Hi, I'm Heather, and this is my story.

26th January, 2010. 12:05pm.

Yes, it's Australia Day, possibly the most patriotic and nationalistic day of the year for Australians all around the country. A day to drink impossible amounts of beer and goon, to wear tacky Australian merchandise and to be proud to be part of this beautiful country in which we live in.

Right now, I'm fifteen years old, at Mona Vale beach, New South Wales, waiting to meet up with my friends. The sun is beating down on the beach, kissing its warmth onto my skin. The waves crash onto the shore, enveloping my body into the icy depths. I can hear the clink of Victoria Bitter bottles and the slap of high-fives, symbolic of all Australians uniting for this special day.

My friends join me in the water, all sporting navy blue bikinis with a Southern Cross motif. By this time, the alcohol had truly gone to our heads, and we were very merry, splashing each other and genuinely having a good time. Although I have only lived in Australia for five years, I was still having the time of my life with my friends on one of Sydney's most beautiful beaches. I felt truly blessed that day.

But something wasn't quite right; I felt like my day was a little incomplete. I looked around at my friends, and realised Zara was missing. I asked Cath, "Where's Zara?"

Cath had a very unimpressed look on her face, and hastily pointed towards the group of rowdy teenagers all singing Waltzing Matilda in unison. My eyes scanned the group of people, and after a minute I spotted her, sitting with one other girl. She didn't look as happy as the rest of the group. In fact, she looked very melancholy and out of place. She didn't have a drink in her hand, she didn't have a smile on her face.... She looked like she wasn't enjoying the day at all.

I sat down next to her.
"Hey beautiful."

She smiles shyly and says hello back.

I start talking to her, asking her how her week has been. We have a normal conversation like we always would, chatting away like two old women. She shows me a bracelet she got for her sixteenth birthday, a beautiful collection of diamonds and sapphires shining proudly on her small wrist.

I double take at her wrist and wonder to myself, "has Zara always been this small?" I look at her legs. Although toned and tanned, they are tiny, like two little matchsticks on her bony frame. The pieces of the puzzle all came together now: the reason why she was being so quiet, the reason why she is wearing a cardigan on such a hot day, the reason why she isn't drunk like the rest of us...

"She's being so annoying," whispered Alex to Cath. "She's such a little attention seeker. All she wants is for people to look at her, be concerned about her. It's bullshit."

"I know," replied Cath. "It's pathetic really. Why would she go to all this effort just for her fifteen minutes of fame? People will have forgotten about her in two weeks, I bet."

"Ha I know who you're talking about, and I completely agree," interjected Talia. "I don't even know who she is anymore, she's completely changed."

They turned to face me, as if to prompt me for my opinion about what had happened to Zara. I had nothing to say. I could feel a big lump forming in my throat. I knew if I had tried to say anything I would have choked on my words. I looked at them in sheer disbelief, my head spinning with their cruel and gutless comments they had made about our beautiful friend Zara.

Unlike Cath, Alex and Talia, I understood what was happening to Zara. Her story affected me in more ways than one. It was closer to home than what the rest of my friends thought.

Zara and I had many things in common, but I never realised this was one. Like many young adolescents in Australia and around the world, we both suffer from a body dysmorphic disorder, an illness that controls and corrupts most elements of a person's daily life. I had never told any of my friends that I had this disorder, and furthermore, I had never been brave to admit to the fact that it had me trapped under its powerful spell.  

 ---

As I gaze out and admire the picturesque blue sky, I think back eighteen months. At this point in time, I was living in Lindfield, a pleasant and safe suburb in Sydney’s lower North Shore. I had a boyfriend, and when exam time came around, I received wonderful marks. I had a good group of friends both in and outside of school. My family and I got along fantastically. Let’s just say, life was great.

But I wasn’t happy, in fact not at all. There was something inside me that was eating away at my self-esteem and confidence. It was almost like there was someone inside my head telling me what to do and how to act. The way she dictated to me how to live my life was often cruel and harsh. I felt selfish for being feeling this way because I had such a great life. I had lost all control of who I really was.

However, this was all happening behind closed doors. To my friends and family, I appeared a happy, healthy fourteen-year old who had a real zest for life. It was only when I was alone that these negative and dark thoughts would circle around my head. I would look in the mirror, and only see flaws and insecurities, completely unaware that I had many positive attributes and talents to share with the world. I was utterly enthralled by my illness.

To see my gorgeous friend Zara suffer from the same illness I had brings back a rush of dark memories. I know exactly how she is feeling, I could describe every minute detail to her and she’d agree with everything I said. For some stupid reason I thought I was alone in battling with something like this but evidently not.

---

I am now eighteen, and it has been two years and three months since that day at Mona Vale Beach, exactly. A lot has changed since then. Zara moved to Canberra and I moved to Brisbane, both of us pursuing our passion for our future careers at university. We keep in contact often, informing each other about our progress into adulthood and our experiences at college.

Right now, I am happy. I am right where I want to be.
Zara completely agrees with me, she absolutely adores her life away from home.

But there is something that unites Zara and I, a unique link that defines our strength of character and determination. Some may view the fact we moved away from home at such a young age the reason for this, but Zara and I know the truth. Together, we overcome an illness that had a strong grasp on our lives for such a long time.

I would not say that I am recovered, as body dysmorphic disorders stay with you even after your body regains strength and becomes healthy again. However, the illness is fading, like the horizon melting into the sea on a warm summer’s day. Just to be able to say that, is one of my greatest achievements. It is really something special to know that I was able to pull myself out of a ditch that seemed like it was getting deeper and deeper each day.

This is my story, however my illness is no longer my focus, let alone my life. It is a chapter in my eighteen years that has been turned over, and never to be read again.

Lecture 7 (16/04/2012) "Public Media"

First of all, that video of the journalist stumbling over her words was absolutely hilarious...

Anyway, this week's lecture was about Public Media.

"The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens"

In comparision to commercial media, public media's purpose is to engage or serve the public, utilising a variety of different mechanisms including traditional newspapers or broadcasters, to more modern, innovative mechanisms such as the Internet or podcasting.

Examples of public media in Australia include: SBS, ABC, ABC National Radio and Triple J.
Examples of public media overseas include: BBC, 4, TVNZ, NHK, NPR

Public media's role in democratic society is to support public and democratic processes, and should have public value:

- Incorporating a 'public service' ethos
- Value for license fee money
- Weighing public value against market impact
- Public consultation

In 1985, the Broadcasting Research Unit set out many guidelines for public media and also defined public media's role in society. Many of these guidelines are quite specific which is what I was surprised about. I think I always had an image in my mind that most forms of mass communication was completely 'uncensored.' I didn't realise that there was a clear mould to fit.

The ABC, founded in 1932 as a 'national building project' and an organisation that reaches deep into the interest of Australian minds, has created many other forms of mass media including ABC news, movies, television shows... Each week 12.6 million Aussies watch the ABC news.

And SBS, founded in 1980 as a multicultural channel has done the same thing, creating World News, insight and RockWiz.

Dr. Redman put the functions of public media into four categories: nation building, national heritage, national identity and national conversations. I believe all of these categories are linked in some way... They all seem to overlap each other.

The news is also a big part of public media, as it is the only source of radio news analysis and current affairs explained in detail. It is also the only source of lengthy interviews with policitians and nation leaders.

Robert Richter describes public media as "such a special vehicle for voices to be heard, for visions and viewpoints ... ignored by commercial media."

(I really like that quote.)

And of course, like any form of mass media, the challenges of public media...

- Like commercial media, public media needs an audience. Surprisingly, it is not a matter of competition. Apparently there are bigger issues below the surface that should be addressed. Rupert Murdoch, or as Dr. Redman likes to call him, Uncle Rupert says that government regulation of both commercial and public media:

- penalise the poor = constrain choice, BBC license fee, government allocated funding
- promote insufficient infrastructure = duplication and waste
- build inaccessible institutions = BBC, ABC, ARD, RHTK
- threaten the growth of independent news and investment in new forms of journalism
- stunt the growth of the creative industries dampens innovations

Whilst this may be quite an extreme analysis, Rupert makes a few good points... So public media has a few things to work on, including production of quality news, to promote their relevance, to engage with the democratic process and to become independent.

TO BECOME INDEPENDENT:

- Differing ground rules of commercial and public media. For example, the ABC and the SBS are not owned by the government, they are held 'in common' by the people. Therefore, if the ABC or the SBS are making negative statements about the government, it is seen to be 'biting the hand that feeds it,' due to the government given allocated funds to them
- Commercial pressures for one = political pressures for the other
- Perceived lack of political independence = more control and more targeted funding
- The government's exercise of indirect control, through legislation and funding, allowing public media to get politicised
- Allegations of bias/agenda (Peter Costello takes this view)
- Opinion: ABC journalists were always told not to provide their opinion, but rather a balanced presentation of both sides
- Funding: once again, biting the hand that feeds it


Future of public media project "An expanded vision for 'public media 2.0' that places engaged publics at its core: educating, informing, and mobilizing its users... an essential feature of truly democratic public life... media both for and by the public"

I found this a very interesting lecture, particularly after just learning about commercial media the week before. It was good to have a comparison, but also to think about the differences and similarities, challenges and obstacles faced by both commercial and public media.

Lecture 6 (02/04/2012) "Commercial Media"

What is commercial media?

It is....

- Profit driven media production
- Not funded by the government, or by a license
- Survives or fails based on business success
- Main business is generating audience
- Creates audiences to make a profit through selling or advertising

Major players in commercial media include:

- Fairfax Media
- News Limited
- Nine
- APN
- Ten

And other players....

- Austar
- Optus
- Telstra
- Macquarie

Each of these major players produce other types and companies of mass media. For example, Fairfax Media have produced The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Financial Review... and even the likes of RSVP.com!

Form and function of commercial media:

FORM: --> Commercial: - Subscription - Sponsored - SubsidisedFUNCTION: --> Commercial, Propaganda, Social


Commercial Media's Role in Society:

The big question is: can commercial media deliver on both commercial (profit) and social (public trust) function? or is it just all about money?

And of course, the media has social responsibilities in a democratic society...

They are:
- To report a truthful and comprehensive account of a day's events with an appropriate context that gives it meaning
- A forum for the exchange of criticism, observation and comment
- Presentation of the representation of groups of society
- Presentation and clarification of the morals and values of these groups in society
- Access to the day's intelligence

Of course, there are factors that keep commercial media in check:

These are:
- Formal state requirements
- Legal prescription
- State oversight
- Statutory
- Voluntary

The public sphere: (Jurgen Habermas)
A space between commerce and government where people can debate freely and form public opinion

COMMERCIAL                                                               SOCIAL

- Advertising sales         ETHICAL WALL    - Editorial


New controls on social media:
1. Government agency regulating content
2. State press subsidies
3. Licensed journalism (countries such as East Timor)

Commercial media is often described as corrupt, and that it lacks quality...

Quote: "In this regard, one thing stands out above all others - the view that the very nature of the commercial equates to a corruption of the social. In other words, as media becomes more commercial, they do so at the expensive of their social function. This is seen as a zero-sum game. Profits come before quality."
- Professor Michael Bromley, SJC 2009

Challenges for commercial media:

Example: Advertising revenue for broadcast media is down and continues to fall

= Loss of revenue = less investment = less money for quality production
= Less original content (repeats of US sitcoms, more reality TV)

The future of commercial media:

- Bigger, better, greater quality content... Audience will have to pay for quality

- Greater competition, compelling content

- Move existing customers to digital

- Paywalls on internet sites

After attending this lecture, I had a million thoughts racing through my mind... Mostly concerning the future of our mass media. Could it be that our only source to obtain news could be the Internet? Is the Internet really the future of communications?

Lecture 5: (19 March 2012) Sound Lecture

This week's lecture was a sound lecture available online for us to listen to. It was a bit of a change and I really liked it.

My tutor Carmel was talking to two radio presenters, Richard Fidler and Steve Austin, asking them questions about their path into radio, what radio is like and how to be a great presenter and interviewer.

Here is what they said broken down:

Richard Fidler, host of "Conversations" on ABC local radio, 11am weekdays. Richard broadcasts for an hour every day, investigating the lives of others and interviewing different people about their lives. He describes these hours as "outrageous and spectacular adventures."

Richard describes his pathway to radio, as a complete accident.

He said there were a few things to learn about radio before he got started:

- Radio is a different medium to radio, it would be impossible to place a television show on radio and vice versa, it wouldn't work. Radio and television are not interchangeable

- Radio is more intimate than television, radio keeps listener in the converstaion

- Television is high impact, it comes at you. However, radio is often performed as part of a multi task, for example, people are listening to the radio whilst doing other things.

He talks about his show, Conversations, mentioning that conversations are different from an interview. A conversation is longer, and goes deeper into what the 'interviewee' is saying. Conversations are biographical in nature, and because they are longer, the host is geniunely interested in what the person has to say.

Richard says that there is a lot of preparation before the guest comes in for the hour long conversation. He has a general idea of what topics the speaker will talk about and vice versa.

One of the things I really loved about what Richard was saying, was that many of his guests have recollected something that they haven't before. I think that would be such an amazing moment to be a part of, watching someone almost forget where they are and have this incredible realisation or epiphany and talking about that to you. I would just love that.

Richard said that public radio is thriving, completely unscathed by the ever-changing and ever-growing domination of technology. Radio is blending into new platforms, such as podcasts, which makes radio more accessible and readily available to listeners. This is something I also loved. Radio, one of the oldest forms of mass media still a strong method of communication. Yay!

Maybe video didn't kill the radio star?

And finally, Richard's advice to us as aspiring journalists:

Read, be open-minded, be aware of what is happening around you...

But also a concept I hadn't fully considered:
Expose yourself to different thoughts. Expose yourself to people you don't agree with and ask them why they have a certain opinion. I LOVED THAT.


Next speaker was Steve Austin. Steve hosts his own show on ABC Local Radio Queensland, weeknights from 7pm. Steve says that the ime after the sun goes down is time for yourself.

Steve gave a little bit of background information about himself and his journey into radio. He says he was 21, riding a bike through Yerongpilly contemplating what was going to do with his life when he decided to pursue radio. What I really liked about Steve's story was that it wasn't easy to get where he is today. It was a 5 year battle before he finally achieved his goal. I find stories like that so inspiring.

Steve said he learnt a couple of things before starting radio, similar to what Richard learned. Steve brought up something else: pronunciation does matter when trying to communicate to others. You actually have to alter the way you speak on radio so that people can understand you!!!

Steve also mentions that he had to change the topic of his conversation from what he wanted to talk about to what the audience wanted to talk about. He said he had to learn to tailor the conversation so that audience would listen again.

He said that sometimes people can become emotional whilst talking to him, and the best way to deal with that is to keep your trust, empathise with them vocally, change your tone of voice to comfort them.

And finally, if you're fake, people can tell on radio.

Carmel asked him how to prompt people to pick up the phone and talk to him. Steve replied saying that you have to ask them the question, ask them personally for their opinion, make them see that their opinion is wanted... No opinion is wrong and listening implies respect.

Like Richard, Steve says that radio is continuing to build its audience and grow, and the reason for this is the time factor.

Steve's message to us: Don't give up.

It was really nice to get other successful people's opinions, thoughts and ideas and I really loved the sound lecture. I have even started listening to both Richard and Steve when I can! I would love to do what they are doing one day.