Lesson 2: The Journalist, Thomas Hogan

An aspiring writer looking to further advance his skills.

"I think summer school is fun, fast-paced. Perhaps, we could all go for drinks by the end of it, make the worst of a bad situation," said Thomas Hogan, a 21-year-old professional communications student at RMIT.

Six months left, on the verge of graduation, Thomas differed. Moving away from journalism, he decided to pursue a newfound passion for advertising.

“The creative aspect, caught my attention,” said Thomas, “to me, corporate communication has limitless potential.”

With storytelling experience and a strong desire for group work, Thomas Hogan hopes to graduate professional communication majoring in advertising. Realising the importance to integrate emerging technologies, Thomas believes that advertising will soon incorporate data analytics.

Despite his past experiences working with many different people, personal interactions like cold calling still challenge Thomas. “Everyone struggles reaching out to strangers,” he said, “but I’m slowly getting better.”

In 2017, Thomas spent 6 months studying at RMIT Vietnam campus. "I lived close by the campus," he said, " but the experience was completely different."

Thomas Hogan hopes to kickstart his advertising career in the future. The skills and expertise gained from studying may enable him to pursue international opportunities.

In his spare time, Thomas participates in a soccer group, with weekly training. “I used to play for the Mornington district,” he said, “but I’ve since moved on to indoor soccer.”

Earlier this year, Thomas Hogan was diagnosed with a carcinoma tumour. Taking two weeks off school, he promptly acquired medical treatment. Though the cancer was non-invasive, it served as a wake-up call.

“It’s an honest reality check,” he said, “our time on earth is brief, so we have to make the most of it.”

"Our time is very brief," said Thomas, "so we may as well make the most of it."

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What also served as a reality check was the increasing prevalence of fake news within the media environment. Aylan and Galip Kurdi - The Power of an Image, 2015, presented by ABC’s Media Watch provides an insightful political analysis, of the refugee crisis debate both international and abroad.

Sparked by the image of a dead child, named Alyan, washed up on the shore, politicians renewed their interests to solve the refugee crisis.

On one hand, conservative politicians and/or presenters including Tony Abbott and Alan Jones brought up controversial “facts” about Aylan and his family’s intent to seek refuge.

Most interestingly, as further research and testimonies reveal. Aylan’s story becomes clouded. The information presented; their key messages widely differ depending on the source. Concerningly, some sources are not backed by facts or credible information, which has the ability to generate fake news and undermine the foundations of trust within a democracy.

For my future practises in communication, the case of Aylan serves as a reminder to always doubt the "truth" and seek another perspective.

Though some news requires doubt, others remain a mystery. In 1989 Jeff Widene took an image that would later cement itself in history.

In front of a squad of five armoured tanks in Tiananmen square China, stood a lone man carrying groceries. That person was the tank man, and till this day, his identity remains a mystery.

A video by BBC titled Tank Man: The amazing story behind THAT photo – Newsnight, 2014, Jeff Widene made the bold decision to take the tank man photo.

Widene argues that fortune favours the bold. In his field of photo communication, a message could not be sent out without risk or controversy. As professional practicians, our role is to provide truthful and ethical information, but that should not come as a compromise of personal safety.

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Tank Man: The amazing story behind THAT photo – Newsnight, 2014, YouTube video, BBC Newsnight, viewed on 04 December 2019, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SACHK-W4o1E>.

Aylan and Galip Kurdi - The Power of an Image 2015, online video, 14 September, ABC Media Watch, viewed 20 November 2019, <https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/the-power-of-an-image/9973132>