whatdidisay

[whatdidisay]

What do you do when thousands celebrate your job loss?

The day I was made redundant was a total blindside. It was my day off and I was finally feeling like I was in a good place with my job. In the six months since graduation I finally felt like I’d battled through the hardship, the brutality of cutting my teeth in the news world. On top of it all, I was recently diagnosed with anxiety and depression But finally, I was getting somewhere. Carving out my niche, and writing some damn good stories.

I was walking into my psychologist’s office and I got a news alert. The particularly cruel irony of working for a huge media conglomerate is that when they begin to make redundancies it hits the news long before your boss gets the chance to tell you. And just like that, those who write the news become the news.

I was called into the office and immediately I knew that was it for me. My boss’ face said it all. As she apologised and told me it wasn’t personal, it was about the numbers, a panic washed over me. I never even expected it to make it to a print career, everyone told me it was a pretty risky leap. But the naysayers just pushed me further, I wanted to prove them wrong. Six months out of uni and I was doing a fine job at doing just that. Until now.

I’m scared. I will have to move home, back to the city and say goodbye to the regional QLD town I’ve embraced as my home. It’s the start of a painful process that many people have found themselves in, the perils of job-hunting in the midst of a global pandemic.

But the most terrifying part of it all is the 150 journalists who are now unable to make regional towns a better place to live. To report the deaths, the births and all the joy of life that’s in between. There will be no more letters to the editor, pictures of sports games to clip and stick on fridge out or the smell of a freshly printed copy of the paper. The big papers won’t report on the fires, the car accidents or corruption happening in regional Queensland. The TV stations won’t have papers to trawl through for fresh ideas. The chain of regional news will be broken. And this is something the Newscorp nay sayers will fail to understand.

“At least you’re not working for the dark side anymore”. Over the past 24 hours I’ve been flooded with tweets of support but also shit like this. Regional papers are the heart and soul of communities and their history won’t be recorded otherwise. Our job is to try and cut through people like this who ready misinformation and then hide behind their keyboards. It’s a fucking sad day for our newspapers and many won’t realise the implications of what’s just happened. They’ll complain about pay walls until it’s too late.  

I’m 21, have no dependents and parents who will happily take me in. But mothers and fathers lost their jobs after years of hard work.

We’re still human and I’m so sick of the hate dripping on my every story and the tweets I wrote about losing my job. I’ll find another but right now, I lost my job and I’m sad, let me be. That’s it.

[whatdidisay]

ZZZ

I’VE never been one for having to answer silly questions given to me in an effort to make small talk. Phrases like ‘how did you sleep?’ make me very annoyed and are generally answered with ‘good’, even though you may, in fact, not have slept well.

That’s the courtesy isn’t it? To say ‘good’ and move on rather than unloading on a perfect stranger or family member who actually just asked you that question to be polite.

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to see the value in that question. A good sleep is life changing and in this age of coronavirus-stress dreams, they’re few and far between.

I am surely not the only one who fantasises all day about returning to my bed in the effort to have an interruption-free, dreamless sleep. Although, I believe part of it is due to the fact I’m determined to get my money’s worth out of the $300 flax linen sheets I bought on a whim.

It’s the key to good health, weight loss, anxiety, you name it.

Yet, it’s so hard to achieve and many people with full-time jobs or families or even insomnia are constantly asking themselves, ‘Was I ever not tired?’

I thought the pandemic would be a chance to get some much-needed rest. But, in fact, the emotional toll has made me more tired than ever. So I’m trying to find things that energise me – exercise, doing things I love.

I’ll let you know if my grump­iness improves. Wish me luck.

[whatdidisay]

Heart’s desire changes with time

Wanting is a funny thing that changes as you grow. I was lamenting on previous desires today and thought about how much my own cravings have changed with my growth.

Sometimes I think I have the makings of a terrible feminist despite how preachy I get about it. I sometimes wonder if my largest desire would make Sylvia Plath turn in her grave. Because, if I’m honest my heart has always yearned and desired for one thing above all else, to be loved and desired back. 

Now, you may think yes that’s the basic human need. We’re all driven by love, death and fucking. Might be crass but I recently listened to a podcast featuring philosopher and sex worker Rita Therese and when she said that it just resonated with me. I think that everything in a way can relate back to those three umbrella concepts. 

For me, I know those are the three things I’m the most terrible at but also the three biggest things I am always endeavouring to learn and understand more about. 

When I was five, I had a one-day preschool romance with a boy with honey-coloured curls and crooked teeth. My favourite colour was pink, but his was blue and red. So mine became blue and red, he drew me wonky hearts because we liked the same colour. It was all I wanted. 

When I was 14, all I wanted was a boyfriend. This absolutely pains me to say. But looking back that didn’t mean I didn’t also want other things. Just because I wanted to so feel a clumsy sticky first kiss it didn’t mean I didn’t want to get that A on my social science project on Ancient Egypt. Just because I wanted pimply boys with brown hair and chocolate eyes to pick me out of all the size 6 girls with longe blonde hair it didn’t mean I didn’t also want to lead my soccer team to grand final victory or finish the last twilight book. 

But above all else, the hole in my heart was always only going to be fixed with love, so I thought. 

But, I was 18 until I had that. Or I thought I had that. 

Through the constant battle to figure out who I was, navigate the freedom of the first year out of school and the fallout of my parents' divorce, I was convinced it would all be changed if I had my person, my boyfriend someone for just me to love in a completely different way. Someone to pick me as number one, because I felt like I was never that first choice out of all my friends. 

And maybe, when the idea all fell away that’s why I clung on, I told people I didn’t need a man to make me feel good, but inside who was I really without someone holding me up high and loving me, even though it was never love, it was fear. In the end, I think that was mutual.

And then there you are, doing it alone. Finally, breaking free, eating berries in Nice, drinking champagne in a nightclub in Barcelone and feeling a new desire deep inside your belly like a fire and the flame won’t go out. 

You work, and study and breathe it. You do coffee runs and write property pieces and tweets for thankless internships. You get the dream job. And you feel full. And this time it tastes so good. Because it was up to you, all up to you. Then the anxiety penetrates and you realise it’ s a constant battle for that full feeling but it will only ever be up to you. So you work at it, you visit doctor's offices and write in journals, and cry lots of heavy and salty tears. 

But through all of that, you had a cheerleader, a soft ear to listen, warm lips to kiss your hand. 

And there he is, it’s a different love. You don’t want a boyfriend. You want him. And you don’t change anything. He becomes the last piece of that jigsaw puzzle and he slots in easily. He pushes you forward and you grow, you’re a team but people in your own right. And it’s not just your desire anymore. It’s one you share. And you think, this is what it should feel like. I know who I am without him but I don’t want him to go. And he won’t because he feels the same. 

Maybe when you’re 25, 30 or 70 things will change. But that fire will always be in you. It could smoke out, build and manifest into different things. But will your fire for him ever burn out? You don’t think so. Instead, you try things in the folds of sheets and out into the streets. You can do it on your own. But not because he told you you could, or because he clapped you along from the sideline even though he always will. 

But because you fanned that flame of female desire, that makes the world go round in its raw and versatile forms.

[whatdidisay]

Our little secret

Have you ever loved someone deeply and personally that it becomes a weight that you carry around with you? Like a guilty pleasure or your own little secret. It feels almost cheeky, like the way you used to hold the last chocolate biscuit behind your back when Mum caught you rifling through the pantry before dinner. Noone knows the feelings coursing through your veins except the two of you. You and him or you and her in a crowded room, undressing each other with your eyes. Not just clothes but craving to see that version of them that they only reveal to you. Your secret, just the two of you. No one knows him like you. 

And her? The girls of the past. Did they know you like I do? The mole on your cheek, the little gathering of hairs on your chest? The different laugh you do after one drink too many? The smile you save just for me, was it just for her once upon a time?

Do your friends notice the way your head moves side to when you’re drinking in the words of a good book? Or is it just me who sneaks a peak?

Or, is it obvious? The long looks, the subtle squeezes of the hand, a nuzzle of the neck. I was never that kind of girl until I was. Kissing on a park bench, making innuendos in the grocery store line. 

Is it always like this? I wonder when it will end. When passionate nights become cups of tea and re-runs. When it gets a little easier to miss them, a little more comfortable to be apart. Or maybe, with the right person it never subsides and the connection only grows deeper. 

Comfortable isn’t always bad. It can be sweet, beautiful and exciting all at once. Comfortable is a warm feeling deep in your stomach knowing they’re just a phone call away. Comfortable is safe. Feeling safe. 

Safe is exciting, warm is good. Comfortable is the belief for once the clock won’t strike midnight and the ebast won’t be revealed. The glass slipper is staying on, the only tears left are the good kind. And that, is the best kept secret of all. 

[whatdidisay]

Tall Poppy

The final year of uni is here and the unknown job opportunities dauntingly lie ahead. One last chance to get that GPA, that job, your shit together. 

So close to the finish line, I began to question who in my media career I wanted to model myself after. From people in cohorts before me to my favourite TV personalities. 

And in the flurry of fearful thoughts, I realized, I have a flaw. Shocking, I know. But, I think its one we all share, that’s embedded deeply into our society and possibly even culture. 

Subconsciously maybe in an effort to feel better, I found that more and more, my friends and I would talk  about such people and say ‘they were just lucky, or they've just got the contacts.’ My jealousy, or the fear of not being on par with them,  made me put them into a box of privilege and luck rather than acknowledging their abilities. 

I was discrediting other successful people to essentially justify why I maybe wasn’t good enough. And sadly,  have only just become aware of it.

Not only that, but I constantly find myself saying things like ‘if I am lucky enough to get a job’ when people ask me about my graduation plans. I believe that maybe it is easy to have that doubt when sounding ‘cocky’ ‘or ‘up yourself’ is something that I have been cautioned against my whole life. As if confidence isn’t the polite thing for a woman to have. As if, backing yourself and setting an example can be seen as vanity. 

In Australia, a long history of the underdog culture and respect for humility has made us afraid to acknowledge our and others successes and ambitions. Instead, we undercut our achievements with self-deprecating humour and resentment for others who have climbed to the top of the ladder before us. If they’re confident and self - congratulatory, they’re bitches or arrogant. 

That’s not to say that our uniquely Aussie human isn’t endearing, however, I wonder sometimes if there is a thin line between ‘taking the piss’ and tearing someone down. And, I am the first to put my hand up here and admit I may be guilty. 

‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ is a pejorative term used typically in the Anglosphere to describe the social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down 

I mean, this transcends far further than my experience. In the media, we attack celebrities, personalities, politicians. Making them justify themselves to us. Hungry to call other people out for backing themselves. 

That’s not to say that celebrities should be excused for some things. However, it seems this idea is most definitely embedded in our society. 

But, I think, in international women's day week of all weeks, we need to start lifting each other up. 

Thanking the women who paved the way before us, not tearing them down but letting them know it is meaningful that our peers can achieve such feats. 

I recently went to a panel night where the speaker Lisa Millar of the ABC said when you lift other people up you look good. There is no reason not to. We rise by lifting others. 

Another wise woman once said that we should stop throwing down ladders to other women but start throwing nets. So in this world of tall poppies, I encourage you along with myself to do better. Celebrate one another. That’s what I will be doing this Friday, and every day after that. 

[whatdidisay]

Decisions, Decisions. A First World Problem.

I’ve never had too much trouble making decisions. Historically, it’s only ever taken me five minutes to pick my lunch, an outfit, and a movie. But as I get older, its become all too much. 

I scroll through Netflix for hours, trawl the shops for the perfect 20th dress and flat-out refuse on being the one to choose a restaurant on outings. Snap decisions seem to be a thing of the past as I overthink everything. 

Do I pick the same option - the safe option? My usual french toast for brunch dates, the same rom-com that is a safe bet in evoking enjoyment or satisfaction? 

And while you may think that these certainly seem like first-world problems, I feel if I can’t get this right, how will we get the important things right?

Because it seems every time I risk trying simple new things it goes wrong. If I can’t even foresee the unsavory amount of aioli on the new brunch burger at my favourite cafe, how can I not anticipate poor outcomes of the life-altering decisions I will need to make one day. 

If I can’t seem to leave for work on time no matter how much I try, what if I take a gamble on the wrong kind of people/person or career? What if, I choose something that goes horribly wrong, what then?

Something that was so simple like apple or orange as a child now induces a full-blown case of the toxic butterflies in my stomach. For me, I fall into this pit of ‘failure is not an option’ often. 

The apple is new, exciting, unknown and looks fairly promising. But the orange, oh the orange is safe and warm and feels as familiar as a hug from mum and I know there is no hurt or disappointment lying ahead as I cut it into quarters. 

So what if I choose the apple, though it could be risky. Its green shiny exterior is just hiding the worm that has crawled its way in, only found after I take a huge bite?

Normally, I’d say, life is short, you can spit the worm out. But what if I can’t? What if I have bitten into enough apples with worms and I am tired of it? What if, my friends and advisors are split down the middle and say do what makes YOU happy, go with your gut?

But, then I take the safe option, guard my heart and risk of failure and the taste of the orange is more bitter than sweet? 

Or worse, what if I sit in limbo, refusing to choose until the whole fruit bowl rots away. 

Do I stay true to the wants and desires I had a year ago, even though things have changed? Even though safe is scary now and scary is much safer?

This doubt has crept into many aspects of life as of late and I have had to take a deep breath and sit back. How dare 2019 carries over problems from the previous year as if the sun rising on the 1st of Jan simply forget to take the pain and worry with it. 

Sometimes, I forget to accept the things I can't change and hold myself to these impossible standards, forgetting that I also hold other people to them too. I gave my self a time limit to feeling sad or disappointed about something and it was exceeded. I told myself I'd be smarter, better, funnier and have all my decisions made by a certain date. 

I think what I am trying to say here is, I have no friggen idea what can or will happen to me and I CANNOT control it. And we CANNOT control it. And man, when that’s your life it’s pretty darn scary. What decision is the right decision? Well, how long is a piece of string?

Take a deep breath with me. 

And now, I spout out all of this great advice I have a lot of trouble sticking to it. 

So here’s another question I am really endeavouring to answer in these hard decision-making times. What situation do you see yourself being the happiest with?

Try it with me. 

I do have one piece of advice though that I have learnt and will always stick to. Don’t EVER base your decisions on what people might think of you if you do or don’t. 

Try it with me x

[whatdidisay]

Changing the Narrative in 2019

With the January blues in full swing, saving pennies means a lot of streaming movies and TV on nights in for this one. It’s day three of 2019 and your girl has discovered Disney on Stan (hallelujah chorus). In this world of technology integrated learning and entertainment, you’d think it was just in time for the kids on school holidays. HAHHAHA. No, no, no. It’s for almost 20 year-olds who want to relieve their Mulan dreams. So let’s get down to business. 

aircon on, peel off mask cracking on my face I re-watched the classics.  I’m talking Disney before it owned Marvel, Hillary Duff pre-puberty kind of shit. 

As an adult, while the magic is not completely lost, and maybe it's just me who read about how problematic past movies such as ‘Love Actually’ are once critics pop on their PC glasses and imagine how they would be received in 2019. I thought about how the way I perceive things would translate to films and TV shows I’ve enjoyed from my childhood. 

I mean, Lady and the Tramp, for example. Why are dog catchers evil? Like really, stray dogs being taken back to a regular food and watering, in the hopes they will find their forever home? I’m certain the RSPCA don’t rub their hands in glee and cackle evily when they catch a Staffy from the street?

Or, let’s look outward to ‘tranny’ jokes on beloved Friends, Lack of diverse casting in movies from my generation and childhood. Is the show homophobic or just a product of its time? Nevertheless, it's great that things have moved on from there. I thought of all the positive changes to adjust these narratives that have happened in 2018. 

Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther bringing majority and all Asian and Black casts, smashing the box office. All female Oceans 8. Then we look to politics. In the US the most diverse Congress EVER is about to be sworn in. Dr. Kerryn Phelps wins the notoriously safe straight white male dominated seat of  Wentworth in the midst of a parliament critiqued for its non-reflection of the actual multicultural nation of Australia.

Consider the game changed, or at least changing.  

While in every single industry and facet of pop culture and society there is room for growth in the acceptance and mutual respect of people form all walks of life, I see every step backward followed by two steps forward. 

This year, I didn't come up with some meaningless resolution to work out more, eat less gravy loaded fries from Mcdonalds or say ‘.Fuck’  less (all things i should probably do at some point though). I asked myself, ‘how can I change the game?’. 

This was not just for me as Georgie but me as a young adult, the future, a university student, a first-time voter. 

I’m not a politician, a public figure or even an upstanding member of my community. 

Maybe I’m not equipped to delve into the psychology of why men screech at women form their cars when they walk their dogs, or why every article on Web MD refers to doctors as ‘he’ but I don't have to sit idle either. 

Maybe you can’t explicitly or physically stop politicians putting their hands down colleagues skirts or the 80-100 women that die as a result of Domestic Violence each year. What can you, a member of the public even do? 

Well, you can read, you can raise awareness and you can vote out those with dated ideas, black and white ways of thinking and inability to take fast action.

You can stand up for problematic conversations and language in your day-to-day life. 

You can refuse to put money into businesses with harmful practices and unethical approaches. 

You can use your voice on the internet to let voices be heard until issues (not abuse and trolling) cannot be ignored. 

You can change the narrative in 2019 with the opening of your mouth, the click of the button or a swipe of the card.

You can change it by simply keeping an open mind, encouraging other perspectives, being kind to others and staying informed about the world around you. 

I know what I’m tired of, and I know that there is much room for self improvement. But this year, I am also looking outward to how I can alter things and the future of people impacted by games that need to be changed. Hope you're ready, I am. 

[whatdidisay]

Picture Perfect

For all the people in my personal life who have endured my many “OMG this happened in Indonesia” moments, I am truly sorry. You may tune out if you’d like. Your loss. But like my inner peace, I totally found in Bali, I am as calm about it as the humble lotus flower?

Yeah, I went overseas and I fancy myself as somewhat good at writing. So naturally, I’ve got some yarns and profound epiphanies to spin. If you can believe I just put those two ideas in one sentence and are happy to look past my self indulgent rants. 

And just like I pretended I was different to any fake mimco wearing, cocktail drinking, temple hopping Aussie tourist before me, I will now pretend this blog will change the lives and thinking of my six readers. Just kidding, six people don’t read this. 

Tourists are the livelihood of Bali locals. It was easy to see just how much when I experienced the hotspot as a tourist myself. Maybe even more so as I was over there to report specifically on that.  

Aside from the trash littering the beaches, there was one thing that kind of pissed me off, which was hard to admit as I was doing it myself. 

There I was at the Bali swing on my last few days in beautiful Ubud, glad to be an hour away from Kuta and its scooter exhaust fumes. Everything was just peachy aside from the inability to walk five metres without messing up someone’s Instagram shot. 

If you haven’t heard of Bali swing, its basically a park full of swings tailor-made for ‘the gram’. 

I personally just went so I could be yeeted off into the rainforest. 

I felt like I had stepped into an influencers wet dream. Swings, greenery, amazing views. The whole idea of the place was genius, yet a little terrifying.  

Gorgeous dutch girls with perfect cheekbones were doing costume changes at each swingset. 

Families were capturing boomerangs and shamelessly holding up selfie sticks in line. 

Everyone was in a social media haze and I couldn't help but let my inner 80-year-old woman come out in a fiery rant. This was of course after I took a boomerang. 

Maybe it was because I am constantly trying to save phone battery but that day, I just wanted to stop and smell the roses (or tropical plants) without being controlled by the device burning a hole in my pocket. 

Instagram has begun this vicious cycle of FOMO, capturing the experience and then feeling it meant fuck all without the gratification of online praise. And if we can admit it to ourselves, we know exactly why we do it. 

I know for me. As shallow as it is. It was kind of way to show off or tell people I'm doing just sooo amazing. And look, I was having the time of my life. But, I think we become so caught up sometimes in what we’re communicating to people, we can't resist the temptation of jumping at each photo op. As much as my sarcasm dripped posts tried to say the opposite, we all know there was a little part of me that wanted to be recognised.  And like people who lie about peeing in the shower, I see right through you honey, and I relate. 

Whether you want a friend, ex or enemy to see, we’re all after that affirmation in the form of a little heart icon in some way or another. And although we’re aware that  life isn’t accurately depicted in our feed, we still forget it. 

I once read that 48% of people rely on Instagram to plan their next getaway. And while I am not sure how they measured that, I can see how that conclusion was made. 

Pics or it didn't happen, I guess. 

What cannot be denied is the correlation between Instagram and tourism. For example, Trolltunga, a rocky outcrop in Norway that is the perfect platform for a sneaky snap, saw visitor numbers spike from around 500 to 40, 00 between 2009 and 2014. 

Some places even have Instagram tour guides available to show visitors the most photogenic sites. 

And while I'm still on my soapbox, the Independent posted an article last year that sited the ‘Top ten tourist destinations ruined by Instagram’, with the headlines reading ‘remember when people went to places to just admire the scenery’. 

But maybe, that's just become our way of admiring beauty. Capturing it in time, and showing off the world’s beauty. Not to mention, people are getting their livelihood from it. 

While the internet seems to have ‘ruined’ pretty much everything, it has fostered a sense of wanderlust that young people are so desperately encouraged by their elders to have. 

The world is changing and my inner Georgina (that’s what I will be referred to after the age of 60) will have to settle down and accept change. 

So, whilst I became overly annoyed at the blatant visiting for social media posts, I guess I’ll just add it to the list of things that tick me off in public alongside slow walkers and people who have loud phone conversations on buses. 

But, I will try to remember to pop that phone away in the moments that matter. 

Because after all, some things are too good to be captured in an image. 

[whatdidisay]

The Cliffhanger

Frustration. It’s in everything. An unfinished sentence, a TV series left on a cliffhanger and never picked up for a second season. We let it blur our vision, consume our minds. It’s everywhere. It’s ugly, angry, red and raw. 

The future you thought you were going to have left in the hands of someone else. Waking up and knowing it fell through your fingers. It was nobody’s fault, it just happened. And you are left to try and accept the things you cannot control. 

This frustration, we often think that the concept of closure is the best thing for it. but life isn't a neat row of books with non- dog-eared pages read from start to finish. And just like that ... its gone and there was no climax, no big finish, it was left done, but open-ended. And what do you do?

Some people make peace and some don't even believe in closure. I  guess there's no real answer. Is every person’s experience different or are they all just tiny altered versions of the human experience? Well, I guess if it is, what I am saying must be relatable. Or not......?

[whatdidisay]

Dancing with myself

When I sit in a waiting room, a party or a bar I often notice the people who are conscious of the fact they are alone. Maybe its because I’m looking around in fear about being without company myself. They are the ones scrolling mindlessly through phones, tapping fingers on tables or even running to the bathroom for something to do. It’s as if we need to prove that we aren’t sad, that we are perfectly content in our own company. I'm not necessarily talking about real loneliness here, god forbid. I am more referring to the stigma we have around being without company in public. It makes us feel pathetic in some ways. But why? Alone doesn't always mean lonely. In fact, I think it means the opposite. 

There is something so powerful in being able to enjoy your own company and do the things you want to do without relying on somebody else’s willingness to do it. I have learned recently that sometimes if you do that, you will never actually get to do the things you want to do. If you're waiting for someone to be free to see that movie or visit that dream country or even just have time for you, it often passes you by. Because no one matches your want or need for that. 

This morning, I found myself with a clear day and I instantly thought of all the things I could do. See a movie, enjoy a coffee, workout. But what if no one I text is free? I’ve been aching to go and see three movies and what if someone else has already seen them? Would I sit at home texting all of my people in the hopes that I would get to see ‘Bad times at El Royale’? No, I would not. I think people expect to have more enjoyment about things if there is a company, but what about learning to enjoy your company just as much?

I got up, drove to an appointment and found myself with a free spot between a coffee catch up. I was instantly hit with the thought that I would have to hide in my car or walk around a shop or something to avoid sitting in that coffee shop early and have all eyes on me. That thought hit me once again, that I need to do the things I enjoy and fill my time how I would like to fil it. So I went to the salvos, bought a one dollar book and I sure as shit sat in that coffee shop for an hour alone before my friend came to greet me. Did I stop breathing, did the world stop spinning? Not at all. In fact, for once in my life I was able to be still and take stock of my surroundings. In such a time poor society, it was wonderful to do so.

And while I am incredibly blessed to have people around who are just as hungry to try new things as I am I have vowed to myself that I will never let lack of company get in my way. Life is too damn short. So while I did have a beautiful friend next to me for the 1230pm screening, next movie I see will be watched regardless of whether or not I have someone next to me. Challenge yourself, this is the age to do it.  

Heres something that no one tells us. People are not looking at you. Maybe in a split second glance, you will catch their eye but I have groundbreaking research to reveal today. Noone is worried about the empty seat next to you in the cinema or vacant chair across from you in the bustling cafe. They’re worried about their own empty chair. Your cake will have one fork, and you will live. Maybe I am not at that point where I can take myself out to a nice dinner but for now Ill enjoy that empty chair across from me while I recharge in style, picking quality company over quantity of company. 

Let’s get coffee soon. 

[whatdidisay]

Landmark or Billboard? Twitter decides.

Unless you’ve been living under an Uluru-sized rock, every Australian knows about the current Alan Jones-Sydney opera house debacle. Who knew, the Shock Jock’s claim that we should project advertisements onto the Sydney Opera House’s sails would actually become a reality. In fact, I’ he d argue that in the aftermath of his session of bullying and intimidation, he didn’t either. Yet, one day after the Sails were lit up with Everest racing banners, the Australian public and media are left reeling. 

Scrolling on Twitter, through meme after meme, opinion after opinion, I couldn't help but think,  “how did this happen?” How has the media managed to incite so much change and how, in the heck, does public opinion sway us so much more than it used to? 

I believe it’s the internet’s fault.

It’s no secret that Twitter’s existence has impacted major events in our culture as they have played out in the media. Look at the state of our politics. Through the way that we are now able to air our opinions and preference at any time we choose, it seems things have changed a lot quicker. Some may draw a link between Twitter's existence and the fact that we have not had a Prime Minister serve a full time since its introduction to Australia. I'm just saying. 

So, when the public decided they were not impressed with the graffiti of a landmark with advertising for a  gambling event, it was known. 

Some found the notion of using the sails as a big old billboard ridiculously hilarious. 

(Sourced from the Betoota Advocate)

And others felt the opportunity could be better used to highlight social and political issues. 

These days, the public is free to air an opinion on social media, heightening the issue more. Would this have been such a huge deal if we weren't able to see what people thought about it? Would Scott Morrison care for a minute what Alan Jones had to say if he didn’t believe the media had such an influence on his popularity and image? I think not. 

Change.org had a huge role in the debate, gaining over 31,000 signatures and counting against advertising on Sydney's beloved landmark. The internet became a meeting place for outraged individuals to come together and organize great change. 

This came to a climax on Wednesday night when thousands of protestors gathered in front of the opera house to disrupt the unveiling of the advertisement for the Everest horse race. They shone torches to disrupt the projection and chanted ‘not for sale’. 

And, let us not forget a certain new media outlet’s reaction. 

In a video, the crew from satirical news source “The Chaser”, loaded up a four-wheel-drive with a high-powered projector and tested out several Sydney landmarks to become illuminated billboards. The team projected what they claim to be his personal phone number.

The projection read “Advertise here - Call Alan”. 

And while I find the internet’s power to enable free speech, opinion and activism admirable and at times amusing, I feel sad that other issues haven’t received the same magnitude of attention and effort. 

I wasn’t the only one. 

People again took to Twitter wondering why the public hadn't put such a fight for objectively more pressing issues. What about funding cuts to important services? In fact, what about the actual annihilation of important environmental icons and landmarks. that can never be replaced?

I wonder even if, at times, people jump onto the bandwagon of a cause because the internet made it sexy. 

This is not to say that I don’t believe projected advertisements for a sport that promotes heavy gambling and questionable treatment of animals should be encouraged, but its just a little food for thought. 

Can’t wait to see what takes Twitter by storm next. For now, I’ll keep refreshing my feed for the inside scoop. 

[whatdidisay]

Where’s my money?

`According to a report by the Pew Research Center, the journalism landscape has shifted toward a larger focus on digital-native news. That is, news originating from new media such as Buzzfeed, Vice or even Mamamia. While legacy news such as the Huffington Post and Sydney Morning Herald move to online content, the digital native news is strictly digital and always has been. 93% of all Australians use the internet every day. Funnily enough, sites like news.com.au and Abc.net.au rank above Pornhub as most visited sites. 

There may not be as many people anymore strolling down to the newsagents each morning for a fresh paper. But, looking at stats, it is clear Australians are still hungry for their news. Online journalism job growth has become almost explosive on sites like Buzzfeed and Vice and it raises the question of how they are profitable.

 I’ve spoken of all the excitement and possibilities the internet presents us, but how is that turned into money? After all, we need to pay those bills. So, let’s look at the business side of journalism and try and answer some of those questions.  

1. Ad-Supported

Online news such as the Guardian, BBC and the Brisbane times use advertisements to make their money. The Guardian is interesting as it features advertisements but also displays this message at the bottom of each of its pages. 

The publication seeks out the funding of readers in order to remain independent and objective. This also enforces a message of credibility as weariness of bias in large news publications increases. 

2, Subscription 

Sometimes online publications require a subscription in order to access the news. The Courier-Mail is an example. The paper promptly informs its visitors that if they would like to read the publication they clicked the link to, they will need to purchase a monthly subscription for somewhere between $10-$15. This is a model that is reliant on strong leads, links, and clickbait. When searching for the story the reader must feel this is the best source they will receive and are likely to pay for the exclusive. In an article published by poynter.org, it says most smaller publications that have seen success with digital subscription rely on quality over quantity journalism. It is a niche media focus on doing a few things really well instead of trying to cover the entire world. For example, The Information - a tech industry publication has achieved success from this model. 

Interestingly, the New York Times currently makes more money from subscriptions than ads. These models are reliant on focus, engagement, and loyalty from readers.

3. Podcasting (Special Mention)

This is an online form of journalism that has taken the world by storm. This model is included as it is one of the most popular forms of news and entertainment in the media world currently.  Due to its success, many businesses are looking to popular podcasts to advertise their content which is how this form stays afloat. 

(We love our podcasts) 

It achieves audiences and profits via a few methods including:

affiliate links to relevant products.

 with a sponsor or regular advertiser.

Podcast and promote your own branding, product, or service.

Podcast for a company that pays you to create their content

4. Doing it on your own

From 2003 to 2012, it is estimated that there has been a loss of 16,200 newspaper jobs. And while it isn’t all doom and gloom, growth in digital journalism and its full-time job opportunities has only compensated for a modest percentage of that. 

While newsrooms are decreasing and online native media becomes increasingly competitive, another way to earn those dollars is by stepping out on your own. 

Plain old opinion or freelance reporting if its good quality is still a viable way to make a living. While your income may not be as steady, people are making a living on blogs, contract work, and their own brand every day. Successful freelance writers are given opportunities more than ever as larger organizations outsource in order to have fewer full-timers. 

While the uncertainty of the job may not be for everyone, now more than ever is the time for freelance journalists. Successful tips include: Set yourself up as a business, embrace multimedia to show off versatility,  establish a brand and chase up your pay! The Australian standard for writers is about $1 per word. 

Joining the MEAA as a freelance pro is an excellent way to access services that will assist in your career. 

“In a fragmented media landscape, it is becoming increasingly important to stand out as a legitimate practitioner of our craft.” 

The services provide the individual with personal indemnity and public liability insurance, contract advice, a media access card, and training in Media Ethics. 

5. New jobs birthed from the internet. 

We now have data analysts, digital content creators and facebook moderators! The internet has birthed many new jobs in the media sphere specifically aimed at making digital journalism a better place. 

There is no black and white way to make a living in online journalism anymore but there is the opportunity to be involved in so many new and exciting things. 

“There isn’t going to be one business model to replace the one the internet broke,” says Jay Rosen. 

I don’t know about you, but I am excited to see what happens. After all, the only certain thing in journalism anymore is change. 

[whatdidisay]

Spoiler Alert : Re-caps are In

If you possess a twitter account, an Instagram or any social media, chances are you are well - versed in all things Bachelor drama. If not Bachelor, Survivor, My Kitchen Rules or any other Australian Prime Time hit that tickles your fancy. 

“Those girls are snakes!” you would see plastered across Twitter after the latest Bachelor mean girls have taken down another girl with a rose. “Nikki was robbed”, you would cry out as you watched the 2016 Bachelor Finale, whilst simultaneously looking for the perfect GIF to summarise your feelings. 

Haven’t seen it?  Well, never fear, as well as catch up TV, the internet provides a wealth of re-caps and commentaries guaranteed to get you back on track with all the drama of your favorite television shows.  

Because, In the lazy internet age of instant gratification, who really has time to re-watch or watch at all?

Not only do these re-caps provide us with the info we so desperately crave, but it also does so in a ridiculously humorous and entertaining way. We have given a meeting place for like-minded enthusiasts and now are not just confined to the one-sided print version of entertainment writing. The convenient summarization has become an art-form in its own right. 

We love to poke fun, we like being outraged and we like to provide commentary and analysis.  We’re all amateur critics. Take for example the phenomenon of Gogglebox. When the show came out, no one knew the way that people sitting in their living rooms passing comments on what they are viewing on TV could be so damn entertaining. But, here we are eight seasons later and its safe to say the relatable show is a hit. We love to watch people watch TV apparently. Confusing right?

The art of Re-caps has not only provided entertainment but also opened up television to scrutiny and fostered many important conversations. Take, for example, the producer endorsement of bullying individuals on the Bachelor that has taken place this season. In case you missed it, basically, three girls in the house went after every individual contestant they felt threatened by with verbal abuse and gas-lighting to create a ratings hit and launch their Instagram careers. Re-cappers such as James Weir or the Twins of Mama Mia (Who will never replace Rosie Waterland btw) put their humor aside to slam the way this behaviour was not stopped. And, if you weren't a re-capper, Twitter was rife with people airing their opinions and outrage. 

https://www.facebook.com/itsPunkee/videos/2443969935632333/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdyVkI3SbhCvWy8iqsCaLQC-ZBYEAfYMr6K6A4UaAv9u4w%3AAdwGyZdZevutvyORmKjVrO3467pTaHyRljczeA2HDhkF1g

(Video Re-capping is also highly popular)

But while the show has caused a significant amount of backlash, it actively encourages feedback from the public and it isn’t the own reality television show to do so. 

How do they do this? Well, if you watch the show as attentively as myself, you would know about the little hashtag that graces our bachelor filled screens in the corner at the beginning of each episode. By displaying the hashtag #TheBacehlorAU the network is encouraging online conversation, indicating that any traffic, conversation or attention is good.

The social media aspect of shows such as the Bachelor is also an indication of the show’s popularity. From a producer's perspective, that’s statistics. People are watching and engaging online. The more engaged you are, the more likely you are to tune in the following week. 

Re-caps do not just take the form of television reviews and spoiler though. We are now seeing re-caps of every significant event that plays out in the news being done. In a way, this can be through live-blogging reactions to anything. A recent example could be the public reaction to the liberal spill, with all Twitter users tweeting every second of the drama. Speeches, parliament sittings, and public events are also re-capped. 

We love to participate and as much as the premise of a re-cap may not make sense to you, the numbers don’t lie. Maybe its because someone is eloquently saying what we were all thinking, Maybe its something new and fresh or maybe it is our light-hearted weekly read. But, whatever it is, there is no doubt that re-caps have absolutely changed the way we watch television and the way we talk about it, opening up a new niche for writers, the public and journalists to take advantage of. 

(Graphic made on Canva.com)