Righty-o,
Because this is Friday I don't expect you to mark it, I wasn't going to do one this week originaly but then decided that it's bad if I miss a week this early. So I did this quick and in the forum (so no spell check
)
Susie O'Brien's opinion piece 'Anna Bligh outperforms Julia Gillard in the greatest leadership test of all', appearing in the Herald Sun on January 14th focuses on the roles played by the Queensland premier- Anna Bligh- as well as the roll played by Julia Gillard in response to the recent queensland floods. Susie O'Brien argues through her piece that Anna Bligh's approach to the handling of the floods was superior to Ms. Gillard's and, by implication, that Ms Gillard misshandled her approach to the natural disaster. In this way, Sussie O'brien aims to convince readers of the Herald Sun that Bligh outperformed Gillard and that Gillard's approach should mirror Bligh's more closely in the future.
O'brien choses to open her article with a visual image. The image chosen shows Permier Bligh left of frame with Ms. Gillard shaddowing her, apparantly during a press confrence regardignt the floods- as is implied byt he microphones in the foreground and map in the backgorun. This image is most likely employed by O'brien in an effort to produce an emotional connection between the reader and Anna Bligh, whilst at the same time distancing the reader from Ms Gillard. The composition of the shot which displays the emotional premier with a sweaty brow juxtaposed against that of the Prime Minister with a rather smug or secure persona is likely to achieve this in viewers who would be drawn to the one who is seemingly more human. This creates a direct emotional connection between Ms Bligh and the reader and also promotes a void between Ms Gillard and the reader.
O'Brien attempts to further strenghten this bond between reader and Bligh through promoting the idea that Ms Bligh is a 'mantra for those struggling to come to terms with the tragedy'. This direct praise for Ms Bligh will promote the concept amongst the audience that Ms Bligh represents an embodiement of a perfect leader. This concept is further promoted by O'brien's description of a 'refreshingly honest approach' provided by the premier as well as the description of her 'gritty resolve'. This emotive imagery allong with the direct praise of Ms Bligh is likely to further promote and strenghten the existing bond between the reader and the premier.
O'brien further continues with this approach by promoting the concept that Ms. Gillard is a leader who has 'been hitting the wrong notes'. O'briend juxtaposes the two leader's approaches whilst also blatanly emphasising that Ms Bligh's approach is superior to that of Ms. Gillard. O'brien's juxtaposition is most evident when she openly suggests that the reader should 'Contrast [Gillard's approach] with Bligh'. This is likely to lead to a mental 'side taking' amongst the Sun readers whereby the suggested and logical side appears to be that of Ms Bligh.
O'brien uses visual techniques as well as language devices to promote a void between the reader and Ms Gillard and further creates an emotional connection between the reader and Ms Bligh.
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