to do here. Hell, I don’t think the woman in charge knows what she’s trying to do here. It certainly seems so in her interview. Maybe I’m just ignorant on the matter (probably) but I don’t actually have it explained to me in this piece. Firstly, you can’t just download clips and rearrange them to make a movie (WELL, YOU CAN, OBVIOUSLY) . But how does that then go straight into this new format and technique of filmmaking. It doesn’t make sense. Where is the footage coming from? Who does all the work? Where is it compiled? Who’s actually in charge? Is this similar to blogs where just because everyone has one, it doesn’t mean it’s gonna be made?Or is it more the idea that the person MAKING the film (from other people’s work and resources) is actually the audience? In that case, doesn’t it make the whole process pointless as users can do that now?This makes no sense! NO SENSE AT ALL!If this idea works (which it won’t, because its kinda dumb – ambitious, but dumb), I’ll eat my hat. Once I go out and buy one, obviously.

The Australian lift out – “New take on current affairs taps into Generation Y “ Date 18th September 2008

Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24362647-7582,00.html?from=public_rss

YES. YES. YES. YES.I like this show. I hate Today Tonight. I hate A Current Affairs. There, that’s my opinion. I really like how Aunty is trying to prove there are youth out there who aren’t borderline retarded, watching the crap networks put on as ‘youth’ tv.I REALLY like how issues facing youth within Australia have their own current affairs program now, that’s actually relevant, and interesting. Quite stylish as well, but that goes hand in hand with most of what Aunty does.Unfortunately, I’d be surprised if this show ever gets off ABC2 and on to ACTUAL television. I think it’s destined to live online, and in podcasts. Which I think for the meantime is ok because that is where its actual audience needs it to be.

Week 7

Week 7

ABC Media Report - “Kids business”
Date: 11th September 2008
Available here : http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2362642.htm

I used to watch BTN at school. Back when it was only on once a week. It was a very good idea. The stories were interesting, funny, animated and most importantly, were made relevant to children, like me.

I loved BTN. Good stuff. BTN.

The Australian lift out – “Wiggles top-paid Aussie entertainers again: BRW list”
Date: 10th September 2008
Available here : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24324566-16955,00.html

I like the wiggles. Good ol’ aussie success story and that which we all love.
But seriously, I think maybe it’s getting a little ridiculous.
This would make me crap myself.