I guess the real task is to remain focused, keep to the point and don't beat around the bush as they say (something a blog doesn't stop us from doing). Coming from a fine art background makes this a real challege, years of studying conceptual art means I can read endless meaning into, and intellectualise even the smallest of things. I am sure other artists and my old art tutors wouldn't like this comment but I don't mean it as negative thing. I think what I am trying to get at is I have to change my approach slightly with journalistic writing, picking out the pieces of most relevence to the story and issue, and this doesn't always mean the most interesting pieces, but pieces when put together give a clearer and more forcused and driven debate (which in the end turns out to be something of more interest and worth) Perhaps this isn't even the move from fine art into photojournalism but the jump from BA to Masters. None the less it is a tricky tasks but one I am enjoying.
Below is a small section from the essay, this may totally change at a later date though as I am still writing:
On discussing the BBC's Children in Need telethon in 2005, Guardian writer James Harkin writes;
(…)compassion fatigue, refers to the psychological exhaustion said to be induced by endless appeals for money and sympathy. If charity begins at home, then compassion fatigue begins when it comes to places far away.
(Harkin. J, 2005)
He suggests that due to what he calls “the latest buzzword” (Harkin. J, 2005), compassion fatigue, many viewers of this appeal did not donate. He also makes the suggestion that there is a link between compassion fatigue and distance, the phrase “one fireman in this town is worth 10 in the next” springs to mind. He goes on to say;
In an interview with this newspaper earlier in the week, the head of the UN development programme offered it (compassion fatigue) as the explanation for the pathetic response to the humanitarian crisis following the earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir.
(Harkin। J, 2005)
This phrase has been popularly used for some time now. In her 1999 book entitled Compassion Fatigue Susan Moeller discusses cases of it in the 80’s, the 90’s and earlier. Given this idea of compassion fatigue, why then did Stoddarts images published in the Guardian on 12th August 1998 still manage to raise huge awareness and funds for the cause.
