University piece on the changing nature of journalism and PR.

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ADVANCED MEDIA
WRITING 2013
UNSW BMedia Journalism Writing Course
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ABANDON SHIP! IS PR A JOURNALIST’S LIFEBOAT?
Photo Courtesy of Serena Coady
By Danielle Ghazi
Tired of navigating the rough waters of journalism, a rising number of students are taking the plunge
and sailing over to the calmer seas of public relations. Danielle Ghazi looks into the reasons behind
this growing trend.
The empty seats, the lack of voices battling over one another to be heard, the buzz of excitement in
the air fading to no more than a murmur of disinterest.
This is what threatens to become the norm for the University of New South Wales’ journalism
degree, as once-budding journalists jump ship into the safe haven of public relations.
Whether the shift towards PR is seen as a move towards greener pastures or a fall towards the dark
side, the resounding opinion of students in the midst of their media degrees is that the move towards
PR is the safer option.
Second year UNSW journalism and communications student, Danielle Mathias, is in the process of
transferring to PR after discovering a love for it following an internship with a PR company.

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“I feel that PR is a little more promising in terms of having a career because every company needs a
PR person. There’ll always be a position where a PR person is required.”
Mathias says that, despite a passion for journalism, a clear understanding of a viable future career is
needed.
“I know people always say, ‘Just do what you love,’ and ‘Stick with what your good at,’ but the reality
of the situation is that we need money. We need to be able to have some stability.”
Despite growing knowledge that a stable career in journalism can be hard to come by, the number of
students enrolling into journalism degrees remains at a high.
In an article published by The Australian in April of last year, records by the Department of
Innovation showed that by 2011 there was a 55 per cent rise in the number of undergraduate
journalism students as compared to 2001. However while the number of students enrolled in courses
sits in the thousands, jobs for graduate students continue to decline in the hundreds.
The high number of students continuing to enrol in journalism degrees seems to suggest that
perhaps not all undergraduates are aware of the uncertain future that lies ahead of them.
However Sarah Liang, a second year PR student at UNSW, says she looked into her options before
enrolling in her course.
“I did some research before I chose it [PR] as a degree because I was tossing up between
journalism and PR … but you look at the stats and it’s a better paid career. It’s growing. It’s
supposed to grow within the couple next few years.”
Aware of this growth in PR, industry professionals have also noted the advantages of abandoning
the sinking ship of journalism in favour of PR.
Paige Kilponen worked as a journalist for 30 years, however she currently works as a producer in
reality television. She is adamant that while PR options continue to steadily rise, journalism and
potential employment in the field is on the decline.
“So much of the media and so much information is now being delivered via many different platforms,
PR will continue to feed those platforms at a much faster rate. There’s going to be a much bigger
need for PR-driven content which means, to my mind, that PR is much more of a growth industry
whereas standard journalism … in a traditional form is very much on the decline.”
She says, “I think that journalism jobs are generally very, very few and far between and they don’t
pay very well because the skillset has completely changed.”
While the common belief is that the shift to PR is based on a lack of job opportunities provided in
journalism, others believe this is not the case, and rather than a lack of jobs, it is the change in the
traditional structure of journalism which has led people to this assumption.
Lyndall Partington, the Careers Consultant at UNSW, believes this to be the case.
She says, “I think there are a lot of jobs in the industry, it’s just fundamentally changing. So I think
there’s a lot of talk about the lack of jobs in journalism and I think that’s because traditional media is
changing so much. But that doesn’t mean there’s no jobs, it just means the jobs are in different
areas.”
Dr Peter White, senior lecturer of journalism at UNSW, believes there are jobs are available in the
field, though they may be more obscure than an expected job at the ABC.
“I see a lot of our graduate students getting jobs in all these areas which people wouldn’t necessarily
know or be aware of, but certainly I see people finding work in areas where they certainly need their
journalistic skills.”

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The ability for graduates to obtain these jobs is a result of what Dr White believes to be the strength
of journalism at UNSW – a course based more on theory than practical aspects. While
acknowledging the practical nature of journalism courses offered by other universities, such as the
University of Technology, Sydney, Dr White also stresses the importance of grasping the theoretical
aspect.
“It’s the core skills that count so I would certainly defend our course on that basis … Of course we
often get many complaints … ‘We didn’t come to do theory,’ ‘What we want is practical training.’”
He says, “I think that’s also a misapprehension, because what we’re actually seeing is what people
are looking for is the ability of a student to actually think critically, to analyse changes in audience, to
understand mobilities … They’re looking for someone who has an understanding of the industry and
that’s where, despite what people feel they’re missing out on, is actually our strength. I think our
strength is the theory.”
Liang, 19, is one of the students who believes a practical-based course would be beneficial for
students.
“I think it’s quite important. I think there should be a greater emphasis on work placement within
degrees, because that’s really where you learn, and where you can do all the theory – putting it into
practice is so important.”
Concern over lack of practical experience is sure to resonate across the board, with journalism
students looking to obtain internships and jobs in the field but finding their lack of experience is what
ultimately fails them. However in PR, jobs in the field seem to gradually increase, and the prospect of
a stable career in PR has become more attractive to journalism students.
19-year-old UNSW student , Natalie Talevski, is in the second year of her communications and
journalism degree and balances two internships with her studies; one journalism, the other PR.
“Although I’m studying journalism I decided to take on an extra PR internship to increase my
employability at the end of my degree. Even though I would love a job in journalism I think I’ll end up
in PR just because jobs are so limited.”
Dr White acknowledges the overall concern of students over their potentially dismal career
prospects, but sees the rising potential in PR as a future career.
“There’s all this doom and gloom about journalism as a place to get work, whereas PR … clearly that
is not affected by those. PR remains a vibrant, a more reliable place in which one might get work.
“Obviously we have these headline stories about Fairfax laying people off, News Corp laying people
off, magazines being closed. That would seem to me the obvious response to that, if ones concern
is, ‘Do I have the degree that will help me get a job?’”
With the fear of an uncertain future striking the hearts of many journalism students, the growing trend
of moving towards a career in PR remains popular and, according to some, this is for the best.
Ruby Lindsay, an 18-year-old UNSW student who transferred to PR after a year in journalism,
believes those passionate enough about journalism to remain will only enhance the standards of
journalism in the future.
“I feel like it’s an evolution and as happens with evolution, it’s survival of the fittest. The people who
aren’t willing to stick through it and fight for a place in the world of journalism are dropping off and
doing more steady things like PR or things like that, so you’ll end up with passionate journalists who
are really determined, which might be for the better.”
Others share the same thoughts, believing the shift to PR will allow for great journalists to rise and
continue working.

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“You’ve got to kind of hope that the cream will rise to the top,” says Kilponen. “And those people; you
know the Kate McClymonts of this world who are magnificent storytellers and researchers and
reporters, will continue to have a platform.”
While the threat of an uncertain future looms over many aspiring journalists, the swim to safety on
the shores of PR may not only benefit those seeking a stable career path, but may in fact lift and
benefit the future standard of journalism.
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APR 29 2013
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Danielle Ghazi H13A
“Saving Lynny: The ultimate love story”
The article, Saving Lynny by Andrew Rule, tells the story of Lyn Rowe, a 49-year-old woman born
without arms or legs as a result of the morning sickness drug thalidomide, given to Lyn’s mother
Wendy by her doctor. The subject matter is both engaging and important as it sheds light on the lives
of the Rowe family, how Lyn’s condition has affected the lives of her family and others, as well as
bringing attention to an issue which has affected many worldwide. I found the writing was mostly
effective in engaging the reader, with the use of anecdotes such as the description of Lyn’s birth at
the start of the article immediately setting the emotional tone of the story, with lines such as “the
dead silence in the delivery room and the look on the doctor’s face” helping to achieve this. The
narrative-style of the piece also helps to keep the reader engaged, allowing us to feel an emotional
connection with the Rowe family. However the jumping between scenes felt disjointed and clumsy,
and the closing lines, “One awful question …”, felt rushed and out of place, especially after following
the sweeter line of “Friday’s child is loving and giving, goes the old rhyme. This one gets it from mum
and dad.” While I think the article was balanced in the sense of featuring the perspectives of various
people in Lyn’s life such as her parents, her neighbours, and the daughter of her mother’s doctor, I
felt that Rule’s personal opinion was too evident in the parts mentioning Dr Indian, and lines such as,
“Dr Indian wasn’t one of them” feel too accusatory, only seeming to soften when he writes that the
Rowe’s do not place blame on their doctor.
“If celebrities can adopt from overseas…why can’t we”?
The subject matter of Melissa Field’s article for Marie Claire is extremely topical and newsworthy as
the Australian adoption process has long been a topic of debate and much controversy. As Field
elaborates in her piece, Australians face an extremely long and stressful wait, compared to other
countries, when seeking to adopt. It is also newsworthy as a lot of press coverage in the past has
focused on the relative ease which celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna have had in
adopting numerous children from around the world. The use of anecdotes helps to bring about an
emotional response from the reader, especially with the opening scene, where we get a sense of the
Fitzgeralds’ nervous anticipation with lines such as, “a couple sits nervously, clutching each other’s
hands as the director shuffles papers on his desk.” The inclusion of quotes from a recognisable
figure such as Deborah Lee Furness also helps to provide a balance in the story, moving between
the perspectives of a ‘normal’ couple and their process of adoption, and that of a notable figure and
her attitudes towards the Australian adoption system; as well as interspersing expert opinion and
facts throughout the piece. Field approaches the story as a reporter, rather than a commentator,
leaving out her personal opinion and remaining objective in her approach to the story. She also
includes well-researched facts and expert opinions which provide the reader with information they
may not have previously known, and helps to shed light on the issue and bring about a greater
awareness for the need to review and reconsider the current adoption process.

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APR 28 2013
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CHARLIE LICHAA: FROM HAND BEADING TO HIGH FASHION
Charlie Lichaa gets creative in his ‘8 Other Reasons’
office
By Serena Coady and Danielle Ghazi
He’s loud, funny, a little bit crazy, outspoken, courageous, and a hard worker. He also thinks
Louis Vuitton bags are ugly and that one day he’ll die of sleep deprivation. But those are just
8 Other Reasons why Charlie Lichaa is set to take on the fashion world.
From hand beading on his kitchen table to recently having his jewellery brand 8 Other Reasons
stocked by retail giants Nordstrom, Nasty Gal and Glue, Lichaa is far from your ordinary 24-year-old.
Since starting 8 Other Reasons at 19, Lichaa’s designs have been worn by celebrities such as
Jessica Mauboy, Jennifer Hawkins, and Mel B. Meeting with us fresh from working on Fashion
Week, he said he really isn’t fazed by the glamour of the industry.
“The industry’s very different to what everybody thinks it is, like Fashion Week, the whole glitz and
glamour. I went last week to like three shows and I couldn’t wait to leave.”
Out on the balcony of his Western Sydney home, Lichaa is at ease. With a smoke in hand, he leans
against the railing and discusses how 8 Other Reasons has been in demand recently with U.S.
department store Macy’s seeking to stock the brand.
“I don’t think we’re at a level where we can keep up with the demand of [Macy’s] … it’s still going to
be happening, but it’s in the process. But it’s a matter of time when it’s right for our brand as well.”
Being in Lichaa’s home for the interview, it’s clear it isn’t the success of his business that makes him
happy, but his big, lively family.
Upon entering his home, we hear roaring laughter and energetic chatter over the clinking of
Lebanese dishes being passed around the table. Lichaa apologises, “Sorry, this is crazy. It’s always
like this!”
“When people meet me, they’re like: ‘Whoa you’re loud.’ But I have to be, because I have to scream
over 9 people to get the salt at the dinner table.”
This trait is clear in Lichaa, him having an admirable confidence and a larger than life personality. He
says that his 8 Other Reasons partner and best friend Anthony Nohra is also “crazy” like himself,

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which is in turn reflected in their jewellery designs.
He goes on to reminisce about some of their crazy designs that unsurprisingly never made it to
production. One example was a men’s necklace that had a bottle attached to it to store the wearer’s
items, and also an adjoining spoon.
Another time, he and Anthony created a necklace he said could have “killed somebody” and nearly
did, when a model tried it on and it sliced her skin.
“It was very, very bad … It’s just natural that when you put two people [he and Anthony] like that in a
room together … You’re going to get something really f***ed up.”
Lichaa says many in the industry are surprised that the jewellery is designed by two men, who refer
to themselves as simply: “design duo C + A”.
“For a very long time people were emailing ‘Hey ladies’ … To this day people still think we’re people
working for the brand and … they want to meet the ‘girls’ behind 8 Other Reasons. Then we’re like
‘Oh they’re not in today,’ … you can just play that mystery I guess … I don’t care, I’m not doing it for
people to know who I am.”
Lichaa hasn’t always been so confident in himself, though. He says the limitations placed on him
during high school made him hate his time there. At his all-boys school, Lichaa described himself as
“a zebra among lions.”
Being one of the few who chose Design and Technology as his Major, he said the school didn’t have
a sewing machine and had to buy one for him to complete his elective.
“When you’re young you’re very impressionable … your mind is … formed to what your teachers,
your parents, your surroundings want … me being the person I am I can’t ever be contained. That’s
why I can’t work for somebody, that’s why I have my own business as well. Yeah, I hated school.”
Along with the lessons learned from his upbringing, he has his own advice for budding designers and
entrepreneurs.
“Stay true to yourself and stay true to your design abilities … don’t worry about what needs to be
done, or what Vogue says is the trend right now. You really need to take risks and be very confident
in your approach.”
In terms of design abilities, Lichaa has many. He cites the multi-talented designer Marcel Wanders
as his main “muse.”
“He’s an interior designer, but he’s a product designer, he’s a textile designer, he’s a pattern
designer. His design capabilities are not limited to one profession, they span across several.”
Lichaa parallels Wanders in the way he does not limit himself to one area of design, but channels his
creativity into jewellery, interior and fashion design.
Originally, Lichaa graduated design college in interior design, and then worked in interior design and
then in fashion, designing men’s shoes. At this job, he met business partner Anthony, who designed
the women’s shoes.
After beginning 8 Other Reasons, Lichaa has continued with interior and fashion design. He also has
an interior design business which has had clients such as Jade & Belle, Just Cuts, and All Phones.
“It’s not work for me, it’s just a passion. It’s all I know basically. I couldn’t work for somebody in a 9-5
environment because… it’s not me. It doesn’t fit my personality; it doesn’t allow me to be creative.”
Along with this project, he and Anthony are excited to expand 8 Other Reasons to include clothing,
handbags, shoes, and furniture.

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With his current businesses Retail Space Interiors and 8 Other Reasons and plans for the future,
Lichaa admits he hardly sleeps.
“I’m getting 5-6 hours sleep if I’m lucky, and with the growth it’s going to turn to like 3-4 hours sleep,
and then zero sleep, and then dead,” he said, hopefully jokingly.
He nonchalantly goes on to describe his 14-hour working day, beginning with 5am Skype
conferences with U.S. buyers, and ending with “thousands” of post-it note ideas and to-dos. The
brand also saw him travel between Sydney and their LA office nine times last year.
“We’re eventually going to be located from there and operating the Australian and American market
from Los Angeles, as opposed it operating it from here and having to wake up at 5am.”
Lichaa said he plans to be living in Los Angeles by the end of the year. He also has further plans for
the world stage, hoping to extend 8 Other Reasons to Japan, the U.K. and the Middle East.
“I don’t see any retainers on what we’re going to be able to do; I just think it’s a matter of timing.
“We want to expand as a brand … and diversify our product range. So you know, the sky’s the limit.
The galaxy’s the limit for us.”
Tagged #team4, Danielle Ghazi, H13A, H13A-Team4, production project 1, serena coady
MAR 18 2013
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Danielle Ghazi – z3415814 – H13A
Part 1 – Wilde’s Streak:
Wilde’s Streak is a profile piece on actress, model, and philanthropist Olivia Wilde, written by
Tamasin Day-Lewis for Marie Claire on March 11, 2013. The article focuses on Wilde’s personal life;
from her divorce from her first husband to her relationship with fellow actor Jason Sudeikis, while
also covering her professional career, work ethic, and philanthropy.
The article is well-written, managing to strike a balance between structured and casual. The writer
includes descriptions of Wilde and their location, allowing the reader to visualise the interview and
feel more involved in the encounter. The article begins with, “It’s raining in Rome” and talks of Wilde,
dressed in a “nubby dove-gray tweed peacoat”, her keen interest to find John Keats’ grave, and her
musings on life and risks; portraying to the reader that Wilde is not just an attractive celebrity but
also an intelligent woman.
The article mentions Wilde’s lineage, hailing from a family of talented writers and journalists, as well
as her ambition and strong work ethic. It gives a detailed background to her family and her first
marriage to an Italian prince, Tao Ruspoli, before jumping back into a conversational style, with the
third paragraph starting off with “By now we are sitting in La Campana … being served by a waiter
who appears disdainful of our dining choices, second glasses of Prosecco, and shaky Italian.”
The use of Wilde’s quotes and descriptions of her mannerisms help to show the reader her down-to-
earth attitude, with descriptions such as of Wilde “attacking” her pasta, and her reaction when talking
about her partner, Sudeikis – “The moment Wilde starts talking about Sudeikis, her features soften,
her beauty illuminated from within, radiant with love.” This also helps to attract the attention of the
target audience, being women between the ages of 18-35, as well as fans of Wilde.
The article is well structured, beginning with a quick endorsement of her latest film and her busy year
– filled with numerous film releases – then diving into her family and romantic life, with Wilde
providing plenty of quotes about her failed marriage and her relationship with Sudeikis; her
professional life and her start in Hollywood; and ending on her activism and philanthropy. It portrays
Wilde as a well-balanced, hard-working, but happy individual, and is backed up by quotes from her

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best friend and fellow actress, Megalyn Echikunwoke. The article’s strength lies in this structure and
in-depth look into Wilde’s life and past, and remains interesting and entertaining throughout.
http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/celebrities/olivia-wilde-feature
Tamasin Day-Lewis, Marie Claire, 11 March 2013 (full article in April issue, to be released March 19)
Part 2 – Orange Crush:
1. The Dalai Lama has been profiled many, many times and had a great deal written about him
over the years. What has the author done to deal with this potential problem? In your view,
has he been successful?
Trent Dalton attempts to make the article different from previous profiles on the Dalai Lama by taking
a refreshingly light approach to the topic, writing in a more observational tone with humourous
comments interspersed throughout the article, as well as references to pop culture and breaks in
style through the use of twitter updates. Because of this, I believe he has successfully created an
original piece on the Dalai Lama, mixing his own interview with the Dalai Lama’s speech during his
Queensland tour, as well as the views of the audience members.
2. What’s your view of the lavatory references (humour?) used in the opening?
I thought it was a great way to ease the reader into the article, by immediately setting the light,
humourous tone and showing a more human side to the Dalai Lama than what is usually shown.
3. The writer has taken a relatively light tone with the article? In your view is this effective
and/or appropriate? Explain why or why not?
Yes, it is very effective as it sets itself apart from previous profiles on the Dalai Lama by approaching
it in a lighter and more entertaining way. As it was written for a weekend magazine, I believe the
approach to the article was appropriate and did not take itself too seriously.
4. What insights into the Dalai Lama’s character or personality do you feel the profile
provided?
The article shows a humanised version of the Dalai Lama, showing a lighter side to his character as
well as a sense of humour, while also showcasing the well-known philosophical and holy side that is
so often portrayed in the media.
5. Would you characterise this as favourable, unfavourable or neutral/balanced profile? On
what basis?
The article is written in a favourable tone, with Dalton writing from his perspective with respect and
an unbiased opinion.
6. What’s your view of the author’s use of present tense throughout the article?
The present tense complements the light-hearted tone of the article, as well as allowing the reader to
feel drawn in and a part of the events.
7. Is the article too long?
Although I enjoyed the article, I did feel as though it could have been shortened in parts.
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