Asylum Seekers VS the Ring Masters, The Media War.

For a long time now, there has been a very controversial subject to every headline in the newspapers, every channel on the news, every nightly report; the subject of Australia’s ever-growing number of Asylum seekers. Every where you turn there is always someone who has something to say about it. Anyone from informed political leaders, humanitarian rights protesters to even housewives, EVERYONE has an opinion on the asylum seekers.

The media, realising how many papers can be sold from scaring the masses, has truely milked it for what it’s money’s worth. And just like every war there ever was; there are two sides. In his specific article, the writer clearly did not vote for Labour party.

In the effort of finding the PR slant in the first article (which believe me, was not hard), I found it would be more intriguing to compare it to another article by another publication and writer. In the first article is from Perth Now, a more or less the go-to site for those seeking gossip and entertainment. When compared to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute report on the asylum seekers, the evidence in the PR slant of my first article was clear:

· The repetitive use of the words “draining,” “freeloading,” “taxpayer’s money,” “illegals” when describing the asylum seeker “pandemic” automatically gives the reader negative feelings towards the matter.

· Prompting that the Australians are more in the need in the wake of the Queensland floods

· People personalise the situation to themselves on matters that concern them directly, particularly their money. The article prompts that our hard earned taxpayer’s money are being wasted spent on non Australians.

· Utilises patriotism to extradite “non Australians” e.g. “It is un Australian to flush our money in the toilet”

· Since the September 11 attack in the US, Muslims and middle eastern groups have been given horrendous press, often relating to Al queda and terrorism. The media utilises this to develop mass paranoia and hate

· Slanting the Gillard government as one who does not understand how to manage the already troubled Australian economy by allowing asylum seekers to freeload off its citizens.

The media can manipulate any story into one that speaks to their audience so deeply as to influence their state of mind and opinions and plague people’s emotions using their extremist prolific writing and propaganda.

What I’ve learnt is that true journalism is written in a neutral tone using minimal adjective and emotive writing and has correct and reliable sources and references.

In light of that I’ve come to believe that the true ruler of the world aren’t our political or religious leaders, it’s the media. The media ring masters wield the ever influential whip to command their human circus for the entertainment of their human audience. The outcome? We are our own laughing stock really.