Not for Publication - Essay Example

How elements of expository writing have represented our world in ‘Not for Publication’?

‘Not for Publication’ is a book written by Chris Masters who is a television reporter cum presenter on ABC. His television report ‘Moonlight State’ in 1987 exposed widespread corruption in the police department which resulted in the famous Fitzgerald Enquiry and also 13 years-long litigation against Masters and ABC! This book contains real-life stories, many of which, Masters had aired on television. Through the stories, the author has tried to jolt the complacent lifestyle of the public and has stirred the hornet’s nest while exposing the sleazy roles of our pillars of society like our esteemed police force, government officials, and many others. The book also challenges our values and the social system which labels people and does precious little to help them to rise above their tragedy of life.

We would, therefore, be discussing the various elements of one of the stories ‘The School Prefect’ which have made it so poignant and at the same time, leave a profound impression on our souls.

The author has sensitively explored the delicate but extremely important issues of drug addiction and prostitution that affect our youngsters today. Set against Australian background, this global issue is successfully exposed through this story. The opening paragraph deliberately describes in detail the role of each of his television crew so as to maximize the impact of the subject. The empathetic attitude of various crew members adds to the seriousness of the problems that have infiltrated our society. The inclusion of women crew members has provided a sensitivity that has been able to win the confidence and trust of the affected people who have willingly talked about the circumstance that has driven them towards this. The information and the facts of the real-life situation have successfully drawn the seedy atmosphere that can be found within our well-organized society.

The author has exposed the galleries in the busy marketplace that provide a safe way of taking heroin or drug or even facilitating prostitution for the addicts. The rooms behind and above the shops of the market seem to serve the dual purpose of a safe haven for addicts while at the same time, sex provides a quick way of earning more money for the drug. The irony of the situation is that though the gallery owner denies providing the drugs, he accepts providing the needles (for injection) and a place where they can safely take it at a price! The price goes up if prostitution or sex is involved. The simple words used by the author to describe the scene where girls and boys come just for this purpose and then leave the place normally jolt the reader with much more impact. ‘The rest of Australia might be shocked by what went on and see the reason to hide it. But the inhabitants of the gallery were ….to shock and could not afford or indulge the shame’(The School perfect).

‘In their world it made sense for people to have their hit where they could be watched, better than dropping dead in a toilet cubicle or back lane’. The simple words express such profoundly pathetic options that are available to our youngsters who have often been rejected by our so-called civilized society.

The author and his team were especially touched by a case of a sixteen-year-old drug addict. She had come there for her ‘fix’ and quick money that she would earn by prostituting herself. The picture presented of her by the author is so vivid that while reading shivers run down our back. It was revealed that despite being a bright student and a class prefect, she was under so much peer pressure that she succumbed to drugs to escape from that stress. Her story revealed that unpalatable aspect of our society which puts so much pressure on our young ones and gives so little understanding that they are driven towards the fast lane that leads to drugs and prostitution.

She is standing up for everything she owns is indeed a revelation in itself of the life of an addict. She did not need a place. She was either standing in the street or upstairs on a cot. Indeed, one is forced to question the type of life that we are going to provide to our children. This stark statement emphatically states the purpose of expository writing which of course is to bring out the real situation for the public.

The story has raised several questions about issues that we are not ready to accept among us. In our society, drug addiction and paid sex have been accepted not as social problems but as deviant behavior. Prostitution, though so much a part of society, is still a covert activity for their clients who may be the members of our elite society. And the fact that such activities are freely carried out in open marketplace, speaks a lot about our legal guardians. The story reflects the darker side of our society with a bleak reality that is heart-rending and forces us to re-evaluate our values and our thinking.

As expository writing, the said story has powerfully conveyed the pathetic reality of our present time. The portrayal of our youngsters as victims of the circumstances, yet again promotes media as a conscious tool of the society that has the power to stir the emotions of the public and make them accept the truth howsoever harsh that might be.