Second last lecture! At least I think so. There may or may not be a lecture next week. We'll see right?
So this week we discussed (I say discussed, but really it was just Bruce talking and us trying to follow) investigative journalism.
When I first signed up for my courses at the start of the year, I noticed that one our subjects for semester two was investigative journalism. At first, I thought it was SO cool. I thought we were going to go all 21 Jump Street on Brisbane and become undercover journalists or something. But then... uni started.
Don't get me wrong, I love journalism. Definately no doubt in my mind that I will be doing some form of writer as my official 'profession'. However, I do find having to call people I don't know (and asking them a bunch of personal questions) intimidating. Before I spent a year overseas, I was painfully shy. And that isn't an exaggeration, either, because my stomach would literally hurt whenever people outside of my small friend circle made contact with me. Even though I've definately overcome that, it came from a need for survival, not a need to know everything.
So yes, I'm a little daunted by the thought of journalistic investigation and let's just say; this lecture did not help me overcome my fears one single bit.
The following is what I learnt from my lecture (cue everyone exiting this browser...):
- it's aim is to uncover the truth and identify lapses from it
- the best stories are always the ones people want to supress
- it provides a voice for people who don't have one in society
- it takes nothing for granted (be sceptical, not cynical!)
- always check facts!
- assume nothing!
- expect whistleblowers to be/go crazy!
- interview, observe, search documents, go to briefings, check for leaks and (depending on your level of morality) sometimes trespass and steal evidence. Hey, I'm just saying what they told us.
- ask yourself this: does everything line up?
We were shown a few examples of investigative journalists who changed the world and, I'll admit, I was definately curious. I looked up "investigave journalism" and had a look at what popped up on good ol' Google. This is an example I found:
"Anna Politkovskaya's reporting in Chechnya and the Russian treatment of the Chechen people led to many investigative reports published in Novaya Gazeta, such as the poisoning of children. Her work was widely recognized by international organizations before she was murdered in 2006. Today an award in her name honors other women who report under circumstances of great danger."Thanks, Wikipedia. I now know which job I definately won't be chasing.
On the plus side, here's a video of a sheep pushing a fisherman into a lake:
http://www.break.com/index/sheep-attacks-unsuspecting-fisherman-2327209
Until next time,
Leila
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