17 November 2011

Campbell High gets the presidential magic.

| johnboy
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andrew barr

Apparently the president is only comfortable talking to journalists so the journalism students at Campbell High are getting the honour of a Q and A before POTUS is wheels up at 1.

As a journalist I’ll confess to being horrified that journalism is being taught at High School.

Teach them how to write and some history first for gods sake.

UPDATE: The ABC has footage of the visit online.

[Photo posted to facebook by Andrew Barr]

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whitelaughter11:26 pm 18 Nov 11

ebnt said :

Plenty of people to be upset about, but the students aren’t on my list.

True – and if it encourages the students to keep an eye on politics, then they may even be better informed voters when the time comes.

No point (in fact, just mean) being harsh on the students – many of those guys are much more socially and politically aware and active than most adults I know, so give them a break. And what sort of questions are you expecting? There is a reason politicians visit schools and malls, and it’s not to get policy advice. Plenty of people to be upset about, but the students aren’t on my list.

funkylovebunny said :

I think Campbell High was chosen simply for security purposes. Likely the area around the War Memorial was formally secured (secret service standard), and it was easy to just expand the area a little to encompass Campbell High than to close roads, etc. elsewhere. Also, the CHS journalism teacher apparently wrote & suggested the visit.

Prof Brian Schmidt (the Nobel Prize guy) was just saying on ABC radio that the installation of bullet proof glass in the library windows last week was a bit of a giveaway. His son goes to Campbell.

Holden Caulfield9:24 am 18 Nov 11

Henry82 said :

I-filed said :

asked the president which US president he admired. Wasted opportunity – but it gets better (worse). The second question ….”Would you be interested in making your announcements alongside Justin Bieber?”

I don’t think they’re interested in what he has to say anyway. Whats the best that could happen? any decent questions are going to be censored anyway. Its just puff for the evening news.

I think the point I-filled is desperately trying to make, but has been skirting around, is … it’s all Julia’s fault. Everything.

I-filed said :

asked the president which US president he admired. Wasted opportunity – but it gets better (worse). The second question ….”Would you be interested in making your announcements alongside Justin Bieber?”

I don’t think they’re interested in what he has to say anyway. Whats the best that could happen? any decent questions are going to be censored anyway. Its just puff for the evening news.

whitelaughter1:13 am 18 Nov 11

alaninoz said :

It’s OK to teach them about journalism, so long as they’re not being taught how to be journalists. Studying journalism may teach them to recognise the crap that generally passes for journalism in the popular media.

I had the misfortune to have a ‘journalism’ unit included as an English unit in high school. We were required to write an ‘essay’ but ignore all contradicting evidence to the point we wanted to make. I refused to do so on moral grounds (and included and rebuted counter arguments) and so was given a failing mark.

astrojax said :

pity campbell and reid had to become carparks for an hour or so while potus cast about his magic dust. wonder how many people missed planes for not being able traverse the anzac line – takes one back to gallipoli, huh?

Anyone who had a plane to catch this morning and decided to go via Limestone without planning to leave considerably early really only has themselves to blame. It’s not like this wasn’t widely publicised.

I-filed said :

Another embarrassment I’m afraid. One of these flowers of Australian youth went on 666 and the compere asked what questions had been asked of the president of the free world.

The first question quoted – nb asked by a student of journalism – asked the president which US president he admired. Wasted opportunity – but it gets better (worse). The compere gulped at the first, and encouraged the interviewee to cite a more smart and salient question asked.

The second question asked of the president of the free world, for the benefit of us all, and by a questioner representing the promising youth of Australia: “Would you be interested in making your announcements alongside Justin Bieber?”

Now, picture the kind of high-achievers from any background who could be put forward in Washington to pick Obama’s brain, and the kinds of questions US journalism majors would ask.

Which ACT politician picked this school, this class and these kids for the feds?

What do you think teenagers actually care about? Probably things like the questions they asked, and themselves (which is yet another reason not to lower the voting age/ignore teenagers completely, but thats a different issue)

funkylovebunny10:25 pm 17 Nov 11

I think Campbell High was chosen simply for security purposes. Likely the area around the War Memorial was formally secured (secret service standard), and it was easy to just expand the area a little to encompass Campbell High than to close roads, etc. elsewhere. Also, the CHS journalism teacher apparently wrote & suggested the visit.

switch said :

matt31221 said :

Notice that little touch on the arm that Julia gives to Obama in the video – obviously they HAVE been ‘working’ together, Mr President your a lady killer!

So why doesn’t she get the roasting Keating got when he touched Betty Windsor?

You didn’t see the photo in the Australian with Julia’s hand touching Obama at his bum level? Inappropriate to say the least!

Another embarrassment I’m afraid. One of these flowers of Australian youth went on 666 and the compere asked what questions had been asked of the president of the free world.

The first question quoted – nb asked by a student of journalism – asked the president which US president he admired. Wasted opportunity – but it gets better (worse). The compere gulped at the first, and encouraged the interviewee to cite a more smart and salient question asked.

The second question asked of the president of the free world, for the benefit of us all, and by a questioner representing the promising youth of Australia: “Would you be interested in making your announcements alongside Justin Bieber?”

Now, picture the kind of high-achievers from any background who could be put forward in Washington to pick Obama’s brain, and the kinds of questions US journalism majors would ask.

Which ACT politician picked this school, this class and these kids for the feds?

matt31221 said :

Notice that little touch on the arm that Julia gives to Obama in the video – obviously they HAVE been ‘working’ together, Mr President your a lady killer!

So why doesn’t she get the roasting Keating got when he touched Betty Windsor?

Notice that little touch on the arm that Julia gives to Obama in the video – obviously they HAVE been ‘working’ together, Mr President your a lady killer!

chewy14 said :

schmeah said :

How did you manage to find 18 attendees without a behaviour disorder, to sit with the President for long enough without needing an energy drink and a fag?

It’s like the Simpsons episode …All the bad kids were in the basement getting their free “bikes”

lol, great posts by both of you. I wish the girl has asked her own question, rather than one prepared. Would have been well worth the detention.

alaninoz said :

Studying journalism may teach them to recognise the crap that generally passes for journalism in the popular media.

Yep, reading between the lines so to speak. I can see many benefits; learning to write public statements without spelling errors, just in case they work at ACT Police. Probably one of the biggest lessons learnt today, is sometimes the interviewee can sculpt the interview to suit themselves, by providing questions for you to read out.

Here are some photos of Obama at the US Embassy before he left town http://wp.me/p1sjY1-4iq

astrojax said :

Angelina said :

*world

word… 😉

pity campbell and reid had to become carparks for an hour or so while potus cast about his magic dust. wonder how many people missed planes for not being able traverse the anzac line – takes one back to gallipoli, huh?

Except for the total lack of stroppy Turks.

Angelina said :

*world

word… 😉

pity campbell and reid had to become carparks for an hour or so while potus cast about his magic dust. wonder how many people missed planes for not being able traverse the anzac line – takes one back to gallipoli, huh?

carnardly said :

Looking at that photo, do you think the young ladies all had lessons on how to sit correctly “like a lady”?

lol

No, I reckon they probably just didn’t want anyone getting an up-skirt photo. Obama might be the leader of the free word but a photo of a young woman’s knickers would probably still turn some heads.

Looking at that photo, do you think the young ladies all had lessons on how to sit correctly “like a lady”? lol

schmeah said :

Wow! My question is to the Campbell High administrators:

How did you manage to find 18 attendees without a behaviour disorder, to sit with the President for long enough without needing an energy drink and a fag?

Most ill behaved school children in the country. And I don’t know what the point is, when it’s obvious, the televised question on US education policy was a plant.

It’s like the Simpsons episode when Superintendent Chalmers comes to visit Springfield Elementary.

All the bad kids were in the basement getting their free “bikes”

extendo said :

schmeah said :

Wow! My question is to the Campbell High administrators:

How did you manage to find 18 attendees without a behaviour disorder, to sit with the President for long enough without needing an energy drink and a fag?

Most ill behaved school children in the country. And I don’t know what the point is, when it’s obvious, the televised question on US education policy was a plant.

I think that’s a little rough! Campbell High is not one of the worst, There a few trouble makers at every ACT public school. Let’s not stereotype now!

Obama hadn’t had a chance to have a smoke since 8.00 am, that’s why they chose Campbell High.

schmeah said :

Wow! My question is to the Campbell High administrators:

How did you manage to find 18 attendees without a behaviour disorder, to sit with the President for long enough without needing an energy drink and a fag?

Most ill behaved school children in the country. And I don’t know what the point is, when it’s obvious, the televised question on US education policy was a plant.

I think that’s a little rough! Campbell High is not one of the worst, There a few trouble makers at every ACT public school. Let’s not stereotype now!

johnboy said :

alaninoz said :

It’s OK to teach them about journalism, so long as they’re not being taught how to be journalists. Studying journalism may teach them to recognise the crap that generally passes for journalism in the popular media.

You mean critical thinking and reading comprehension?

If you read most of the stories on websites such as ABC and SMH, then journalism nowadays is reading a few twitter/social media comments are summarising them into ‘your’ story…
Oh, and tapping into people’s phones/accounts for goss…
In the current media environment of 24h instant news, no one has time for critical thinking and/or reading comprehension! Hahahaha!

alaninoz said :

It’s OK to teach them about journalism, so long as they’re not being taught how to be journalists. Studying journalism may teach them to recognise the crap that generally passes for journalism in the popular media.

You mean critical thinking and reading comprehension?

Wow! My question is to the Campbell High administrators:

How did you manage to find 18 attendees without a behaviour disorder, to sit with the President for long enough without needing an energy drink and a fag?

Most ill behaved school children in the country. And I don’t know what the point is, when it’s obvious, the televised question on US education policy was a plant.

It’s OK to teach them about journalism, so long as they’re not being taught how to be journalists. Studying journalism may teach them to recognise the crap that generally passes for journalism in the popular media.

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