Week 12: The Greens & Coalition speak in harmony?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/refugee-plan-imminent-20101016-16odt.html

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1384327/Asylum-seekers-could-be-released

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/16/3040170.htm

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/latest/8144550/libs-greens-at-one-on-kids-in-detention/

4 articles: The Age, Yahoo7, SBS & ABC


Several articles covered Immigration Minister Chris Bowen’s expected imminent announcement of what has been touted as a “major policy shift”: a plan to release children and families from detention while their asylum claims are being processed.

The Age’s article is short and merely delivers a summary of the issue. It is purely straight news, featuring comment from both Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison.

The absence of any supplementary material such as photos or even links to related content is a major deficit. A “Join the conversation” feature - revealing the number of other readers simultaneously viewing - lends a participatory feel, however there was no comments section. Maybe a wise decision: when scanning for articles on the topic I came upon a Yahoo7 (AAP) article and the numerous comments submitted there were truly cringe-worthy (eg.: “Whats next? Roll the red carpet out onto the beach for them?”). I get the impression that reader comments, while not necessarily representative of the views of the news service, can potentially taint by association!

SBS features an AAP article which offers a more enhanced online experience than The Age. The headline is enthralling: “Libs, Greens at one on kids in detention” (“at one”? These two parties are usually diametrically “at odds”!). A photo of detainees peering through razor wire provides a relevant visual reference, and links to related content provide further depth.

The article includes quotes from both Hanson-Young and Morrison, including the memorable last line where Morrison lauds the Coalition’s efforts for removing children from detention in 2005. (I personally didn’t appreciate his big-noting: the Howard years were notorious for their inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.)

Ultimately - and as you’ve come to expect from me - I ended up at ABC. At 800 words their report is lengthier, but this is an issue that deserves the more comprehensive treatment which ABC afforded it. Quotes by Hanson-Young highlighted aspects of asylum seeker education and employment which are still to be worked out.

Comment by a Professor of Public Law along with a photo of detainees, radio excerpts and related articles make for a multifaceted spread.

I believe ABC presents best overall, however SBS’ succinct delivery and multimedia also result in an engaging online read.

(As an aside: I did take exception to the Professor in the ABC report using the term “boat people”, although I understand the context. The casual use of this term in the media & public domain is worrying. I would have preferred to see her say “asylum seekers who arrive on boats”, simply because this rhetoric is now becoming entrenched and I believe it is distorting.)

Week 8: The national news agency strikes

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/people-in-politics/greens-move-to-legislate-euthanasia/story-fn5oatrf-1225926203755

http://www.smh.com.au/national/greens-reignite-righttodie-debate-20100919-15hk9.html

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1357636/Greens-move-to-legalise-euthanasia

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/19/3015782.htm

Articles: 19/09/2010

This week’s articles initially presented me with somewhat of a challenge. My blog’s objective has always been to “compare and contrast” news articles – those generated by different news organisations but on the same topic, to evaluate which article presents best online.

Which is why I was rendered confused after deciding on The Australian and SMH’s versions of Bob Brown’s announcement of his desire to overturn laws blocking the ACT and NT’s rights to legislate on euthanasia. Based on the headlines, I was led to believe they’d each provide their own take on the issue – “Greens move to legislate euthanasia” (The Australian) and “Greens reignite right-to-die debate” (SMH).

Also, the multimedia differed. Absolutely none in the sterile SMH article, but “Related Coverage” in The Australian, plus a handy hyperlink leading to a Bob Brown profile (did you know he was formerly a doctor who was working in a London hospital the same night an overdosed Jimi Hendrix was brought in? Neither did I). You could say I was thoroughly hoodwinked prior to reading any text that these were different articles.

However, the articles were word-for-word duplications! Yes, clearly AAP is a heavily used resource by both News Ltd (The Australian) and Fairfax (SMH), but as far as I’m concerned a bit of tweaking to at least give the impression of uniqueness wouldn’t have gone astray.

I was forced to look elsewhere for salvation – however SBS did not provide relief. Points to SBS for at least attempting to put their own stamp on the article (they rearranged some of the paragraphs!) but it’s also the exact same AAP article.

My search ended at ABC. Their article, “Brown continues fight against euthanasia ban”, not only provides a pic of an earnest looking Brown, but is a completely different article!

It is lighter on content, but is clearly the stand out player. It gives some historical context to the legislation ban issue and contains completely different quotes by Brown.

What can I say? ABC wins for originality.