Sad Bitch Guide to Investigative Reporting

Lets take a moment to look at Investigative Reporting

Now once again this is an area that has been glorified by the film and novel industry (All the Presidents Men, Almost Famous, Capote, Frost Nixon, Balibo, A Mighty Heart, State of Play, The Pelican Brief etc), enough for people to believe this to be a glamorous and household-name-making role.

Sexually Attractive Icons just went Retro

Well evidently its not.

We have been taught from out lecture that basically investigative journalism is about uncovering other peoples secrets (probably for no real reason) other than for public interest (because there aren't privacy laws or anything).

For the better part, I have no problem with investigative journalism.

But.

When the idea of a 'scandal' is more important then the actual news itself, perhaps the journalist needs to take a moment of self-reflection. Why are they writing about this? Whose life are they going to impact? Does that person deserve this treatment?

Lets look at the case of Francis Abbott, daughter of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

This has quickly turned into an Abbott Appreciation Post 

#eyebrowgamestrongerthanthebudget

Francis received a rare scholarship to a private college in 2011, graduating from a Bachelor of Design with distinction. This information came to light immediately after the 2014 Budget was announced, with proposed changes to university fees. Immediately there was scandal that Ms Abbott did not deserve her scholarship due to the friendship between the institutes chairman, Les Taylor, and her father Tony Abbott. My personal opinion about this matter is that to have the audacity to question someones scholarship because her father is Prime Minister is pretty pathetic. Some classmates have said Frances did not deserve a scholarship, but I doubt anyone has taken into account the possibility that these washed-up has-been's are jealous and anti-Liberal and overly keen to slander a young women's name. At the end of the day, yes it looks shady, but as a Private College, that institute can give scholarships to whomever they damn well please. And evidently Frances did well enough to graduate with distinction. But the real question is; why should anyone give a damn?

Not everyone likes Tony, but god-willing, he has some hot daughters

This is not investigative journalism. These are people who target others to foreground their own opinions and agendas. Like I have always said, there is bias in everything, so always be careful about what you read and interpret.

Otherwise investigative journalism looks like fun, but knowing me I'll be the one person to get killed in a car bomb or something.

Me

Happy Days!