Sunday

Paige Smith is a journalist who works in Australia. Where she works doesn't really matter, because she knows who her real bosses are ("their are only two of them", she says in her professional, trained newsreaderspeak). She likes the current political system and what it does (to) for the fourth estate. "The anti-terror legislation is good for journalists...and we know we don't have to concern ourselfs with Freedom of Information requests because what we get back is generally similar to what we start with - a blank page," she reports.

I could go on about Paige, she's certainly interesting in her support of the current system (the 'fourth estate' didn't get it's name from agreeing with governments, I promise), but that is enough. And the laws which Australian journalists abide by are enough. If you follow the code of ethics, set out by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, if you stand by the twelve short points set out, you should be a decent journalist. But under the current laws, following at least one of these principals ("Where confidences are accepted, respect them in all circumstances.") can get you put in (contempt) gaol. Is that fair? Is that allowing journalists to do their jobs properly? Maybe, but I'm not sure we're out of the woods and following the path.

In other news (haha), I am still thinking of all the Writers Guild of America members who are on strike. It seems as though (especially in film) producers and directors and actors get the most respect from the general (not that word) public. I can understand their cause, and I make a point of appreciating the writers of both films and television shows I enjoy (more so with tv shows as you're more likely to become familiar with a writer). I hope it ends soon though, for the sake of the writers and all the other skilled professionals like costume designers who are currently out of work.

At least we can write about it for them.