Archive for category Agenda driven press

Four Corners & Today Tonight; the dichotomy of journalistic integrity

Last night on ABC1 we were shown an example of inspirational journalism with Sarah Ferguson and the Four Corners team taking us behind the razor-wire and electric fences of Australia’s on-shore detention centres. Anyone who wasn’t able to watch it can find the story here. What we saw was simply terrible, sickening and saddening in equal measure.

What followed after on Media Watch was yet another example of the much higher rating tabloid media (in this case Today Tonight) distorting facts in order to propagate many of the myths that lead to our country relying on detention centres in the first place.

A better example of the dichotomy between quality journalism and tabloid trash I can’t imagine, nor a better example of the harms caused by such unethical misuses of journalistic freedom.

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Gold Coast school brawl not a ‘race riot’ and never was.

The latest in a long day of developments (click here or scroll down if you don’t believe me) involving the Gold Coast’s  ‘racial brawl’ where ‘racial tensions exploded’ story that featured quite prominently not only on the front page of the Gold Coast Bulletin, but also took up most of page four, most the editorial section as well as being featured on goldcoast.com.au, news.com.au and The Australian web sites, um…wasn’t race related it turns out.

This afternoon an Australian Associated Press article posted on News.com.au details South-east Queensland regional director Glen Hoppner once more stating that the fight was not racially motivated. Read the rest of this entry »

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Racial brawl at Gold Coast school?

The headline reads:

‘Racial brawl at Gold Coast school

Students said there had been tension between New Zealand and white students for months.”

This story describing a ‘racial brawl’, as ‘racial tensions exploded’ appeared today in the Gold Coast Bulletin and is now featured on goldcoast.com.au, news.com.au and The Australian. Oddly the only people interviewed that in any way inferred that the conflict was race related were students at the school. Read the rest of this entry »

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Andrew Bolt: Smarter folk are more likely to be (climate change) sceptics

It’s hard to ignore the heated (pardon the pun) debate regarding climate change. Whether it’s the impact humans are having on our climate (if any), whether our climate is actually changing at all, or whether the consequences (again, if any) are positive or negative overall, certain sections of the Australian media are adamant there is very, very good reason to doubt the actual experts. Read the rest of this entry »

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The ‘free speech’ excuse for B.S. thwarted in Australia’s Federal Court

‘Free speech is the cornerstone of genuine democracy, but when writers publish disinformation dressed up as fact, lies as truth, slander as objective evaluation and call it free speech, they are devaluing its very essence and betraying all those who’ve fought for it.’
Dr Rosie Scott

Little annoys me more than when purveyors of bullshit use ‘free speech’ as a shield behind which they can promulgate whatever falsehood they or their employers want. Read the rest of this entry »

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Media and Democracy series brought to us by The Conversation

This week saw The Conversation launch a week-long series looking at how the media influences the way our representatives develop policy.

It was great reading so I’m providing the links to all 13 parts right here just for you. Yes you! Read the rest of this entry »

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“No politics until further notice. Principles to weigh up. Faith to keep. Sorry…”

The title of this post quotes the entirety of Melbourne based ‘journalist‘ Andrew Bolt’s most recent blog update.

What does it mean?

Does it have anything to do with the mess he posted yesterday (since withdrawn) regarding unsubstantiated claims vilifying the PM? Read the rest of this entry »

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If the agenda fits: what to do with a terrorist that doesn’t fit your mold

In a slight case of jumping the proverbial gun, Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun hedged their bets on the recent tragedy in Norway being caused by Al-Qaeda.

Was there any evidence at all this was the case, any indication that Al-Qaeda or any foreign group was involved? Read the rest of this entry »

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