WHY WE NEED JOURNALISM IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Investigative journalism plays a fundamental role in democractic societies. It is the role of the investigative journalist to inform the public while revealing any injustices. They can be seen as the fourth pillar of democracy. As stated by Thomas Carlye in his book On Heroes and Hero Worship, “there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.” Investigative journalism was and is instrumental to the birth and growth of democracy. However, none of this is true unless the journalists mentioned are credible, reliable and fair. They have the responsibility to inform and criticise in a professional and responsible manner. They must sometimes test the morals of ethical practice and invade the privacy of others if it is of public interest. Matters that are in the public interest are different to those that the public find interesting. If it is in the public interest it must matter to everyone in society and benefit their common good and well-being.

Now more than ever, we need credible journalists. In the age of new media, fake news and yellow journalism can be spread and believed all over the world in a matter of hours. It’s the responsibility of the journalist to debunk the false claims. In this essay I will take a brief look at the history of investigative journalism. I will then look at examples of when and why investigative journalism was needed in societies. I will outline the importance of having credible journalists in societies and the dangers of fake news.

 

History of Investigative Journalism

 

According to Hugo De Burge in his book Investigative Journalism, An Investigative Journalist “is a man or woman who’s profession it is to discover the truth and to identify lapses from it in whatever media may be available to them.” Someone who is viewed as one of the first Investigative Journalists was a man called William Thomas Stead who was born in 1849 in Embleton, Northumberland. He was one of the first journalists to tackle political matters through investigative journalism. He is mainly remembered for his articles titled ‘The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon,’ in which he wanted to show to the public the ease of which he was able to purchase a child for prostitution. Stead sensationalised these articles and had readers eagerly awaiting the next installments. Stead’s articles led to a change in legislation and the female age of consent was raised from 13 to 16 years of age. In the end he was the victim of a bill that he had helped to enact and he was prosecuted for 3 months in prison for purchasing an underage prostitute. After this, according to De Burge, “Investigative Journalism had been invented,” but so had another type of journalism which we recognise today as tabloid journalism.

 

Exceptional Investigative Journalism

One example of exceptional investigative journalism in more recent years was when The Boston Globe exposed abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in Boston,

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Cocaine: An Easy Addiction

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It’s a regular occurrence now to pay a visit to the bathroom in a late bar or club and to hear that suddenly every occupant in the cubicles around you have developed an unpleasant cold within the last few minutes. You’ll see them walk out, more than likely they will have been in there with another user, and give themselves a quick check in the mirror to make sure there’s no residue left over on their noses from their session in the toilet. They’ll give you a smile and walk out feeling as though they’re on top of the world and they’re everyone’s friend. But how are they going to feel tomorrow?

The hangover you experience the day after indulging in cocaine is different to the usual alcohol one. Yes you still get all of the symptoms of a regular hangover, but you also get a sense of dread. You feel like nothing could possibly cure how you feel. The crash or low coming down from the drug can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. You’re stuck in bed and essentially lose a day all for a boost of confidence and adrenaline the night before.

At the time, it seems like the perfect answer to everything. Feeling tired and not ready to go home? Have some coke. Want to go over and introduce yourself to someone but you’re way too nervous? Do a line and you’ll be grand. And if you offer to people who are looking for it, they’ll be your friend for. Well most likely just for the night. You’ll be able to stay up as late or early as you like and feel great doing so, until it’s time to go home.

As much as you may want it to, the party won’t go on forever. You can only escape the world for so long but then it’s time to go back to reality. And with that will come one of the worst hangovers imaginable. You go from one extreme to another. Depending on the amount users take they might start to perk up again in a few days’ time. Ready to do it all over again and this is where the cycle begins. Unfortunately, it’s a cycle that’s very hard to break. It’s how a user becomes an addict.

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The Mac Miller Effect

Unfinished photo by Shannon Wolfe

On the 7th of September 2018 Mac Miller was found dead in his apartment, from an accidental drug overdose. Toxicology reports showed that Malcolm McCormick had cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl in his system. This drug over dose happened just one month and four days after the release of his fifth studio album, Swimming. 

“And I was just drowning, but now I’m swimming” 

The album was released after his break-up from his girlfriend Ariana Grande. They’re relationship was extremely high profile and was followed closely by both of their fan bases. This could be the reason why fans of Mac Miller thought they had the right to blame Ariana for his death. They claim she left him for someone else (quite publicly at that) in a time when he was struggling and needed her the most. 

His relationship with Ariana is over shadowing his impact on the music industry and society. Blue Slide Park and Best Day Ever Mixtape were the sound track to my teens. I mean, Senior Skip Day was the ultimate song to listen to when you were on the hop from school! He was real, and not afraid to speak up when he wasn’t feeling okay. Which is what we’re all encouraged to do now. He made this music at such a young age and we all grew up together. One of the best concerts I’ve been to to date was Lil Wayne in the 3 arena in 2013. I wasn’t there to see Lil Wayne though, and neither were the hundreds of other people who shouted for “Mac Back” when he finished his time on stage. He’s left a legacy behind him that I hope will stay with generations to come.

THE HPV VACCINE – THE ADVERSE EFFECTS

THE HPV VACCINE – THE ADVERSE EFFECTS

 

In Ireland there have been over 800 reported cases of adverse effects from the HPV vaccine. R.E.G.R.E.T. – Reactions and Effects of Gardasil Resulting in Extreme Trauma– has been set up for girls in Ireland who have fallen ill after receiving the vaccine. In May of last year there were an estimated 20 girls in the group. As of October this year there is now over 400.

TDs Gerry Adams and Darragh O’Brien have been helping the group. Ex Minister for Health Leo Varadkar finally spoke up at the start of this year. He insists the girls who are ill should be treated based on their symptoms: “rather than what they believe the cause to be.” In relation to the results of the report on the vaccine conducted by The European Medicines Agency he concluded that, “there is no need to change the way HPV vaccines are used or to amend the product information.”

The support group is working towards getting information packs given to those who are planning on receiving the vaccine. Many of the mothers are not anti-vaccine; BUT they want to make others aware of their daughters’ illnesses and would like the information packs to outline the possible risks of the vaccine. This is one of the things that they have been fighting for and are asking our government to help them with. They would like the mothers of the possible receivers to make an educated decision on whether or not their daughters should get the vaccine.

The UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters, “Have joined together to give support to each other and raise awareness of the dangers of the HPV vaccines, Cervarix and Gardasil.  Their primary focus is, “to assure our members that they are no longer on their own and by working together we can achieve so much more. In our opinion, these vaccines have caused many serious health issues which need immediate investigation.”

Symptoms

In most cases the adverse effects begin with migraines and weaknesses in the back or arms/hands. There have been reports of girls experiencing: Chronic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and POTS (dizziness when standing or moving quickly).

Whether it’s Kelly Power from County Dublin or Vivian, from Dundee, in Scotland. The same story every time. A girl who was attending school like any other teen, involved in sports and full of energy. Happy, active, going out with friends and engaging in activities that they enjoy. After they receive the vaccine their energy levels are drained, chronic pain sets in, and they can barely leave their bed. The prospect of school and completing exams is destroyed.

There’s no explanation for their illness, and no proof that the vaccine is at fault. The issue is the absence of evidence. Evidence is what these groups are trying to find but with little funds and resources this won’t be easy to achieve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoG3Bz7OUIg Kelly power

http://mnhopkins.blogspot.ie/2016/03/a-warning-from-scotland-gardasil-put.html Vivian

LITAGATION 

AUSTRALIA

Naomi Snell is a 28 year old woman from Melbourne, Australia who is leading a class-action civil lawsuit against drug maker Merck, after she fell ill following injections for the HPV Vaccine. 

JAPAN 

In Japan the vaccine was available free of charge to Japanese girls between the ages of 12-16. The vaccine was also included in Japan’s national immunization program. However due to alarming reports that many vaccine receivers were experiencing serious side effects ranging from short term memory loss to paralysis, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced they had decided to withdraw the HPV vaccine recommendation. It is not withdrawn from the market altogether, however the government will no longer recommend its use.  

UNITED STATES

In the early 1980s, there was a huge number of parents filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. This was due to the reactions from the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT) vaccine and the live polio vaccine. Minor children were permanently damaged or had died because of the vaccine. 

Due to the amount of lawsuits piling up against them, pharmaceutical companies demanded from Congress that they protect them from all product liability from vaccine injuries and deaths. However, because of strong opposition from the National Vaccine Information Centre, they were only protected from product liability if compensation was denied or it was proved that the vaccine could have been made safer. 

This seems like a reasonable decision, but in 2011 that all changed once again after a lawsuit filed against Pfizer, Inc. in 2005. The lawsuit was brought to the high court by the parents of Hannah Bruesewitz who suffered severe side effects after being given her third DPT shot in 1992. Some of her injuries included a residual seizure disorder. The Supreme Court decided to give complete product liability protection to vaccine manufacturers. This means that no lawsuits can be filed against them. No matter how many deaths and injuries have occurred. It also gives the manufacturers no motivation to make the vaccine the best it can be, due to them being protected from civil law suits. 

“The 2011 Supreme Court ruling was a corporate bailout of vaccine manufacturers that excused the industry from any sort of accountability, leaving them with no incentive to make vaccines safer.10 The increasing number of states mandating more vaccines and restricting or removing vaccine exemptions, together with the failures of the VICP and Pharma’s total liability shield, is leading to more widespread questioning of U.S. vaccine policies and laws.”- Barbara Loe Fisher, (NVIC)

As of 2013, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program have awarded $5,877,710 dollars to 49 US victims. 200 claims had been filed with not even half settled.

IRELAND 

Parents in Ireland are looking for compensation for the damages the vaccine has done to their children and their lives. They are looking to sue both the manufacturer and the state. However the evidence is difficult to find and more over expensive to investigate. 

Coleman legal partners in Dublin have a specific section on their website for Gardasil victims to encourage them to contact their Medical Negligence Solicitors and discuss their case.  

 

The Struggle on the Streets of Dublin

The Struggle on the Streets of Dublin

Laura Connolly

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I set out today to really try and understand the harsh reality of life for those who are homeless in Dublin. I spoke to people who were either sleeping rough or else switching from hostel to hostel each day. I wanted to know if what some people assume is true. Is the money we give to them for food or a hostel, or for drugs or alcohol? Do they appreciate when we give them food? Or are the majority ungrateful unless it’s money. What I saw today surprised me and also moved me. The people I spoke to gave me a true insight into their tough lives.

It’s difficult to measure the exact number of homeless people there are, due to ‘hidden homelessness’ (this is when people are sofa surfing or squatting). According to The Peter McVerry Trust, as of September of this year there are 3,428 adults and 1571 children without a home. The number has increased each month for the first nine months of 2015. Almost one third of their health was recorded to be either ‘fair’, ‘bad’, or ‘very bad.’

The first person I sat with certainly looked as though his health would be in the ‘bad’ category. His hands were rough and red from the cold, but thankfully he had a warm hat and jacket. His name was Alex. He’s 32 and has been homeless for almost 2 years. He moved to Ireland nine years ago from Romania. I placed some change in his cup, and we began to chat.

The Dark Side of the Web; Do Vampires Really Exist?

An exploration of the online ‘vampire’ communities. 843 words, Laura Connolly.

*UPDATE* After reading responses from the Vampire Community in relation to this post, I would like to stress that I tried to be as objective and non biased as possible and I apologise if anyone was offended after reading*

 The Dark Side of the Web; Do Vampires Really Exist?  

“I either have a donor or a girlfriend who allows me to drink from them, that is how I get human blood. Otherwise I have to feed on raw beef blood or have a very very rare steak.” Jason De Marco explains how he obtains human blood to consume.

Speaking to Mr. De Marco, he tells me that he first realised he was a vampire at the age of 4. He is now an adult – “I do not reveal my age,” and the founder and administrator of the Facebook group ‘House of Obsidian Raven.’ The group has over 500 members, and all of them claim they are vampires. “A group for real vampires be you a blood sucker, pranic, or a mixture. Seekers are also welcome, but NO wannabes or fakes.”

There are many other groups just like this on the web. There’s no proof that these people are actually blood drinkers, and maybe they are just looking for somewhere to fit in. However, there have been several cases in the media involving the actual drinking of blood. Dr. Brendan Kelly, Psychiatrist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, speaks on the issue.

Gambling and Sports Betting: Does it make or break the game?

With the world’s technology advances in the past decade, gambling has become so much easier, for anyone anywhere, to place a bet. Paddy Power was founded in 1988 when three existing Irish bookmakers merged. There are now 212 shop outlets around Ireland. They also have an iPhone App, Telephone Betting, and a YouTube Channel.

While asking around almost everyone agreed that of course betting on a game makes it better. If you’re a non-gambler like me you may not have known this. If you regularly bet on games, then you’re probably rolling your eyes like the others I questioned. I continued on to ask why this is.

‘Neomasculinity’ Pro-Rape Group Organise Meet-ups Around the World

Daryush ‘Roosh’ Valizadeh is the leader of ‘Return of the Kings,’ an online community who are ‘pro-rape.’ He has a noticeable presence on Twitter with the user name @rooshv. The group have joint beliefs that “gender equality is a myth that has no scientific basis” and a “woman’s value significantly depends on her fertility and beauty.”

The group organised a meet-up in front of the main entrance of Naas Courthouse, Kildare, last Saturday at 8pm. The meet-ups around the world were planned to take place in 43 countries all together, all at 8pm local time. Due to security measures that were set up by authorities, Valizadeh cancelled all the events.

The fear of holidaying in Greece and the ironic truth behind it

Elena Lavranos, 59, had been up since 7am preparing food for the next 60 or so people to eat. Thursday nights were busy at her restaurant since that is when the Dublin flight comes in and the familiar faces return. It was due to her cooking and her son Georges hospitality that they return year after year. She could see why they would, but she never got to experience the magic of Corfu in the way that they did.