media review
...Blake Text Type: Newspaper Report Content: The article is about a boy who has been granted a divorce from his mother and family by the children’s court on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. The article describes the 14 year old boy, Peter Lonsdale, as a scholarship student, who is the youngest child to divorce his family. The mother was said to be distraught and betrayed, but had experienced difficulties with her son, after he lit a fire in his room and graffiting in his house. It is also high-lighted; he had a step-dad and three siblings. The mother tells how she didn’t want him out late at nights, and he tells of how she was a strict parent. Point of view The writer seems to be on the mother’s side of this ordeal, again in subtle ways. The writer makes the boys out to seem spoilt, and leaving for the reasons that he doesn’t always get what he wants. There is no real reason explaining why the boy left, except that he wasn’t allowed out late at night, and his mum was a strict parent. It also describes him as well looked after, going through private education, a top student and keen footballer. The writer also notes he has a step father and three siblings. However the writers do not elaborate that the reason for leaving could be due to the step-dad. The step-dad is kept out and, the mother is made out to be innocent and struggling with Peter burning and graffiting in the house. The ideological platform through this may be, against spoilt teenagers. Language: The writers imply that Peter is a spoilt boy, who cannot deal with the discipline and real world of his family. The quote used from the mother “if I let Peter do everything he wanted, go out until 11pm at night, this would never have happened”, makes it seems ridiculous that a 14-year old be given such lee-way by the court, from a mother who at the most is trying to take care of her son by making sure he isn’t hurt on the streets, etc. Selective information is used to in describing what the boy did wrong, rather than the parents, or the rest of the family. Adverbs are used a bit, with distraught used to describe the mother. The writers use adjectives and adverbs in the article. The mother and son are often described with words such as warring, challenging, and difficult. Also the mother is described with distraught showing she was upset and shocked at her son. The article uses the repetition of words that are similar in this article to prove their point. The words used such as warring, challenging and difficult all relate to the same thing and are used frequently. When the mother is described as let down, betrayed and distraught, it shows the emotion from the mother. An interview with Peter tells the reader that he realised he pushed his mum, and she was strict. He explains the divorce “to give us more space and get the relationship stronger”. This makes it sound almost like a temporary thing, and that it could be a stunt from the son. Visuals and Graphics This photo shows the family in standing together. Peter is with two of his brothers, and mother holding the youngest son. The mother looks flustered and semi-concerned, looking over to Peter, who is smiling. She looks worried about him. The other brother is holding the mothers hand and looking the other way. This picture is used to reflect what the article is about, and that it is more about the mum being to concerned about her son, and Peter not getting enough space, rather than the mother looking a threat or abusive to him. Article 3 Title: Lets make Willie great Source: The Sun-Herald, June 20, 2004 Author: Phil Gould Text Type: Opinion article in news article. Content: This article is an opinion of a rugby league coach, to why Willie Mason (player) should be given more of a chance to prove himself for higher levels of rugby, and why he should be forgiven for his past actions. Phil Gould explains why Willie Mason has leadership qualities, the potential to be a good player why he is worth the trouble. He tries to justify Mason’s bad behavior. He gives examples of when it has been hard to give Mason a chance in rep. football, and highlights conversations he had involving this. The purpose of this article is to stop people criticising Mason, and feel sympathy for him and give him a chance, as if he never did anything he could control. Point of View: Phil Gould, the writer, feels strongly about Willie Mason being given a chance to play at higher levels of rugby and be understood with his actions, through his positive points. The headline of this article shows this bias before even reading the article “Lets make Willie great”. This is putting it to the reader that Willie Mason should be helped to made better than what he is. He points out a lot, that Mason has the potential to be one of the greats. “Mason is potentially one of the greats of our game”. “Mason has the potential to captain his state one day”. Phil Gould also shows he is in favour of Mason when he asks the reader about the allegations and rumours against him, “How much of it was true? Did you or didn’t you?, Were you or weren’t you?”. He also justifies what Mason did, explaining it as a thing he did long ago, and when he was a young boy learning about himself. “In the past 12 months I have seen him develop from a boy to a man in my eyes.” an attempt to justify Mason’s mistakes, “He is sometimes where the trouble is, too, but I don’t think he was able to tell where the fun stopped and the trouble began. I think he has a better idea now” Phil Gould is trying to outline Mason’s potential as a player and leader, justify our perception of him and ask how much of the rumours were true, show there is more good than bad in him, justify the things he has done wrong as he has ‘grown’, and let people know he is worth the trouble. Language: The writer is implying that Willie Mason is an all round good guy and good footballer that has made some mistakes, which have been blown out and used against him too much. The writer uses innuendo in that he is saying he isn’t perfect and doesn’t know much about him, etc. but is still making calls about Mason as if he does. “I don’t pretend to know everything about this bloke”, Gould explains. He then goes onto explain that Mason has changed a lot, and that he knows he can be a leader and big time player. He selectively uses all the good information about Mason, on the field and off the field. He purposely doe not elaborate on any of Masons negative things. He even says this himself, “I won’t elaborate, but suffice to say many of the allegations and claims put forward concerning this bloke have been totally incorrect.” “I have failed to tell you the things I do know”. He also uses a lot of positive examples of Mason, “my trainers tell me the only forward yelling instructions and encouragement to his teammates was Big Willie. His leadership and desire was there in the heat of the battle for all to see and hear.” He also speaks on behalf of other people, which cannot be assured the complete truth with, “the other players love him. He is where the fun is.” The writer constantly repeats the word potential, if, think, would, and could, showing that even he doesn’t have full confidence with Willie Mason, and that he is making Mason sound a lot better than he is or has ever been. Questions are also asked to the readers to make them think about the truth behind Mason, and that a lot of things the media could make up. He asks “how much of it is true?” As if he didn't actually commit any crimes, etc. Visuals and Graphics The article uses a big Picture of Willie Mason playing for NSW state of Origin. A Queenslander is tackling him around the head. Under the photo is the caption: WHAT HEADLOCK? Willie Mason leads by example during the origin match on Wednesday night. This is suggesting that Willie Mason isn’t the type to complain about being unfairly treated, but just gets on with it. This is trying to reflect itself in the article also. It also poin...