Film Review: The Help (2011)

United States in the 1960s and the civil rights movement is alive - but not in Jackson, Mississippi. The Help introduces us into the life of the people living there. To the rich, good-looking, young but married, white housewives, their families...and their African-American maids. While the housewives, who all have exceptionally annoying high-pitched voices, spend their days playing bridge, gossiping and organising charity events. Their maids are living hard lives, raising their employers' children and leaving their own children to themselves. Nobody cares about them - it's the way it has always been and always will be. Nobody, but Skeeter, a young, aspiring journalist and writer. She's friends with the gossip-posse but she is the only one with a job, a normal voice and the only one with a brain, or so it seems. She starts talking to the maids, gets to know them...and writes their stories into a book.

On the one hand, the film is dealing with a very serious and sensitive topic and it does so very well. It comes across as very authentic; historical events from that period of time, such as the assassination of President Kennedy, the civil rights rallies from Martin Luther King or the murder of Emmett Till, are mentioned and weaved into the plot. On the other hand, the film is supremely emotional - with emotions ranking from compassion, sadness, despair, hope and joy...but also a lot of humor, which prevents it from becoming too heavy. This outstanding mix is probably due to a large part to the cast; I especially liked Emma Stone as Skeeter, the young journalist.

This has been the first film in a while that I thoroughly enjoyed; definitely a must-see.

Oh Qantas...

Even though I was only 11 years old at the time I vividly remember that autumn day in 2001, when the Swiss national airline, Swissair, was grounded. The airline had been an important piece of Swiss national pride and almost everyone had held shares of the company. It was a sad day, and people were angry and confused as to why the government did not help the bankrupt airline.

So when Qantas management grounded its fleet, the images of the red-white planes, stranded in airports around the world, seemed eerily familiar to me. But the big difference is that while Swissair had to ground its fleet because they simply, physically did not have the money to pay for the kerosene to power their aircraft, with Qantas, it was different. It seems bizarre to just shut down the whole company to force the unions to take back their claims.

While I'm not familiar with the exact numbers and details, I just can't imagine that such extreme action would have a positive outcome for Qantas. While the unions may have given in (temporarily?), the financial loss from not operating their business at all must be ridiculously high. But what's probably even worse is the damage that this grounding must have inflicted on the company's image. Additionally, the climate within the company must have suffered tremendously. How do you go back to work after your company has shut you out for a few days?

It leaves me wondering how the Qantas executive came to the conclusion that a complete shut down was the best solution in this case, and it will be interesting to see how that all plays out in the future. Let's hope Qantas won't have to ground their fleet again in the near future - at least they are flying again, unlike the Swissair planes, which remained grounded forever.

Lecture 2 - Telling Factual Stories with Text (Rod Chester)

Rod Chester, a Courier Mail journalist, visited our second lecture to talk to us about how to tell factual stories with text. He started off by showing us some pretty sobering statistics about the decline in newspaper sales in Australia - which was followed by the good news that luckily, Australian still DO buy some newspapers and that written media is not disappearing but rather changing - think online news, social media like Twitter or iPad apps.

When talking about news writing, the ubiquitous Inverted Pyramid has to be mentioned: it shows how a news article should be constructed. First, you write the important stuff (5Ws&H),
which is followed by the important details and in the end are the less important details. Basically, a news story should be written with the thought in mind, that it might get "cut from the bottom".

Chester talked about the other particularities of news writing, such as the formulaic and factual style of writing.

There are different news features, such as personality profiles, human interest stories or backgrounders, to name a few.

He gave us a few tips on how to write a feature story:

-use a thread

-use transition

-use dialogue when possible

-establish a voice

-conclude with a quotation or part of the thread

Chester then showed us numerous examples of how to start/end stories well by using tools such as sarcasm, humor, cliff-hangers or (tweaked) quotes, which was funny and very inspiring.
But the last and most important tips he gave us were:

Read.
Write.

...makes sense!

Annotated Bibliography

Amanda Knox’s murder conviction was overturned by an Italian court on October 3, 2011. The American student had been charged with the murder of her British room mate in Perugia, Italy. The trial had been followed very closely by the media, national and international, and there were accusations of biased reporting. In this bibliography I will review two newspaper articles and a radio report on Knox’s acquittal and analyse them regarding bias and partiality. Stephen Ward’s journal article, which I review as well, provides one possible framework for such analysis. Ward’s article discusses an example of partial reporting in connection with patriotic bias, which is an especially interesting string of thought considering the internationality of the Knox story and its coverage.

Ward, S. J. A. (2007). Utility and Impartiality: Being Impartial in a Partial World. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 22(2-3), 151 – 167.

The author is currently a professor of journalism ethics at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has published and edited several works about media ethics (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2010). In this particular journal article Ward develops a model of ethics in order to show how partiality can be integrated into impartial reasoning. Regarding ethical frameworks, Ward prefers an eclectic approach that “recognizes a plurality of principles and criteria” (Ward, 2007) over master-principal theories, “because they fail to capture the complexity of ethical life and decision making” (Ward, 2007). Thus, his view on partiality in journalism is also an eclectic one. Instead of advocating either the principles of partiality or impartiality, he prefers what he calls “mitigated impartialism” (Ward, 2007), meaning that while impartialism is favourable, so is partialism (to some degree) which is a natural human trait. Applied to the issue of patriotism in journalism this means that a claim to patriotism may be legitimate but should not overrule the journalistic principles of truth-seeking and independence. While Ward’s approach seems very practicable and reasonable it is also somewhat weak. Who determines at what point the fine line between enough and too much partiality is crossed?

Platell, A. (2011, October 5). What is it about Amanda Knox that so chills the blood? Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2045078/Amanda-Knox-What-Foxy-Knoxy-chills-blood.html

Platell is an Australian born journalist and currently working as a columnist for the online edition of one of Britain’s most popular newspapers, the Daily Mail (Morris, 2008). Writing this article she did not even attempt to assume an impartial stance on Amanda Knox’s recent acquittal. While she states that she does not want to make a statement on whether Knox is guilty of killing Briton Meredith Kercher or not, she then continues by attacking Knox’s personality. The article is opinionated and partial. Platell uses an array of factoids to explain why, in her eyes, there is something "unsettling“ about "Foxy Knoxy“ (Platell, 2011). While Platell’s article is a column and thus can be expected to be a little more partial than other news outlets, it is hard to understand why Platell would have such a harsh and pronounced opinion on Knox’s character. By interpreting facts/factoids that only show one side of the debate and by using nicknames and accusatory language elements, she does exactly what she explicitly denied doing: implying that in her opinion, Knox is guilty and the acquittal is, if not wrong, at least questionable. It is impossible to say why Platell is writing in such a biased manner, patriotic partialism (the murder victim being from the UK, and Platell writing for a UK paper) may be playing into that to some degree.

Povoledo, E. (2011, October 3). Amanda Knox Freed After Appeal in Italian Court. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/world/europe/amanda-knox-defends-herself-in-italian-court.html?_r=1&ref=amandaknox

The Canadian born Povoledo works for the Italian state radio and for the New York Times, covering Italian issues. She brings significant knowledge about the Italian culture and the Italian court system to the topic; but instead of analysing and interpreting the events in court and the acquittal, she merely recounts what happened in court and how people reacted to them. She does not judge; she manages to cover the different aspects of the story equally extensively. This makes her article believable and a source of information that a reader can trust and thus enables the reader to form his/her own opinion about the trial and its outcome. This unbiasedness is intentional; Povoledo even briefly mentions the “role of the media, both local and international, which have been accused of excessive — and often biased — coverage of the case” (Povoledo, 2011) and thus sets herself apart from the mentioned biasedness. The New York Times being widely regarded as a trustworthy news source, this intentional impartiality seems very fitting. In contrast to the above reviewed piece by Amanda Platell this article is not a column but rather a news article and has thus been written with a different approach regarding the degree of analysis and commentary involved.

Alberici, E. (Reporter). (2011, October 4). AM [Radio broadcast].  Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Company.

The reporting Emma Alberici is the ABC’s Europe correspondent and has twice been nominated for the Walkley awards for journalism (ABC, 2009). She is keeping her report (presumably on-site) about Amanda Knox’s acquittal neutral, stating facts and providing background information. The intermittent segments of the crowd, Amanda Knox or other news readers speaking add diversity to the news report and through the different voices used the listener may perceive an increased objectivity. Alberici manages to achieve a desirably unbiased report of the trial outcome, even though she does briefly touch upon the emotional side of the case by playing a sequence of Italians shouting and complaining against the verdict. Alberici’s voice and tone sound neutral which presumably is helping listeners to perceive the report itself as neutral. This is an advantage that radio has over written media – the voice and tone can be used to add another layer of meaning, for example sarcasm, resentment or joy. While objectivity in news is generally desirable, the ABC has, as the national public broadcaster, additional guidelines and responsibilities regarding impartiality. Alberici adheres to these guidelines and produced an informative report of Knox’s acquittal.

Reference List

Alberici, E. (Reporter). (2011, October 4). AM [Radio broadcast].  Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Company.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2009). Emma Alberici. Retrieved on October 25, 2011, from http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s2774192.htm?site=news

Morris, S. (2008). My Life in Media: Amanda Platell. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-amanda-platell-805351.html

Platell, A. (2011, October 5). What is it about Amanda Knox that so chills the blood? Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2045078/Amanda-Knox-What-Foxy-Knoxy-chills-blood.html

Povoledo, E. (2011, October 3). Amanda Knox Freed After Appeal in Italian Court. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/world/europe/amanda-knox-defends-herself-in-italian-court.html?_r=1&ref=amandaknox

University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2010). Stephen J. A. Ward. Retrieved on October 24, 2011, from http://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/conference/third-annual-journalism-ethics-conference/2011-ethics-conference-participants/stephen-j-a-ward/

Ward, S. J. A. (2007). Utility and Impartiality: Being Impartial in a Partial World. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 22(2-3), 151 – 167.

Rant: Occupy Wall Street - seriously?!

"The occupation of Liberty Square is a symbol of the growing international movement fighting against neoliberal economic practices, the crimes of Wall Street and the resulting income inequality, unemployment, and oppression of people at the front lines of the economic crisis." (http://occupywallst.org/).

This is how the official website of the Occupy Wall Street movement starts off describing their "mission". The people who have been sitting and occupying the Zuccotti Park in the NYC financial district since mid-September have inspired a considerable amount of imitation events all around the globe and have garnered extensive international media coverage.


I do realise that banks and especially investment bankers have been showing questionable ethics and using business practices which have contributed to the global financial crisis and I think that such behavior has to be punished and regulated. But to me, the Occupy Wall Street movement just comes across as a childish, uninformed temper tantrum of people who have an image of The Big Bad Bankers in their heads. The above stated goal of "fighting against (...) unemployment" is a good example for the point I'm trying to make here - seriously guys, you're not going to "fight unemployment" by camping overnight in the financial district.


On the Occupy Wall Street website the organisers state that they "are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants", which makes me downright mad. Arab Spring was an uprising of people who had been oppressed by undemocratic regimes. They did not have democratic means of bringing their views and opinions forward. The people in the US have these means. The case of the Zurich Occupy Wall Street movement makes me even more angry - Switzerland has the most direct democracy in the world, everyone can run for parliament and easily initiate a referendum or a public initiative. But instead of organising themselves in a serious fashion and trying to bring about the much-needed changes through political means, they sit around, chant words that make them sound imbecile or uninformed and hope for a wonder to happen (a "revolution"). I can't take these people seriously and I'm sure, politicians around the world can't, either.


Dear protesters, you have valid claims and democratic means of expressing and possibly enforcing them. If you really want to bring about change, then do it in an informed way that honours the freedoms you enjoy as citizens of western democracies.

Swiss Federal Elections 2011

Every four years Switzerland elects a new Parliament. Yesterday, the Swiss went to vote - after half a year of campaigning that, to a neutral bystander, must have looked like some kind of comedy circus. The results were, in my opinion, pretty decent - but that's not what I want to write about. I do want to point out a few of the  elements in the campaigns leading up to the elections that struck me as funny, interesting or sometimes downright ridiculous.

Fringe Parties

Under the Swiss political system, every citizen above the age of 18 is allowed to create a political party and have a spot on the ballot paper for national elections. The only prerequisite for a place on the ballot is that the prospective candidate has to gather between 200 and 400 (depending on the size of the state) signatures from Swiss citizens. This has led to very, uhm, colourful ballots over the years. This year's included fringe parties like The Anti PowerPoint Party (literally campaigning against the use of powerpoint in presentations), the Swiss Pirate Party (campaigning for internet freedom), the Auto Party (campaigning for a raise in speed limits) or the Animals' Party Switzerland (animal rights).


Right vs Left: online games and a kidnapped mascot

The two biggest parties in Switzerland, the Swiss People's Party (far right) and the Social Democrats (far left), have been known for using "interesting" campaigning tools. The right-wing party for example has been having a mascot since 2006 - goat Zottel. It has starred in pre-election online games (where its role was to expel illegal migrants from the country and prevent them from becoming Swiss citizens) and has had public appearances at party meetings and campaigning events. Last week, in the run-up to the elections, it has been kidnapped from its stable, which made big news not only in Switzerland but internationally (yeah, I know, it's great to be citizen of a country that makes the news with things like racist goats *sarcasm*). A left-wing group was blamed for it and a few days later, Zottel was found in downtown Zurich, spray-painted black and reportedly "very distraught".

While the fringe party members usually don't really stand a chance in securing a seat in parliament, it is a vital element for Swiss democracy (which is one of the most direct democracies worldwide) that every citizen has an easily accessible opportunity to express their views and run for parliament. While this sounds very democratic, fair and overall glorious, I have to say that I'm slightly depressed by the fact that a right-wing party that uses imbecile campaigning methods like a goat mascot (or posters that depict white sheep kicking black sheep out of Switzerland) still manages to be the most popular party in Switzerland (though with yesterday's election, their proportion of seats in parliament has sunken slightly).

Lecture 12 - PAGE ONE - Inside the New York Times

Today, instead of going to a regular JOUR1111 lecture, we were treated to a screening of the film Page One - Inside the New York Times. I wasn't quite sure what to expect; but the documentary definitely exceeded any expectations. This was partly because it really summed up what we have been doing in the  lectures all semester and put it right into a real-world perspective. Changes in the media landscape, traditional news outlets struggling, "prod-users", Wikileaks, Twitter...check. But what I personally loved about the film was that it allows the viewer to get an exclusive sneak peek behind the scenes of the newspaper phenomenon that is the New York Times. I would be lying if I said it wasn't a childhood dream of mine to work there some day. Sadly, this dream is probably more unreachable than ever before in these, for newspapers, exceptionally hard times. The job of the stereotypical newspaper journalist that I had in mind as a child might not exist anymore in a few years time - the film very well shows the struggles that a newspaper faces in today's media landscape.

The film is very colourful in the way that it introduces the reader to charismatic and intriguing Times journalists: the former crack addict with an amazing sense of humor (and presumably an incredibly high IQ); the technology whiz-kid who's working on 3 computers, an iPad and an iPhone at the same time and the handsome, very young reporter who went to Iraq to become a war correspondent (and subsequently the Baghdad bureau chief of the New York Times).
The film certainly gives a good perspective on how media works today, but it also gives some great insights into how newspapers like the New York Times have been paramount for democratic societies and their functioning in the past and leaves you wondering about who is going to do that job if the traditional newspaper really is dying.