Life in a foreign land is daunting but with multi-cuisine restaurants, stores and intercultural clubs Australia is home to its Indian community.
Home to numerous cultures comprising of people of European, Asian and Aboriginal descent, the Indian population in Australia comprises mostly of Indian students.
In order to combat the feeling of being alien in a new country there are many options open to Indians and people of other cultures alike.
The Gold Coast and almost every other city in Australia boasts of multi-cuisine restaurants.
For students who might find it difficult to eat out all the time, they can find respite in one of the many Indian stores on the Gold Coast.
These stores are a wealth of food, music, clothing and smells that are reminiscent of home.
Naveen and Achala Bhatnagar own an Indian store called the Himalayan Range located at Australia Fair in Southport.
They took over the store from its previous owners in January 2006 seeing it as an opportunity to serve their community.
The couple also wanted to increase awareness about Indian cultures among people who are not Indian.
Naveen says, “people are very intrigued by the idea of having something new.”
“They like to know how Indian food is cooked and my wife Achala sometimes helps customers with recipes.”
The store also sells ‘Ready-to-Eat’ packets of food that just need to be heated and served which is a big hit with the customers and people who either don’t have the time or don’t know how to cook.
Another popular Indian store is family-run Santoshi India Place which is located in Surfers Paradise.
In addition to being an Indian store, Santoshi as it is popularly known also serve fresh food and Indian snacks at affordable rates, utensils for cooking and deities to adorn Indian homes.
While starting a life in a new country is always a terrifying thing, it is comforting to know that there are such strong reminders of home, especially when it’s something as tangible as good food and Bollywood movies.
Have racist allegations affected Indo-Australian relations?
The publisher of the Brisbane Indian Times, Mr Umesh Chandra discusses the alleged racist attacks against Indian students living in Australia.
Umesh says “Queensland Police Services and Indian High Commission have been very proactive in examining the few incidents that have come up on the Gold Coast “
According to him due to the cases reported in Sydney and Melbourne, the police in Queensland were more aware about what needed to be done in terms of talking to the victims and resolving the situation.
Indian news channels like NDTV, IBN and Aaj Tak covered the news of these attacks, dubbed Australia as a racist country and fuelled protests against racism against Indians.
One Indian newspaper, Outlook India, quoted Van Thanh Rudd leader of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and nephew of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blatantly stating that the reported attacks were racist and that Australians are in fact racist.
According to a story published in The Australian the latest police statistics for 2007-2008 show that 1447 Indians have been the victims of crime and assault in Australia.
While Australia has largely stayed mum on the subject, giving it very little media coverage within the country, Australian foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith expressed his government’s regret over the attacks while talking to a group of students in New Delhi in March 2010.
There has been a 46 percent drop in Indians applying for student visas from July-October 2009 and a 26 percent drop in visa applications from all countries including India as shown in an article by The Age.
While serious incidents involving Indian students in Australia have not been reported in the last few months, Indian students are opting to go elsewhere to pursue their further education. And while both countries share amicable relationships at the moment, one can only wonder whether underlying problems have truly been resolved and put in the past or whether we have yet to witness the repercussions.
Umesh says “Queensland Police Services and Indian High Commission have been very proactive in examining the few incidents that have come up on the Gold Coast “
According to him due to the cases reported in Sydney and Melbourne, the police in Queensland were more aware about what needed to be done in terms of talking to the victims and resolving the situation.
Indian news channels like NDTV, IBN and Aaj Tak covered the news of these attacks, dubbed Australia as a racist country and fuelled protests against racism against Indians.
One Indian newspaper, Outlook India, quoted Van Thanh Rudd leader of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and nephew of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blatantly stating that the reported attacks were racist and that Australians are in fact racist.
According to a story published in The Australian the latest police statistics for 2007-2008 show that 1447 Indians have been the victims of crime and assault in Australia.
While Australia has largely stayed mum on the subject, giving it very little media coverage within the country, Australian foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith expressed his government’s regret over the attacks while talking to a group of students in New Delhi in March 2010.
There has been a 46 percent drop in Indians applying for student visas from July-October 2009 and a 26 percent drop in visa applications from all countries including India as shown in an article by The Age.
While serious incidents involving Indian students in Australia have not been reported in the last few months, Indian students are opting to go elsewhere to pursue their further education. And while both countries share amicable relationships at the moment, one can only wonder whether underlying problems have truly been resolved and put in the past or whether we have yet to witness the repercussions.
An Ageless Sailor – One grandmother’s adventures on the high seas
How would you define the best moment in your life? That one moment that encompasses all your strength, all your character, all your resolve and captures it for all eternity? Elaine Young, a 62 year old grandmother, mother, student, friend and working woman has had her fair share of fantastic memories, she says, “At my age there has to be more than one!” Marriage to the love of her life and the birth of her three children non-withstanding Elaine explains that the best day of her life would have to be the day she purchased a 38ft yacht.
True to her last name, Elaine is young at heart and her body language and demeanour reflect the same. Whether it was her sparkling, crinkly laughter-filled eyes or the way her whole body leaned in to tell you what she had to say, she gave every word her approval so that everything she said was honest and heart-felt. Her coffee cup, the table, the chair and the cafe all merged into one big movie set, larger than life and exploding with energy.
Recounting her life and her ambitions, she seemed content and at ease, as if nothing was outside her reach or too hard an idea to conceive. Elaine met her husband at the young age of 14. There was an instant connection and the two got married when she was just 18.
Originally from Melbourne, Elaine moved to the Gold Coast for a change of lifestyle with the support of her three children after the death of her husband when she was 41. She befriended a colleague who lived on a house boat finding the concept of living on water exciting and interesting. Little did she know that 18 months later she would be the proud owner of a 38 ft yacht.
Initially having her heart set on just a cruiser boat, Elaine decided to go all the way and get the full sailing experience. With a little help from friends she started learning how to sail, still uncertain about her prowess on the high seas yet seeing it as a life-changing experience.
One sunny Gold Coast morning, a dear friend and sailing instructor informed her that he needed her to be part of a crew on one his ships in the Solomon Islands. Still unsure whether she was ready for such a challenge, Elaine was on the next plane to the archipelago in the South-Western Pacific Ocean.
Part of a five-member crew, and the only woman and grandmother on board, they sailed for one month, trading fish for fruit and vegetables from the villagers surrounding the coast. Returning back to the Gold Coast via the Louisiade Archipelago in the coral seas, Elaine says that it was by far one of the best experiences of her life. Being surrounded by such untouched natural beauty and living a simple life put her soul at peace.
She returned a sailor whose fascination for the high seas never died and neither did her penchant for pushing herself that extra mile when faced with trepidation.
It has been 20 years since Elaine moved to the Gold Coast and still her journey of self discovery and self-invention has not waned. At age 62 she is raring to go and is now enrolled in a Sociology and Business communication Bachelor’s degree through an Open University programme. She has even gone so far as to take up a course in creative writing and just about anything else that challenges her and makes her smile. In addition to being a student she also works part-time as an admissions clerk at Movie World, a popular Gold Coast theme park.
A firm believer in Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP), Elaine believes that “We create everything we think and say” and everything we wish for, we create which is why we have to be very careful about what we want. She started to delve inwards and explore her spirituality after the death of her husband, and found a fountain of strength and resolve that she had yet to tap into.
Her plans for the future include getting her Bachelor’s degree in 3 years and working as an independent consultant once she has officially retired. As for sailing again, while Elaine no longer owns her yacht, she says that she is still learning to sail and has a long way to go before she can credit herself with being a sailor. Thanks to close friends she still has the opportunity and incentive to go sailing.
Trading her coffee for good old lager, Elaine can also be found at the Griffith uni bar when she is not at class or at work. She and college peer cum friend Amanda, who is pursuing a nursing degree seem perfectly at home as uni students and are embracing college life and everything it has to offer with arms wide open.
The horizon is the limit for this young 62-year-old, with no regrets and only possibility ahead of her. She certainly taught me a thing or two about the true spirit of living. And irrespective of whether our paths cross again or not, I can only wish that someday I will also be 62 going on 16.
True to her last name, Elaine is young at heart and her body language and demeanour reflect the same. Whether it was her sparkling, crinkly laughter-filled eyes or the way her whole body leaned in to tell you what she had to say, she gave every word her approval so that everything she said was honest and heart-felt. Her coffee cup, the table, the chair and the cafe all merged into one big movie set, larger than life and exploding with energy.
Recounting her life and her ambitions, she seemed content and at ease, as if nothing was outside her reach or too hard an idea to conceive. Elaine met her husband at the young age of 14. There was an instant connection and the two got married when she was just 18.
Originally from Melbourne, Elaine moved to the Gold Coast for a change of lifestyle with the support of her three children after the death of her husband when she was 41. She befriended a colleague who lived on a house boat finding the concept of living on water exciting and interesting. Little did she know that 18 months later she would be the proud owner of a 38 ft yacht.
Initially having her heart set on just a cruiser boat, Elaine decided to go all the way and get the full sailing experience. With a little help from friends she started learning how to sail, still uncertain about her prowess on the high seas yet seeing it as a life-changing experience.
One sunny Gold Coast morning, a dear friend and sailing instructor informed her that he needed her to be part of a crew on one his ships in the Solomon Islands. Still unsure whether she was ready for such a challenge, Elaine was on the next plane to the archipelago in the South-Western Pacific Ocean.
Part of a five-member crew, and the only woman and grandmother on board, they sailed for one month, trading fish for fruit and vegetables from the villagers surrounding the coast. Returning back to the Gold Coast via the Louisiade Archipelago in the coral seas, Elaine says that it was by far one of the best experiences of her life. Being surrounded by such untouched natural beauty and living a simple life put her soul at peace.
She returned a sailor whose fascination for the high seas never died and neither did her penchant for pushing herself that extra mile when faced with trepidation.
It has been 20 years since Elaine moved to the Gold Coast and still her journey of self discovery and self-invention has not waned. At age 62 she is raring to go and is now enrolled in a Sociology and Business communication Bachelor’s degree through an Open University programme. She has even gone so far as to take up a course in creative writing and just about anything else that challenges her and makes her smile. In addition to being a student she also works part-time as an admissions clerk at Movie World, a popular Gold Coast theme park.
A firm believer in Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP), Elaine believes that “We create everything we think and say” and everything we wish for, we create which is why we have to be very careful about what we want. She started to delve inwards and explore her spirituality after the death of her husband, and found a fountain of strength and resolve that she had yet to tap into.
Her plans for the future include getting her Bachelor’s degree in 3 years and working as an independent consultant once she has officially retired. As for sailing again, while Elaine no longer owns her yacht, she says that she is still learning to sail and has a long way to go before she can credit herself with being a sailor. Thanks to close friends she still has the opportunity and incentive to go sailing.
Trading her coffee for good old lager, Elaine can also be found at the Griffith uni bar when she is not at class or at work. She and college peer cum friend Amanda, who is pursuing a nursing degree seem perfectly at home as uni students and are embracing college life and everything it has to offer with arms wide open.
The horizon is the limit for this young 62-year-old, with no regrets and only possibility ahead of her. She certainly taught me a thing or two about the true spirit of living. And irrespective of whether our paths cross again or not, I can only wish that someday I will also be 62 going on 16.
Tattoos – body art or burden? Defining the Gold Coast tattoo culture.
Ben Glancy is everything you would want in a tattoo artist. He is focused, not very chatty and has a tasteful display of tattoos on himself (complete with sleeves, fingers, neck and calves). The latest season of the popular American reality show Miami Ink is playing in the background and the shop is covered in pictures of previous works lining the walls. A potential client has thousands of designs and clearly labelled folders to mull over while waiting for his/her turn.
Barely looking up, Ben motioned me to sit. He was apologetic about the delay but even I could see he had more important matters to attend to. Forgetting me for the moment, brows furrowed, he got back to the 20 something-year-old lying on his side patiently surrendering himself to the not-so-gentle pricking of Ben’s tattoo machine.
The Gold Coast is known for its tattoo culture. It is as common as thongs and surf shorts. You know this because you will find at least one tattoo parlour in every major suburb. And if you’re in the heart of Surfers Paradise you will bump into one whether you intend to or not.
Tattoos have always been associated with prisoners, bikers or just plain trouble. A decade ago or even in the last five years tattoos were not so common. According to the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey about 10 per cent of the total population in Australia had tattoos.
But times have changed and people, especially on the Gold Coast, are now more open to getting visible tattoos that would otherwise have been taboo. These days tattoo artists estimate at least one-third of their clientele to be over 50 years of age.
An hour and a half later, taking a quick break in between clients and whilst chugging a Red Bull Ben exclaims, “i have tattooed more girls than boys in the past two years that I’ve been doing this. The younger generation who come in are not worried about getting visible tattoos, they just go nuts and get neck tattoos and arm tattoos and crazy designs”.
A study conducted by Northwestern University in 2004 showed that 50 percent of people with tattoos have them located on an exposed part of their body.
While some employers in more creative fields see body art as self-expression, many others in the corporate world or in the hospitality and retail industries can be less tolerant. After all, companies are worried about their image and also prefer taking precautionary measures so their employees’ visible tattoos or piercings are not offensive to any of their clients.
Benny Doyle, 27, and Aaron Aldridge, 20, live and work in the Gold Coast. They both feel employers in the hospitality industry are not open to visible tattoos.
Benny had one such experience when complete disclosure about his tattoos in an interview lost him the job. Now he prefers to stay mum about his tattoos until he has secured employment and then prefers working with his employer to better suit the company policy.
On landing a job at the posh Palazzo Versache Hotel on the Gold Coast, Benny was asked to cover his tattoos to not offend any of the clientele. After working at the Versache for over a year, it was only last May that Benny and the rest of the staff were told they would no longer need to cover their tattoos. The new general manager is more understanding towards body art and incidentally this change has gone down well with the clients. Benny even goes so far as to say that he has gotten into great conversations about his tattoos and even gets better tips now.
With tattoos ranging from an angel holding a baby to represent his mum and him on his left bicep to the name of his german shepherd on his foot and a panther with wings on his calf, Aaron believes that how you dress for an interview ultimately determines whether you will get a job or not. He does not disclose any information about his tattoos but tries and covers up as many as he can for an interview. Having worked as a bartender, he has found that while some places are ok with his tattoos, the Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast in particular have full-sleeve uniforms strictly for this purpose.
Despite the few issues with employment and having travelled extensively, they both feel that the Gold Coast is more open-minded to the tattoo culture. Due to the difference in weather conditions in places like Europe, Benny and Aaron feel that you don’t get to see a whole lot of tattoos in these places. On the sunny Gold Coast, tattoos are more in your face with people hanging around in tank tops and shorts. Of course the downside of this is, if you are heavily tattooed, you are bound to be shot with curious or judgemental glances. While tattoos also tend to help near strangers strike up conversations, Aaron finds it annoying to have to constantly explain his 26 odd tattoos when approached by friends or even random strangers and doesn’t see a reason why it’s such a big deal.
Opposition towards tattoos may come in many forms – employers, partners and even parents. While disagreement with a parent never really stops the younger generation from doing anything, it is still a topic of great anxiety for parents. Not knowing what your child is going to get permanently tattooed on his/her body is something most parents dread.
Aaron’s mum is thankful that he does not have violent images of demons and skulls inked on his body though she still dislikes body art and avoids the subject with her son. Aaron has approximately 66 hours worth of tattoos on his body. He is proud that they are all symbolic of significant events in his life. His tattoos are a reflection of his love for nature, his attachment towards his family, his beliefs and his dreams. He looks forward to getting more work done and takes a keen initiative in going for tattoo conventions on the Gold Coast immersing himself completely into the tattoo culture. Even his fiancé Tayla has her leg done.
However, a survey conducted by Australian survey company UMR Research Ltd. in 2010 revealed that 55 per cent of Australians considered people of the opposite sex less attractive if they had a tattoo. The article also discovered that young women are now the demographic most likely to get inked. Woman are becoming bolder and are moving away from the stereotypical butterfly and rose tattoos and are not afraid to explore less feminie designs.
According to Ben Glancy older women know what they want and have their minds set on their tattoos while the younger generation is more willing to explore free-hand designs and are keen on trying something new.
Due to the growing interest and acceptance of tattoos on the Gold Coast, the Surf n’ Ink – International Tattoo Convention took place at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in January 2010 and plans on making a comeback in 2011. The event drew in around 8000 visitors in January and expects a bigger crowd next year. The convention showcased international and famous Australian tattoo artists giving individuals the opportunity to exchange forms of art, culture and traditions.
Such opportunities on the Gold Coast are a good way to open up peoples notions about body art and also educate them on the different types of tattoos and options that are out there.
A huge area of concern regarding tattoos seems to be the fact that they are permanent and sometimes the art you may like at 19 may not be the same you would enjoy at 50. Regret towards tattoos also arises in instances when someone tattoos a former lovers name or writes in a foreign language that originally means something else. The only option left in such cases is laser removal or a cover-up tattoo.
In a former interview for a local newspaper, Dr Terence Poon of the Neutral Bay Laser and Dermatology Clinic stated that up to 10 sessions are required to remove a tattoo and a local anaesthetic is required each time as the process is very painful. Benny Doyle on the other hand believes that tattoos are like snapshots of who you are. And while you may not believe in a lot of the same stuff later on in life, it is still reminiscent of a different or even difficult stage you have been through and so it’s a complete win-win situation.
Tattoos are a growing trend especially on the Gold Coast. While various tattoo parlours battle it out with incentives, package deals and lower rates it is a tattoo lovers haven. From a customer’s perspective there is no dearth of good artists and art work to choose from.
Places like South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and India are less open to tattoos than the western world. 32-year-old Gary Canepa from South Africa has been living on the Gold Coast for the last two years. He has gotten the majority of his tattoos in the UK and his most recent neck tattoo in Bali. From his own experience he says that tattoos are frowned upon back home while he has found it to be more common on the Gold Coast.
Recent events like the Perth Tattoo Carnival and the Miss Tattoo Australia Pageant are just what the Australian tattoo culture needs to give it a boost.
Irrespective of the world view, tattoos have now become more mainstream and are visible on celebrities, sportsmen and musicians alike. This also means that the world at large and the Gold Coast in specific can no longer ignore this phenomenon or attribute it solely to rebelliousness. The permanent nature of a tattoo emphasises that it is here to stay. So the next time you encounter someone with an intricate arm tattoo or a bold neck piece, smile – it just might be all the inspiration you need to get inked.
Barely looking up, Ben motioned me to sit. He was apologetic about the delay but even I could see he had more important matters to attend to. Forgetting me for the moment, brows furrowed, he got back to the 20 something-year-old lying on his side patiently surrendering himself to the not-so-gentle pricking of Ben’s tattoo machine.
The Gold Coast is known for its tattoo culture. It is as common as thongs and surf shorts. You know this because you will find at least one tattoo parlour in every major suburb. And if you’re in the heart of Surfers Paradise you will bump into one whether you intend to or not.
Tattoos have always been associated with prisoners, bikers or just plain trouble. A decade ago or even in the last five years tattoos were not so common. According to the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey about 10 per cent of the total population in Australia had tattoos.
But times have changed and people, especially on the Gold Coast, are now more open to getting visible tattoos that would otherwise have been taboo. These days tattoo artists estimate at least one-third of their clientele to be over 50 years of age.
An hour and a half later, taking a quick break in between clients and whilst chugging a Red Bull Ben exclaims, “i have tattooed more girls than boys in the past two years that I’ve been doing this. The younger generation who come in are not worried about getting visible tattoos, they just go nuts and get neck tattoos and arm tattoos and crazy designs”.
A study conducted by Northwestern University in 2004 showed that 50 percent of people with tattoos have them located on an exposed part of their body.
While some employers in more creative fields see body art as self-expression, many others in the corporate world or in the hospitality and retail industries can be less tolerant. After all, companies are worried about their image and also prefer taking precautionary measures so their employees’ visible tattoos or piercings are not offensive to any of their clients.
Benny Doyle, 27, and Aaron Aldridge, 20, live and work in the Gold Coast. They both feel employers in the hospitality industry are not open to visible tattoos.
Benny had one such experience when complete disclosure about his tattoos in an interview lost him the job. Now he prefers to stay mum about his tattoos until he has secured employment and then prefers working with his employer to better suit the company policy.
On landing a job at the posh Palazzo Versache Hotel on the Gold Coast, Benny was asked to cover his tattoos to not offend any of the clientele. After working at the Versache for over a year, it was only last May that Benny and the rest of the staff were told they would no longer need to cover their tattoos. The new general manager is more understanding towards body art and incidentally this change has gone down well with the clients. Benny even goes so far as to say that he has gotten into great conversations about his tattoos and even gets better tips now.
With tattoos ranging from an angel holding a baby to represent his mum and him on his left bicep to the name of his german shepherd on his foot and a panther with wings on his calf, Aaron believes that how you dress for an interview ultimately determines whether you will get a job or not. He does not disclose any information about his tattoos but tries and covers up as many as he can for an interview. Having worked as a bartender, he has found that while some places are ok with his tattoos, the Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast in particular have full-sleeve uniforms strictly for this purpose.
Despite the few issues with employment and having travelled extensively, they both feel that the Gold Coast is more open-minded to the tattoo culture. Due to the difference in weather conditions in places like Europe, Benny and Aaron feel that you don’t get to see a whole lot of tattoos in these places. On the sunny Gold Coast, tattoos are more in your face with people hanging around in tank tops and shorts. Of course the downside of this is, if you are heavily tattooed, you are bound to be shot with curious or judgemental glances. While tattoos also tend to help near strangers strike up conversations, Aaron finds it annoying to have to constantly explain his 26 odd tattoos when approached by friends or even random strangers and doesn’t see a reason why it’s such a big deal.
Opposition towards tattoos may come in many forms – employers, partners and even parents. While disagreement with a parent never really stops the younger generation from doing anything, it is still a topic of great anxiety for parents. Not knowing what your child is going to get permanently tattooed on his/her body is something most parents dread.
Aaron’s mum is thankful that he does not have violent images of demons and skulls inked on his body though she still dislikes body art and avoids the subject with her son. Aaron has approximately 66 hours worth of tattoos on his body. He is proud that they are all symbolic of significant events in his life. His tattoos are a reflection of his love for nature, his attachment towards his family, his beliefs and his dreams. He looks forward to getting more work done and takes a keen initiative in going for tattoo conventions on the Gold Coast immersing himself completely into the tattoo culture. Even his fiancé Tayla has her leg done.
However, a survey conducted by Australian survey company UMR Research Ltd. in 2010 revealed that 55 per cent of Australians considered people of the opposite sex less attractive if they had a tattoo. The article also discovered that young women are now the demographic most likely to get inked. Woman are becoming bolder and are moving away from the stereotypical butterfly and rose tattoos and are not afraid to explore less feminie designs.
According to Ben Glancy older women know what they want and have their minds set on their tattoos while the younger generation is more willing to explore free-hand designs and are keen on trying something new.
Due to the growing interest and acceptance of tattoos on the Gold Coast, the Surf n’ Ink – International Tattoo Convention took place at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in January 2010 and plans on making a comeback in 2011. The event drew in around 8000 visitors in January and expects a bigger crowd next year. The convention showcased international and famous Australian tattoo artists giving individuals the opportunity to exchange forms of art, culture and traditions.
Such opportunities on the Gold Coast are a good way to open up peoples notions about body art and also educate them on the different types of tattoos and options that are out there.
A huge area of concern regarding tattoos seems to be the fact that they are permanent and sometimes the art you may like at 19 may not be the same you would enjoy at 50. Regret towards tattoos also arises in instances when someone tattoos a former lovers name or writes in a foreign language that originally means something else. The only option left in such cases is laser removal or a cover-up tattoo.
In a former interview for a local newspaper, Dr Terence Poon of the Neutral Bay Laser and Dermatology Clinic stated that up to 10 sessions are required to remove a tattoo and a local anaesthetic is required each time as the process is very painful. Benny Doyle on the other hand believes that tattoos are like snapshots of who you are. And while you may not believe in a lot of the same stuff later on in life, it is still reminiscent of a different or even difficult stage you have been through and so it’s a complete win-win situation.
Tattoos are a growing trend especially on the Gold Coast. While various tattoo parlours battle it out with incentives, package deals and lower rates it is a tattoo lovers haven. From a customer’s perspective there is no dearth of good artists and art work to choose from.
Places like South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and India are less open to tattoos than the western world. 32-year-old Gary Canepa from South Africa has been living on the Gold Coast for the last two years. He has gotten the majority of his tattoos in the UK and his most recent neck tattoo in Bali. From his own experience he says that tattoos are frowned upon back home while he has found it to be more common on the Gold Coast.
Recent events like the Perth Tattoo Carnival and the Miss Tattoo Australia Pageant are just what the Australian tattoo culture needs to give it a boost.
Irrespective of the world view, tattoos have now become more mainstream and are visible on celebrities, sportsmen and musicians alike. This also means that the world at large and the Gold Coast in specific can no longer ignore this phenomenon or attribute it solely to rebelliousness. The permanent nature of a tattoo emphasises that it is here to stay. So the next time you encounter someone with an intricate arm tattoo or a bold neck piece, smile – it just might be all the inspiration you need to get inked.
Freedom of the Press – Is the journalist threatened by the government controlling media?
As part of my Journalism Cultures essay I will explore the situation of government controlled media and how this is affecting journalism practices today.
This topic is worth researching because it is current and has an impact on journalism today. I will discuss the idea that journalism is threatened by excessive censorship and politically controlled bans on reporting current affairs and government policies.
My argument is that if the government controls the media, journalists are not giving people a correct picture of what is going on with regards to policies and current affairs. This creates mistrust towards the media and the government alike. Monopoly over the media also threatens the role of the journalist from that of a watchdog of the government to just another puppet playing a role.
Robinson (2006) states that journalists – reporters in particular – must be objective and free from ties in order to perform their ‘watch-dog’ function (Kovach and Rosensteil, 2001).
Every form of media, from newspapers to radio has risen from a need to know more. Journalism has been known as a watchdog of the government. It is the duty of the media to correctly inform people about situations that they would otherwise have no knowledge of. In the 21st century this need is only increasing. With the development of different forms of media, it is becoming increasingly important to use these channels to reach people of all demographics.
Journalists share a sense of ‘doing it for the public’, of working as some kind of representative watchdog of the status quo in the name of people, who ‘vote with their wallets’ for their services (by buying a newspaper, watching or listening to a newscast, visiting and returning to a news site) (Deuze, 2005).
For a journalist to give an objective account of what is going on behind the scenes he/she needs to know that the correct unbiased version of the story will go to print and will make it to the reader/listener it was intended for.
According to the Habermasian model of communication journalists and media practitioners should preserve their independence from social and political pressure, take up these issues impartially and confront the political process with articulate demands for legitimisation. This will ensure the neutralisation of media power while still blocking the conversion of administrative or social power into political influence (Salter, 2005).
In most instances the media and the government work hand in hand. Without an objective work ethic it would be very hard for a journalist to clearly state the facts of a situation. In order to do this the journalist relies on government representatives for statements and interviews. The story that is eventually printed should state these facts as clearly as possible.
Merrill, Bryan and Alisky (1970) remind us that each nation’s press system and philosophy are usually very closely in step with that nation’s basic political and social system and ideology. Thus, they conclude, each country’s press system is usually truly a branch of the government, or at least a cooperating part of the total national establishment (Krukeberg and Tsetsura, 2004).
When the conventional forms of media do not give the people a clear idea of what is going on. They have no choice but to look for this information elsewhere. This may be in the form of journalism blogs, independent news channels or other alternative media.
Krukeberg and Tsetsura (2004) say that global technology will allow those who see themselves as part of the new world information order to have ample opportunities to attempt to compete head to head with First World news media.
In their interaction with political figures and policy makers, journalists and media organisations might come under a lot of pressure to alter a story to suit its source. Most of the time news today focuses more on scandals with regards to government officials instead of discussing the laws they are passing and how they may or may not be serving the people they represent.
Shah (2008) says that alliances between the international ‘media moguls’ such as Rupert Murdoch and forces of political conservatism has led to increasingly “soft” media content.
What consumers of mainstream mass media often are left with is generic news content that emphasizes titillation, sensational events, and politically “safe topics”. Contextualizes and critical discussions of social and economic trends, deep analysis of the human condition, and material that provides genuinely useful information for mass media consumers is often consigned to the back burner.
As long as serious journalism is deemed unprofitable, it will take a back seat to the sensational, superficial, and “soft” news stories of the day. (Shah, 2008)
While the main aim of journalism has been to inform the public, in practice the symbiotic relationship between the state and big media corporations undermines public interest regulation to the point of corruption. Politicians want favourable publicity, media companies want regulatory and legislative favours, and neither side wants media attention to the resulting policy outcomes (Hackett and Carroll, 2006).
In addition to this conflict between media houses and governments is the issue of censorship especially in countries like China, Malaysia and Iran where there is constant surveillance about what information the public is allowed to receive. The government has extended its scrutiny to the online forum.
Ó Siochrú (2005) notes that the ‘growing surveillance, censorship, and direct repression pursued by governments and corporate sector’ since 9/11, as ‘troubling legal frameworks originating in the US’ are replicated elsewhere, enabling governments and their secretive agencies to monitor a full range of communication instruments.
Critics fear that new purposes and implementation measures are extending such laws beyond even their original draconian intent, and that the 9/11 attacks provided a pretext for US and European government to take control of electronic space (Ó Siochrú and Girard, 2003).
The main reason why the government is not a reliable arbiter of what the media ought to be doing is because reporting on the governments and their activities is a legitimate and important part of news and media’s role. Since their own activities form a major component of the news, governments have an obvious and vested interest in how they are reported (Robie, 2005).
There have been many instances where the people themselves have tried to take matters into their own hands and overcome the hurdles of censorship.
This can be seen in the instance of Iran following the 2009 presidential elections when images of protests against election fraud were captured on mobile phone cameras and sent via the internet by ordinary citizens to the outside world (Calingaert, 2010)
While reporters from major international media were forced to leave the country or
were holed up in their hotel rooms, short messages sent by Twitter and videos posted on YouTube filled the gap in information. Thus, at a time when the Iranian government was trying to hide the protests from television and newspaper reporters, the internet provided a window for audiences outside the country to see what was going on inside and gave Iranians a way to tell the world at large what was happening to them (Calingaert, 2010).
In order to curtail the movements of independent organisations and people online governments are blocking social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. They are enforcing restrictions on bandwidth making it difficult to connect to some sites and to upload photos and videos. Governments also conduct surveillance on internet communication.
Other countries, such as China, Iran, and Tunisia, actively promote internet use as a way to stimulate innovation and economic growth, but they place wide-ranging controls over digital media to prevent them from being used for political opposition. They maintain extensive, multilayered systems of censorship and surveillance to stifle online dissent. Surveillance of internet and mobile phone communications is pervasive, and citizens who criticize the government online are subject to harassment, imprisonment, and torture. (Calingaert, 2010).
The same conditions can also be seen in a developing country like India where numerous religions are practiced and while there is a democracy in place, dissent about a certain political party could result in riots. The nation of 1.2 billion is the world's largest democracy and in principle affords free speech to its citizens. The government has the authority to curtail speech rights in certain cases. India's Constitution encapsulates that grey zone: Free speech is subject to "reasonable restrictions" for such purposes as maintaining "public order, decency or morality" (Sharma and Vascellaro, 2010).
Internet companies in India, including Yahoo Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter, are expected to help the government enforce those standards online by removing objectionable material and, occasionally, helping to track down users. The situation is such that corporate officials from any Web site that fails to comply with requests to take down material or block sites can face a fine and a jail sentence of up to seven years (Sharma and Vascellaro, 2010).
Everyone is looking for loopholes to send and receive information. Despite government censorship and surveillance, citizens in internet-restricted countries are finding innovative ways to spread information. A new phenomenon is intentionally misspelling keywords that trigger filters or even by posting words as an image file (Calingaert, 2010).
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has called for a resistance to internet censorship by authoritarian governments and privacy for online political speech. She argued that terrorists, copyright violators, and child pornographers should be restrained from using the Internet and its anonymity to carry out their activities. Clinton took a stand "for a single Internet where all of humanity has equal access to information and ideas," but she warned that technology advancements are "not an unmitigated blessing" and that modern information technology "can be hijacked by government to crush dissent and deny human rights" (“Net Freedom With Certain 'Exceptions”, 2010).
Building on the Four Freedoms cited by President Franklin Roosevelt, Secretary Clinton said that Internet users should be guaranteed "certain basic freedoms": freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of want (she emphasized the role of the Internet, mobile phones, and other technologies in economic development), freedom from fear (she emphasized the need for confidence in communications networks as a factor in national and economic security), and - in addition to those enumerated by President Roosevelt - freedom to connect ("like the freedom of assembly, only in cyberspace") (“Net Freedom With Certain 'Exceptions”, 2010).
Growing bans on news and sociopolitical content are making it harder for journalists to do their jobs. While it has become harder, people are taking it into their own hands to find ways to circumvent these restrictions. This however also indicates that the job of the journalist is under threat because while the journalist has to fulfill the obligations of its media house an ordinary citizen does not.
Seeing individuals as powerless in the face of choice, or as empty vessels too easily overwhelmed by nefarious content, is a key component of paternalism. This view denies citizens their basic agency and autonomy, reinforcing the long-discredited but still popular notion that mass behavior is dictated from the top down (Welch, 2010).
This topic is worth researching because it is current and has an impact on journalism today. I will discuss the idea that journalism is threatened by excessive censorship and politically controlled bans on reporting current affairs and government policies.
My argument is that if the government controls the media, journalists are not giving people a correct picture of what is going on with regards to policies and current affairs. This creates mistrust towards the media and the government alike. Monopoly over the media also threatens the role of the journalist from that of a watchdog of the government to just another puppet playing a role.
Robinson (2006) states that journalists – reporters in particular – must be objective and free from ties in order to perform their ‘watch-dog’ function (Kovach and Rosensteil, 2001).
Every form of media, from newspapers to radio has risen from a need to know more. Journalism has been known as a watchdog of the government. It is the duty of the media to correctly inform people about situations that they would otherwise have no knowledge of. In the 21st century this need is only increasing. With the development of different forms of media, it is becoming increasingly important to use these channels to reach people of all demographics.
Journalists share a sense of ‘doing it for the public’, of working as some kind of representative watchdog of the status quo in the name of people, who ‘vote with their wallets’ for their services (by buying a newspaper, watching or listening to a newscast, visiting and returning to a news site) (Deuze, 2005).
For a journalist to give an objective account of what is going on behind the scenes he/she needs to know that the correct unbiased version of the story will go to print and will make it to the reader/listener it was intended for.
According to the Habermasian model of communication journalists and media practitioners should preserve their independence from social and political pressure, take up these issues impartially and confront the political process with articulate demands for legitimisation. This will ensure the neutralisation of media power while still blocking the conversion of administrative or social power into political influence (Salter, 2005).
In most instances the media and the government work hand in hand. Without an objective work ethic it would be very hard for a journalist to clearly state the facts of a situation. In order to do this the journalist relies on government representatives for statements and interviews. The story that is eventually printed should state these facts as clearly as possible.
Merrill, Bryan and Alisky (1970) remind us that each nation’s press system and philosophy are usually very closely in step with that nation’s basic political and social system and ideology. Thus, they conclude, each country’s press system is usually truly a branch of the government, or at least a cooperating part of the total national establishment (Krukeberg and Tsetsura, 2004).
When the conventional forms of media do not give the people a clear idea of what is going on. They have no choice but to look for this information elsewhere. This may be in the form of journalism blogs, independent news channels or other alternative media.
Krukeberg and Tsetsura (2004) say that global technology will allow those who see themselves as part of the new world information order to have ample opportunities to attempt to compete head to head with First World news media.
In their interaction with political figures and policy makers, journalists and media organisations might come under a lot of pressure to alter a story to suit its source. Most of the time news today focuses more on scandals with regards to government officials instead of discussing the laws they are passing and how they may or may not be serving the people they represent.
Shah (2008) says that alliances between the international ‘media moguls’ such as Rupert Murdoch and forces of political conservatism has led to increasingly “soft” media content.
What consumers of mainstream mass media often are left with is generic news content that emphasizes titillation, sensational events, and politically “safe topics”. Contextualizes and critical discussions of social and economic trends, deep analysis of the human condition, and material that provides genuinely useful information for mass media consumers is often consigned to the back burner.
As long as serious journalism is deemed unprofitable, it will take a back seat to the sensational, superficial, and “soft” news stories of the day. (Shah, 2008)
While the main aim of journalism has been to inform the public, in practice the symbiotic relationship between the state and big media corporations undermines public interest regulation to the point of corruption. Politicians want favourable publicity, media companies want regulatory and legislative favours, and neither side wants media attention to the resulting policy outcomes (Hackett and Carroll, 2006).
In addition to this conflict between media houses and governments is the issue of censorship especially in countries like China, Malaysia and Iran where there is constant surveillance about what information the public is allowed to receive. The government has extended its scrutiny to the online forum.
Ó Siochrú (2005) notes that the ‘growing surveillance, censorship, and direct repression pursued by governments and corporate sector’ since 9/11, as ‘troubling legal frameworks originating in the US’ are replicated elsewhere, enabling governments and their secretive agencies to monitor a full range of communication instruments.
Critics fear that new purposes and implementation measures are extending such laws beyond even their original draconian intent, and that the 9/11 attacks provided a pretext for US and European government to take control of electronic space (Ó Siochrú and Girard, 2003).
The main reason why the government is not a reliable arbiter of what the media ought to be doing is because reporting on the governments and their activities is a legitimate and important part of news and media’s role. Since their own activities form a major component of the news, governments have an obvious and vested interest in how they are reported (Robie, 2005).
There have been many instances where the people themselves have tried to take matters into their own hands and overcome the hurdles of censorship.
This can be seen in the instance of Iran following the 2009 presidential elections when images of protests against election fraud were captured on mobile phone cameras and sent via the internet by ordinary citizens to the outside world (Calingaert, 2010)
While reporters from major international media were forced to leave the country or
were holed up in their hotel rooms, short messages sent by Twitter and videos posted on YouTube filled the gap in information. Thus, at a time when the Iranian government was trying to hide the protests from television and newspaper reporters, the internet provided a window for audiences outside the country to see what was going on inside and gave Iranians a way to tell the world at large what was happening to them (Calingaert, 2010).
In order to curtail the movements of independent organisations and people online governments are blocking social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. They are enforcing restrictions on bandwidth making it difficult to connect to some sites and to upload photos and videos. Governments also conduct surveillance on internet communication.
Other countries, such as China, Iran, and Tunisia, actively promote internet use as a way to stimulate innovation and economic growth, but they place wide-ranging controls over digital media to prevent them from being used for political opposition. They maintain extensive, multilayered systems of censorship and surveillance to stifle online dissent. Surveillance of internet and mobile phone communications is pervasive, and citizens who criticize the government online are subject to harassment, imprisonment, and torture. (Calingaert, 2010).
The same conditions can also be seen in a developing country like India where numerous religions are practiced and while there is a democracy in place, dissent about a certain political party could result in riots. The nation of 1.2 billion is the world's largest democracy and in principle affords free speech to its citizens. The government has the authority to curtail speech rights in certain cases. India's Constitution encapsulates that grey zone: Free speech is subject to "reasonable restrictions" for such purposes as maintaining "public order, decency or morality" (Sharma and Vascellaro, 2010).
Internet companies in India, including Yahoo Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter, are expected to help the government enforce those standards online by removing objectionable material and, occasionally, helping to track down users. The situation is such that corporate officials from any Web site that fails to comply with requests to take down material or block sites can face a fine and a jail sentence of up to seven years (Sharma and Vascellaro, 2010).
Everyone is looking for loopholes to send and receive information. Despite government censorship and surveillance, citizens in internet-restricted countries are finding innovative ways to spread information. A new phenomenon is intentionally misspelling keywords that trigger filters or even by posting words as an image file (Calingaert, 2010).
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has called for a resistance to internet censorship by authoritarian governments and privacy for online political speech. She argued that terrorists, copyright violators, and child pornographers should be restrained from using the Internet and its anonymity to carry out their activities. Clinton took a stand "for a single Internet where all of humanity has equal access to information and ideas," but she warned that technology advancements are "not an unmitigated blessing" and that modern information technology "can be hijacked by government to crush dissent and deny human rights" (“Net Freedom With Certain 'Exceptions”, 2010).
Building on the Four Freedoms cited by President Franklin Roosevelt, Secretary Clinton said that Internet users should be guaranteed "certain basic freedoms": freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of want (she emphasized the role of the Internet, mobile phones, and other technologies in economic development), freedom from fear (she emphasized the need for confidence in communications networks as a factor in national and economic security), and - in addition to those enumerated by President Roosevelt - freedom to connect ("like the freedom of assembly, only in cyberspace") (“Net Freedom With Certain 'Exceptions”, 2010).
Growing bans on news and sociopolitical content are making it harder for journalists to do their jobs. While it has become harder, people are taking it into their own hands to find ways to circumvent these restrictions. This however also indicates that the job of the journalist is under threat because while the journalist has to fulfill the obligations of its media house an ordinary citizen does not.
Seeing individuals as powerless in the face of choice, or as empty vessels too easily overwhelmed by nefarious content, is a key component of paternalism. This view denies citizens their basic agency and autonomy, reinforcing the long-discredited but still popular notion that mass behavior is dictated from the top down (Welch, 2010).
Should university campuses be smoke free?
At university, when Monil Salvi feels a nicotine craving coming on, he just steps out of the library or class that he is in and walks the metre or three to the nearest smoking area. His cigarette is in his mouth well before he has reached his destination, ready to be lit and puffed away. The “Report on smoke-free policies in Australia” released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), states that tobacco use is the leading cause of death and disease in Australia. Each year nearly 20,000 Australians die and more than 150,000 are hospitalized due to tobacco-related illnesses.
Smoking is a prevalent factor on most university campuses though, whether it is in Australia or other parts of the world. A comprehensive smoking ban concerning smoke-free enclosed public places has been enforced in Queensland since 2006. The law states that smoking is prohibited in all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces, commercial outdoor eating and drinking areas, outdoor public places, and within 4 meters of non-residential building entrances.
In taking a walk down the Griffith University Gold Coast campus it is hard to miss the designated smoking areas, they’re usually occupied or have cafes and vending machines close by. You can smell the bitter taste of nicotine whiff past you on your way to class and sometimes it gives you company on your route if the smoker is in motion and headed your way. The Griffith smoking policy states that smoking is prohibited in buildings or parts of buildings under the University's control, in any outdoor area of a food outlet, or any outdoor area where food and drink is provided, in University vehicles, within 5 metres of air intakes, external doors, windows and ventilation louvres, and in any other areas so designated from time to time by the University.
Monil who is of Indian origin has been smoking on and off for 7 years, he has tried innumerable times to give up smoking and finds it highly unlikely that he will ever be able to overcome his addiction. According to section six of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003, sale of tobacco products to/by minors and within 100 yards of educational institutions is banned within India and any persons flouting this law are subject to being fined or even taken before a magistrate. Post landing in Australia though, Monil doesn’t feel guilty to light up on campus and finds it convenient for smokers like him.
Ben Doyle on the other hand has not only managed to kick the habit but refuses to be sucked in to it again. He thinks that the designated smoking areas means that everybody wins and smokers still have the freedom to smoke without ruffling any feathers. Ben compares smoking to an addiction to junk food and alcohol which are also sold on campus and believes that as adults, university students have the capacity to make up their minds about these things. “If you eliminate one vice then you must eliminate the others”, he says.
While the facts are irrefutable and proven that smoking is hazardous and while people are aware of the risks of passive smoking or inhaling environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), not much is being done to reduce the risks of either. In spite of smoking bans in public places like bus stops and minors who smoke being punishable by law, very little action is being taken in this area.
The Auckland University in New Zealand has become a smoke-free campus for both staff and students as of 1 January 2010. The ban covers all buildings and land owned by the Auckland University. However the ban does not include any public areas like roads and footpaths surrounding the university.
Chandigarh which is the first planned city in India became a smoke-free city on 15 July 2007. Smoking is banned in all establishments and public places as is the sale of nicotine near educational institutions. Smoking is allowed in the privacy of one’s home or vehicle. Tourists and citizens alike appreciate the clean, smoke free city.
A growing number of universities in America are also becoming more concerned about the health and safety of their students and staff and are implementing stricter non-smoking policies. In 2007 the Gainesville State College University became a smoke-free campus with a design to protect non-smokers from walking in and out of smoke and/or being surrounded by strewn cigarette butts on campus.
Hailing from Egypt and having done her former education in Kuwait and then USA, Doha Seif is now a post-grad student at Griffith. A smoker herself, she is not new to the idea of smoking on campus. At her former University of Minnesota smoking was restricted to select areas on campus. Taking a drag off her cigarette she extrapolated that while she was glad there is no ban on smoking on campus she was a bit taken aback that tobacco was sold at the university book store – ‘Book Mark’. “The cigarettes sold on campus are cheaper than most gas stations”, she said. Standing tall at a little over 155 cms Doha has never had to show proof of age or any form of id on campus. Starting off as a social habit, she now consumes a pack a day and finds it convenient that she doesn’t need to walk a kilometer or so to have a cigarette.
Griffith however does conduct a quit smoking training session that is made available to its students in groups of 10-20 and is offered on application. The program promises continual support mechanisms to those who are trying to quit.
With 41 buildings and thousands of students enrolled on its Gold Coast campus, Griffith has 9 official designated non-smoking areas.
Ben and Doha and Monil represent a tiny fraction of the population on campus, they all stem from different backgrounds and walks of life, they all have cigarettes in common, as do you.
The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report states that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease, and acute respiratory effects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every 6.5 seconds a current or former smoker dies.
So what is the bottom line then? If it is too ambitious to imagine a smoke-free world or a smoke-free Australia, would it be too much to expect that the 18 year old undergraduate from Germany, who has never smoked and hates cigarettes could be spared the horror of walking in to a cloud of smoke when she enters university, or sits out on a bench to have her healthy salad for lunch?
Smoking is a prevalent factor on most university campuses though, whether it is in Australia or other parts of the world. A comprehensive smoking ban concerning smoke-free enclosed public places has been enforced in Queensland since 2006. The law states that smoking is prohibited in all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces, commercial outdoor eating and drinking areas, outdoor public places, and within 4 meters of non-residential building entrances.
In taking a walk down the Griffith University Gold Coast campus it is hard to miss the designated smoking areas, they’re usually occupied or have cafes and vending machines close by. You can smell the bitter taste of nicotine whiff past you on your way to class and sometimes it gives you company on your route if the smoker is in motion and headed your way. The Griffith smoking policy states that smoking is prohibited in buildings or parts of buildings under the University's control, in any outdoor area of a food outlet, or any outdoor area where food and drink is provided, in University vehicles, within 5 metres of air intakes, external doors, windows and ventilation louvres, and in any other areas so designated from time to time by the University.
Monil who is of Indian origin has been smoking on and off for 7 years, he has tried innumerable times to give up smoking and finds it highly unlikely that he will ever be able to overcome his addiction. According to section six of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003, sale of tobacco products to/by minors and within 100 yards of educational institutions is banned within India and any persons flouting this law are subject to being fined or even taken before a magistrate. Post landing in Australia though, Monil doesn’t feel guilty to light up on campus and finds it convenient for smokers like him.
Ben Doyle on the other hand has not only managed to kick the habit but refuses to be sucked in to it again. He thinks that the designated smoking areas means that everybody wins and smokers still have the freedom to smoke without ruffling any feathers. Ben compares smoking to an addiction to junk food and alcohol which are also sold on campus and believes that as adults, university students have the capacity to make up their minds about these things. “If you eliminate one vice then you must eliminate the others”, he says.
While the facts are irrefutable and proven that smoking is hazardous and while people are aware of the risks of passive smoking or inhaling environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), not much is being done to reduce the risks of either. In spite of smoking bans in public places like bus stops and minors who smoke being punishable by law, very little action is being taken in this area.
The Auckland University in New Zealand has become a smoke-free campus for both staff and students as of 1 January 2010. The ban covers all buildings and land owned by the Auckland University. However the ban does not include any public areas like roads and footpaths surrounding the university.
Chandigarh which is the first planned city in India became a smoke-free city on 15 July 2007. Smoking is banned in all establishments and public places as is the sale of nicotine near educational institutions. Smoking is allowed in the privacy of one’s home or vehicle. Tourists and citizens alike appreciate the clean, smoke free city.
A growing number of universities in America are also becoming more concerned about the health and safety of their students and staff and are implementing stricter non-smoking policies. In 2007 the Gainesville State College University became a smoke-free campus with a design to protect non-smokers from walking in and out of smoke and/or being surrounded by strewn cigarette butts on campus.
Hailing from Egypt and having done her former education in Kuwait and then USA, Doha Seif is now a post-grad student at Griffith. A smoker herself, she is not new to the idea of smoking on campus. At her former University of Minnesota smoking was restricted to select areas on campus. Taking a drag off her cigarette she extrapolated that while she was glad there is no ban on smoking on campus she was a bit taken aback that tobacco was sold at the university book store – ‘Book Mark’. “The cigarettes sold on campus are cheaper than most gas stations”, she said. Standing tall at a little over 155 cms Doha has never had to show proof of age or any form of id on campus. Starting off as a social habit, she now consumes a pack a day and finds it convenient that she doesn’t need to walk a kilometer or so to have a cigarette.
Griffith however does conduct a quit smoking training session that is made available to its students in groups of 10-20 and is offered on application. The program promises continual support mechanisms to those who are trying to quit.
With 41 buildings and thousands of students enrolled on its Gold Coast campus, Griffith has 9 official designated non-smoking areas.
Ben and Doha and Monil represent a tiny fraction of the population on campus, they all stem from different backgrounds and walks of life, they all have cigarettes in common, as do you.
The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report states that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease, and acute respiratory effects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every 6.5 seconds a current or former smoker dies.
So what is the bottom line then? If it is too ambitious to imagine a smoke-free world or a smoke-free Australia, would it be too much to expect that the 18 year old undergraduate from Germany, who has never smoked and hates cigarettes could be spared the horror of walking in to a cloud of smoke when she enters university, or sits out on a bench to have her healthy salad for lunch?
The Long Road Home
One of the things I love most about people is the stories they have to tell, stories or resilience and excess, grandeur and accomplishment. I love people even more when they surprise me. When I first met Ben Doyle I didn’t think he would amaze me. And yet I stand here as a witness to a life that has been lived carefree and wild, flowing subconsciously and vibrantly towards its purpose.
We have all had ridiculous ideas of who we wanted to be when we were kids. I remember wanting to be a cobbler or a fisherwoman or a pilot – anything that seemed simple and awe-filled. As the years progressed and I was bogged down with concepts of career choices and future stability I started to lose my wandering meandering soul. I learned to trade fantasy for a corporate persona.
I envy Ben because while coming to a strange continent all alone can be perceived as daunting, travelling to various others with no set plan, no agreed propaganda ought definitely to be termed brave. As the conversation flowed, he went on to modestly relay his forays into the world of cold streets and unfamiliar faces. With each new place he talked about his eyes lit up reliving those parts of his past that have etched who he is today. Ben set out into the big wide world at age 21 wandering across the UK, Ireland and Canada only to return home three years later with memoirs of his expeditions and a book that’s waiting to be published.
While in transit and before he stumbled upon his potential to be a writer, he worked odd jobs and strange jobs and found ways to continue fuelling his passion for travel and new experiences. Ben has officially and unofficially at some point in his life worked as an - Online Travel Agent, Porter, Bartender, Buyer at a Record Store, Receptionist, Sperm Donor, Waiter, Tree planter, Pokey Machine Attendant, Café supervisor, delivered pamphlets, worked at a fish n chips store and so on. It was only when a mate suggested that his memoirs made for an interesting read that he came up with the idea for his book titled Sex, Drugs and the Last Tube Home (A young Australians journey on the cold streets of London).
The book led to him realising his penchant for writing which fuelled his return to the world of grades and University campuses after a 7 year hiatus. Ben is back and raring to go and by the looks of it he seems to be acing his Postgraduate Certificate in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The path to your dreams may never be straightforward. It may not bring you the quickest or the most favourable results. But the next time you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know where you’re headed, look again.
We have all had ridiculous ideas of who we wanted to be when we were kids. I remember wanting to be a cobbler or a fisherwoman or a pilot – anything that seemed simple and awe-filled. As the years progressed and I was bogged down with concepts of career choices and future stability I started to lose my wandering meandering soul. I learned to trade fantasy for a corporate persona.
I envy Ben because while coming to a strange continent all alone can be perceived as daunting, travelling to various others with no set plan, no agreed propaganda ought definitely to be termed brave. As the conversation flowed, he went on to modestly relay his forays into the world of cold streets and unfamiliar faces. With each new place he talked about his eyes lit up reliving those parts of his past that have etched who he is today. Ben set out into the big wide world at age 21 wandering across the UK, Ireland and Canada only to return home three years later with memoirs of his expeditions and a book that’s waiting to be published.
While in transit and before he stumbled upon his potential to be a writer, he worked odd jobs and strange jobs and found ways to continue fuelling his passion for travel and new experiences. Ben has officially and unofficially at some point in his life worked as an - Online Travel Agent, Porter, Bartender, Buyer at a Record Store, Receptionist, Sperm Donor, Waiter, Tree planter, Pokey Machine Attendant, Café supervisor, delivered pamphlets, worked at a fish n chips store and so on. It was only when a mate suggested that his memoirs made for an interesting read that he came up with the idea for his book titled Sex, Drugs and the Last Tube Home (A young Australians journey on the cold streets of London).
The book led to him realising his penchant for writing which fuelled his return to the world of grades and University campuses after a 7 year hiatus. Ben is back and raring to go and by the looks of it he seems to be acing his Postgraduate Certificate in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The path to your dreams may never be straightforward. It may not bring you the quickest or the most favourable results. But the next time you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know where you’re headed, look again.
The same tired game of cat and mouse
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, while love was supposed to be in the air, somebody decided it would be as good a day as any to blow people up. Thus ensued the bombing of a popular eatery called the German Bakery in the western Indian city of Pune.
I remember growing up in India and growing to understand fear. You always knew what to do because everyone else was doing it. Don’t go out there are riots, angry mobs running wild and crazy in the streets killing people in the name of religion or politics or something important like that. Grow up a little more and you learn new terms like bombs and terrorists and mangled and dead. I know all these words and then some. I love my country, but I can’t help but be annoyed at what can be and still won’t be because our politicians are corrupt and uneducated and our people are easily swayed, willing to fight to honour someone else’s ideals, someone else’s greed.
I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day but I do believe in love, I believe in life and I believe in equality. This is the oldest story in the book, almost everything that results in death or destruction in India is more often than not blamed on Pakistan (I’m not saying that they are entirely guilt free either). But I am tired of this tug of war – India blames Pakistan and Pakistan denies all terrorist ties. In fact for all of you who didn’t know this and I quote the Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on this “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/hindus-india-talks-ban-pakistan-bomb-bakery)
In the aftermath of yet another ‘terrorist attack’ a few things immediately stand out – Pakistan is blamed without proof almost immediately (I must also emphasize that proof or no proof Pakistan will continue to shake its head and ‘condemn’ terrorism), the same Hindu nationalist leaders that strike terror within the nation due to their small-minded policies and agenda have called for peace talks with Pakistan to be cancelled (the previous talks were cancelled following the terrorist attacks of November 2008 in Mumbai). Firstly what good is that going to do? I mean I have no illusions that the ‘peace talks’ will result in us letting go of our deep seated enmity against Pakistan but even attempted peace talks should be better than none right? I mean what probability laws apply here?
I am an Indian citizen and I am tired. I am tired of knowing friends and family who have died in bomb blasts. I am tired of a country that gets used to it. I am tired of a government that gives statements like There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which India's Home Minister P. Chidambaram described as "a significant terrorist incident". (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnZHVHrTQyoJ9GcXp9z7VwSpffkA).
So I ask you. Are there any insignificant terrorist ‘incidents’???
I remember growing up in India and growing to understand fear. You always knew what to do because everyone else was doing it. Don’t go out there are riots, angry mobs running wild and crazy in the streets killing people in the name of religion or politics or something important like that. Grow up a little more and you learn new terms like bombs and terrorists and mangled and dead. I know all these words and then some. I love my country, but I can’t help but be annoyed at what can be and still won’t be because our politicians are corrupt and uneducated and our people are easily swayed, willing to fight to honour someone else’s ideals, someone else’s greed.
I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day but I do believe in love, I believe in life and I believe in equality. This is the oldest story in the book, almost everything that results in death or destruction in India is more often than not blamed on Pakistan (I’m not saying that they are entirely guilt free either). But I am tired of this tug of war – India blames Pakistan and Pakistan denies all terrorist ties. In fact for all of you who didn’t know this and I quote the Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on this “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/hindus-india-talks-ban-pakistan-bomb-bakery)
In the aftermath of yet another ‘terrorist attack’ a few things immediately stand out – Pakistan is blamed without proof almost immediately (I must also emphasize that proof or no proof Pakistan will continue to shake its head and ‘condemn’ terrorism), the same Hindu nationalist leaders that strike terror within the nation due to their small-minded policies and agenda have called for peace talks with Pakistan to be cancelled (the previous talks were cancelled following the terrorist attacks of November 2008 in Mumbai). Firstly what good is that going to do? I mean I have no illusions that the ‘peace talks’ will result in us letting go of our deep seated enmity against Pakistan but even attempted peace talks should be better than none right? I mean what probability laws apply here?
I am an Indian citizen and I am tired. I am tired of knowing friends and family who have died in bomb blasts. I am tired of a country that gets used to it. I am tired of a government that gives statements like There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which India's Home Minister P. Chidambaram described as "a significant terrorist incident". (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnZHVHrTQyoJ9GcXp9z7VwSpffkA).
So I ask you. Are there any insignificant terrorist ‘incidents’???
And THAT'S how you make a movie!
I know I’m supposed to love Bollywood movies because the song and dance and drama is supposed to be in my blood. Compared to a large percentage of the Indian population, I watch very few Hindi movies and I like even fewer but one cannot deny the fact that every now and then a gem of a movie does surface. There will be that one movie that has all the elements of a typical Bollywood film fiasco and yet manages to surpass pure genius.
‘3 Idiots’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani is one such film. The film depicts the stress associated with the education system in India and how parents tend to push their kids towards professional careers that may/may not be of their choosing. Parental pressure and strict professors are big in India. Kids grow up early in terms of responsibility and there is always the general fear in breaking away from the norm to take up an arts course or God-forbid choose not to study.
I have not laughed this hard while watching a movie that had such a strong message in a very long time (I actually don’t remember the last time that happened). Laughter is the best medicine and it is true that once you get people laughing they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.
'3 Idiots’ has everything – youngsters, college life, random song and dance sequences, beautiful cinematography, amazing dialogues, a star cast and of course parts of the plot that would only happen in a Bollywood movie. I actually took my Zimbabwean friend along to watch the film and he was pleasantly surprised and definitely entertained.
I like the idea that Indian cinema is now more easily accessible the world over and that people from all walks of life are more accepting to Bollywood. I’m glad Danny Boyle made ‘Slumdog Millionaire because it opened doors and opened minds and made It possible for at least a fraction of the population to conceive that maybe India has more to offer than just poverty and over population.
So the next time you see that Indian movie playing at a cinema near you, get a good opinion and maybe give it a go. You might actually like what you see. As with most things, you never know until you try.
‘3 Idiots’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani is one such film. The film depicts the stress associated with the education system in India and how parents tend to push their kids towards professional careers that may/may not be of their choosing. Parental pressure and strict professors are big in India. Kids grow up early in terms of responsibility and there is always the general fear in breaking away from the norm to take up an arts course or God-forbid choose not to study.
I have not laughed this hard while watching a movie that had such a strong message in a very long time (I actually don’t remember the last time that happened). Laughter is the best medicine and it is true that once you get people laughing they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.
'3 Idiots’ has everything – youngsters, college life, random song and dance sequences, beautiful cinematography, amazing dialogues, a star cast and of course parts of the plot that would only happen in a Bollywood movie. I actually took my Zimbabwean friend along to watch the film and he was pleasantly surprised and definitely entertained.
I like the idea that Indian cinema is now more easily accessible the world over and that people from all walks of life are more accepting to Bollywood. I’m glad Danny Boyle made ‘Slumdog Millionaire because it opened doors and opened minds and made It possible for at least a fraction of the population to conceive that maybe India has more to offer than just poverty and over population.
So the next time you see that Indian movie playing at a cinema near you, get a good opinion and maybe give it a go. You might actually like what you see. As with most things, you never know until you try.
Power of social media - The Twitter Revolution
Social networking sites are all the rage nowadays, be it Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Orkut, Hi5 and numerous others. While initially used as a medium to stay in touch with friends and loved ones in different parts of the world, these social networking sites are now n essential part of every youngster’s daily routine. With the introduction of applications and groups and other such platforms social networking sites have now expanded to being a forum to exchange opinions, to rally for a cause, to increase awareness about social, cultural and political events.
The latter became evident a week after the 2009 elections in Iran when protests broke out in Tehran and other major cities around the world in support of opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The collective protests were organised through the popular social networking site – Twitter. While the Iranian government struggled to tighten its reigns on the online medium they were not prepared for the deluge of tweets that stirred Iranians and the rest of the world to retaliate in unison.
Another example of social networking sites marking history would be in the case of current US President, Barack Obama. Prior to him winning the election, the President was successful in rounding up a ridiculous amount of followers and supported the world over by creating his online presence on social networking sites like Twitter, Myspace and Facebook.
Today you can stay updated on your favourite athlete, politician, actor, musician, comedian or just about anybody through these sites. You can follow foreign policy, execute change, incite a revolt or just network.
This is truly the dawn of a new age, one filled with possibilities that are yet to be explored and an age where just about anything is possible. Social networking sites are more than what they were originally intended to be, today they are stepping stones to success, filled with networking opportunities and innumerable possible contacts. Meet like minded souls from all over the world, start your own group, follow someone you admire and do just about anything. Your online presence is fast becoming more important than your physical one and the virtual realm is easy, accessible, user friendly and filled with promise.
The latter became evident a week after the 2009 elections in Iran when protests broke out in Tehran and other major cities around the world in support of opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The collective protests were organised through the popular social networking site – Twitter. While the Iranian government struggled to tighten its reigns on the online medium they were not prepared for the deluge of tweets that stirred Iranians and the rest of the world to retaliate in unison.
Another example of social networking sites marking history would be in the case of current US President, Barack Obama. Prior to him winning the election, the President was successful in rounding up a ridiculous amount of followers and supported the world over by creating his online presence on social networking sites like Twitter, Myspace and Facebook.
Today you can stay updated on your favourite athlete, politician, actor, musician, comedian or just about anybody through these sites. You can follow foreign policy, execute change, incite a revolt or just network.
This is truly the dawn of a new age, one filled with possibilities that are yet to be explored and an age where just about anything is possible. Social networking sites are more than what they were originally intended to be, today they are stepping stones to success, filled with networking opportunities and innumerable possible contacts. Meet like minded souls from all over the world, start your own group, follow someone you admire and do just about anything. Your online presence is fast becoming more important than your physical one and the virtual realm is easy, accessible, user friendly and filled with promise.
My humble tribute to a brilliant writer - J.D. Salinger
"I love to write and I assure you I write regularly. But I write for myself, for my own pleasure. And I want to be left alone to do it" - J.D. Salinger
I was first introduced to J.D. Salinger through his widely popular novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. I remember the book because I discovered it at a time when I was preoccupied with finding myself and finding some form of balance within my family. Like millions of other youngsters I could relate to Holden Caulfied. His narrative made me smile in unison and caused me to reflect on my rather muddled perspectives of growing up. The book, even today, has remained one of my favourites. One never knew what to expect from Holden and yet he seemed inaccessible and accessible at the same time. He was your most shameful reflection and your proudest moment all wrapped into one heady concoction.
I have prided myself on being a cynic, on sharing Salinger’s seemingly morbid world view on relationships and life and in so many ways I have grown up with his words resounding a quiet assurance in my ears. I never held his seclusion against him, I was never enraged by his refusal to publish post 1965. I didn’t care as long as I knew that he was out there, somewhere.
While I made a conscious effort to read “The Catcher in the Rye”, Salinger’s short stories came to me through various sources, a birthday present or a recommendation from a friend. With each new story my fondness for this reclusive grumpy old writer grew to awe-filled, respectful proportions. His matter-of-fact style of writing was a welcome breath of fresh air as compared to some of the younger writers who I felt tried too hard to make an impact. Salinger’s words flow and mesh and poke at you until you admit that you have at some point thought those same thoughts. Over the years I fell in love with stories like ‘Franny and Zooey’, ‘For Esmé - with Love and Squalor’, ‘The Heart of a Broken Story’ and ‘A Boy in France’.
When I heard that J.D. Salinger had expired 27 January 2010, my heart sank and my hand reached for my battered copy of ‘Franny and Zooey’. I have loved many books and many authors over the span of my short existence but my heart goes out to the man that make me hate with conviction and let go without disdain.
I loved J.D. Salinger because he made me want to think and dream and write. R.I.P
I was first introduced to J.D. Salinger through his widely popular novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. I remember the book because I discovered it at a time when I was preoccupied with finding myself and finding some form of balance within my family. Like millions of other youngsters I could relate to Holden Caulfied. His narrative made me smile in unison and caused me to reflect on my rather muddled perspectives of growing up. The book, even today, has remained one of my favourites. One never knew what to expect from Holden and yet he seemed inaccessible and accessible at the same time. He was your most shameful reflection and your proudest moment all wrapped into one heady concoction.
I have prided myself on being a cynic, on sharing Salinger’s seemingly morbid world view on relationships and life and in so many ways I have grown up with his words resounding a quiet assurance in my ears. I never held his seclusion against him, I was never enraged by his refusal to publish post 1965. I didn’t care as long as I knew that he was out there, somewhere.
While I made a conscious effort to read “The Catcher in the Rye”, Salinger’s short stories came to me through various sources, a birthday present or a recommendation from a friend. With each new story my fondness for this reclusive grumpy old writer grew to awe-filled, respectful proportions. His matter-of-fact style of writing was a welcome breath of fresh air as compared to some of the younger writers who I felt tried too hard to make an impact. Salinger’s words flow and mesh and poke at you until you admit that you have at some point thought those same thoughts. Over the years I fell in love with stories like ‘Franny and Zooey’, ‘For Esmé - with Love and Squalor’, ‘The Heart of a Broken Story’ and ‘A Boy in France’.
When I heard that J.D. Salinger had expired 27 January 2010, my heart sank and my hand reached for my battered copy of ‘Franny and Zooey’. I have loved many books and many authors over the span of my short existence but my heart goes out to the man that make me hate with conviction and let go without disdain.
I loved J.D. Salinger because he made me want to think and dream and write. R.I.P
What would put YOU in a giving mood?
I was going over the latest news pertaining to the 12th January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when i came across a video on cnn.com that irked my journalistic sentiments..
Yes, I am fully aware of the need for creative journalism. I am well aware that sex sells and that different is almost always considered good. I still see no reason why and i quote "An Ohio strip club hosting "Lap Dances for Haiti," which will raise money for earthquake aid." has found a place on cnn.com.
I can imagine that the original thought process was trying to emphasise the fact that EVERYONE sympathises and empathises with the plight of the people in Haiti. It also aims at stressing that people from all walks of life are willing to do what it takes to provide them with aid in the form of money or relief supplies. I do however emphatically have a problem with the fact that a lot of unnecessary importance was placed on whether this aid would be accepted by a charity. To top it all off they even added a couple of minutes wherein Linda Green from International Services of Hope (ISO) a Christian based organization, proclaims albeit with a rather nasty smirk on her face that she doesn't have a problem with how the money is collected. When was the last time that you heard someone from a Christian/Catholic organisation say "We don’t have the right to judge someone’s heart. If somebody is doing something they have to do for a living then that's the way it is.”
Talking about relief for Haiti, I did find a useful article on the guardian.co.uk site which points out which relief organisations are functional in Haiti and would be ideal to donate to. The article is informative and to the point (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/15/haiti-earthquake-charitable-aid-donations).
With the rains beginning in Haiti and the fact that more than a million people still have no shelter, one can only hope that people with influence and power strive to provide more hands on aid in the form of making shelter and food available to the millions left stranded.
The issues confronting those without shelter – estimated by USAid at between 1.1 and 1.5 million people – were underlined last week by Care, a Christian ¬charity, which warned that the international community will not be able to ¬supply enough family tents before the rainy season begins in late-March.
Instead, the charity said, the ¬rescue effort should concentrate on ¬providing tarpaulins that can be used to ¬construct waterproof shelters. "Shipping in enough family tents for all the people in need would take months," Care said in a statement. "Most people crammed into overcrowded camps are huddled under bed sheets strung between poles or sticks – hardly enough to block out the sun, but useless against the torrential downpours of Haiti's rainy season." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/million-remain-without-shelter-haiti)
The people of Haiti need more. More than anybody is doing. More than any news story can effectively portray. More than all the fashion shows (that conveniently incorporate designs by the recently deceased UK designer Alexander McQueen), and all the lap dances, and all the debates. and all the speculation about what the US needs to do. Everyone needs to help in real, literal ways that matter.
Yes, I am fully aware of the need for creative journalism. I am well aware that sex sells and that different is almost always considered good. I still see no reason why and i quote "An Ohio strip club hosting "Lap Dances for Haiti," which will raise money for earthquake aid." has found a place on cnn.com.
I can imagine that the original thought process was trying to emphasise the fact that EVERYONE sympathises and empathises with the plight of the people in Haiti. It also aims at stressing that people from all walks of life are willing to do what it takes to provide them with aid in the form of money or relief supplies. I do however emphatically have a problem with the fact that a lot of unnecessary importance was placed on whether this aid would be accepted by a charity. To top it all off they even added a couple of minutes wherein Linda Green from International Services of Hope (ISO) a Christian based organization, proclaims albeit with a rather nasty smirk on her face that she doesn't have a problem with how the money is collected. When was the last time that you heard someone from a Christian/Catholic organisation say "We don’t have the right to judge someone’s heart. If somebody is doing something they have to do for a living then that's the way it is.”
Talking about relief for Haiti, I did find a useful article on the guardian.co.uk site which points out which relief organisations are functional in Haiti and would be ideal to donate to. The article is informative and to the point (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/15/haiti-earthquake-charitable-aid-donations).
With the rains beginning in Haiti and the fact that more than a million people still have no shelter, one can only hope that people with influence and power strive to provide more hands on aid in the form of making shelter and food available to the millions left stranded.
The issues confronting those without shelter – estimated by USAid at between 1.1 and 1.5 million people – were underlined last week by Care, a Christian ¬charity, which warned that the international community will not be able to ¬supply enough family tents before the rainy season begins in late-March.
Instead, the charity said, the ¬rescue effort should concentrate on ¬providing tarpaulins that can be used to ¬construct waterproof shelters. "Shipping in enough family tents for all the people in need would take months," Care said in a statement. "Most people crammed into overcrowded camps are huddled under bed sheets strung between poles or sticks – hardly enough to block out the sun, but useless against the torrential downpours of Haiti's rainy season." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/million-remain-without-shelter-haiti)
The people of Haiti need more. More than anybody is doing. More than any news story can effectively portray. More than all the fashion shows (that conveniently incorporate designs by the recently deceased UK designer Alexander McQueen), and all the lap dances, and all the debates. and all the speculation about what the US needs to do. Everyone needs to help in real, literal ways that matter.
Exegesis
I knew I wanted to become a writer when I was 8 years old. I knew it was the only profession I would pursue at age 20 after veering off across other paths. Proving to my family that I knew what I wanted and would not fail them took time and effort. There have been many instances that have shaped my life and subsequently my opinions about people, places and situations. Being a part of the mass media industry has given me the chance to voice these opinions and to hone them according to the task of the day.
From what I gather this assignment is a reflection of what I have to offer to this course. When I started reading newspapers I was always more interested in the editorial column than the front page. Reading real opinions by real people/writers who did not have to adhere to rules or common news practices interested me. I have since entertained the idea that someday when I’m done building my career I could have my own column in a reputable newspaper.
During this assignment I chose a few topics that I found relevant and interesting, I picked stories and news that I could relate to so that my work would be honest. I am not the most current affairs savvy person around but I do have an opinion about what’s going on. While working on this assignment I realised that there is so much going on with the world at large and how I cannot wait to contribute to the mass media industry.
I set out to present a journalistic blog which encompassed my opinions on certain current affairs topics. I hope that this will better prepare me for my career in the long run, as a journalist/creative person must be decisive and must have a know how about his/her chosen field.
I chose to write a blog because online news production and online forms of media are very relevant these days. A blog is more accessible, has fewer rules and is allowed to be subjective. The next step in my professional career would be to get as many by lines as I can within Australia. I am looking forward to undertaking internships with news channels and newspapers and hopefully offering my prowess as a writer to as many mass media fields as I possibly can. The sky is the limit.
I believe my blog can engage today’s reader because it is relevant, it is honest and it is straightforward. My topics like relief for Haiti, the Twitter Revolution and my tribute to J.D. Salinger are all recent relevant topics. They are the product of a thinking journalistic mind.
From what I gather this assignment is a reflection of what I have to offer to this course. When I started reading newspapers I was always more interested in the editorial column than the front page. Reading real opinions by real people/writers who did not have to adhere to rules or common news practices interested me. I have since entertained the idea that someday when I’m done building my career I could have my own column in a reputable newspaper.
During this assignment I chose a few topics that I found relevant and interesting, I picked stories and news that I could relate to so that my work would be honest. I am not the most current affairs savvy person around but I do have an opinion about what’s going on. While working on this assignment I realised that there is so much going on with the world at large and how I cannot wait to contribute to the mass media industry.
I set out to present a journalistic blog which encompassed my opinions on certain current affairs topics. I hope that this will better prepare me for my career in the long run, as a journalist/creative person must be decisive and must have a know how about his/her chosen field.
I chose to write a blog because online news production and online forms of media are very relevant these days. A blog is more accessible, has fewer rules and is allowed to be subjective. The next step in my professional career would be to get as many by lines as I can within Australia. I am looking forward to undertaking internships with news channels and newspapers and hopefully offering my prowess as a writer to as many mass media fields as I possibly can. The sky is the limit.
I believe my blog can engage today’s reader because it is relevant, it is honest and it is straightforward. My topics like relief for Haiti, the Twitter Revolution and my tribute to J.D. Salinger are all recent relevant topics. They are the product of a thinking journalistic mind.
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