17 November 2011

Campbell High gets the presidential magic.

17 November 2011 | johnboy

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.

ebnt1:04 pm 18 Nov 11

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.

Ian11:43 am 18 Nov 11

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.

Henry822:09 am 18 Nov 11

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.

caf10:56 pm 17 Nov 11

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.

dtc10:32 pm 17 Nov 11

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.

I-filed8:02 pm 17 Nov 11

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!