I love to write. When the inclination takes me I enjoy nothing more than sitting down at my computer to bang away at another blog post. I realise most of what I write is inconsequential and of no concern to anybody but me and I’m sure no one wants to know my opinion on the ills of the world so for the most part I keep those to myself. I’m a pretty clueless character in any case.
I try to keep personal matters private. My family doesn’t want me writing to the world of such things and of course there are stories I could tell about myself that I wouldn’t like my family to know. But in spite of those self imposed conditions I blaze away, enthusiasm carrying me forth, words falling over the precipice of my mind like a river splashing over a waterfall, a slice of life important to me but an indifferent matter to most others.
I have always wondered if I could make a living from writing although from all accounts most freelance writers live near the poverty line and rich novelists are not the norm. Authors such as JK Rowlings are few and far between and it is the hacks and wannabes who congregate on the crowded corners of the literary world far below the mesmerising heights achieved by those such as Harry Potter’s imaginist.
I write for fun. I have tried my hand at creative writing with varying results and find it difficult but may be tempted to try to write some fiction again someday. We all live with fantasies and desires tickling our bodies and minds, goading us to live a little and stretch ourselves beyond the mortal realms of which we are captive.
And journalism? It leaves me cold, especially the current standard of journalism in this country. It’s atrocious! It’s not even the examples of bad writing and editing so often found in newspapers that frustrate as much as the explosion of derogatory opinion pieces which are clogging our print news and news feeds nowadays at an ever increasing frequency. Call me a delusional idealist if you will but I always thought newspaper men were supposed to pride themselves on reporting the news without fear or favour? A forgotten standard or was it never so?
It seems every right wing editor with a narrow point of view, ignorant attitude and inability to see anything more than black and white in any current affairs or political story are proliferating at alarming rates and that is before mentioning minnows who think they are somebody like Andrew Bolt who seems to believe simply because he writes it and thinks it that it is the only correct opinion, even when his “facts” leave a lot to be desired. No doubt working for a newspaper which is owned by a media mogul encourages this sort of irresponsible journalism.
Andrew Bolt and radio personalities like Alan Jones become lightning rods for the clueless masses and who can’t be bothered checking facts or records to ascertain the truth and wouldn’t know it if they fell over it in any case.
It’s not only the print media suffering a malaise of talent and a glut of grubs and cretins infesting their ranks. Television too has it’s share of clowns and they seem to gravitate towards morning current affairs shows or evening magazine type programs where manipulation is rife and a point of view is put across even if it is only a veneer of the truth.
Two of the chief self-aggrandizers are on separate networks, David ‘”Kochie” Koch and Karl Stefanovic. Arrogant when their view is challenged and aggressive when an interview subject won’t bend to their will when discussing current issues. Always keen to indoctrinate the viewer with their own clouded point of view. Koch at least has a background as some sort of financial guru so he can talk with some authority on economic matters but Stefanovic seems to be yet another Channel Nine hack vomited from the newsroom taking up his self-important role hosting “Today” with the relish of a drunk who’s been given a wine barrel for his birthday.
Of course it’s not all doom and gloom. The ABC still seem to harbour journalists who can deconstruct a political issue without bias and hold a conversation with politicians of all flavours without descending into rancour. But one has to flick through a lot of channels to find them. Even Laurie Oakes, Channel Nine’s doyen of political commentary can’t seem to keep his disdain for the current Prime Minister in check.
A pitiful example of the poor journalism pervading society was for a short time evident in an opinion piece written and displayed a couple of days ago in the Sydney Morning Herald, a newspaper which leaves no doubt of where it’s political allegiance lies.
Defending the opposition leader of charges of sexism the author of the article proceeded to laud the aforementioned fellow for being able to sire three daughters, something they said, with some relish it seems, that the Prime Minister, “could never manage”!
This outrageous slur was soon deleted but one can only wonder at the repugnant mind that would even think of such a thing let alone write it in an editorial in a major Australian newspaper. I find it personally offensive and wonder why anyone would think the leader of the opposition superior to a man such as myself who has no children simply because of the act of procreation. If it is insulting to a childless Australian Prime Minister it is also insulting to me.
I will never touch that particular paper again but it does seem to be the flavour of Australian journalism in the current political climate and if that is what it takes to write for a newspaper then it is a job I will gladly pass up.
So, for now, my blog will keep me happy, no reaching for the stars with my literary talent, not that their is much for me to shout about anyway. I’m happy to simply keep plugging away on my blog as the mood takes me and I welcome anyone who wants to come on that journey with me. Thanks for your support.
And so, wherever you are, take care and I hope you have a fabulous day.
I try to keep personal matters private. My family doesn’t want me writing to the world of such things and of course there are stories I could tell about myself that I wouldn’t like my family to know. But in spite of those self imposed conditions I blaze away, enthusiasm carrying me forth, words falling over the precipice of my mind like a river splashing over a waterfall, a slice of life important to me but an indifferent matter to most others.
I have always wondered if I could make a living from writing although from all accounts most freelance writers live near the poverty line and rich novelists are not the norm. Authors such as JK Rowlings are few and far between and it is the hacks and wannabes who congregate on the crowded corners of the literary world far below the mesmerising heights achieved by those such as Harry Potter’s imaginist.
I write for fun. I have tried my hand at creative writing with varying results and find it difficult but may be tempted to try to write some fiction again someday. We all live with fantasies and desires tickling our bodies and minds, goading us to live a little and stretch ourselves beyond the mortal realms of which we are captive.
And journalism? It leaves me cold, especially the current standard of journalism in this country. It’s atrocious! It’s not even the examples of bad writing and editing so often found in newspapers that frustrate as much as the explosion of derogatory opinion pieces which are clogging our print news and news feeds nowadays at an ever increasing frequency. Call me a delusional idealist if you will but I always thought newspaper men were supposed to pride themselves on reporting the news without fear or favour? A forgotten standard or was it never so?
It seems every right wing editor with a narrow point of view, ignorant attitude and inability to see anything more than black and white in any current affairs or political story are proliferating at alarming rates and that is before mentioning minnows who think they are somebody like Andrew Bolt who seems to believe simply because he writes it and thinks it that it is the only correct opinion, even when his “facts” leave a lot to be desired. No doubt working for a newspaper which is owned by a media mogul encourages this sort of irresponsible journalism.
Andrew Bolt and radio personalities like Alan Jones become lightning rods for the clueless masses and who can’t be bothered checking facts or records to ascertain the truth and wouldn’t know it if they fell over it in any case.
It’s not only the print media suffering a malaise of talent and a glut of grubs and cretins infesting their ranks. Television too has it’s share of clowns and they seem to gravitate towards morning current affairs shows or evening magazine type programs where manipulation is rife and a point of view is put across even if it is only a veneer of the truth.
Two of the chief self-aggrandizers are on separate networks, David ‘”Kochie” Koch and Karl Stefanovic. Arrogant when their view is challenged and aggressive when an interview subject won’t bend to their will when discussing current issues. Always keen to indoctrinate the viewer with their own clouded point of view. Koch at least has a background as some sort of financial guru so he can talk with some authority on economic matters but Stefanovic seems to be yet another Channel Nine hack vomited from the newsroom taking up his self-important role hosting “Today” with the relish of a drunk who’s been given a wine barrel for his birthday.
Of course it’s not all doom and gloom. The ABC still seem to harbour journalists who can deconstruct a political issue without bias and hold a conversation with politicians of all flavours without descending into rancour. But one has to flick through a lot of channels to find them. Even Laurie Oakes, Channel Nine’s doyen of political commentary can’t seem to keep his disdain for the current Prime Minister in check.
A pitiful example of the poor journalism pervading society was for a short time evident in an opinion piece written and displayed a couple of days ago in the Sydney Morning Herald, a newspaper which leaves no doubt of where it’s political allegiance lies.
Defending the opposition leader of charges of sexism the author of the article proceeded to laud the aforementioned fellow for being able to sire three daughters, something they said, with some relish it seems, that the Prime Minister, “could never manage”!
This outrageous slur was soon deleted but one can only wonder at the repugnant mind that would even think of such a thing let alone write it in an editorial in a major Australian newspaper. I find it personally offensive and wonder why anyone would think the leader of the opposition superior to a man such as myself who has no children simply because of the act of procreation. If it is insulting to a childless Australian Prime Minister it is also insulting to me.
I will never touch that particular paper again but it does seem to be the flavour of Australian journalism in the current political climate and if that is what it takes to write for a newspaper then it is a job I will gladly pass up.
So, for now, my blog will keep me happy, no reaching for the stars with my literary talent, not that their is much for me to shout about anyway. I’m happy to simply keep plugging away on my blog as the mood takes me and I welcome anyone who wants to come on that journey with me. Thanks for your support.
And so, wherever you are, take care and I hope you have a fabulous day.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 