1000 Places To See Before You Die

If there are any travel enthusiasts out there, I cannot tell you how great this book is! ------------> 

1,000 Places To See Before You Die is a book by Patricia Schultz and is literally a 'traveller's life list'. It is broken into continents and is an A-Z guide of the most intriguing, historical and fascinating places on Earth. I actually managed to finish this book in under a week, going a little overboard with sticky notes marking the places I wish to visit most… I can guarantee a mark on almost every page. Whoops. 

I think I am going to start a little segment where I open the book to a random page and learn as much as I can about the destination it just so happens to land on. I might get started on that this afternoon!

Light in the Darkest of Places

As assessment for a Visual Communication subject, I thought it would be interesting to base my next piece of work around something I would really struggle to capture. 

The Light in the Darkest of Places

By this, I wanted to go to a place, viscously infected with dilapidated houses, graffiti, drugs, poverty, crime and everything and anything not pleasing to the eye - or to the average Australian - and somewhere - anywhere, find something beautiful. 

Graffiti Wall

Skate Park Half Pipe

Sunrise, Deception Bay

All of the photos were captured in Deception Bay, North Brisbane. 

On my previous visits to this area, I have judged it entirely and seen the entirety of the area in a bad light. Never before had I driven around trying to see beautiful things, however, I took so many more photos, and there were so many more beautiful things, all completely surrounded by the disregarded and disrespected.

In my opinion, the location is incredible. I got to the bay at 5:30am to watch the sun rise so magically over the water. Throughout the day, those with a view of the sea, are so very fortunate. And in all honesty, half of the houses in the area don't live up to the bad reputation - they just need a little love and care. 

I think - in a way - this topic made me appreciate what I have, but at the same time, allowed me to see the truth behind this ruthlessly insulted and judged area. It's not that bad. Not that bad at all. 

If you take away the gangs, violence, drugs, crime - people, really…

But still. 

There is potential.

You never know, in 100 years it could be a completely different area. 

JOUR1111 - Lecture 6

The first thing that comes to my mind when one says 'commercial television', is entertainment. The first thing that comes to my mind when one says 'commercial radio', is music and the first thing that comes to my mind when one says 'commercial print', is reading.

But never had I ever (before this lecture), really (in-depthly) thought a lot about the owners of the aforementioned media platforms, and what they associate each (platform) with. But I can tell you.

Money.

The Commercial Media industry is everywhere, selling the eyes and ears of the Australian public to advertising (hence the ridiculous number of ads between my guiltily tuning in of Big Brother… daily). In a sense, to know that the owners and producers of such media platforms (News Limited, FairFax Media, APN, Nine Entertainment, WIN Corporations, Southern Cross Broadcasting, Seven West Media and Ten - to name a few), are completely driven by profit - disappoints me to some extent. Simply in knowing that these companies are sacrificing quality, social importance and sometimes morality of the content, for profit, is questionable. Ultimately, they are sacrificing viewer dissatisfaction with profit, thus not broadcasting with the audiences best interests at heart.  - On the other hand, we have the Public Media (ABC, ABC 2, ABC News 24, 3 ABC fm, SBS, and SBS 2, etc) - Government funded, audience orientated broadcasting. 

In fact, Commercial Media was summed up quite accurately in the lecture.
"Commercial = corrupt; lack of quality; profit overrides social responsibility"

With profit as the sole intention of Commercial Media, we can see the 'dumbing down' of society. We can also see the influence of hyperlocalisation (exposing specific audiences to advertisers) in every commercial platform and broadcaster, feeding society with propaganda, which can distressingly - yet quite easily - sway the public's thinking, beliefs, expectations, opinions and morals. - Considering Commercial Media releases whatever crap they can get a profit out of, I find this some what concerning...

It makes us wonder whether or not Commercial Media will eventually change its ways. Will it always be about profit? Or will reputation for its appropriate content and positive viewer satisfaction be more important? 

United States of America - Road Trip

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch 

In the spirit of my exhaustion, the above assortment of letters aren't in fact a result of my head bashing of the keyboard last night, but for those unaware, they happen to spell out the ridiculously long name of a village in Wales - wining the prestigious 'World's Longest Word' title. 

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Anyway, the aforementioned is a tad misleading as I plan on talking about a country on the complete opposite side of the world - and hopefully my second attempt will be slightly more coherent than the first.

So, back to the picture of the Mojave Desert (for those who haven't read my previous post, click here). In 2010 I did a looped road trip from Los Angeles, California through San Diego, The Mojave Desert, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The experience was beyond amazing and I am so glad I saw places that weren't on the Contiki Tour stop over list. However, whilst I loved the thought of travel and seeing everything the US had to offer, as my first official overseas trip (disregarding New Zealand), I don't think I appreciated all of the natural wonders that the United States offered. I was more interested in the amusement parks, shopping - basically, everything and anything I was already familiar with.

However, amidst my small-mindednest (if that is a word), i will certainly state the absolute highlights.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

1) Santa Fe, New Mexico
Whilst the car ride was long and I was wedged between two argumentative siblings, arrival at this beautiful destination was so incredibly worthwhile. Hesitant at first, I thought this quaint little 'Spanish-Pueblo' city was an absolute masterpiece. The beautiful beige buildings and seasonal flowers, the rustic blue doors and array of art galleries brought it to life. Santa Fe proved itself to be among the most exquisite and unique cities I have ever had the privilege of visiting.

2) The Mojave Desert, California
The photo can be seen on the post before this one, and is one of the many endless roads that stretch across the Western Coast of California into the state of Arizona - In fact, this road connects up with the famous Route 66. I will never forget the feeling of driving down this road, in the sense where if you looked either side of you, you could see nothing but the flat plains of the desert - and if you looked in front of you, you could see an almost perfectly straight highway, miles and miles ahead in the distance - never-ending. I had never felt so free in my life.

3) Just everything in general, South-Western corner of the United States of America
I guess the most incredible experience - and the point I always point out when trying to share America's beauty with a 'hater' - is that in a matter of time and miles, I could go from standing on Hollywood Blvd - stationary amongst the chaotic and fascinating City of Angels - and then drive into complete serenity that was the barren Californian Desert. After four hours of Driving we could be in Arizona with the sweltering dry heat, soon to pass the New Mexico boarder, surrounded by Navajo regions and Spanish-Pueblo Adobe mud houses. You only had to drive a couple of hours north-west to then see the 'Welcome to Colorado' sign and immediately become surrounded by rows and rows of tall green and gold trees, grizzly bears and national parks. As soon as we left the state of Colorado, we entered Utah and within miles, it was as though we had gone from one planet to another, the outstretched red dust that covered  Monument Valley. A day later we could be sailing in a little gondola through the canals of the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas and within a day, back in LA (please pardon the rhyme). We only covered a very small area of America, but in that little south-western corner, I saw things in three weeks, which one would usually have to see in a variety of different countries over quite a large period of time.

The greatest lesson to come away with after travelling to a place so dominating and influential in western culture however, is to visit the places that people could never tell you about. I find that with America particularly, a lot of people ask why I would want to go there, however I can always reply with 'have you been to the national parks in Arizona and Utah? Have you walked around the top of the Meteor Crater in Arizona? Have you driven miles and miles along Route 66 and seen the scenery change as often as one updates their Facebook status? Like, wow. It's incredible and you have no idea what you are missing out on. When you go to an exciting country (or any country for that matter), you want to see it for what it is and experience it for what it is. Before spending every cent you have in American Apparel and Walmart (tempting, I know - considering my make up costs $40 less in Walmart than it does in Australia - #funfact), take those tours around National Parks and Meteor Craters. You want to be able to return home, and give every single soul who sheds the slightest hint of interest in your travels the longing to see what you've seen, and go were you've been.

That is all.
Share your stories.
No two holidays will ever be the same.

Holly

Procrastination

I cannot remember the last time I went to bed before 11pm…

Oh well - the life of a student and/or anyone with Facebook. 

10:55pm

Speaking of, I was updating my cover photo this evening and came across a photo I took of the Mojave Desert in California (almost two years ago). That was the last time I was overseas and I am now in quite a sombre state. In the entire three hours I have been home, I have successfully procrastinated for - well, - all of it. If I haven't been on Facebook, I have been staring at my pale blue - almost turquoise - wall, listening to Pink Floyd. For the rest of that time, I scrolled through pages of fake moustaches on eBay for a friend's costume party and made the regrettable decision to waste my time on anything that is not assessment.

Mojave Desert - California

11:41pm

Time is beginning to creep up on me and I really want to go to bed. Getting up at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning is the earliest I ever have to wake up, and I hate it. Nevertheless, I am going to take an arguably long time to form a sentence and continue writing this pointless blog post. 

11:49pm

It took me 8 minutes to write the above paragraph - if one can even call it that. 

11:55pm

I never do learn from my procrastinating. If it has ever taught me anything, it would be to procrastinate for longer teach time, thus, accepting the challenge of meeting an incredibly close new deadline. 

12:00am

Right, well, it looks as though I have done enough work for this evening. I think I had intended to write about my travels abroad, however, I might save that for a time when I am no longer delirious and bashing my head against the keyboard. 

Until tomorrow - oh wait, it is. 

Holly

JOUR1111 - Lecture 5

As a child, I associated Journalism with writing - and writing only. Not the fun kind of writing, but writing for a deadline, an uninteresting topic and an old cantankerous boss.  I actually turned myself off the idea of it completely. I hated thinking that a career in Journalism - so focused on the written word - would be creatively restricted. 

Nevertheless, we are an ingenious generation and technology is moving at a fast pace. In recent years Journalism has become as very much about the visual as it is the written. In this day and age, it is important for Journalists to enter the working world with a few prerequisites; That is the ability to digitally capture and upload photos, the ability to digitally manipulate photos and the ability to digitally publish photos (online). 

But (as mentioned in the lecture), a picture can say 1000 words. Often the words are unnecessary, and a great story (and all that is behind it), can be told in a simple glance. Great Journalists are those who can capture photos in a way that utilises viewpoint, lighting and the timing - in a single click - capturing a moment both true to its atmosphere and the story behind it.

As a bit of an Ancient History bore, I can tell you that drawings and art works all over the world have been found and identified as the main source of communication all throughout history. These drawings were created for those who couldn't read and those who simply needed a graphic description for whatever the reason may be - regardless, it made it a hell of a lot easier for us to decipher them many, many years later. To name a few, we have the cave drawings seen in the Chauvet Cave in France, those found in the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia, the famous stained glass windows that decorate the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, and of course the Holy books. From Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Aztec drawings, historians have been able to uncover and solve some of the Ancient world's greatest mysteries. From these drawings alone, history has been created and  is accessible to anyone who spares a moment to look at them.

Similarly, in the modern world, a photograph is all that is needed to reveal emotion, a scenario, a story and history - all in one glance. I personally believe that photos are the most effective and informative means of communication. They can be taken instantaneously, shared with the press of a button and - if taken by someone who knows what they are doing - create emotions that one could never discover with reading the written word.

Whilst the written word has taken people to places unimaginable, sometimes - if there is anyone is like me - they need to see it to believe it. And in the blink of an eye - rather than somewhere in the first 1000 pages of a novel or 100 words of a news story - the impact of a photo can be enough. Enough to know, to understand and to feel. 

My view for this evening

JOUR1111 - Lecture 4

Richard Fidler

Richard Fidler (ABC Conversations) spoke of radio in a way I hadn't considered before. Prior to listening to the 'Telling Stories With Sound' conversation, I thought of radio as an easy transition between print and television - rather than reading, simply saying and rather than visually presenting, simply speaking. Simple. These days you see television stars as guest hosts on radio shows (Charlie Robinson (B105)) and radio presenters with their own television show (Hamish and Andy). However, there are so many more elements to radio than reading a story or holding a conversation. 

In a way, it's probably a harder job than television presenting. Radio is honest. Any presenter that comes across as fake, probably is. On TV, the lies hide behind the visual distractions. So for one, you have to be yourself the entire time. Secondly, you have to bare in mind people are listening. People that you can't see and people that you haven't met. People of different ages, origins, religions and worlds. So, you must present - honestly - to your audience and give them a reason to want to listen. This is done by involvement and audience participation, thus why Richard breaks his show 'Evenings' into three different categories. The first hour (7pm - 8pm) is talk back. This encourages people to participate. In order to keep the listeners, the second hour (8pm - 9pm) is entertainment, and the last hour (9pm - 10pm) is intimacy - where people who have the time to listen hear personal stories and share their own. 

Whilst the format of the show and involvement of the audience is important, it is also essential (as a presenter) to be genuinely interested in what is being discussed. It goes without saying that if the presenter isn't interested, neither is anybody else. 

What I loved the most about this interview - and also the reason I love journalism so much - is that Richard Fidler never planned on presenting radio. He didn't even have a Journalism degree. He got into the industry and his career took off from there. It's the freedom and the large scope of things you can do with a journalism degree that make it so appealing. I love the thought of one being able to go from print, to radio, to television - if that's what they really want to do. It allows for a lifetime of excitement and adventure - spontaneous and unpredicted paths that lead you on a journey you could have never imagined. 

Trapped

Brisbane City - Views from Mount Coot-tha

It's hard to imagine a life better than the one I currently live - I say as Pink Floyd drowns out the crying baby, the abusive parents and fighting couples on board the Petrie Express. 

As I try to see past the graffiti that distorts the scenery outside of the train window - and beyond the dull yet chaotic carriage - I try to picture myself in a far away land. In fact, I can sometimes do this thing where I can take myself out of reality and replace my surroundings with a view and atmosphere I can only dream of. For example, there is this cafe I like to occassionally visit on the Redcliffe waterfront, whereby one particular table offers me an exquisite view. If I put my headphones in and crank some spanish guitar, I can almost convince myself that I'm on holiday. It's great - while it lasts.

Today however - with 'Is There Anybody Out There?' sending me into an almost hypnotic trance - I am transported to the Tuscan Countryside. The rolling hills pass by, the greens, the golds, the beauty - but only in a matter of seconds does the song change and I hear Bob Dylan's soothing voice. I am then passing grandiose country mansions in the Southern United States. I'm taken back to the days of Atticus Finch and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. 

Oh the places i'd rather be. 

Unfortunately, as a broke uni student, these dreams are dreams - at least for the next four years. Such a depressing thought. 

There was no real point to this post. I guess I just wanted to remind myself that I have such a bland life in Brisbane and I cannot wait to leave.

Personal Media Use and Production Diary - Assignment 1

The use of media and its many platforms changes constantly. My personal media usage is influenced by both general patterns and outside events, evident in a Personal Media Use and Production Diary recorded over a period of 10 days - 5th August - 15th August, 2012.

Figure 1 Indicates the average amount of time I spend on different media platforms per day. Since starting Journalism at UQ, my use of social media (specifically blogger and twitter) has increased. Although I spend time on blogger as part of assessment, I have placed it under 'Social Networking/ Personal Interest' due to the enjoyment I get from blogging. I was surprised to see that the total amount of time I spend on the internet (in comparison to the survey average - see Figure 2) is higher. However, my internet average is a combined total of all sites I visit, some of which are opened simultaneously. During this 10 day period, the amount of television I usually watch has significantly increased due to the Olympics. On a more regular basis, my general television intake would be less than half an hour a day. In comparison to the amount of time spent watching television in regards to the Media Survey conducted (see Figure 2), normally, I would watch less than the average amount of television (average is 90 minutes). 

In all honesty, I thought the amount of time people spent watching television would be higher - especially with the amount of advertised television shows on mainstream commercial stations. Although I still feel that an hour and a half of television (on average) is quite a lot of television per day. 

What  I also found interesting - however not entirely surprising, was where people get their news from. This brings us to the much debated topic of 'is new media the death of old media?' 

Figure 5

Figure 4

The top four distributors of news (according to survey results) are online newspapers, TV, Facebook and radio. Coming in at number five, is the newspaper. When comparing new and old media (see Figure 4), online news is seen to by 38.2% more than those who read newspapers. If I may, I am going to quickly refer back to Lecture 1 where we talked about the introduction of the Paywall. My question is - would online news still be as popular a source if one had to pay? - Moving on. I read the majority of my news in the paper, however, since starting journalism and joining twitter, by following news accounts, I have been presented with news in an entirely new means of news broadcasting. 

Speaking of Social Networking, I recorded the amount of time I spent on each of the following sites per day. As you can see, represented in Blue, Facebook consumed/ still consumes a great part of my life. Sad, I know. However, I am pleased to see Blogger come in at second - considering it is assessment. 

In conclusion, it is safe to say my media usage is significantly influenced by both outside events and traditional patterns. On a normal day, I fit in nicely with the rest of the people my age (in regards to the survey). In studying Journalism, it would be impossible for me to say that my media usage will decrease and that from here on in, I can only expect it to sky rocket as media and its many platforms progress.

Below is my Personal Media Use and Production Diary:

 

10 places you probably didn't know existed

I've been in a particularly bad mood today. Needless to say I can rely on my 'meditation' playlist to keep me at my best. It's a mix of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Eat Pray Love and numerous other 'Sacred Earth' and 'Best Relaxation' soundtracks. I can't say I listen to this music regularly, however, considering how spectacular both aforementioned films were, it has the ability and power to both calm me and take me to a place where I can only dream of being - for now. 

It's nights like these - lonely and poor - where I stay up late and pour through pages upon pages of StumbleUpon. If you start stumbling through the Travel category, I guarantee you'll find the most impressive collection of both natural and architectural beauty. It'll show you things beyond your imagination. 

I am at such a loss as to where to start - simply because there are so many stunning places. Thus, I think an assortment of worldly goodness will have to do. 

So before you, I present an array of 10 places you didn't know existed. 

The first:

1) The Ice Hotel, Sweden

So, I don't think I need to say much to convince you that staying in a hotel - made purely of ice - would actually be the coolest thing ever. The nights get down to a glorious -5 degrees, however the well-insulated heavy fur blankets on the sculptured ice beds ought to keep you warm. The most intriguing part however, is that the hotel never stands still. Throughout the course of a year, it shifts from frozen solid to a free flowing river. It is still taking shape when the first guests of Winter arrive in early December, but by April, Summer is near and the hotel stays open. One may argue it's just a little lighter and the structure is only just starting to lose its form. Upon arrival, there is what one would call an induction - informing guests on how not to freeze to death in their sleep. Before bed time, you can wander over to reception with the choice of single or double sleeping bags, sheets, warm thermal underwear and a luggage storage locker - so that whatever is in your room overnight, does not end up frozen in the morning. Of course, for me, the real appeal is the rarity of catching the Northern Lights - or Aurora Borealis (which sounds a lot nicer) - as seen in the photos to the right, it is a must see. 

2) Meteora, Greece

Now these high little houses may not seem too impressive, but once we establish the fact that they aren't houses but are in fact a cluster of ancient monasteries, these intriguing beauties cast every visitor by its majestic and enchanting spell. What we see here, is one of the six monasteries built on large sandstone pillars, rich with history and home of the ancient monks. The buildings stand high above the town so that once upon a time, monks were safe from political upheaval. They were safe for two reasons; a) it was a heck of the climb to the top, and b) the climb was up a ladder, which could be pulled up and out of reach to the angry ground folk. Originally, more than 20 monasteries were built and there is a common belief that Athanasios (founder of the monasteries) did not climb the rock, but was carried there by an eagle. What a magical place.

3) Crater Lake, Oregon, USA

Crater Lake is an incredible 594 metres deep, making it the deepest lake in all of America and the third deepest lake in the world. There is no inflow or outflow, thus being fed solely through rain and snow. This also makes it one of the clearest lakes in the world. It was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of volcano Mount Mazama.  Mazama however, is not an extinct volcano, suggesting it will erupt again in the future. As the picture tells, it is beautiful at night, with an incredible constellation of stars and colours. What a beautiful sight.

4) Zhangjiajie, China

There is something quite exquisite - quite alluring about the almost-prehistoric looking Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the northern Hunan province of China. The rugged and treacherous terrain of the forest park make it almost impossible to live in and was proven a very backward culture - due to extreme living conditions - by the stone age inhibitors.

The national park comes with a great history and over the years, many ancient relics have been found.


Not only is it such a rich source of history and time, but one may recognise it as the setting/scenery from the box office hit, Avatar. James Cameron (director) admitted the Zhangjiajie mountains were his original inspiration for the  'Hallelujah' mountain range used in the film. Some may argue that it was the uniqueness of his choice in setting/scenery that brought it such success. It certainly allowed the film to stand out from the rest.

Zhangjiajie city is now an official UNESCO listed natural wonder of the world.


5) Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

For all the girls reading this right now - remember when you were little? Is this not the exact enchanted castle that you dreamed of marrying your Prince Charming in? This magical German palace was the personal refuge for Ludwig II of Bavaria in the nineteenth century. Nowadays, it is visited by over 1.3 million a year and has since appeared in many movies. You will all be surprised to know that it was also the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle. The original designer of the castle was not an architect, but in fact a theatrical set designer, hence its majestical essence. The castle was also a finalist of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

6) Derweze (A.K.A The Gates of Hell), Turkmenistan

This fiery pit of hell was a unintentional man-made hole. In 1971 when geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas, the ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed leaving a huge hole in the middle of the desert. Geologists assumed that the fire would have used every last bit of fuel within a few days, however it is still burning today. What an incredible underestimation! Letting the fire burn is said to be safer than releasing the methane into the atmosphere, hence why the flames have not yet been ceased. A great little (or large) spot to visit if you are passing through Turkmenistan.

7) Monte Roraima, Venezuela

Now would you take a look at this one.

Not only is this an absolutely spectacular mountain, but it connects the boarders between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. It is a part of the Guyana Highland Range and as one of the park's tabletop mountains, it is considered one of the oldest geological formations on Earth. The mountain is hard to access, but it has now become very popular with backpackers and those wanting to trek - and I can see why. Looking down over the clouds, the lands and life itself must be such an unfathomable feeling. It is simply breathtaking.

8) Natural Rock Pools, Pamukkale, Turkey

The hot pools of Pamukkale left by flowing water have been bathed in for thousands of years. The ancient city built above the cliff of baths can been seen from the other side of Denizli, now considered a World Heritage Site. This exquisite site brings many tourists to the area as they can bathe in the warmth of both the water and the sun, and pour copious amounts of natural spring water all over themselves. How exciting!

9) Treehotel, Sweden

This fascinating hotel/accommodation is located in Harads, Sweden. Unlike most hotels however, it offers you  a 'contemporary design in the middle of unspoiled nature'. In other words, you have 5 choices… You can stay in the Mirrorcube (see photo on the left), The Bird's Nest (see photo directly below), The Blue Cone, The UFO (see last picture) or the The Cabin. Each cabin comes with its own features. For example, to ensure birds do not run into the mirror of the mirrorcube, infrared lasers have been added to the outside - invisible to humans, but visible to birds.

The Bird's Nest comes with a retractable staircase and a modern and spacious interior - completely the opposite of its messy exterior. The UFO cabin is cast in durable composite material in order to create a light, yet sustainable design. In order to reach The Blue Cone, one must walk across a foot bridge, accessible from the nearby mountain. The Tree Cabin was based on the idea of creating a platform high up on the hillside. Like The Blue Cone, one must walk across a footbridge in order to enter via the wooden deck.

The Tree Sauna on the other hand is very much a sauna, made completely of wood and available to anyone who stays.

Treehotel is open all year round however there are limited cabins, thus bookings must be made rather early. Rooms are quite expensive, however the novelty of staying in a UFO or a mirrorcube are most likely worth it.

This is on my bucket list.


And Lastly - Perhaps a more questionable destination;
10) Capsule Hotel, Tokyo

So we now see two extremes. We see that of comfort and decadence and we see that of convenience and efficiency. Both however, rather ingenuitive. Not only based in Tokyo, but in cities throughout Japan, the Japanese have introduced capsules for busy businessmen and hungover party-goers. With each capsule you are also getting radio, an alarm and a television. Not to mention the razors, shaving cream, bathrobe, free showers and wireless internet. Perfect for taking a quick nap before a big day in the office.

Ahh, so we can see that this world in which we live is full of surprising little places. Some of which were man-made, some of which are natural and all of which are exquisite and most certainly unique.

Until next time,

Holly.

JOUR1111 - Lecture 3

There is something quite novel about picking up a newspaper and digesting its contents. Whether it be that freshly printed smell, or the awkward hassle of positioning it 'just right' - you know, in a way that keeps you from accidentally elbowing the face of the commuter sitting next to you on the cramped Caboolture line express. Maybe it's the realness of the news, having it in your hand - to me, news cannot come in a nicer platform. However, this 'new media' we speak of must come with a great advantage. So, what is it?

Firstly, as we are all well aware, convenience and accessibility are the greatest advantages to any internet news platform. You can view it any time, any place and the majority of news sites are free. However, the news we read on the internet is the same we see in print. According to Ms Skye Doherty - print and text guru - 'journalism has not exploited hypertext'.

I see online news as having great potential. Aside from convenience, the internet and news sites should most definitely be taking advantage of hypertext - the interactive medium that sees online news as significantly more advanced than any paper. It is with this hypertext revolution, that information and stories that are read then have the ability to hide truckloads more of relevant information and sources. What can't be said in the limited newspaper column, can be said online in an array of links, pictures, tags - immediately accessible information. 

Thus, I find it hard to understand journalism is not taking advantage of this digital platform. After all, doesn't it make sense to include as many tags, links and hypertext in you article as possible? That way, when keywords are searched, it is bound to get more traffic for your article. Perhaps it isn't journalism that needs to in a sense 'adapt' to this new revolutionary platform, but simply implement this platform in a way in which it takes journalism to an entirely new level. A level in which information has been shared like never before. Providing its readers with an informative, interactive and insightful text. One in which can no longer compare to that of a newspaper. 

My thoughts exactly...

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

Little Spot of Paradise

What puzzles me most about the world in which we live, is my inability to fathom its size. On some days, some of the most distant lands stand right before me, but on others, the vast variety of culture and diversity that rules what lives beyond the horizon is often unimaginable. Whilst it can take less than a day to set foot on a different land, it can take a lifetime to adjust or at least begin to understand the ways in which all 7 billion human beings live. What I find most interesting about the world - and what makes me so passionate - is the thought that there are people, sprawled out on every speck of green on that atlas. There are people, like you and I, living their everyday lives, everyday - oddly enough. In the future, I want to visit foreign lands and experience their culture, live how they live on a daily basis and see the world entirely through their perspective. Which brings me to my very first recreational blog post. 

My mother and father were/are avid travellers. That brings with it a major disadvantage and a major advantage. The disadvantage being that they saw the world without me. Well, technically I can say I've been to Spain, trekked the treacherous climb to the unbelievable Machu Picchu and sailed across the Indian Ocean, however the view was slightly disrupted in my mother's womb. Fortunately for me, I'm afraid that without their passion, memories, experiences and knowledge of the great world that exists outside of my little bedroom window, my passion for the world and its people may not exist. So for that, I cannot thank them enough. In my limited years of existence, I was fortunate to move from New Zealand to Australia, and then venture over to the United States (two years ago) where we drove from West to East (and back again). The very belated international family holiday was due to my parents strong belief that you have to see your own country before you see the rest. Thus, we travelled around both islands of New Zealand and found ourselves in the middle of the Australian Outback. 

Before I spin the globe and hope my finger lands on a speck of green, I figured I best start off with the area in which I currently live, Redcliffe. It's nothing special, just a little coastal town north of Brisbane. Of course, unlike the historic city of Rome, the romantic City of Lights or the Big Apple, falling in love with Redcliffe does not come instantly, but that is not to say there isn't a certain charm about it. Only last week I drove to the waterfront and happened to catch it at its finest - the sunset provided a picturesque transformation, igniting the once subtle and bland pier into an exquisite banquet of lines and colour - an artistic feast. 

- Shorncliffe Pier

It was from that moment, I realised that beauty is what you make it. Anything can be beautiful, it just takes one to open their eyes and truly appreciate it for what it is. Thus, I am more excited than ever to unleash myself into this exciting world. When I was at the pier, I also realised what an effect natural lighting has. It completely transforms a scene - for the better. 

So ladies and gentlemen, I present you with Shorncliffe pier. An astounding, quiet little spot off the eastern coast of Queensland. Perfect for long walks on the beach and romantic picnics. Actually, if there are any single males, please, don't hesitate to take me out for a lovely stroll one glorious evening. 

Unfortunately I have to run to my next lecture. Which is not actually at all unfortunate as a) it is for this subject, and b) I actually really enjoy it. So really, I lied. 

Until next time, 

Holly.

JOUR1111 - Lecture 2

Ahh, week 2. A slightly more informative and realistic insight into Journalism.

I thought this week's lecture surfaced some very interesting and relevant topics. When looking at the various forms of media, we can differentiate the 'old' from the 'new'. For instance, Old Media consists of newspapers and magazines (print), and radio and television. Basically, it includes all platforms of media excluding the web. We then have New Media, as aforementioned, the information web. When looking at the various web platforms, we have the Information Web (Web 1.0), the Social Web (Web 2.0), Prod-Users (Web 2.0), and the Semantic Web (Web 3.0). Initially, the Information Web was all we had. It was a great opportunity for companies to advertise, market and make themselves and their products/services known to the world-wide audience. It was structured in a way where there would be a provider of information and an audience to receive it. We were then introduced to the world of social networking, whereby web users and the web (in general) were given an entirely new purpose. People started to use Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Skype, MSN, Youtube, Wikipedia, Instagram, etc, with the hope that a small number of the 2, 267, 233, 742 beings with access to the internet would be the slightest bit interested in their own lives (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm). Basically it narrowed the focus of the web to social groups. We then move from the Social Web to Prod-Users, whereby the distinction between the user and the viewer, viewer and the participant becomes hard to distinguish (http://www.freshandnew.org/2006/04/more-on-the-prod-user/). Lastly we have Web 3.0, a web specifically focused on the individual. From here we break off into two main points; Hyperlocalisation - being able to narrow news intake to categories (entertainment, sport) and receive news specific to one's location, and Specific Content Delivery - being able to limit the news a person sees in relation to their preferences. However, the disadvantages to Special Content Delivery are that advertising companies can advertise products more susceptible to the interests and preferences of the user. 

What I found more interesting however, was the talk of online newspapers introducing a paywall for news. As I looked around the lecture theatre, I was able to see the disgust on people's faces as they were told that online news - so accessible and convenient - in some cases comes at a price. What I find quite hard to understand is that a) people have bought newspapers, magazines, newspaper subscriptions and magazine subscriptions, etc, as long as they have been existent. And b) the news that we are getting online, is the same as what we see in the newspapers, thus it should be expected that we should be charged for it. Why shouldn't we? Just because it is instantly accessible, doesn't mean it shouldn't come at a cost. Bruce Redman brought up an interesting analogy. What happened to newspapers making money? E-bay killed the classifieds. The exact same circumstance applies here. Free online access to the news is killing newspapers. My greatest concern however, is that if online newspapers start introducing a paywall, will people become immune to what is happening in the world?

Photography - Side Project

Some photography I've been doing on the side. I'm trying to experiment with natural lighting in preparation for more of my photo-journalism courses. 

Location: Shorncliffe Pier, North Brisbane; Model: Danielle Mason.

JOUR1111 - Lecture 1

It would be a safe bet to say that getting here, to this very seat in fact, has been quite a journey in itself. From a young age the simplicity of capturing a photo - of anything from my family to my unfocused thumb - had found me an outlet that truly made me happy. However, I have learnt that with age comes a certain responsibility; a responsibility to look after yourself, support yourself, etc, etc. As soon as you first step foot onto the ground of your new and overly-intimidating high school, the teachers stop teaching, the parents stop encouraging you to chase your dreams, and instead both teachers and parents unite in indoctrinating you with what is said to be 'essential preparation' for the 'real world'. You begin to lose sight of your dreams and goals and instead focus on a safe and comfortable path for the future. Your parents are happy, your teachers are happy, your friends are happy, and you're happy. You're happy because they're all happy, and also because you are about to set foot onto the path of a fail-proof 'journey of a lifetime', in which you will encounter nothing of any real satisfaction or happiness. At least that's what I thought this time last semester when I was instead sitting in a business lecture discussing Maslow's Heirachy of Needs. 

Fortunately, in a very small space of time I had a change in heart, however mine had to be broken and hurt several times in order to take a chance with my future. Before you decide to read no further, I must tell you it is not the kind of broken heart that seeks recovery and comfort from several family size blocks of chocolate and Bridget Jone's Diary. As aforementioned, all your parents are concerned about when you leave school is that you'll be able to support yourself. The answer is simple. Get a degree you have no interest in, hold a job you are far from passionate about and a live a life not worth living. It only took me until the moment my father left and my grandfather died to realise the only thing important in life is to be happy. Thus very quickly, with sparks of enthusiasm and passion I dropped out of business, enrolled in journalism, began photography, and became so sensationally inspired, in awe at the place I had found myself in. Finally blessed with the realisation that I can do whatever I want to do. And for me, if that meant taking the opposite path in which I was meant to travel, then so be it. I was and still am willing to drop everything in the hope to find happiness in writing. I want to share my passion for this world full of such wonder and life. My unattainable dreams of becoming a travel writer now seem so close and so real; and then for me to think - the journey hasn't even begun. 

Bruce Redman included the following quote in his lecture.

"I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world." - Henry R. Luce

I remember as each and every word rolled off his tongue, every fibre of my being was ignited by a flame of self content and happiness. The joyous, overwhelming feeling that came of moulding into my surroundings and feeling such comfort from where I had landed was unfathomable. At that point, those words spoke the truth, my truth. They detailed my reason for being, my passion and motivation, but more than anything, they spoke of my love for the world, it's knowledge, it's people and it's history. At that moment I wanted to shout out everything I knew and I wanted every soul on the planet to hear it.

Aside from initial introductions and the outline for the coming semester, nothing much was said in the first week. Although the talk of assessment no longer has me trying to run away and escape to a remote island in the middle of the South Pacific. Now, I just want to start. I want to write about things and blog about things and speak of such things that deserve to be spoken. Things that deserve to be shared and admired. I want to tell people of the beauty of their world and explore it until every square millimetre has been admired. 

As writers, we can make life extraordinary.