UOW Journalism
Second year Bachelor of Communications and Media feature writing student Widyan Al Ubudy takes aim at Fred Nile’s burqa bill in this opinion piece for Fairfax’s National Times The curtains have opened and the burqa has yet again taken centre stage on the political agenda. NSW Christian Democrats MP Fred Nile has been given permission to explain to Parliament his Full-Face Coverings Prohibition Bill, modelled on legislation recently passed by the Belgian Parliament. This follows Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi’s call to ban the burqa after a man wore one as a disguise during an armed robbery in Sydney recently. And French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also labelled the burqa an unwelcome symbol that oppresses women. Western nations are now up in arms about whether or not to ban the controversial Islamic garment. Someone needs to tell Sarkozy that just because his alluring wife is willing to “take it off”, does not mean that all women want to express themselves in such a way.
Second year BJ Student Rebecca Davis filed this audio slide show on Coalcliff Surf life savers for the Illawarra Mercury
Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club’s battle ahead - Multimedia - Illawarra Mercury
Recent BJ graduate has just snagged a job with the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. She reports here on a young DJ:
His first visit to an under-18s dance party led Jake Ribarovski to become a DJ. When the Blakehurst High School student saw a DJ perform almost two years ago, he became set on picking up the skills.
Check out her multimedia report:
DJ gets into the mix at first council-run dance party - St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
Final year BJ student Gordon Kynvett’s interview with local Roller Derby enthusiasts was shocased by ABC’s Pool:
Come and meet the women who form the awesome, unbeatable WIRD Roller Derby. They won their recent stoush against NRL: Newcastle 175 to 127. Gorndon Kynvett from the UOW journalism program talks to some of the women behind WIRD.
Recent BJ graduate Mathew Jones was snapped up by the Illawarra Mercury even before he graduated. He now reports on local life and politics. here he takes a look at the local Orthodoxy community:
“On a stunning summer’s day, Wollongong’s Macedonian community took to the streets to celebrate a saviour yesterday. After a morning service at the Macedonian Orthodox Church of St Dimitrija Solunski on Stewart St, a procession of more than 500 faithful marched down Harbour St to Belmore Basin to celebrate Vodici, or the Holy Epiphany. Vodici celebrates the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan by St John the Baptist and is a major event on the Macedonian Orthodox calendar. Traffic came to a standstill around Belmore Basin as police enforced temporary road closures and motorists watched with interest as the procession headed for the beach, bearing flags and banners and led by the Very Reverend Alexandar Ivanovski.”
Macedonians celebrate Holy Epiphany - Local News - News - General - Illawarra Mercury
Recent BJ graduate Sam Hall is now a reporter with the Illawarra Mercury here he reports on local response to the World Cup.
“Twelve hundred football fans wore their hearts on their sleeves at Fairy Meadow’s Fraternity Club yesterday morning, riding Australia’s emotional roller-coaster during its match with Ghana.
For the second time in less than a week, fans sacrificed sleep to watch their team, as an army of green and gold supporters revived hopes of World Cup success.
Among the supporters was Socceroo Scott Chipperfield’s mum, Dale, who described the Illawarra venue as the second best place to being in South Africa”
World Cup mania: fans pack out Fraternity Club - Local News - News - General - Illawarra Mercury
MA Journalism student Adam Knoble filed this multimedia report on the rebirth of a local theatre.
Phoenix Theatre rises from the ashes - Multimedia - Illawarra Mercury
Second year UOW BJ student Andrew Riddle wrote a passionate opinion piece featured in Fairfax’s National Times:
The problem with banning self-expression in any way is that it’s viral. The chilling effect is an infection in human society, which soon spreads into every aspect of life. The law is an ass, and a well-ordered society is only ever an ill-considered law or a populist outrage from a police state. Yet in Australian political debate, far too often what is “bad” is treated as one with what should be “banned”.
