The largest wind farm in southern hemisphere will be built in south-western Victoria. Energy Company AGL announced that the 140-turbine wind farm would be built under a $1billion deal by 2013. Can you imagine it? In order to give readers a more impressive picture, the editor posted an approximate 1 minute video (from Ten News) with the online news. The video offers the scene of a wind farm which is beside ocean, full of wind turbines settled, rotating. Following by is the Victoria Premier John Brumby’s speech on a media conference (I assume), claiming the importance of the wind farm: It is essential for not only environment but also economy. It will generate enough energy for more than 220000 homes. I will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.7 million tones and create up to 400 jobs during construction. About 30 people would be employed to run it once it is completed. The speech has strengthened the reliability of the news and added color. Although it is a bit boring and the content is already presented in the text, the video is the first reason for the success of the news story. The significance is the second. As climate change is the hot-debated since last year's Copenhagen climate summit, renewable energy is more and more of people's interest. In Australia, wind is one of the most affluent renewable energies.
Another factor is the conflicts. One conflict is between the necessarily of the wind farm and the law and policy. The scheme has come across difficulties although both the opposition and the government claimed to support. It was clashed over since it must be built under law. According to the Coalition’s policy, wind turbines must not be built within 2 kilometers of homes without the owners’ approval. But as Coalition planning spokesman Matthew Guy said, it has received community support. If I were this journalist, I would interview the residents who live near the place to confirm if they really support the scheme.In addition, to vary the voices and add color to the article. Make sure people’s voice to be heard is journalists' role.
The other is the different voices of the parties. The presentation of different voices to balance and enhance the journalist’s angle. In the last paragraph, Denis Napthine, the Coalition member for the seat of South West Coast said the government should ensure the wind towers being built by Portland manufacturer Keppel Prince. Law and policy are administrated by human, money the main drive of everything!
See the original news: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/southwest-wind-farm-the-biggest-20100812-121j0.html
(photo source:http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/image-gallery/live?SQ_PAINT_LAYOUT_NAME=image&5968_result_page=7)
