‘Truth is a contest ground’

The media is one of the most powerful and influential institutions in modern day society with its ability to actively construct representations of certain truths that ultimately shape and mould our perceptions on certain events. The extent to which I agree to the notion that ‘truth is a contested ground’ is that I believe the many representations that flood the minds of those in society form, in a sense, a kaleidoscope view of an event, with different mediums and versions of truth collectively completing the puzzle of truth from which we are open to interpret. However, such pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, being of differing textual forms and upholding specific agendas all simultaneously compete in a race to fulfil their desire for the validation of their versions of truth. Consequently, it comes to a point where the distinct line between fact and fiction begin to blur, with the assistance of the hands of those in power colouring an event with a specific agenda. This is explored and satirised in Rob Sitch et al’s Frontline episodes The Siege and We Ain’t Got Dames, the SMH article ‘Give me knowledge instead of all these bits’ by Sian Prior and the 1994 film ‘The Paper’ by Ron Howard.

The driving force behind the actions of the media is one that results in the compromise of the media’s upholding of public responsibility and public safety reflecting the unscrupulous behaviour involved in achieving such validity. The being, the desire for ratings. This is highlighted in the episode The Siege, which gives the audience an insight into the processes that occur behind the facades we constantly face each day. The active manipulation of news is emphasised with the use of the fly on the wall camera technique to create a feeling that this fabrication of ‘truth’ is indeed a truth in itself, that is actively withheld from the public domain. As we follow this team’s quest for ratings whilst armed with several ‘versions’ of truth, we see the ethical boundaries that are broken down as the attention has been drawn toward certain pin points. This is exemplified in Brooke’s interview with Mrs Forbes which satirises the unethical approach that is adopted toward innocent individuals and has resulted from this thirst for ratings. The use of irony seen in the lines ‘this isn’t to protect us, its to protect YOU’ – Brooke that accompanied with the blank and non – empathetic facial expressions of the Frontline team suggests the value of the interview as being no more than a casual commodity for a story with significant commercial potential.