Breakdown Of Techniques

Frontline

Opening Montage:

• The opening montage is an integral part of the text
• It effectively introduces a no. of key ideas that Sitch et al satirise
• There is a continual focus on technical equipment
• It is implied that “Frontline” is on the cutting edge of news shows
• This contrasts nicely with what is actually shown that is it is sexist, uninspired & rehashes old stories
• When the newspapers are being flicked through the camera focuses on the words “tangle” and “outrage”.
• This reflects the overly dramatic hype of the industry
• The accompanying soundtrack is of fast paced, pulsating music
• This is intended the make the show seem hard hitting, energetic & action based
• There is a succession of quick fragment shots
• The incomplete shots are very quick
• This is meant to signify a news service that moves too quick to linger and that is all action
• The camera shoots from behind Mike to imply there is so much action it cannot keep up

Camera:

• The use of a single “Hi – 8” video camera & one additional hand held camera gives “Frontline” a documentary style and reinforces its “realism”
• The shaky handheld camera and slightly grainy quality of the film that is used as the characters go about their work behind the scenes gives the program its “fly on the wall” style
• This is contrasted with the very staged & controlled camera work used during the filming of the “Frontline” program.
• This emphasises the important issues of truth fabrication & manipulation
• In appearing as “documentary” we feel we are getting the “truth” behind the scenes
• At the same time as a satire “Frontline” is also exposing the truth about the medium & the way in which truth is represented in this forum
• We are able to learn much about the “truth” about current affairs programs not only through what “Frontline” says but how it represents it.
• Frontline parodies the conventions & values of the current affairs genre & satirises the social context that allows such a genre to exist and to be considered a medium of “truth”

The Siege

Summary:

• In this episode a siege situation occurs involving children. “Frontline” makes contact with the gunman and he does an interview with Mike. However they are accused of putting the children in danger through their manoeuvring for a ratings coup.

Ratings drive what news is delivered and how it is presented

• There is a continual justification for the legitimacy of the actions by using the positive outcome: “the kids were safe”
• There is a refusal to look at the action: “It might not have ended like that”
• This shows the team is fixated on results which is symbolic of the ratings driven media
• The ratings are the main thing “you should have seen the looks on the other guy’s faces”
• Moore’s discomfort at radio interview is not really about his flaws but more about feeling at a loss
• He is placated by the figures “What about the figures?”

Technique: Symbolism

• The champagne bottle symbolises the single minded obsession with ratings as to the “frontline” team it a symbol of the success they have achieved

The truth of the story is second to drama:

• Marty misrepresents the danger of the situation by “crouching…..because it looks dangerous”
• He asks for a “flack jacket” and Mike says “Keep safe…live from the front line”
• The war imagery helps increase the dramatic tension
• His self congratulation “I’m still shaking” is ironic
• Once “Frontline” has rhe gunman on air they are not really interested in the story the effect is the important thing
• So Moore cuts the interview short at the ironic comment from the gunman “They won’t listen…”
• After the story concern is both late & false
• The newspaper coverage is considered good because it is exposure
• Moore’s interview shows the sidestepping common when the media tries to defend it’s lack of ethics “I won’t deny it was good television. I believe I had a calming effect”.

Technique: Framing

• In the beginning of the episode when then frenzy of the story gathering is shown the frames are crammed with action
• There are often half figures to reflect there is to much happening at once

Technique: Language

• The language of the news is exaggerated to show how reporters and presenters use emotionally charged language to create drama
• E.G. Marty is introduced “reporting there live from the line of fire”
• The unnecessary “Keep safe” & pretence of concern for workmates adds to this drama

Technique: Camera Shots

• When the story is being put together Sitch et al echo the frantic nature of the process by camera shots
• The shots are quick and the camera pans around the office focused on action
• The camera even accompanies Brain running to reflect the frenzied atmosphere

The media pretends ethics but really has no scruples

• When the newsroom initially hear of the siege there is no sympathy only self interest “It’s incredible isn’t it” and “try and get the whole half hour on this one”
• When the interview is secured with the gunman there is no mention of the children
• No – one really cares about them
• Ironically it is the buffoon Mike who first thinks of this yet Brian sees it as a clever angle
• “Frontline” hampers the police efforts by instructing them gunman to take the phone off the hook & their motives are completely selfish – competition with other stations
• There is no though for the safety of the children and they know the “cops are going to spew”
• Marty and his camera crew have no qualms about getting so close to the gunman in the helicopter & potentially inflaming the situation: “we got our shots”
• Champagne bottle in shot during the police Commissioner’s visit symbolises the complete lack of regard the media have for procedure which is emphasized by the police uniform
• Utter frustration shown by the blunt language of the Commissioner “you took a stupid risk” and his stomping out of the office.
• He is in a minority and not taken seriously as the media are in their own world & are divorced from the reality he is trying to represent
• The final scenes of the episode are chilling
• Brooke terms the gunman an “absolute nutcase” which emphasises the real danger the children may have been in
• The comment about Moore being “an old pro” after his experience is a joke that becomes very black in the final seconds of the episode
• The issue of the media giving air time to such people is clearly questioned: “The whole of Aust is listening and watching”
• This bluntly exposes the danger of the media and how one lapse can begin a cycle

Technique: Symbolism

• Brian’s son is used to symbolise the complete disregard the media has for the real world
• Brian finds his son annoying and tries to be rid of him

Technique: Irony

• Ironically no one is in the slightest concerned about the danger for the children or the sadness of the situation

Technique: Camera Shots

• Close ups of Brookes overly concerned face when interviewing is juxtaposed with Mrs Forbes’s misery
• Since the audience knows she is insincere this emphasises her duplicity “take your time Mrs Forbes”, “would you be able to cry again….”

Media Networks are ruthless and manipulate the truth to achieve desires:

• They are desperate to find anything to present as a report “..any damn things you can get hold of”
• The staff is directed to find “an expert on psychos and stuff”
• The interview is manipulated and played with by “Frontline” “How did the interview cut together?”
• It is cut to amplify the dramatic effect so it is not linear which distorts the fact

Technique: Juxtaposition

• The “You’ve crossed the line mate” a pretence for ethics is juxtaposed with “you beauty” when they realise they were the show that got through

Language is used to manipulate the truth:

• Inflammatory words are used to heighten the drama such as “cache of weapons”
• It is conjured without any foundation that the gunman is a “war veteran”
• Marty reports as “Martin di Stasio” as it sounds more formal and credible

The media fabricates images of people:

• With no authentic expert available the “mature” student with “a beard” will do
• Brooke’s blatant untruths and false excessively sincere tone are humorous but also constitute a biting satire on the media: “some current affairs shows can be very unscrupulous”
• Marty is also obsessed with image as he comments on the other stations parkas and logo saying “they look like they know what they are doing”

Technique: Juxtaposition

§ The actual filming of Mike in the studio is “bookended” by absolute chaos

§ It is frenzied which emphasises the complete falsity of Mike Moore’s demeanour in front of the cameras

§ This amplifies the ridiculous farce of his sincerity & concern

Technique: Exaggeration

§ Mike and Brooke’s facial expressions for the camera

§ Brooke is overly sentimental & concerned whilst Mike is similarly worried & concerned

We Ain’t Got Dames

Summary:

• The “Frontline” team is shocked to see figures that show they are not appealing to female viewers.
• They look to remedying this and filtering stories to secure ratings in this demographic
• The title “We Ain’t Got Dames” epitomises the sexist undertones of the show.

The Media fabricates images of people:

• The promo of Mike Moore is a false depiction of him and Emma
• Whilst Mike is to be projected as someone “all the women of Australia...fall in love” with in reality Emma has to clean his face.

Technique: Symbolism

• The new promo is used to symbolise the manipulation of the truth by the media
• The Mike on the promo is not the Mike of real life
• The promo Mike is suave, debonair and in control of stories “cut it here”

• Emma is also more average than the glamorous actress portrays

Technique: Juxtaposition

• Emma and her stand in are visually contrasted in the promo shoot. At first they seem very similar each having the flowing hair yet when the actress stands she towers over Emma
• In this way the actress seems larger than life, unreal and false like the promotional footage being filmed
• By making it a clear play on Emma it is obvious the media always manipulates the truth it tells

• The contrast between the image and reality is sustained through this episode
• The media generates and protects these false images
• Brian never allows Mike to do anything because he knows Mike with ruin the perception.

§ In this episode Brian tries to pull the debate off air to protect Mike

• Mike appears on screen as concerned and serious
• This is exaggerated when Sitch et al present the character as practising cocking his head to the side and saying “mmm…that’s a worrying trend”
• The statement being so bland effectively shows that it is the image not the comment that is important to the media
• In this way the media truth is about perception not content
• Emma briefs Mike whilst he is being readied for shooting
• Focusing on the mirror & the stylist forces the audience to remember that these media icons are manufactured

Technique: Camera Shots

• The close up of Mike’s distress at the World Series TV debating is meant to emphasise his idiocy and inability to be his media image in real life.
• The duration of the shot on Emma and Brian’s fixed smiles in response to the female comedian emphasises their falsity & inability to deal with people openly

Media Networks are ruthless and manipulate the truth to achieve their desires:

• Emma lies to Elliot Rhodes. She is not honest with him preferring to be evasive
• Part of this is her natural reluctance to offend anyone but is also a desire to keep desired and this is exactly what happens at the conclusion of the episode
• The comedians being interviewed are not openly dealt with
• They attempt to manipulate even esteemed professionals like John Clarke and Byron Dawe
• Mike is not openly dealt with by Brian who obviously has no respect for him
• Brian blames “upstairs” for the rejection of Mike’s story
• Mike lies to Cheryl Kernot about the content of the interview
• It is only her dogged refusal to allow him to focus on the personal details of her life that forces him to ask about the inquiry

Technique: Juxtaposition

• Mike’s off and on screen persona is constantly juxtaposed in the episode
• The off screen dislike of Elliot Rhodes is initially shown through Mike’s exaggerated facial expressions of disgust but is followed by on – screen gushing approval that terms Elliot “ a national treasure”
• The falsity of Mike is the juxtaposed to the vehemence of his comment “He’s shit house” to Brian after the show
• Sitch et al use this juxtaposition to reveal the duplicity of the media
• They manipulate the truth to promote themselves.

The Truth of the story is second to Drama:

• The perversion of Mike’s sweatshop story into a fashion story
• The serious voice over was cut short and the footage replaced with footage of a glamorous fashion parade
• The music was up beat
• The sense of the story being an expose about exploitation of migrant workers was completely lost
• Sitch et al make it clear this is in response to serious issues not being deemed dramatic enough to rate
• The general practitioner story based on nothing
• “Frontline” creates a re – enactment that reminds Brian of daytime soapies and is obviously exaggerated by Sitch et al
• The actual story here is nonexistent the whole idea was lifted from a magazine
• Brian refers to a past story as “the usual crap, tears on camera…” which implies the news televised is overly dramatic and emotion charged versions of the truth

Ratings drive what news is delivered and how it is presented:

• The entire episode hinges on this point
• Barb is seen as a saviour who will analyse where the show is going wrong

Technique: Irony & Humour

• Whilst Barb is explaining the perception that “Frontline” is too ‘blokey” and too much time is spent on sport the camera shows Marty ignoring her, reading the sport in the newspaper
• This is a visual joke that implies this perception is true
• The premise for success is ratings not effective transmitting of current affairs
• It is the need for female viewers that heavily determines the stories chosen and how they are presented not what actually happened in the world
• “We’ve had it for a while” – news is often stored as opposed to the perception that “Frontline” is on the cutting edge of stories as they occur
• The radio appearance of Brooke is manipulated to engineer more of a women’s focus
• The DJ picks up on this instantly and Brooke’s polished lying is show cased as she smoothly denies such motivation

The Media pretends ethics but really has no scruples:

• They steal personnel from each other
• Mike was poached and there is no hesitation to try and steal John Clarke and Byron Dawe for Channel Nine
• They steal stories from each other
• The “Frontline” crew are eagerly scouring the women’s magazines for stories and even one of those has written its story based on another media outlet “as seen on a Current Affair”

Technique: Irony

• It is ironic that whilst “frontline” is meant to be a current affairs program it stores stories and steals them out of publications already printed
• The news is not “new”
• The gathering of news seems to occur inside a studio not out in the world where the news is happening
• The visual of Mike picking up the teddy bear in the promo is used to highlight the falsity of such morals
• On screen he epitomises the network’s care or the vulnerable and moral stature but the rest of the episode clearly shows this as false and as clichéd as the comment that follows about needing “to stop and smell the roses”

People are not truthful in their personal relationships with others:

• People pretend on a personal level constantly
• Dominica cannot openly say how bad Mike was to his face, Emma cannot bring herself to be frank with Elliot
• This shows that it is not just the media that manipulates the truth
• We all do it in our lives to protect ourselves and others from embarrassment or discomfort

Technique: Symbolism

• Just before Mike goes to secretly record the debate the crew is sitting debriefing at the end of the day.
• The circular formation of the group is used to symbolise how they exclude Mike
• He is literally outside the group when he speaks to them
• Brian’s comment to the entire group “who keeps telling him about our meetings?” emphasises they al dismiss him.

Language is used to manipulate the truth:

• Clichés are used to add drama
• The doctor story is hyped as “A story no woman can afford to miss…”
• The cliché in the new promo of Mike about having to “Stop and smell the roses” is also intended to make him lovable although we as the audience see it as a true indication of his banal character
• Marty tries to excuse his childish prank as “We are not playing we are modifying the settings”
• This shows language is often used to mask reality

Playing The Ego Card

Summary:

• Mike decides to lift his credibility he should go into the field, to do an important story.
• The network grabs the opportunity to give the popular Brooke a turn as host
• Egos are bruised as people strive to impress

The Media fabricates images of people:

• Mike is presented as “the fearless war correspondent” yet he is nothing of the sort
• He whines in the singsong tines of a child “But Brian…”
• Brooke’s promo “looks” conveying the image the network would like to convey- “concerned”, “reassuring” and “smart”
• It’s important to note she does not get to choose these the image is orchestrated by the network
• Brian admits “This network spends millions each year cock – teasing the audience”
• Generally we think doctors are well informed, perceptive and intelligent
• Yet Mike’s doctor thinks Brooke is “a warm caring sort of person” and has heard nothing of her being “a bitch”.
• The cleaner sees Brooke as positive saying she is “beautiful and very smart too”
• Sitch et al are showing that we are being presented with images that are constructed not real

Media Networks are ruthless & manipulate the truth to achieve their desires:

• The network pretends support but only until it suits them – “Mike Moore has this network’s 100% support – right up til the day we sack him”
• The network only allows Mike to leave the hosting chair because it suits it but never actually say this
• Instead Mike is manipulated to feel satisfied
• He thinks he can up with the situation so he can pursue his wishes
• Sitch et al use Marty to present the unwritten rule that to protect your own job you should never allow anyone to fill in for you who might take your job.
• Marty suggests that is part of the ruthlessness of the industry

Technique: Framing

• Framing is used effectively to show this as when Marty is warning Mike of Brooke’s duplicaity and hidden agenda framing shows her as a looming threat beautifully
• Mike and Marty are also having the discussion in front of a promotional shot of Brooke that looks on smugly
• This emphasises the threat and adds to the humour

• Brian has no hesitation manipulating his staff to make them more pliable
• He repeats “you made these figures…” three times in succession to Brooke, Mike and then Emma
• Brian’s boss is open about the ruthlessness of the industry
• He says “You’ve got to keep your guard up mate”
• Brian does this be claiming credit for the helicopter spotting
• It is unexpected from Brian yet shows how he can also be threatened by the industry.

Technique: Symbolism

• Symbolism is used to show this as the award which supposedly symbolises what really matters in the industry (i.e. journalistic integrity) is not found by Mike.
• When he does find it he cannot remember what he was looking for
• Sitch et al satirise its message by making the symbol ineffectual

The Truth of the story is second to Drama:

• Brian makes it clear that it is not the story but the look of the story insisting “vision, vision, vision”
• The episode clearly shows Mike trying to create drama not report news
• Sitch et al satirise the media’s interest in the dramatic
• Mike attempts to manipulate the background to his story and he and the crew search for dramatic scenes
• Mike uses emotionally charged language to heighten the drama
• He claims the rebels are “Armed to the teeth” and “the spears are razor sharp”
• Brian demands “just give me some vision, Ok vision?...I want to see soldiers with guns”

Technique: Juxtaposition

• Mike is breathless, serious and wearing sunglasses which appears ridiculous compared to the bumbling soldiers he is using to orchestrate dramatic gunfire to punctuate his commentary

Ratings drive what news is being delivered and how it is being presented:

• According to Sitch el al hosts are completely dependent on gaining popularity & remaining popular
• Brooke’s popularity gains her the guest host spot to test her and she came “up looking pretty good…the punters love her”
• The preferences of audience drive the stories that are chosen to be aired
• Sitch et al use Mike to make the point that the audience is very parochial preferring to know about its own country
• This explains why Brian is so negative about overseas stories
• This is evident as Brian says “Only good vision makes them acceptable” and “a pub brawl in Manly is better than a massacre of millions” without this
• This shows that the news delivered is not the objective truth many expect

Technique: Irony

• This episode mocks the notion that viewers have any real idea what motivates the media
• Brian makes the point that news shows do not actually inform like we think
• He see’s Mike’s suggested story as useless because it is not known “That’s why it’s a dud mate no body knows about it”
• This is an irony since most people think that telling the audience of the unknown is the purpose of a news show

People manipulate the truth because of selfishness and ambition:

• Whilst Marty may think Mike is after the story because of his journalistic integrity we know Mike is after the Kudos he thinks comes from reporting from the field
• Brooke undergoes an immediate personality change when she sees she has the opportunity to usurp Mike’s position
• She is suddenly friendly to all
• Marty is alert to this manoeuvring warning Mike “while you’re away next week working in the jungle she’s gonna be back here working the room”

Technique: Exaggeration

• The refusal from Mike and Brooke to allow the other to finish the goodnight comments
• This is exaggerated to be ridiculous but effectively shows their power struggle
• The moment the scene cuts they turn from each other to further indicate their true feelings

Language is used to manipulate the truth:

• Brian continually uses “mate” to make it seem he is fair and dealing straight with people
• “Em” used by Brooke to pretend intimacy as she knows Emma has some influence on the show

Add Sex and Stir

Summary:

• Brooke sees the opportunity to run a scandalous story on the sexuality of a world championship winning female sporting team
• Unconcerned about the trouble caused “Frontline” charges forward to secure good ratings

Ratings drive what news is delivered and how it is presented:

• What news is broadcast is chosen for the public: “No way Brooke I am not having a story on women’s sport on this show. It’s the natural enemy of ratings”
• Not all stories prepared are actually run “of course we never showed it. It was so boring”
• Even though the team won the World championship it was deemed to unimportant to make the papers
• This shows that the media is very biased in what it presents to the audience
• The facts delivered are selected based on what supposedly rates
• The captain of the sport team emphasises the purpose of current affairs shows as presented by Sitch et al “I hope you got the ratings you’re after”

The truth of the story is second to drama:

• Brooke mocks Stu for implying the facts be told sarcastically mocking the notion of objective reporting: “Well, there’s a lead story Stu, ‘Player dropped due to bad form’. That’s just groundbreaking”!
• Marty says “My Grandmother told me an ancient recipe take any story, add sex and stir” showing the importance of creating drama through “adding sex” which often involves manipulating the truth.

The Media pretends ethics but really has no scruples:

• Brian tells Brooke to hide the player
• This is not honest and seems it is to stop any other network accessing her or even allowing her to contradict what it is aired: “Once you’ve spoken to her, bury her. Usual thing, couple tickets to the Gold Coast…just get her out of circulation”
• The use of the “usual thing” makes it clear this is common practice
• It is also clear whilst the policy is not to pay for stories this a payment – cheque book journalism
• The Captain raises the issues we have seen about the lack of scruples calling them “parasites”

Technique: Symbolism

• Mike’s shallow attempts for credibility & to be successful are symbolised by his need for gadgets
• The electronic organiser & the car are examples of this
• The way the sun shines on the car door in the opening scene when Mike speaks to Brian shows Mike is all gloss

The media fabricates images of people:

• Brian makes it clear appearing in advertisements can affect a celebrity’s image

Technique: Framing

• The position of the TV between Mike and Brian is important when they are discussing Mike’s choice not to do the ad
• When the 2 leave we see Jim Waley doing the ad Mike described earlier
• Burke’s Backyard allows Mike Moore to make an idiot of himself as it is part of the image they want for him

Technique: Juxtaposition

• George Negus reveals his understanding & real involvement in his work by speaking with Dominica at the party & having to explain details of the Middle East
• This is a sharp contrast to Mike who has no idea of Rwanda’s capital or it’s tribes names

Media Networks are ruthless and manipulate the truth to achieve their desires:

• Brooke’s comment that Alison might “if she’s pushed a bit” to which Brian replies “Well, push, push get an interview”
• Alison is shunted away immediately after the interview
• Brooke alters the interview unethically without hesitation

Technique: Exaggeration

• Filming Brooke’s noddies so separately & out of context amplifies their falsity
• Her reactions are as false as the story she manipulates
• No one seems overly worried at what seems a complete breach of trust & ethics
• Even Emma does not address this action explicitly

• Marty’s reaction to the requirement he goes on holiday is very exaggerated
• The lingering shot as he is frozen in thought and stuttering “h-h-holiday” shows this
• This emphasises the ruthlessness of the media

Technique: Irony

• Irony can be seen in the “Frontline” teams affronted response to Theresa, the team captain voicing her anger
• Mike sympathises with Brooke as it is an “ambush”, implying Brooke was not ready & in public peace.
• Yet “Frontline’s” report was far more of an ambush

People are not truthful in their personal relationships with others:

• Emma is trapped into going to Mike’s party because she cannot be honest with him
• Mike is “forced” to invite Dominica & Elliot as he is too weak to be honest
• Sabrina leaves homes with Jason “in a hurry” but they are not honest about where they are going or why

Language is used to manipulate to truth:

• Brooke tries to use semantics to cover her lack of ethics saying she “reported”.
• She hopes to hide behind the objective connotations of the word
• Cliches are used to mask looking deeper: Mike tries to cover his ignorance and lack of real understanding with clichés “Fighting goes on and so does the tragedy”

Smaller Fish to Fry

Summary:

• “Frontline is accused of being like all current affairs shows & never going after the big fish
• Mike tries to prove this wrong but when he comes across a great story he finds himself a target

Title:

• The title is a allusion to the common saying “bigger fish to fry” and the inversion of this emphasises that the media has not got more important things to do than pursue small operators

The wishes of those in power drive what news is delivered & how it is presented:

• Example 1
• Mike meets up with an out of work investigative journalist Bob Foster who shows Mike a folder of papers he has collected outlining a massive fraud in a major merchant bank
• In Scene 7 Foster warns Mike that “major players” are involved & he may not “get very far with this”
• When Foster says “As if the networks likes and dislikes are not known to the people working for him…” it highlights the importance of bias in reporting the news on a commercial network
• Some truths will never be aired because they clash with the ideals or interests of the owner of the network
• Bias leads to selectivity & determines what truths can & can’t be known
• As this episode shows the authority to tell the truth resides not with the producer, the journalist or the host but with those in control of the network as a whole

Example 2

• This occurs when Brooke and Emma meet with 2 of the Prime Ministers men to plan a interview with him
• His men repeatedly say “As long as you’re happy” but it is obvious it is they who must be happy
• They frown at the questions and suggest the lodge as a venue
• This gives the Prime Minister the power as he is on his own ground
• The amplification of the diegetic pen scratching sound effect emphasises the finality of their decisions & the control they are exerting however implicitly.
• The Prime Ministers office cancels the interview when Mike’s story looms: “They won’t go near us”. This est. that powerful people have powerful connections.

• The truth of the story is constrained by the medium of the format of the show. Brian states “We’ve got 3 minutes to do a story, 5 if it involves nudity” and continually speaks of television needing vision

The Media only pursues those powerless to fight back effectively

• The small time operators pursued show this
• “Smaller Fish to Fry” shows the Frontline team attacking a refrigerator repairer, a dry cleaning business, shop owners selling cigarettes to children & council workers taking an extra long coffee break
• Later Hugh’s question about what happens to these exposed operators makes their powerlessness very obvious
• They cannot fight and “they go bust”

Revealing the truth about those in power takes tremendous courage and is dangerous

• Bob is our example of the morally courageous but he is dismissed by Brian and Marty as “hack” and “second rate”
• Ironically he has sacrificed his credibility by being honest
• Mike tries to be brave enough but cannot follow through as it is clear his job is in danger

Media networks are ruthless and manipulate the truth to achieve their desires

• Brian’s job is under threat
• Even though he has gone through all the right channels to check the story & have it approved the pressure is subtly exerted for him to stop the story airing
• Brian does anything he has to protect his own job
• He is the one that gives Dominica the day off and takes a constructed story about Mike harassing Dominica to management

Technique: Juxtaposition

• When Brooke films the Christmas message her real feelings are juxtaposed to contrast her on screen & off screen personality and clearly shows are the media manipulate images to create their own truth

Technique: Exaggeration

• “Frontline’s” promo for the upcoming story on back cheats who will “bend over backwards” is accompanied by alarming & dramatic music & the woman featured bend forwards not backwards
• The total promo epitomises the cheap sensationalism of “Frontline”

Technique: Camera Shots

• The attention span gag is effectively created using camera shots
• Brian moans “Our audience simply doesn’t have the concentration span” while the camera shows Mike distracted playing with a gadget
• This is a visual gag that emphasises the limitations of Mike & the satirical purpose of Frontline

Language is used to manipulate the truth

• Emma & Brooke use euphemisms when speaking to the Prime Minister’s men
• Rather then being honest about the possibility of a contentious question Emma says “It felt like a distraction”
• Neither side uses direct language to openly discuss what is actually happening
• Cliches are shown to be meaningless. E.G. Farmer says to Brian he has “100% support”

This Night of Nights

Summary:

• Mike desperately wants to present an award at the Logie’s & Brooke and Marty both want to do an acceptance speech if they win
• Brian just wants to settle it all & keep “upstairs” happy

The media pretends ethics but in reality is concerned with ratings success

• Brian wants the Street Aid story to air despite the charity’s very sound reasons for a media blackout
• Every other representative follows it, even “The Truth” reporter
• “The Truth” is a publication widely known for its sensationalism & low brow stories
• Brian pretends the “duty” of objective reporting by saying “What right do you have to withhold information”
• Marty and his “friend” Bruce heartily swap insults in the way they address each other using terms like “arsehole” and “prick”
• These titles are supposedly light hearted but actually reveal a real lack of ethics

The wishes of those in power drive what news is delivered and how it is presented

• The charity is not so powerful. They “can’t force” their will but can “only ask” so they find themselves dealt cruelly with
• Initially telecom is being pursued for wrongfully recording customer phone calls but after management intervention, Telecom is actually promoted on the show
• Even Mike can see the irony of this saying “so we go from attacking them to endorsing them?” but is bought off by the phone

The media is an industry of pretence

• The industry is obsessed with image
• Thus being seen with the right sort of date is important
• Mike asks “should I take someone?” to which Brian responds “as long as she’s a spunk mate”
• The use of “mate” is used to represent the media’s falsity
• The Logies are renown as the “night of nights” yet they are presented as rigged
• Jan has a group fabricating votes so this cast doubts on the reality of the awards

Technique: Juxtaposition

• Brooke’s deadpan expression when she is listening to Ben Elton is contrasted sharply to her false laugh in the noddies that follow

Technique: Symbolism

• The off air awards have none of the glitz & glamour of the on air set
• This epitomises the hype of the Logies & its falsity

Technique: Irony

• It’s ironic that whilst Mike cannot get a date Dominica actually wants to go
• This emphasises the falsity of the industry as while he is so busy looking for a “star” he over looks a real date

Technique: Chequebook journalism

• When Mike is caught driving under the influence Brian tries to hush it up and uses chequebook journalism to maintain the image of “Frontline”

People are not honest in their personal relationships with others because they try to be polite & look good

• Mike pretends not to like the hype as he tries to look more credible & unconcered with frippery when he speaks to Jeff but we know he is obsessed with the Logies
• Mike has made up stories about Anne Fulwood to Jeff
• Brooke & Marty both initially pretend the other should accept the award should they win
• Yet when Marty agrees to do it, Brooke makes her real desire known claiming “the public wants to see me”
• They feud until the award is read and they lose
• Anne Fulwood is caught out as she lies to Mike when he asks her to go with him saying “I’ll be interstate” yet Mike runs into her at the Logies

Language is used to manipulate the truth

• Euphemisms are used constantly to mask the real meaning intending
• E.G Brooke says “I’m pretty busy” meaning she is not interested
• Anecdotes from personal experience are used to teach a lesson
• These are personalised so they carry more weight
• E.G Brian initially uses the poison water anecdote “Let me tell you a story mate – a true one” and it is later adopted by Marty & Mike to convince their audiences of the truth of their argument