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Anyone willing...?

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lara.m

Greenlighter
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Jun 4, 2010
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I am a student studying journalism and I have to write a colour story on the budget. I have chosen to focus on the budgets new funding towards a drugs awareness campaign and was wondering if i could have a phone/email interview with anyone who has or is using illicit drugs, who is willing to have their name used within my assignment, and see their opinions on whether they believe the increased funding towards the campaign or the campaign itself helps at all.

Not sure if this is allowed and not sure if I will get any responses - but it would be great if someone could help out.
 
Hi lara, welcome to bluelight

I wish you all the best with the story but I will say now that you could have some trouble getting a volunteer to hand out such information.

I will leave this thread up for a while but it doesn't really fall under our harm reduction category.
 
The media just portrays drugs in such a non factual/scare mongering way.

It actually leads to riskier drug taking behavior. People realizing they have been lied to when the first joint, pill, whack of H etc. doesn't ruin their life as the government/media would lead you to believe is one of societies biggest problems.

The money spent on such campaigns could do so much for education and health sectors it just isn't funny!

Scare campaigns fuel drug taking, not decrease it.

The people in charge of this country are living with their heads up their asses and i'm sure many of them know what they say is untruthful but if any poly was to be truthful about drugs the media would grill them.

Viscous circle indeed
 
^The greens in Tasmania have been pretty honest lately... might be stimulus for a change?

(I am not a Greens supporter by the way)

ahh.. feel much better now that cleared that up.
 
^ So true, like a few elections ago where they wanted to legalise weed and ecstasy but got laughed at so hard. It is a shame nobody actually stood up and realised for once someone had the balls to call out the hard decisions and not just go with whats easiest. I mean it was made out like a cheap tactic for easy votes but in reality it was the total opposite. It is a shame they have scrapped this because I think in a few years time people might be more open minded.
 
They almost got a power sharing situation in Tasmania in the recent election. After a bitter battle I believe they ended up with a couple of seats.

It is worth looking into their policies, as I believe they will become more powerful as the climate change converts push for a more environmentally balanced government policy.

Here is a simple example of what the greens have been up against lately. It has to do with their Heroin policy, but it gives the reader a good idea of what they are trying to achieve.

the article above said:
Ms O’CONNOR – Do you think that every heroin user in Tasmania comes to the attention of police and/or the authorities?… Seriously, you really ought to get out more. Harm minimisation is the key. We know prohibition is not the solution. It does not work. In fact, for some, it makes the obtaining of a substance even more enticing.
Click to expand...

I like their dugs policies, and think they represent the intent of BL quite well.

http://www.tas.greens.org.au/policy/justice said:
Drugs Use: support strong criminal penalties, including imprisonment, for the supply of illicit drugs and the possession of illicit drugs above quantities consistent with personal use; introduce disincentives for the personal use of illicit drugs to include diversion programs, compulsory treatment, education programs and penalties
Click to expand...

I believe they have changed the wording of this recently to bring the party more into line with the current ruling party. Politics eh....
 
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i would be willing to help out if I don't have to use my own name, to keep confidentiality.

is this for a university assignment or is it going to be printed in the media?
 
I am wondering what the necessity of using a real name is?

Even journalistic reports use an alias and indicate at the bottom that real names have been altered to protect the guilty.....
 
^ I am wondering that too actually, it seems a little bit suss. I am not suggesting you ae a fed lara.m but it is a little bit odd. Like I don't understand what beneft there is to naming someone when it isn't as if you have requested someone specific like a healthcare professional where maybe their credentials are relevant.

I think you will have a hard time finding someone to let you use their real name. If you throw that idea out the window though I think most people on here would be willing to help, I know I would be...
 
the more I think about it the more suss this sounds. call me paranoid, but it could be quite a good trap. get someone to give their full name, then an agency tracks their posts and determines the extent of their illegal involvement.

if it is for a journalism paper, wouldn't it be easier just to make a post and get people to post their opinions on the thread. I understand that in journalism it is important to have good sources, but considering these are only opinions and opinions on an activity that is illegal - i think it wouldn't be that important to have a real name. besides you could always make one up and your markers are never to know.
 
Can't use fake names in Journalism due to defamation laws. Unless you specifically state it as being a fake name.

Off the record can't be used as it can't be verified - you need to have names clearly linked to statements or it's just hearsay.

If the police request the information on your sources you have to give it to them or you face fines and or jail time.

I'm a media law/journalism post student.

Good idea Lara but honestly look elswhere for sources, hit the streets. Is this a feature story or a hard news piece? In all honesty is it's for study just just fake a source IMO dodgey but works lol.
 
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