Analysing Opinion Articles: the Daily Maverick
You can find the original article here on Daily Maverick’s website.
The following essay is a student response. The scoring breakdown is at the end of this page. (Note, I’ve added headings to emphasise the essay’s structure.)
[Introduction]
Through five contrasting tones - from mocking satire to battle-ready calls to action - Brkic's opinion article criticizes fellow journalists who embrace digital practices, calling them to return to traditional reporting values. His intense language contrasts deliberately with the cartoon's cheerful portrayal of digital engagement, using this stark difference to challenge journalists who have traded serious reporting for superficial social media practices.
[1st Topic: Satire: Journalists as an Endangered Species]
The writer uses satire by treating journalists like an endangered species to show how modern technology and social media are killing serious journalism. When he writes like a scientist studying a rare animal "critically endangered species" and records their behavior "We record their characteristics here so we can remember them one day", it makes his point hit harder. This scientific-sounding language becomes even more powerful when compared to the happy, cartoon-like image of people casually using social media. While he's documenting serious journalist behaviors "Real Journalists photograph events they cover, not themselves doing it" and describing their challenging environment "walk a precarious path", the image shows people mindlessly tapping hearts and sharing emojis - perfectly proving his point about how real journalism is being replaced by shallow online activities. By writing about journalists as if they're about to go extinct, he helps readers step back and really see what's happening to journalism. The image backs this up by showing exactly what's taking over: people more interested in social media likes than actual news. This clever approach of mixing serious warnings with humor effectively rallies fellow journalists by turning their professional anxiety into shared resistance against the dumbing down of their craft, making them feel both validated in their concerns and called to action.
[2nd Topic: Apocalyptic Language and Immediate Danger]
Through dramatic and apocalyptic language, Brkic warns journalists that their profession is in serious danger from digital media and needs immediate saving. Using words like "terrifying," "deadly," and "weapons" alongside descriptions of an "earthquakey world," he creates a feeling of immediate crisis, which really stands out against the image's peaceful depiction of social media with its soothing color palette of navy blue, coral red, and soft pink, its neat design, and simple cartoon figures. The harmonious colors make digital media appear organized and benign, directly contradicting his warnings. When he talks about rapid tech changes and society's instability, describing us as "hurtling towards an unpredictable future" and building technology that could "render us a failed civilization," he makes everything feel unstable and dangerous. His description of social media as a "deadly Pandora's box" and something "more dangerous than nuclear bombs" might seem over-the-top when compared to the image's casual social media users tapping away at their phones, but this contrast perfectly shows what he's worried about - how we've come to accept shallow online engagement instead of real reporting. When he says "The framework that built modern journalism as the Fourth Estate of democracy is melting," he's painting a picture of everything falling apart. By using such extreme language to describe threats that journalists face daily, Brkic taps into their professional fears and frustrations, making them more likely to rally behind his call to protect serious journalism.
[3rd Topic: Prophetic Warnings: The Disappearance of Real Journalism]
Using a prophet's warning voice, Brkic shows fellow journalists how their profession could disappear completely, replaced by mindless digital media scrolling. When he predicts things like "We might only realise how crucial Real Journalists were for us when they're not around anymore," he creates a scary picture of what's coming. The image proves his point perfectly - huge phones and social media icons take over the whole scene, with people totally zoned out in their digital world instead of doing real reporting. His warning that our phones have become "weapons more dangerous than nuclear bombs" might sound extreme, but when you look at the image of people completely ignoring the real world around them, you get his point. He reminds us how we thought technology would make us smarter and more connected, but shows how that dream failed. Things that used to be journalism rules are now just suggestions, he points out, and when journalists expose bad guys these days, those guys just turn it into another way to make money. The image backs this up perfectly - none of these cartoon people are investigating stories or uncovering truth; they're just mindlessly tapping away at their phones. By showing his fellow journalists such a clear picture of how their important work could be replaced by empty social media habits, Brkic makes them want to fight back against these changes before it's too late.
[4th Topic: Journalism as a Battle]
By using fighting words and a defiant tone, Brkic portrays journalism as a brave battle against lies and corruption, but the happy, peaceful image of people using social media tells a very different story. When he uses phrases like "run, face first," "towards fire," "towards trouble," and "towards loud and dangerous thunder," he makes journalism sound like going into battle. The image shows the exact opposite - people calmly scrolling and sharing, completely comfortable with their phones. While Brkic declares that "Real Journalists are not scared of shouting politicians" and "do not give up when a spokesperson or source ducks, dives and dodges," the cartoon figures in the image aren't confronting anyone or uncovering any truths - they're just passively consuming and sharing content. His strong message that journalists must "keep their distance" from power and "never cosy up to them" shows journalists should be fighters against authority, not friends with it. When he says journalists must be "about what's right, even if unpopular," he's calling for courage to stand up against what most people think. But the image shows exactly what he's fighting against - people happily going along with whatever their social media feeds show them, not questioning or investigating anything. By showing this stark difference between brave, fighting journalists and passive social media users, Brkic challenges his fellow journalists to choose which side they're on - comfortable content sharing or the tough fight for truth.
[5th Topic: Contrasting Real Journalists and Digital Media Users]
Using strong and passionate language, Brkic describes what a real journalist should be, but the cartoon shows how far journalism has fallen. When he keeps saying what "Real Journalists" do, especially that they "serve one master: truth," he makes all the social media stuff in the image look pretty useless. He talks about journalists being like "an anchor in choppy seas" and people who can spot lies in government statements, but the image just shows people doing brain-dead stuff like clicking hearts, posting emojis, and checking where their friends are. While Brkic believes journalists should work for "their community, society and democracy," the cartoon people are just mindlessly consuming whatever pops up on their screens. When he says real journalists don't care about Twitter followers but care about getting the story right, it makes the image's focus on likes and shares look even more empty. You can really see what we're losing when you compare Brkic's picture of brave journalists uncovering the truth with the image's happy people just tapping away at their phones. By showing his fellow journalists this huge gap between what their job should be and what it's becoming, Brkic tries to fire them up to fight back against this dumbing down of their important work.
Conclusion
Through carefully chosen shifts in tone and stark contrast with the image's positive portrayal of social media, Brkic criticizes fellow journalists who embrace digital practices, calling them to return to traditional reporting values. However, his idealized vision of noble journalists fighting against digital corruption not only ignores the reality that modern reporters must adapt to survive, but also dismisses the potential benefits of digital media for enhancing journalism's reach and impact.
Scoring Breakdown
The scoring breakdown for the student response reflects the following strengths and areas for improvement:
Criterion A (Understanding and Interpretation): 5/5
The student demonstrated a thorough understanding of the text and effectively interpreted its meaning. There were no significant flaws in comprehension or analysis.Criterion B (Analysis and Evaluation): 4/5
The analysis was strong, but the effect of the techniques used by the author was not always clearly or explicitly stated. This minor inconsistency impacted the overall depth of evaluation.Criterion C (Focus and Organization): 5/5
The response was well-structured, with clear organization and logical flow of ideas. Each point was developed coherently and supported effectively.Criterion D (Language): 4/5
While the language was generally appropriate and academic, there were moments where the tone lacked consistency or strayed from a fully formal, academic register.
Suggestions for Improvement:
Criterion B: Make the effects of the author's techniques more explicit and consistent throughout the response. For each technique analyzed, clearly state how it impacts the audience or contributes to the argument.
Criterion D: Ensure the tone remains consistently academic. Avoid informal phrasing or shifts in formality to maintain a professional and polished style.
By addressing these minor issues, the student could potentially achieve full marks
