Comments on: The Fairfax Fiasco II: Profits before public trust journalism http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:29:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Greg http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8313 Greg Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8313 Right on Pete. This guy is the greatest con artist in Oz publishing since the late, great hound of Jack Paccholi Right on Pete. This guy is the greatest con artist in Oz publishing since the late, great hound of Jack Paccholi

]]> By: Patrick http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8314 Patrick Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8314 and democracy in Australia takes another blow! and democracy in Australia takes another blow!

]]> By: Pete http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8315 Pete Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8315 Another self-serving piece of crap dished up by eric beecher...the newspaper market in Australia for its relatively small population is remarkably robust and still healthy. There are issues with Fairfax, and no wants to see people lose their jobs, however they will still put a good product. <br /><br />The bollocks he continues to trot out about the journalistic standards of the internet continues to amaze me, and his blind prejudice against News Limited just shows his bias. God help us if Eric is defending journalism in this country Another self-serving piece of crap dished up by eric beecher…the newspaper market in Australia for its relatively small population is remarkably robust and still healthy. There are issues with Fairfax, and no wants to see people lose their jobs, however they will still put a good product.

The bollocks he continues to trot out about the journalistic standards of the internet continues to amaze me, and his blind prejudice against News Limited just shows his bias. God help us if Eric is defending journalism in this country

]]> By: JamesK http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8316 JamesK Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8316 "Once you de-code the mangled spin, the real significance of yesterday's announcement is that for the first time in its history, Fairfax has made a public declaration that profits come ahead of journalism" says Beecher.<br /><br />Maybe.<br /><br />Or maybe there is a recognition that The Age is very poor and has lost or is well on its way to losing its reputation as a quality broadsheet if left-wing. <br /><br />There is now not even an attempt of semblance of balance. <br /><br />Profits are up significantly; standards are down almost beyond hope.<br /><br />In the medium to long term that would conceivably be fatal.<br /><br />In short it has, under Jaspan, become a rag with the pretense only of old-fashioned broadsheet quality.<br /><br />Perhaps the owners were wise to dismiss Jaspan despite improved profitability. “Once you de-code the mangled spin, the real significance of yesterday’s announcement is that for the first time in its history, Fairfax has made a public declaration that profits come ahead of journalism” says Beecher.

Maybe.

Or maybe there is a recognition that The Age is very poor and has lost or is well on its way to losing its reputation as a quality broadsheet if left-wing.

There is now not even an attempt of semblance of balance.

Profits are up significantly; standards are down almost beyond hope.

In the medium to long term that would conceivably be fatal.

In short it has, under Jaspan, become a rag with the pretense only of old-fashioned broadsheet quality.

Perhaps the owners were wise to dismiss Jaspan despite improved profitability.

]]> By: SOB http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8317 SOB Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8317 I cannot agree more, good reporters, opinion makers and pamphlet writers tell it as they see how it is! What a pity that the noble art of putting out your own opinions, based on some sort of theoretic, be it rational or chaotic , has been now subjected to the heavy hand of "the market place".<br />I recall, when reading about world shaking events, of the role that pamphlet writers and all those who managed to put their views in public. They played their part in bringing about social changes, all made available by the development of the printing press.<br />I had hoped the internet, via the blog, would have taken over! Not so, narcissium , unavailability because of poverty have taken over.<br />A lapsed dissenter<br /><br /> I cannot agree more, good reporters, opinion makers and pamphlet writers tell it as they see how it is! What a pity that the noble art of putting out your own opinions, based on some sort of theoretic, be it rational or chaotic , has been now subjected to the heavy hand of “the market place”.
I recall, when reading about world shaking events, of the role that pamphlet writers and all those who managed to put their views in public. They played their part in bringing about social changes, all made available by the development of the printing press.
I had hoped the internet, via the blog, would have taken over! Not so, narcissium , unavailability because of poverty have taken over.
A lapsed dissenter

]]> By: Chris http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8318 Chris Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8318 The writing was on the wall when Fairfax bought AW radio. Have you ever listened to that crap? Mitchell tries his best [ low as that bar is] but commercial radio is just that ---we are here to sell stuff , ---content is here merely to support that. Don't ever kid yourself that any other motive exists. The writing was on the wall when Fairfax bought AW radio. Have you ever listened to that crap? Mitchell tries his best [ low as that bar is] but commercial radio is just that — -we are here to sell stuff , — -content is here merely to support that. Don’t ever kid yourself that any other motive exists.

]]> By: Michael http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8319 Michael Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8319 Absolutely spot on Eric Beecher. The dumbing down of Fairfax by those who have no understanding of the newspaper culture is one of the saddest days in Australia's publishing history.. Absolutely spot on Eric Beecher. The dumbing down of Fairfax by those who have no understanding of the newspaper culture is one of the saddest days in Australia’s publishing history..

]]> By: mike smith http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8320 mike smith Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8320 No-one but the clinically naive really thought that Fairfax, Murdoch, Packer, etc really cared for anything but the bottom line. No-one but the clinically naive really thought that Fairfax, Murdoch, Packer, etc really cared for anything but the bottom line.

]]> By: Simon http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/27/the-fairfax-fiasco-ii-profits-before-public-trust-journalism/#comment-8321 Simon Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-8321 Pete and Greg - You miss the point. The principle of the 4th Estate rests on the premise that journalists will provide a means of accountability by facilitating public scrutiny. If journalists are directed by their proprietors to tell us about fundamentally irrelevant things like Australian Idol contestants instead, we lose a pivotal mechanism for holding public officials (and corporate entities) to account. Quality, in-depth journalism (ie. not just repeating press releases) requires the dedication of substantial resources and editorial independence, often to produce stories that won't boost circulation figures. It's not hard to see why this would be an anathema to many commercial managers whose (justifiable) focus is on maximising return for investment, but I wouldn't be surprised if the champagne corks are popping in party HQ's and boardrooms every time Fairfax announces that it has to cut spending on staff and resources. Pete and Greg - You miss the point. The principle of the 4th Estate rests on the premise that journalists will provide a means of accountability by facilitating public scrutiny. If journalists are directed by their proprietors to tell us about fundamentally irrelevant things like Australian Idol contestants instead, we lose a pivotal mechanism for holding public officials (and corporate entities) to account. Quality, in-depth journalism (ie. not just repeating press releases) requires the dedication of substantial resources and editorial independence, often to produce stories that won’t boost circulation figures. It’s not hard to see why this would be an anathema to many commercial managers whose (justifiable) focus is on maximising return for investment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the champagne corks are popping in party HQ’s and boardrooms every time Fairfax announces that it has to cut spending on staff and resources.

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