Source One: Brisbane
Times “Judge Orders Children to Italy”
Calligeros, M & Peterson F.
(2012, May 16). Judge Orders Children to Italy. Brisbane Times. Retrieved from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/judge-orders-children-to-italy-20120515-1youm.html
The authors, Marissa Calligeros
and Freya Peterson are both esteemed authors in their respective fields. Calligeros, resident courts and property
reporter for Brisbane Times alongside Peterson, who has previously worked for
some of the biggest publications in the world, bring a professional and
credible perspective to the story. The
authors, both based in Brisbane, will have a local perspective on the story,
which adds to the believability and locality factor. This article visited many different areas to
the story, beginning with a background to the story, giving the reader an
insight to what had happened previously and the latest information in the
issue. The article then recounted how
the girls were found and a statement from the judge working on the case. The mother, father and grandmother were also
spoken to, ensuring that many different sides to the story were covered. The only people who had not been contacted
for a statement were the girls, who are protected under law. The article then moves on to cover legal and
ethical implications of the Courier Mail reporters who published the names and
photographs of the girls. This part of
the article reinforces the credibility of the article, seeming as though they
are against this style of reporting.
Source Two: Northern
Rivers Echo “Girls Facing Deportation Vanish”
Bathersby, D. (2012, May 14).
Girls Facing Deportation Vanish. Northern
Rivers Echo. Retrieved from http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2012/05/14/desperate-plea-over-eviction-of-four-sisters/
The author, Damien Bathersby, is
a regional weekend reporter for the APN regional news network. He is located in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast. His location is an important factor in this
article. The four girls were living on
the Sunshine Coast, so it will be important for him to report correctly and
tactfully whilst remaining unbiased as he is close to the source of the
story. Ethically, it is important that
he is careful with what he reports as he is in close contact to the friends and
family involved in the case. However, being
that he is close by to the news source, the story could be influenced causing
bias. This story has many statements
from those close to the girls, particularly the grandmother. Although factual, this could be seen as
showing bias, this could be rectified by including more statements from the
courts or the father. In comparison to
the article published on Brisbane Times, it appeals more to a community, rather
than a state-wide audience, Brisbane Times was more about publishing the facts
rather than the sensitive sympathetic side.
Source Three: Ninemsn “Missing
Queensland Girls Found”
Pearson N. (2012, May 22).
Missing Queensland Girls Found. Ninemsn.
Retrieved from http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8471296/missing-queensland-girls-found
Ninemsn is the online source for
Channel Nine’s news coverage. Ninemsn is
very lifestyle oriented; they have an abundance of stories regarding
celebrities and sports stars. The only
news story about the four girls (who have been making headlines in other news
sources around the country) was this one, reporting that the girls had been
found. This does not indicate that
Ninemsn is a good source for groundbreaking news stories. The reporter, Nick Pearson graduated from
Charles Sturt University as the Editor in Chief of the student newspaper. This story was stating the facts, nothing
ethically questionable or groundbreaking.
However, that is not a problem as there is little information regarding
the girls, the court or anything mentioned in court. In comparison to earlier articles, this has
content similar to Brisbane Times with more of a factual base. However, it was neither as in depth nor as up
to date nor did it have a locality factor.
In comparison to the article in the Northern Echo, it appealed more to a
national level of news. It did not go
into family relationships nor was it a sympathy story.
Source Four: Media and
Journalism Ethics “Media Ethics”
Phadke, S. P. (2008). Media
Ethics. In S. P. Phadke (Ed.), Media and
Journalism Ethics (pp. 10-53). Retrieved from http://reader.eblib.com.au.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/%28S%28fpoejczegzdmucrnu53jp0qo%29%29/Reader.aspx?p=588538&o=86&u=z8wyIEciIrz%2ftSVtqjXpAPStDKK60T%2fd&t=1337920269&h=93CEEB779F39B59D24F1ED4336CA7CB5418B3DCA&s=6025425&ut=213&pg=10&r=img&c=-1&pat=n#
This book is all about the Ethics
of Media and Journalism. The Author, S.
P Phadke, has written a number of academic books regarding media and
journalism. The chapter of the book,
Media Ethics, ties in with the news articles as there are many ethical
responsibilities when dealing with both court proceedings and children under
the age of eighteen. As mentioned in the
first article from Brisbane Times, the Courier Mail recently contravened these
laws. In the chapter, he mentions the
different areas of journalism ethics; news manipulation, truth, public
interest, privacy, fantasy, taste and conflict with the law. Although the book provides information for
general ethical media, it is based on America, so the laws may be different
here in Australia. Also, there was very
little to no academic referencing within the chapter. This helps to reinforce that the information
is true and factual. The book was
published in 2008, which is recent although there could be slight amendments to
the laws in the time since then.
Overall, this book was a good read, however, for more informational or
academic reading, it would not be appropriate.
