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Has Dutton V Bazzi raised awareness for Aussies in shaping their online presence
Defamation is a growing legal issue in today’s age through the use of the digital internet. In the span of just a couple of words such as the Dutton v Bazzi, anyone can be sued and taken to court for defamation. Defamation cases on a steady incline usually result in messy legal battles with the potential for the one party to face hefty losses or gains. Thus what can be done to ensure online safety.
Source: https://websterslawyers.com.au/sued-defamation – Illustrator: Websters Lawyers
- What is defamation
Defamation is described by Pearsons and Polden, authors of ‘The Journalist’s guide to media Law’ as
- A published statement that injures another’s reputation with no reason or justification.
The 2005 Defamation act highlights that through law Australia has consistent defamation laws across all states, with the high court highlighting that defamatory matter includes
- Articles, reports, advertisements or anything else communicated in magazines, newspapers or periodicals
- Programs, reports, advertisements or anything else communicated via television, radio, the internet or any form of electronic communication
- Letters, notes or things written
- Pictures, gestures or things verbalized
- Any other way something could be communicated to someone
However, due to the influx of social media access and freedom of speech, the majority of Defamation cases are digital. The Conversation posted an article written by Derek Wilding, Which stated in 2017 during the increase in popularity of social media 17% of defamatory cases were digital however due to a mass increase in 2017 all digital defamation subsequently made up 53%
- Who are the people involved
The Case of Dutton v Bazzi highlights to Australian citizens how easy it is to be sued for defamation through the internet. But who are Peter Dutton and Shane Bazzi?
- Peter Dutton, now Defense Minister use to be the minister of immigration and border protection from 2014 to 2017, during his time as the minister of immigration and border protection
- Shane Bazzi, a journalist with a very strong opinion, especially on Australian efforts with the refugee crisis being a refugee activist Bazzi posts articles on the site Muck Rack and Twitter to idolize his philosophy
- Why it’s important to be careful on the internet
It is very important to be careful on the internet as it can reach millions of people in a matter of seconds making you nobody to everybody in the matter of seconds or minutes, this is the case with Shane Bazzi.
As Bazzi is a refugee activist and believed during the time that Dutton wasn’t doing his duty as immigration and border protection minister Bazzi made claims that Dutton excuses the act of rape itself due to Dutton’s comments towards the Naru women seeking refuge in Australia stating “some female refugees were “trying it on” by making claims they had been raped and needed to travel to Australia from offshore detention to receive abortions.” In the midst of the online argument, Bazzi made a critical error by making a public tweet calling Dutton a ‘Rape apologist making this an act of defamation.
The Judge of the case stated that the comment was ‘beyond the rough and tumble of politics. Hence Dutton won this case. The result of this was that Bazzi had to pay $35,000 in damages as well as this Bazzi has now started a campaign called #enough. This campaign is aiming to raise $150,000 dollars currently at $108,599 to help Bazzi pay his legal fees. The impact of Bazzi’s silly tweet of only 6 words has now cost Bazzi $150,000 hence him starting a campaign to not only receive money to pay for his fees but to also have one last dig at Dutton.
Source: https://saddind.co.uk/aspect-it-make-sure-your-business-is-prepared-for-a-cyber-attack/ – Illustrator Aimee Belmore
- How to determine if you are liable for defamation
For something to be classified as Defamatory, it needs to change people’s perceptions to either avoid, shun or think less of the person in question. The imputation has to be worse than just being negative or ridiculous, but it doesn’t have to convey something morally shameful or blameworthy (Pearson & Polden).
Words have many different meanings, these can either be
- Standard meaning
- False Innuendo (“a secondary or underlying meaning understood by reading between the lines of the words”.)
- True Innuendo (“relies on other facts and background knowledge that the reader knows”.)
However, it is important to realize that posting a statement online with an underlying meaning is not safeguarding against defamation. The statement can be thought, upsetting, offending, embarrassing or inconvenient, however, this does not make it defamatory as it also must damage someone’s reputation.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingedwolf/5471047557
- Surely I won’t get sued for defamation
Being aware of what you post or say is important in today’s society, as anyone can sue for defamation (alive or not, government body or large cooperation). Defamation though is very easy to avoid.
Pearsons and Polden state “most defamation cases are contests between ordinary citizens over negative remarks they have made about each other on social media, websites, emails and other means of digital communication.” Bazzi is a prime example of this. An ordinary citizen making a negative remark towards Dutton has now cost Bazzi over $185,000 over a 6 worded tweet which was deleted in a matter of minutes however that is all that it took before it spread across the world wide web.
It proves to Aussies that posting something with your emotions and not your head in today’s society can lead to very negative consequences and that it could happen to anyone.
- If caught in a defamation case how can I defend myself
If accused of defamation it is in your best interest to offer an amendment or offer an apology, removing the defamatory content as well as seeking legal advice asap in case the apology is not accepted
The main defenses to Defamation however are truth, fair comment, absolute privilege, fair report, and honest opinion are most of the main counters to defamation in Australia.
- Truth: proving that the material is true/mostly true and that any negativity in the comment is also true
- Fair comment: if the material is of public interest, any material or opinion can be published without needing to be truthful – but it must be a fair opinion
- Absolute privilege: when the material has been made/posted in relation to parliament, the courts or tribunal, it can express whatever is necessary (this doesn’t apply to news articles or stories)
- Fair report: journalists can claim a fair report, as long as the material is fair, balanced and substantially accurate
- Honest opinion: the most common defense for journalists, when: a) the material is presented as an opinion rather than factual, b) the opinion is related to a matter of public interest, c) the opinion is fair and based upon true provable facts
Source: https://stock.adobe.com/au/images/cartoon-stick-figure-drawing-conceptual-illustration-of-frustrated-man-defending-yourself-or-resisting-while-big-hand-in-suit-is-pointing-at-him-and-giving-him-order-or-blaming-him-concept-of/250852508 – Illustrator: Zdenek Sasek
- What to consider when posting online
Aussies should keep in mind the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) journalistic code, as both a journalist and a citizen. Defamation needs to be common knowledge. How you use your words will cost you as highlighted in the Dutton vs Bazzi case. How to be careful on the internet with your words and what is ok and not ok to post, how to realize you are liable for defamation and how to defend yourself. This article highlights all of these points and should help everyday Aussies be aware of the rising issue of Defamation.
Source: https://sydney-selfdefence.com.au/programs-workshops/
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Week 4 bcm110 blog post
As someone who isn’t that interested to watch the news nor have the time due to uni or training commitments If I get time to sit down and watch the news it will either be about sport or occasionally a current affair program or the must watch 60 minutes episode.
Who ‘owns’ and/or ‘controls’ the media you use to access your ‘news’?
When I do watch the news however there are some companies who ‘own and or control’ the media i access these would include 9 news sports section, NRL 360, The back page, Late night show with Matty Johns, Fox sports, A current affair and 60 minutes. With these NRL and sporting news programs I am subjected to recent events in regards to sport in particular NRL. Being an avid fan it’s always useful to stay up to date especially in regards to my club Cronulla Sharks. A current affair and 60 minutes are my main feeder of pressing issues within Australia. I usually criticize them in their reporting style and persistence but sometimes their information is really useful especially when it directly affects me. Usually with me changing up my lifestyle in the event that a product they’re reporting about may be unhealthy or dangerous. This trend of changing your routine due to something heard in the news really highlights to me how much the media, in particular the news ‘owns and or controls you’.
Why does this matter? (or not)
I feel like it does matter because without these reliable sources of information playing every night and if not most nights we would have to source our own information. This could lead to the growing trend of ‘fake news’. It is also very convenient for many people to have access to fast and easy news. People with a very busy lifestyle like myself don’t have much time to sit down and watch the news for extended periods of time hence short reports on relevant things are useful. As Well as this because of the media and the way it ‘owns and controls’ the news i watch it keeps me in the same market of news that I actually want to watch and find interesting. This makes my experience in watching the news much more enjoyable as it is relevant and enjoyable for me.
What trust do you have in your news sources?
In regards to my sporting news I have complete trust in it. A relevant and recent example of this is the reporting on Shane Warne’s death at first I did not believe it, thinking it was just another fake celebrity death scandal due to the websites posting it not being sport related however after finding an article posted by Fox Sports I knew it was real as they provide me with current, relevant and accurate information. However in news sources such as a current affair and 60 minutes I feel like it is very over-dramatized and they only highlight one side of the story. News reports like these almost leave me with not enough information about the case that they are reporting and almost entice me to dig deeper with my own research, however I don’t have the time 90% of the time hence I don’t trust the reports fully. However when A current affair and 60 minutes report on things such as goods and or services I have a sense of trust in that. As the reports have been given to them by the public an example of this is the Fish and chips: poison on the side report this highlights to Australian viewers dodgy goods and services and helps prevent them from harming or scamming another hard working Australian.
Reference list
Oosting, P, 2022, Who Controls Our Media? – the new report commissioned by GetUp
AusGov Website, 2022, Fake News
Porta, M, January 5th 2021, How to Define Your Target Market
A current affair, 2019, Fish and chips: Poison on the side
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Online Presence
The Media is the Message
Marshall McLuhan’s Paradoxical Statement ‘Medium is the message’ is still a talked upon topic today due to its ambiguous nature being such a misinterpreted statement. However my main take on the ‘medium is the message statement’ is that it is an extension of ourselves, changing scales and that of the audience. This blog will explore and explain my perception of Mcluhan’s statement and the three main ideas I’ve taken away from it.
Extending ourselves
As humans we are limited to our own capacity, and through media we are able to expand our capacity. Just like the stretchy man in this post, with one person stretching you can only go so far, however once there is some help ‘the media’ the capacity the figure can stretch is endless. We can also extend ourselves through other means such as the analogy of the diggers (extension of our strength), megaphones (extension of our voice) all play a small part however once more people listen or join the development word spreads quickly.
Changing Scales
Changing scales also links with extending ourselves as McLuhan states ‘a change in mediums results in change of scale’ this statement essentially means through changing how they extend themselves through ways such as mass protesting these girls are able to increase there scale this not only expands their exposure to the media but also makes more people aware of the severity of the issue as many young women are protesting in unisons.
Audiences
The audience plays essential roles in the expansion of ourselves and the expansion in scales. As the audience can write, read, produce, listen, watch, record. They become main distributors of content. Whether that be pressing news they want to share or a review of a movie, being a part of an audience and then giving your take on something such as the new batman movie it will allow new audiences to grasp on what it is like and if it will satisfy them.
Striving for Blue – Digital Artifact
Having to ideate a potential Digital Artifact I came up with the idea of documenting my push for achieving my Blue Belt In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Practicing Jiu Jitsu on and off for 8-10 years now, I have risen through the ranks of the children’s curriculum and now have started the adult classes. The process of achieving your blue belt takes years of discipline and hardwork and documenting the kind of training I do in class to show other people what it takes seems like an interesting idea to me.
Thinking about an audience for my digital artifact would be kids and adults who are striving to achieve their Blue belts as it is a big milestone. My audience could range from the ages of 16-65 as jiu jitsu is a sport where you can start whenever. I would also be targeting more jiu jitsu practitioners (over 2 million worldwide) who want to learn some new moves as different gyms have different styles and newcomers who want to learn some basics that will help them while doing their first few sessions.
My content may also involve funny moments during the classes, skits and or pranks which will divide up my content making it more funny and enjoyable to watch. This will give me the potential to target a bigger audience.
For my Digital Artifact a Mood board like this could be used to represent my target Audience
Online Presence
throughout the weeks I have been posting relevant memes or Gifs for my classmates to look at on Twitter
Bibliography
McLuhan, M. (1964) ‘The Medium is the Message’ in understanding media, The extensions of man
Federman, M. (2004) What is the Meaning of the Medium is the Message?
Wall, T. (2022) Medium is the Message ‘Part 2, Extensions of ourselves’
Wall, T. (2022) Medium is the Message ‘Part 3, Changing scales’
Wall, T. (2022) Medium is the Message ‘ Part 3, Audiences’
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Week 3 BCM 110 blog post
This image off website https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/537527/word-for-a-single-picture-which-can-be-interpreted-in-two-different-ways shows a little girl sitting under a pair of trees, however it also shows the girl sitting in the skull. This image has many meanings, however my interpretation of this is that the girl is too innocent to realize the world around her of being unfair and cruel. My other perception is that the girl has been eaten up by the skull and has already been familiarized with the dark truth about the world and that it is not all sunshine and rainbows.
Due to the vectors towards the girl the first thing readers will see is the girl however once taking a further look the readers will eventually see the outline of the skull. My first initial thought was that the girl being around the skull signifies her innocence. However after looking at it from another angle it could be the other way round where the girl has been engulfed by the skull and been exposed already losing her innocence in that being the world. This image can be seen by many different readers in different ways. Once again having a deeper look and thinking into this image we can see crows and apples within the skull and the girl. Crows being a symbol of death and the apples potentially a reference from snow white in that of it being poisonous as well as the skull could represent that the little girl has passed away.
This Image has many Signifiers, denotations and connotations and ideologies. The signifiers in this image are of the little girls facial expressions, looking down at the ground with a sad sobby face may solidify to readers that their theory of her death or exposure to her cruel world may be true as if she was happy where she was she wouldn’t be looking down in a distraught fashion. The denotations and connotations in this image are the all fades of black picture. Black as a color has many representations, this may include positives such as mystery, power, elegance, and sophistication and negatives such as death, mourning, evil magic, and darkness once again this image through the use of denotations and connotations can portray different meanings. Ideologies include things such as political, social, epistemological, and ethical. Although the Image was made June 13th 2020 readers like myself may relate this to an ethical propaganda pitch from Ukraine due to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine. An image like this can have a different meaning once again and may motivate people to fight back against Russia as this little girl may resonate with someone in their family and if they don’t fight back the fate of their children may be like the little girls.
On the images link^ users verify this complex image as an Ambiguous Image; these are forms which exploit graphical similarities and other properties of visual system interpretation between two or more distinct image forms. These are famous for inducing the phenomenon of multistable perception. This verifies the thought that this complex image can have many different meanings for every reader.
Reference list
UNICHEF, October 2021, The state of the worlds children 2021
Bühler-Niederberger, D, April 28th 2017, Innocence and childhood
Mehta, V, April 4th 2019, Loss Of Childhood Innocence – Are We Pressurising Our Children Too Much?
Sicard, S, March 4th 2022, How Ukraine is winning the propaganda war
K. Strong Jr, E, Vol. 14, No. 3, Mar., 1922, Control of Propaganda as a Psychological Problem
Gooddall, H, March 10th 2022, Ukraine accuses Russia of bombing children’s hospital in Mariupol as invasion enters second week
Gjersoe, N, October 3rd 2016, Ambiguous figure illusions: do they offer a window on the mind?
Sterzer, P, Kleinschmidt, A, Rees, G, Volume 13, Issue 7, July 2009, Pages 310-318, The neural bases of multistable perception
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BCM 112 Blog post
For my project, I will be starting a Tik Tok account called Cronulla Boaties where I will post various videos on and relating to rowing in preparation for competing up in the Gold Coast for the Australian titles. I’ve decided to do this as my Digital Artefact as I am very invested in the sport of Surf boat rowing due to my Dad once being an Australian champion and my good mates I row with pushing me. I’m doing this to showcase to people the hours of hard work and dedication it takes to even qualify to race for an Australian title let alone win and hopefully my videos should put that perspective in the eyes of my audience. I’m also aiming to target more people to the sport of surf boat rowing and make it more known to those who have never heard of it before.
Yt video for Project pitch
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Week 2 Blog
Describe a time when you were part of an audience. How does your experience connect to the ideas we introduced in this week’s lecture?
On the 29th of January 2022 my Brother, Mum and Myself stayed in the city at the Langham hotel in Millers point keen for the next day’s adventure as we were going to see Ant Middletons mind over matter talk.
Being keen on joining the military myself and watching Ant Middletons show SAS Australia i’ve always wanted to learn more about his life and his upbringing in the SAS and his experiences. Arriving at the Star Casino and making our way to the lecture room, it was full, although Ant previously ran a Talk 3 hours before there were still hundreds and hundreds of people wanting to hear and see Ant speak.
Ant Middleton started off by explaining his childhood and how it wasn’t picture perfect with his father passing away at a very young age, joining the military at 18 years of age Ant was the youngest but the most qualified and recognised trainee after his training giving him the opportunity to apply for the SAS. I found it very interesting that half way through his training he decided to leave even though his record was outstanding as he himself was fighting demons about his father and mental health. After leaving Ant seeked a job reference where the employee was as well a former member of the SAS once looking at Ant record he asked him why he left, this really resonated with Ant as he himself didn’t really understand as well. The worker then gave Ant the best advice that still sticks with him today and that was to get used to being comfortable in uncomfortable situations and always give something a go. This then inspired Ant to rejoin the SAS and complete his training. I really resonated with this part of his talk as I myself have hesitated to do things because before that i felt uncomfortable doing. Since Ants talk I’ve told myself to at least try something once and then decide my opinion on it.
There were no negatives when it came to Ants talk, as being such an inspirational man the way he talks and engages the audience not only made the audience feel comfortable but also let everyone really live in the mind of Ant during his youth and allowing the audience to subconsciously relate to times of their own.
The most important thing I took away from Ant Middletons Mind Over Matter talk was to push myself to my limits and always give something a go as if not I may regret it later in life. Ant really emphasised that If you are good at something stick with it and don’t let it go. Ant is also able to do this through his Tv show SAS Australia. Ant bringing in Australian Tv stars, whether their models, comedians, NRL players not only puts them through the requirements of the SAS selection course but also challenges them mentally breaking down their egos and allowing them to overcome their inner demons. I find this Inspirational as Ant is able to connect with anyone as he did with the audience on the night of his talk.
Reference List
Minnow Films, 2022, SAS Australia: Who Dares Win
Townsend, V, April 7th 2021, How the death of a parent affects a child
Cuncic, A November 1st 2021, How to get comfortable being uncomfortable
Mrad, M, May 5th 2021, SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton has a spring in his step as he leaves a radio interview in Sydney
Patrick M, February 22nd 2022, SAS Australia’s Ant Middleton reveals what happens when one celebrity recruit dramatically collapses
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