Annotated Bibliography 

Pearson, M. (2007) The Journalist’s Guide to Media Law: Dealing with Legal and Ethical Issues. Melbourne: Allan and Unwin.

“The Journalist’s guide to Media Law” is written by Mark Pearson, head of journalism at the prestigious Bond University in Queensland. Pearson holds a Master of Laws with a specialisation in media law and has worked as an editor for ‘The Australian’, freelancer for Wall Street Journal, the Far Eastern Economic Review in addition to training several media organisations (Pearson, 2007). With the author’s expert knowledge on law related subjects in the media and journalistic background Pearson is able to academically critique media law. From the beginning of the text Pearson presents his own principles of being a journalist in law related cases, writing it is essential to understand press freedom and the ethical and legal requirements of what can and should be reported (Pearson, 2007). The author then explains how journalists are able to produce ethical reporting and reduce legal consequences by following “…defamation, contempt, confidentiality, privacy, trespass, intellectual property and ethical regulations.” (Pearson, 2007) Pearson also embraces the importance of neutral reporting suggesting multiple opinions need to be included especially in the cases of legal matters. The credibility of the text is advanced with Chris Masters reporter for ABC TV Four Corners and Peter Gregory, Chief Court Reporter for The Age supporting the article (Pearson, 2007). This text by Mark Pearson is supported by the following three texts from different media platforms.

Colvin, M. (2012). International custody dispute could set precedent. ABC Radio. Retrieved: May 29, 2009, from http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3511478.htm

Award winning journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)(PM, 2012), Mark Colvin is a presenter on the national radio program PM. PM aims to cover “…a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia’s geographically and culturally diverse community” (PM, 2012), this illustrates their intention to create a program that provides for all audiences, with minimal biased opinions.  Mark Colvin graduated with B.A (Hons) from Oxford University and since the 1970’s has travelled internationally to report on current affairs (Colvin, 2012). Colvin’s experienced journalistic history provides a reliable report to the current news story of four Italian girls in an international custody dispute on the Sunshine Coast. Colvin introduces the segment with the direct facts on the revelation then reliable, long-time ABC journalist Annie Guest continues to report on the incident from Brisbane. Differing from commercial programs that report on the decision of where the girls will be located, this segment discusses how this “...could change long-standing rules governing children's representation in custody disputes.” (Colvin, 2012) The inclusion of this reporting transforms the story into national news as it now affects the wider Australian community. Guest reports on the dispute with opinions from the Barrister, custody experts and Deborah Awyzio (The Family Law Practitioners' Associations President). Multiple opinions included supports the programs aim of reporting impartially, therefore creating trustworthy, reliable and neutral reporting.

Adelaidenow. (2012). Fugitive sisters can stay in Australia for now. Retrieved: may 29, 2009, from http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/fugitive-sisters-found-on-sunshine-coast/story-e6frea6u-1226363049054

“Adelaide-now” is a newspaper that is owned by the National newspaper Sunday Mail (Adelaidenow, 2012). This media company is a reputable source with recently Adelaide’s state political editor Brad Crouch crowned Journalist of the Year at SA Media Ball (Adelaidenow, 2012). However this company is also recognized for its journalists of biased opinions and gossip like reports, with Sunday Mail stating “…The Sunday Mail is a colourful and modern newspaper… recognising the value of humour in the news.” (Adelaidenow, 2012) This quote suggests that this media outlet will report, almost comically, or misconstrue the story to receive attention, irrelevant of how serious the topics are. This company recently produced an article about the four Italian sisters caught in an international custody dispute. From the beginning of this text a biased opinion was established, with the heading being “Fugitive sisters can stay in Australia – for now” (Adelaidenow, 2012). With the story still unfolding and facts about the girl’s legal status in Australia being processed this heading creates the opinion that they are illegal immigrants and should leave Australia immediately. It is a subjective view however it makes the story news worthy as it catches the reader’s attention. It also takes the side of the father, suggesting the mother ‘abducted’ the children. Unlike ABC’s report on this story, Adelaide-now’s text has no opinions or quotes from authorities making it less reliable and more biased.

Smith, D. (2012, May 15). Mum Pleads for Daughters to Stay in Australia, Channel Nine News, retrieved 21 May 2012, from http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/mum-pleads-for-daughters-to-stay-in-australia/xtptlud

National Nine News is a broadcasting company for Australia (Nine News, 2012). Nine News currently rates second in highest ratings and employs several award winning journalists (Nine News, 2012). Nine News journalists Davina Smith reported the recent bulletin on the four Italian fugitive sisters caught in a custody battle. The bulletin is captured at the Brisbane international airport where the four girls were suppose to fly out to return to Italy.  Smith comments on the girls refusing to return to live in Italy with their ‘abusive’ father, however this is not a direct comment from the girls, therefore not reliable (Smith, 2012). Smith’s approach conflicts with the above report as ‘Adelaidenow’ sides with the Father and Nine News sides with the Mother. There is an insert of an interview with the Mother, Auntie and Grandmother, Federal MP Alex Somlyay, Campbell Newman but no comment from the Father. This is a reliable amount of sources compared to ‘Adelaidenow’ report however it still continues to be biased with the careful selection of opinions. Nine News had a two-minute report; therefore a detailed analysis could not be created, unlike ABC’s five-minute story.

 Adelaidenow. (2012). Fugitive sisters can stay in Australia for now. Retrieved: may 29, 2009, from http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/fugitive-sisters-found-on-sunshine-coast/story-e6frea6u-1226363049054

Colvin, M. (2012). International custody dispute could set precedent. ABC Radio. Retrieved: May 29, 2009, from http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3511478.htm

Nine News, (May 28, 2012) Wikipedia Retrieved May 25, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_News

Pearson, M. (2007) The Journalist’s Guide to Media Law: Dealing with Legal and Ethical Issues. Melbourne: Allan and Unwin.

PM. (2012). About PM. Retrieved: May 28, 2009, from http://www.abc.net.au/pm/about.html

Smith, D. (2012, May 15). Mum Pleads for Daughters to Stay in Australia, Channel Nine News, retrieved 21 May 2012, from http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/mum-pleads-for-daughters-to-stay-in-australia/xtptlud