What a year! Exams seem to be the bane of my existence as I wait in anticipation to write my last examination on the 26th of November!It seems that this is the moment that I have been waiting for, to be able to say that I have an experience of university for an entire year! The hard work, pressure of assignments, tests, and trying to have a healthy social life. It has been challenging and at times I feel that I could have made better decisions but I believe that everything happens for a reason so I think that I had to experience some hardship in order to appreciate the good in my life. There's a binry opposition right there, ideology at work!
I believe that next year will bring with it greater challenges which I will tackle with graet determination and persistance. I believe in the power of positive thinking, if you say you can, you will!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Let's stand against child abuse in SA
by Liza Smith
Read this alarming article on news 24 about child abuse in the country and keep the children of the world in your prayers.
Read this alarming article on news 24 about child abuse in the country and keep the children of the world in your prayers.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika - in reggae style
by Liza Smith
I have never quite heard the anthem done like this before, but reggae style just does not do it for me. What is even more atrocious is the manner in which the Boks responded to the anthem - did anyone see Schalk's face? Come on, Boks it should just have motivated them to kick French ass, not resulted in a defeat. When someone wrongs your country, you take your revenge.
I have never quite heard the anthem done like this before, but reggae style just does not do it for me. What is even more atrocious is the manner in which the Boks responded to the anthem - did anyone see Schalk's face? Come on, Boks it should just have motivated them to kick French ass, not resulted in a defeat. When someone wrongs your country, you take your revenge.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Blood Diamond: off the record
by Liza Smith
Blood Diamond is a film set in Africa and depicts the search for diamonds and family in a war stricken country. Throw a journalist seeking the truth in the mix and one of the greatest films ever made unfolds onto the screen. This film is absolutely above others of its class and strikes the viewer has a great piece showcasing journalistic endeavour.
Maddie Bowen, a print journalist, is in Sierra Leone searching for a connection between the Van De Kaap diamond cartel and diamond smugglers. Bowen finds the necessary human interest in Solomon Vandy, a man desperate to find his family, and is persuaded to help him by smuggler Danny Archer.
This powerful film has an intense shooting style (French, 2007) with a blend of African actors and landscapes which only adds to the viewer becoming part of the story. Murray writes that Maddie’s “enthusiasm, dedication, unflinching commitment to her work and her trying to accomplish something good” (2006) is what makes her such a believable journalist. With a film that shows it how it is one expects nothing less than an accurate portrayal of the hardships and dangers faced by war correspondents.
Blood Diamond will sometimes shock you but it will certainly get you thinking and talking about important issues (Murray 2006) and this is what investigative journalism is all about. The ability to spot sources and to persistently pursue the truth even against all odds is exactly what Bowen does. She did her research and uncovered what she believed to be the truth.
French (2007) wrote in The Observer that the tale of Blood Diamond is “molded on an armature of well-researched journalism” but it also shows what journalism can do. The full impact that Bowen’s story has can be seen towards the end of the film when Solomon pages through Bowen’s article. It is then that one realizes what great impact journalism can have on the world and its capacity to expose injustice and motivate movements to help others. It is also in this final article that the film touches on photojournalism. The dynamic photographs used in the article convey the story better than words especially as Solomon looks at the picture of Archer but it is the boy pointing a gun that truly captures what war does.
Journalism is powerful and can make a difference in the world. “Maybe we should all write about it” (Blood Diamond 2006), maybe we should.
Blood Diamond is a film set in Africa and depicts the search for diamonds and family in a war stricken country. Throw a journalist seeking the truth in the mix and one of the greatest films ever made unfolds onto the screen. This film is absolutely above others of its class and strikes the viewer has a great piece showcasing journalistic endeavour.
Maddie Bowen, a print journalist, is in Sierra Leone searching for a connection between the Van De Kaap diamond cartel and diamond smugglers. Bowen finds the necessary human interest in Solomon Vandy, a man desperate to find his family, and is persuaded to help him by smuggler Danny Archer.
This powerful film has an intense shooting style (French, 2007) with a blend of African actors and landscapes which only adds to the viewer becoming part of the story. Murray writes that Maddie’s “enthusiasm, dedication, unflinching commitment to her work and her trying to accomplish something good” (2006) is what makes her such a believable journalist. With a film that shows it how it is one expects nothing less than an accurate portrayal of the hardships and dangers faced by war correspondents.
Blood Diamond will sometimes shock you but it will certainly get you thinking and talking about important issues (Murray 2006) and this is what investigative journalism is all about. The ability to spot sources and to persistently pursue the truth even against all odds is exactly what Bowen does. She did her research and uncovered what she believed to be the truth.
French (2007) wrote in The Observer that the tale of Blood Diamond is “molded on an armature of well-researched journalism” but it also shows what journalism can do. The full impact that Bowen’s story has can be seen towards the end of the film when Solomon pages through Bowen’s article. It is then that one realizes what great impact journalism can have on the world and its capacity to expose injustice and motivate movements to help others. It is also in this final article that the film touches on photojournalism. The dynamic photographs used in the article convey the story better than words especially as Solomon looks at the picture of Archer but it is the boy pointing a gun that truly captures what war does.
Journalism is powerful and can make a difference in the world. “Maybe we should all write about it” (Blood Diamond 2006), maybe we should.
Friday, October 30, 2009
80’s disco in the year 2009
By Kirsty Hoggons
Lights, Camera Action. No, this is not the set of a latest blockbuster movie but rather a 13 year olds 80’s themed disco that I was helping to plan. It was my sister’s birthday party this weekend and I decided that this was in chartered territory for me. It took place at our house on the 24th of October. I helped organise and plan an 80’s themed disco party with a disco ball and flashing lights as well as helping with the music.
I was excited to help with this as I have never done something like this before and I thought that it might be quite a fun experience. My main aim in doing this was helping my sister to have a good party because it was her 13th birthday party and it was important to her. The reason why I wanted to do this was because I thought that it would be fun and I would also be mixing with people that I don’t usually mix with, in this case, 13 year olds, which I felt would be a new and interesting experience.
Sitting there for approximately three hours, taking requests from people for music, helping girls with their makeup, watching a dance off as well as 13 year olds attempting to do the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ dance, setting up and finally taking all of the decorations down was certainly an experience because it was quite exhausting, something that I did not think that I would be. Overall though, it was an enjoyable experience and I think that it was a good thing to do.
-Please Note the Following - "No Thanks"
By Natasha Morbin
I decided to take a look at the blog named: Please Note the Following (http://pleasenotethefollowing.blogspot.com/). And since reading it, what have I noted? At the risk of sounding nasty, it’s boring. I glanced at a few blogs before this one and all of them were too interesting. Let’s face it; it’s a lot more fun to critique something that you think is bad than something you think is good. First let us take a look at the aesthetics of the blog: we have a navy blue, a dark blue and a dark green. Not the most exciting presentation out there. What was good about this blog was that the majority of the posts had photos attached which broke the monotony of it.
Focussing more on the actual content of the blog, it struck me that some of the posts didn’t really relate very well to the assignment topics. The post, Why Waste Time, doesn’t seem to correlate at all to any assignment topics. All it is, is one student ranting about how they don’t like going to lectures and how lectures are useless (this is the general idea you get from his writing). He mentions that he never goes to lectures – perhaps he should attend an English lecture so as to grasp a little concept known as grammar.
That brings me to my last point. In general, this blog had a vast amount of grammatical errors and the occasional spelling mistake. You have spell check on your PC – use it.
I decided to take a look at the blog named: Please Note the Following (http://pleasenotethefollowing.blogspot.com/). And since reading it, what have I noted? At the risk of sounding nasty, it’s boring. I glanced at a few blogs before this one and all of them were too interesting. Let’s face it; it’s a lot more fun to critique something that you think is bad than something you think is good. First let us take a look at the aesthetics of the blog: we have a navy blue, a dark blue and a dark green. Not the most exciting presentation out there. What was good about this blog was that the majority of the posts had photos attached which broke the monotony of it.
Focussing more on the actual content of the blog, it struck me that some of the posts didn’t really relate very well to the assignment topics. The post, Why Waste Time, doesn’t seem to correlate at all to any assignment topics. All it is, is one student ranting about how they don’t like going to lectures and how lectures are useless (this is the general idea you get from his writing). He mentions that he never goes to lectures – perhaps he should attend an English lecture so as to grasp a little concept known as grammar.
That brings me to my last point. In general, this blog had a vast amount of grammatical errors and the occasional spelling mistake. You have spell check on your PC – use it.
simply loveable
Review of “ for the love of lace”
By blessing chiyekete
The title of the blog in itself draws interest from the reader and is eager to follow the blog. Interestingly the title itself unpacks a lot of ecstasy, fantasy, free will and the large than life image. “For the love of lace” it draws a lot of imagination and forces the reader to walk with them in the journey of unpacking their stories.
The blog tells a story of free will, free spirit and the celebration of the journey of being a journalism student at its cost. The blog appeals largely to all those who wish to walk on the path of journalism. The main theme centred upon includes free style writing and the expression of emotion and every day experience. Interestingly the blog attracts and command a lot of interesting story however despite their up to date and interesting topics, the reader feels incomplete as the blog title arose to much expectation on the part of the reader. Thus the blog fails to satisfy the reader’s interest.However the blog especially the top title “the never ending case” shows the ability to marshal serious state political matters into a piece which is enjoyable and of interest to a journalism student. Thus the blog is simply ideal despite a few shortcomings
By blessing chiyekete
The title of the blog in itself draws interest from the reader and is eager to follow the blog. Interestingly the title itself unpacks a lot of ecstasy, fantasy, free will and the large than life image. “For the love of lace” it draws a lot of imagination and forces the reader to walk with them in the journey of unpacking their stories.
The blog tells a story of free will, free spirit and the celebration of the journey of being a journalism student at its cost. The blog appeals largely to all those who wish to walk on the path of journalism. The main theme centred upon includes free style writing and the expression of emotion and every day experience. Interestingly the blog attracts and command a lot of interesting story however despite their up to date and interesting topics, the reader feels incomplete as the blog title arose to much expectation on the part of the reader. Thus the blog fails to satisfy the reader’s interest.However the blog especially the top title “the never ending case” shows the ability to marshal serious state political matters into a piece which is enjoyable and of interest to a journalism student. Thus the blog is simply ideal despite a few shortcomings
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
