What Journalists???

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bigal_nz

635 posts

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#38525 31-Jul-2009 06:19

I have decided I strong distaste for journalists. I cant remember which news outlet but immediately after that actor was shot the headline was "MAN GUNNED DOWN BY POLICE".

Gunned down? He was shot once - gunned down is overly dramatic and I think for most people would have connotations of a slaying more likely to have occured in the Wild West. That headline is anything but fair and balanced reporting, which i was told by a journalists once that, thats what they do. (yeah right).

I wonder how many more papers that sold? Lets face it that is what its all about.

They also claimed Police had shot 3 people in the last 3 months - thats wrong too - the gunman in Napier shot himself - but hey 3 sounds better than two right.

Just my 0,02c worth on our Media.

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946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240833 31-Jul-2009 08:44

The word media is plural for medium = "being in the middle"
Unfortunately telling a story from the middle does not automatically mean it will be an honest, accurate and unbias account. Unfortunately for Joe public we are reliant on this source to inform us but the way these stories are portrayed can actually shape how our society thinks and operates.

Balchy

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#240838 31-Jul-2009 08:47

Well technically he was gunned down, and its the journalists job to sell papers so I dont really see what the difference is.

Is there a set number of bullets that must enter a body before one is deemed to be "gunned down"

For the record, I know Rob (the guy that was shot) and going along with what was said on the news, this was so totally out of character for him that I couldnt believe it at first, goes to show that anyone can snap!

For billions of years since the outset of time, every single one of your ancestors survived, every single person on your Mum and Dads side, successfully looked after and passed onto you life. What are the chances of that like?

riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240841 31-Jul-2009 08:55

"Police shoot crazed attacker"

"Man shot after 111 call"

"Knife wielding man shot by police"

"Police shooting, man down"

"Actor or Attacker - Shot"

Balchy

484 posts

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#240843 31-Jul-2009 08:56

So I'm not sure what you are saying there, whether the medis is sensationalising or not, but what would you guys suggest?

A headline should be as succinct as possible, while garnering attention...

BurningBeard

1030 posts

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#240846 31-Jul-2009 09:09

Anything to hook you into reading a story. The more dramatic, the better.

Stuff.co.nz is full of misleading headlines like that.

My very metal Doctor Who theme

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240885 31-Jul-2009 11:15

Should be:

"Dumb*** thinks its a good idea to feign being a crazed P addict and call the Police on himself, probably for some stupid reason such as proving how much of a convincing actor he can be to get regonition for himself, but gets hit with the hard truth when he doesn't realise the joke is over and receives a free bullet care of the NZ Police."

Now, if that could be summarized...

Balchy

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#240887 31-Jul-2009 11:19

Adamal: Should be:

"Dumb*** thinks its a good idea to feign being a crazed P addict and call the Police on himself, probably for some stupid reason such as proving how much of a convincing actor he can be to get regonition for himself, but gets hit with the hard truth when he doesn't realise the joke is over and receives a free bullet care of the NZ Police."

Now, if that could be summarized...

Dude, could you be anymore of a judgemental dick?

You have no idea of the circumstances behind what the guy did, so dont assume the moral high ground.

I dont personally know what caused him to go over the edge, but one thing out of this, if it can happen to him it can happen to anyone, completely out of character.

You are entitled to your opinion but at least wait until you have valid facts of the background rather than spouting sh*t you just make up

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bcourtney

652 posts

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#240892 31-Jul-2009 11:34

Balchy:
Adamal: Should be:

"Dumb*** thinks its a good idea to feign being a crazed P addict and call the Police on himself, probably for some stupid reason such as proving how much of a convincing actor he can be to get regonition for himself, but gets hit with the hard truth when he doesn't realise the joke is over and receives a free bullet care of the NZ Police."

Now, if that could be summarized...

Dude, could you be anymore of a judgemental dick?

You have no idea of the circumstances behind what the guy did, so dont assume the moral high ground.

I dont personally know what caused him to go over the edge, but one thing out of this, if it can happen to him it can happen to anyone, completely out of character.

You are entitled to your opinion but at least wait until you have valid facts of the background rather than spouting sh*t you just make up

Woah! Ease up, yeah? No need for personal attacks. Perhaps a refresher on the forum rules?

Back on topic - I don't know if a bland and non-dramatic headline would get me reading a story nowadays. Sad reflection on how the media has affected/influenced society perhaps?

There are so many news sources out there and all of them trying to sell the same stories. I think on the whole, the average Joe understands that a headline doesn't necessarily hold full relevance to the facts behind the story. But it gets to you to read on and from there you can make your own mind up.

Hell, if you don't like the story or the headline then move on!

Balchy

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#240894 31-Jul-2009 11:36

Yeah fair enough, sorry just got my blood going a bit, knowing the guy and whats he is like didnt justify the comments the he was making. Didnt mean it as a personal attack as such just a reminder not to jump to conclusions when there is a lack of knowledge to back those opinions up.

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240900 31-Jul-2009 11:46

Sorry to upset you, but I find it annoying that he's gone and wasted Police time and resources for something that appears to be staged.

Balchy

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#240901 31-Jul-2009 11:50

Not at all, im not supporting one thing that he has done, the fact of the matter is that, situations and personal circumstances can make anyone do crazy things. its the old know me before you judge me thing.

Of course what he did was plain stupid and he got what he derserved for his actions, but that doesnt mean there could be some reason he went like that, he could have an underlying mental illness or something along those lines.

I apologise for the way I came across in my intial post

corksta

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#240903 31-Jul-2009 11:50

Gunned down implies there was a hail of bullets that were unleashed, which obviously couldn't be further from the truth.

As part of a media relations course I did last year we were told by the speakers that with the ease at which things can be uploaded to the internet, the focus now is on being the first to get it out there but without worrying too much about whether it's true or not. So it's along the lines of, let's tell the world so we get more traffic to our site and we'll worry about the details later.

End of the day, whatever moral high ground the media try and portray, each company is just another business that is there to make money so they'll do whatever they can to make it.

I'd love to be able to read or watch the news and just actually get the news, with the truth included, rather than trumped up stories filled with emotive language.

I can't stand journalists, but I'm sure most sensible people can actually see through the crap though. "Oven burns food, plane diverts" isn't going to grab your attention as "Passengers feared plane was doomed" or "Flight of terror as plane burns" or "Smoke in cabin terrifies passengers" and that's how it gets distorted to grab peoples' attention.

Then of course it's phrases like "the latest in a string of incidents" which attempt to make any event linked to the last, and using the example above, if there were 100 passengers and 99 people said they smelt smoke but knew it was overcooked food, but one person says they thought the wiring in the plane was burning, which person do you think will be quoted?

BartManGeek

187 posts

Master Geek

#240904 31-Jul-2009 11:51

If it was, as it appears from the outside looking in, suicide-by-police, trust me - another American 'import' we can all do without

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240907 31-Jul-2009 11:54

Balchy:
I apologise for the way I came across in my intial post

I apologise for being overly judgemental in my post.

Glad we could solve this in a civilised manner

Balchy

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#240909 31-Jul-2009 11:56

Adamal:
Balchy:
I apologise for the way I came across in my intial post

I apologise for being overly judgemental in my post.

Glad we could solve this in a civilised manner

true that, and again sorry for myself being a dick *sniff* can we still be friend?

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