Why Clare Werbeloff Did It, And Why Channel 9′s The Real Bogan
In a few hours time we are going to hear from ‘Clare the Bogan’ in her own words why she did what she did. For what it’s worth I thought it would be interesting to hypothesise why.
Here’s what did not happen:
a) It wasn’t a stunt for a beer brand. The marketing department at Lion Nathan (who makes Toohey’s Extra Dry) would never align one of their brands with crime – although they would obviously be loving the free media.
b) She did not fly over from Paddington in 6 minutes to get on the scene to say something to get noticed.
Here’s what may have happened
a) Clare is a young girl growing up in a culture where we can not only have our 15 minutes of fame it appears it’s our given right. Clare wants to be a famous model, actor, singer…. anything!
b) Clare is out on the town and appears to be experiencing feelings of euphoria and invincibility
c) Clare and her friends have heard about a shooting down the street. They start talking about it enthusiastically with one another
d) Clare tells a very funny (albeit crass and racist) version of the shooting to her friends.
e) Clare and her friends see the TV crew approach, and Clare’s friends encourage her to tell her funny version of events to the camera.
f) Under pressure from friends, coupled with feelings of euphoria and invisibility, whilst living in a culture where everyone has a god given right to be famous and have their opinions heard Clare goes on camera and tells her story.
If the above is in the ball park of being true then Clare shows signs of vanity, attention seeking behaviour, potentially an over inflated sense of self-importance, elements of racism, poor decision making (no doubt impaired through recent substance use), and arguably a lack of schooling. None of which is particularly interesting.
However, the fact that Channel 9 decided to show the ramblings of this women, and broadcast it as ‘news’ is! It’s not Clare’s behaviour that should be put under the microscope – she’s having a bit of fun (after all she wants to be famous) however, what is Channel 9′s excuse? I have no idea why they would show this. Nor do I understand why they would not check to see if her comments had any legitimate basis. Perhaps it was because she is ‘hot’, or perhaps because the minority culture she chooses to abuse are not that extreme?
Channel 9′s complete lack of judgement for reporting the racist, sensationalist ramblings of a party girl in full flight as newsworthy is worrying. We need the media, we need a working Fourth Estate - as a check and balance on society. However, it appears the press is now just part of the rabble of society.
It is clear that not only is Clare a Bogan, but Channel 9 is fast becoming a bogan’s breeding ground.
Fritz Bachen is a Consumer Psychologist and Founding Partner at Naked Communications. Fritz can be seen, read or heard at; The Gruen Transfer, ABC Radio (Sunday nights), Adnews columnist, as well as The Australian, Cleo, Mumbrella, Shop Till You Drop and so on. He speaks at numerous conferences on marketing, ideas, contemporary culture, and consumer behaviour. Fritz has degress in clinical psychology and commerce (marketing). A registered psychologist and has worked in private practice, forensic settings, advertising (Saatchi & Saatchi) and marketing consultancy (Added Value). He was also state under 12 chess champion on WA, and has a board game called The Analyst selling well in the Benelux countries.
Comments
Dennis
May 25th, 2009As I keep saying to my friends in the ‘news’ business – one day soon we will all be willing to pay for the truth… more than $1 too
Fritz Bachen
May 25th, 2009Hi Dennis,
Exactly!
Anonymous
May 25th, 2009What about the possibility that she was providing an actual account – and following an after thought and possibly some advice, decided to deny any knowledge, and make a run for it! By linking herself to this as an eye witness she risks being called up to a court appearance – which I am sure she doesn’t want to do. I understand she has a PR firm in toe now – who will make more from her as a controversial abbey actress than a girl in a witness protection program… Surely their advice would be to deem it all an act. The other factor is that she appeared to break down toward the end of the 18 second interview.
Lauren C
May 26th, 2009Any thought to the fact that commercial news in Australia is of the tabloid/sensationlist ilk and that this clip is exactly what the audience want to see? Look at the traction 9 got out of it!
With regard to the opinions about Clair being rascist – I am half Maltese & have been called a wog a number of times. I am proud of my heritage and actually interpret it as a term of endearment. In fact, in popular culture, so too do many Aussies (just look at Fat Pizza, Wog Boy or check out the different definitions on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wog#As_an_ethnic_reference_in_Australian_English).
The undeniable fact here is that there is a formula that we've seen proven by Heidi the Witchery girl, LonelyGirl15 and even Anna Wood in 2005 – pretty girl plus innocence = immediate publicity.
high pinay
May 28th, 2009I wonder if this Information that I got in you will be my key to find to solution to my problem.,I really hope so.,I will make that I will find the solution to my problem.,
Isaac
May 29th, 2009Fritz – definitely agree. The media should perform some level of fact checking to at least present accurate information rather than just entertainment.
But they won’t because they win whatever happens. They report her version and rake in cash from page views and the general beat-up. And if she’s proven to have made it all up, they rake in cash from page views – they’ve created a new story that’s far more lucrative than the original.
There’s no incentive there in the current market for the media to do any different.
Anonymous
May 30th, 2009Fritz, you need to get out more.
Fritz Bachen
May 30th, 2009Mr Anon, you are right.
The PR Lab
May 31st, 2009Channel 9 bogan central, indeed.
Anonymous
Jun 1st, 2009Clare rocks!! The fact that Ch 9 ran with her report is hilarious. From what I’ve read, I gather they sent a camera and no journalist. Sounds about par for the course really.
“Channel 9 is fast becoming a bogan’s breading ground.”
Fritz, you mean, breeding ground, right?
Fritz Bachen
Jun 2nd, 2009You’re right a breading ground is a little weird!.
Anonymous
Jun 21st, 2009"Racist……racist….racist" ?????
Hey Fritz, you're pinging the Kosher Tard meter.
Clare is a teen savant who hoaxed the ziocreep-owned media machine. And you cogs just hate the fact that while you sat whipped in a blue haze on your couches that Clare called a spade a spade. I know it burns you up that she hasn't imbibed enough Diversity pablum, Holyhoax tales, and all of the associated media threats and intimidations.
Should the beautiful Clares of the world and all the rest of us fall down as if dead when some "wog" gets a cap busted in his arse? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! What a joke! Should we all sit around holding our speech while waves of "wogs" wash ashore and turn otherwise safe and decent streets into a turd-world nightmare?
Hey sh*t-for-brains libtards and goyllible dupes! Once upon a time some scheming Marxists (good blood friends of the one who coined the word "racism") had their way with the media and politics machine in another country. This is what happened in a few short years after the apotheosis:
http://deathofjohannesburg.blogspot.com/
One horrible and dark day you will wish you had sent the "wogs" back to Wogistan. And by the reckoning of those in the know, that day is not far off.
Please prepare for A Living Hell.
Fritz Bachen
Jun 21st, 2009Dear Anon,
I really and sincerely think you need help. Unfortunately, you've probabl tried to get help before and found it difficult. Unless you have a lot of money it can be really difficult to get the support and care needed. All I can suggest is find a good local doctor or community centre. There are people out there who want to help you.
Vanessa Tran
Jul 2nd, 2009Frankly, it doesn't really matter if Channel 9's the 'real bogan' – they're both bogans and we're living in a country who prides itself on wearing thongs and being laid back (or lazy) anyway. It's just a bit sad to see media go in this direction, but then again, what's new…
Fritz Bachen
Jul 5th, 2009Vanessa lets not forget Australia has just about teh longest working hours in the world. Lazy we are not. Although racist we unfortunately still are.
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May 9th, 2011I think she was really desperate and she wanted to have her minutes of fame, I think she have the right to dream with that actually I think all of us have that right.
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Dec 2nd, 2011Interesting analysis, could be right the way she made it up. I'm pretty sure she was but i guess that she probably made one mistake during the process.
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