Comments on: Politicians should focus on post-diversity challenges in media

By: Steve777

Steve777 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:25:08 +0000

There seems to be an iron law about doing business in Australia that every major market left to itself will eventually become a duopoly or a monopoly. The big four banks would have become two ages ago had they been allowed.

For this reason among many others, it is absolutely crucial that we firewall the ABC against future attacks. Legislate a strong charter of independence. Take measures to prevent future stacking of the board - I’m not sure how we could do this, but the lesson of the Howard era is that we must. We should also legislate to guarantee its funding for the next 5 years because I am sure many in the Coalition are itching to downsize and / or sell off the ABC.

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 02:40:07 +0000

Read the article. Liked the “troll free” comments. Next: Check out The Conversation, Independent Australia, Global Mail and others. Who needs Limited Murdoch or GinaFax! Let’s hope the ABC get their act together. The sooner the better before vested interests are causing any more damage. The general public desperately requires access to facts not fiction.

By: Mark from Melbourne

Mark from Melbourne — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:12:28 +0000

The stupid thing about this debate is that we have never had independent media in this country. The horse has long bolted.

Fairfax was only “independent” because that was their market differentiator and the problem is that it isn’t working for them any more. Mind you the level of advertorial, re-hash of PR etc has been on the increase for years.

These are businesses meant to make a profit for its owners amongst other things.

Even the ABC is politicised because of their rather stupid interpretation of what constitutes “balanced” reporting (which was introduced because the conservatives kept giving them a belting). I agree it needs to be protected and strengthened as an organisation.

Is it important to have a good cross spectrum of public scrutiny and comment? Absolutely, but that is generally achieved by diversity. That’s the real problem with our media and that’s ultimately down to the fact that with 22m people we are a small market. We have the same problem with banks, food retailers etc - Australia is the home of the oligarchy.

By: michael crook

michael crook — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:12:54 +0000

The ABC charter is being breached daily by the advertising of those most commercial of organisations the privately run “news” media. Why, they even quote from “The Australian” as if it was a legitimate even handed reporter of events of the day. How strange.

Stop advertising these commercial ventures and the ABC might get back a bit of its credibility. It has none now.

By: Trelevn

Trelevn — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:19:53 +0000

We need an ABC charter that establishes that in the game of political football, it’s the ABC who do the kicking.

By: susan winstanley

susan winstanley — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:48:31 +0000

Absolutely right Bernard.

The one thing that can be done, and should be done, urgently, is to legislatively firewall the ABC from future attacks on its independence, from either side of politics.

Then retire Mark Scott and boost funding for the ABC News Division - thanks for building the online presence Mark, but its mostly full of uneducated children running around with microphones, or opinionated fools reading out News Ltd headlines.

We deserve better.