Telling the Truth free essay sample

Before beginning my study of this elective I held a very simple black and white view regarding ‘Truth’ and ‘Telling the Truth’. I believed that there was a right a wrong to every situation and that the information and news the media presented was mainly correct and true. Through the studying of this elective I have been presented new relevant information and from this information I have reassessed my views on ‘’Telling the Truth’. This elective presented to me the idea that truth is determined by the way it is told and by who tells it. Also revealed are the many reasons why people choose to distort the truth, for example personal gain. This elective also presented the ideas that there are many truths to a situation and these truths vary on perspective and the way the truth is portrayed and represented. In my discussion I will make reference to the recording â€Å"Disturbing Practices† and the Frontline episodes ‘The Siege’ and ‘We Ain’t Got Dames’. We will write a custom essay sample on Telling the Truth or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Disturbing practices is a montage of quotes from the Children Overboard affair set to a rhythmic musical parody. The aim of the song is to criticize and raise awareness of the false, misleading and inappropriate reactions and actions taken by the Howard government during the â€Å"Children Overboard† affair. The song reveals the truth and lies of the situation by chronologically placing the accusations and quotes in order. The song begins with the prime minister informing the public that ‘they are not coming to the Australian mainland that is one choice that is not available’. Philip Ruddock who was the Australian Immigration Minister then goes on to say ‘A number of people have jumped overboard and have had to be rescued. More disturbingly, a number of children have been thrown overboard’. He then criticizes the events, insulting the refugees portraying them to the Australian people as lowly people in an attempt to have them resented by the people so the government will not lose face when they are disallowed entry to the country. Further into the recording Peter Reith the Australian Defense Minister goes on to say †¦and it is an absolute fact that children were thrown into the water. After evidence is demanded to support the governments accusations on the situation the Howard government attempted to save face through promises to further investigate the situation and then present the evidence to the public. When it is revealed that there is no actual evidence Admiral Chris Barrie states ‘I have now reached the conclusion, that there is no evidence to support the claim that children were thrown overboard ’ as well as this the prime minister attempts to save face by claiming that he simply passed on information that he was presented. The song seems comical at the beginning but goes on to become quite serious at the end. The song is partly in the techno format and had regularly repeats words continuously to gain the listeners attention and focus. This song helps listeners to be able to gain an overview on a situation that spread a few months and shifts the listeners perspective on the truth of the situation because the main and most significant quotes and accusations that government made have been collated into a song. Through the listening of the song it becomes clear how the government portrayed their own version of events so they would not loose face when dealing with the refugees and how when the government realized they had been caught telling the public lies and distorted versions of the truth they attempted to save face by passing the blame onto someone else. Frontline is an excellent example and tool when studying the elective ‘Telling the Truth’ because Frontline blurs the line between fiction and fact and implies that current affairs television similarly blurs that line, reducing its usefulness to the viewing public. It is commonly accepted that viewers expect current affairs television to assist them in exploring, testing, refuting or endorsing truth statements made in the public arena. Frontline uses the tools of satire, parody, exaggeration and humour, to test the authoritative voice and ultimately refute its ability to make truth statements. It uses the behind the scenes frame story to characterise Mike as foolish, ego driven and superficial in direct contrast to his on screen persona. Mike is also juxtaposed against the journalists Marty and Brooke and the researcher Emma, who are all makers of truth statements. Both Brooke and Marty are also seen both on and off screen. Brooke is represented on screen as sincere and compassionate, while Marty is the serious investigator, both representations in direct and humorous contrast to their off screen character. All are shown to be compromised by the commercial imperatives of a network current affairs programme. Frontline episode The Siege reveal to us that truth is often pushed into the background as the media strives for a good story. Truth is ignored and vital stories deemed irrelevant not pursued leaving an audience with misconceptions of reality. The relentless pursuit for ratings and intrusive journalism take a hand, with those who own the power manipulating the truth. Through Brookes use of irony in this episode we see firsthand the use of power in the pursuance of ratings at all costs. Ethics are abandoned in desperation to be the first with coverage, with Frontline continually crossing the line for exclusive interviews and footage; †¦one media organisation breaking the air-exclusion zone. The relentless pursuit for ratings at all costs is also shown again in Brooke’s interview with the gunman’s mother. Upon realizing the effect on the ratings the grandmother of the children held hostage could have, Brooke unapologetically asks Would you be able to cry again? . This is highly intrusive, abrupt, and heartless and clearly shows that in the world of journalism ratings appear to be everything. †¦a pub crawl in Manly is better than a massacre of millions if youve got the pictures. This shifts the responders perspective of the events portrayed because Frontline selectively used information to portray a story that would gain them the highest ratings as well as the fact that they could portray their own version of the events because they exclusive i nterviews of the events. Frontlines episode We Aint Got Dames is based around the relentless pursuit for ratings coupled with public interest. After losing its female audience, Frontlines solution to the problem is to present an patronizing response†¦ What do they wanna see? †¦Tonight on Frontline meet the Queen Mum. In desperation to reestablish its female audience after accusations of being too blokey, Frontline uses the politician Cheryl Kernot to blurr the lines between truth and fiction through a juxtaposition of realities; How do you balance work and family? . Stories are constructed for ratings, with a certain verisimilitude offered to persuade people to accept so-called truths; Not to worry. Well be able to edit it. Influential power-driven cowboys take the lead as audiences witness reenactments of sexual assault, and stories on dieting, pap smears, and the art of kissing. Truth is pushed into the background as Mikes sweat-shop story is reconstructed from slave labour to a story about fashion. This again portrays the idea that whoever has the power owns the truth and again shifts the responders perspective on the events portrayed because Frontline is portraying what the audience wants to hear in the pursuit to recover their female audience and increase ratings.