Journalism JourneyIt is January 2011, and the Queensland floods have

reached Brisbane city. You are a photojournalist and your boss Mr. Jameson, Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the Brisbane Times, has assigned you to write an enrapturing article on the floods to be submitted

tomorrow. You must decide what it takes to write a piece that will not only engross your readers, but

also impress the boss!

Mr. Jameson has just assigned you to report on the ongoing flooding currently happening in Queensland. How shall you approach the piece?

Discuss with your team what angle to take on the article…

Head in to the Brisbane suburbs to witness the flooding…

Your colleagues have thought of several themes surrounding the events of the floods that you could focus on.

A political take looking at how the government is responding, and what support it is offering the community…

A look at the awe-inspiring power of nature and its destructive force…

A commendation of QLD’s mateship, and communities coming together to support one another…

You have decided to look at what the government is doing in response to the Queensland floods. What now?

Start writing! You know enough about politics and can talk about what YOU think about the government. Let’s submit this story to the EIC…

Talk to Brisbane locals and get their opinion on what is being done and what needs to be done…

“What is this sensationalist writing? You need reliable sources to support your piece. I don’t care about your subjective opinion, we want to get the facts of the floods to the people! This isn’t a new story, it’s a diary entry!”

Mr Jameson says: Not good enough!

You have interviewed several locals on what they have witnessed in their area, and how everyone is now responding to the widespread damage after the Brisbane River banks broke.

Take some photographs of the high water levels, and damage caused…

You’ve seen enough, and have plenty of quotes from those you’ve talked to. Write it up and submit to EIC…

“We might be on a deadline, but that’s no excuse for sloppy grammar and punctuation. Proofread your work! Don’t let me read any of this amateur scrawl again!”

Mr Jameson says: Did you even read this?!

You have taken some great shots of suburban buildings and property damaged by the flood waters in West End.

That’s everything. Time to write up the article and submit it to the EIC before the deadline…

Try and get an interview with Maj Gen Slater of the Flood Recovery Taskforce, or another expert…

You were unsuccessful in obtaining an interview with Major General Michael Slater, but were able to talk to another member of the Flood Recovery Taskforce on the phone about what they are doing.

You think you have just enough time to proofread for any errors before submitting to the EIC…

Finished just in time! Everything looks good, let’s submit the article to the EIC…

“You’ve obviously done a great deal of research to write this article, and I must say it’s a very well written piece. Well done!”

Mr Jameson says: Excellent work kid!

You have decided to write about the environmental aspects of the floods: climatic causes, and effects of the violent waters.

You’ve read plenty of information on climate change already. Write article and submit to EIC…

Do some background research on previous floods that have affected QLD, and what has caused this series of floods…

“Where is your research to support your article? Without any reliable sources you are only relaying your opinion to readers. Do your research kid, or you’ll end up only getting published in the ‘letters to the editor’ column!”

Mr Jameson says: Get your facts straight!

You’ve done some thorough research into QLD’s flood history, and explored the climatic causes of the floods via the Bureau of Meteorology.What now?

Interview some Brisbane locals on their experiences with the flooding in their area…

That’s plenty of information. Time to submit the piece to the EIC…

You decide to portray the optimism and camaraderie of Queenslanders; giving a face to the silent heroes who are restoring hope in the community.

You have witnessed the Brisbane community’s response to the floods yourself, and feel ready to write and submit your piece to the EIC…

Head to the suburbs and talk to the locals about the mateship they have witnessed amongst the destruction.

You have arrived in West End to witness the destructive effects of the flooding on riverside properties. Many have evacuated the area, and the number of fatalities are rising.

Talk to the locals and obtain their perspective on the events…

You have seen enough. You are ready to write a moving piece on the tragedy you have witnessed and submit it to the EIC…