Comments on: Media ownership: ‘controlling the news’ in a fragmenting industry

By: bluepoppy

bluepoppy — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 02:11:29 +0000

It’s bemusing the ABC gets kicked by both the Left and the Right. Basically it’s about what team you barrack for ie. if Gillard gets a grilling then the ABC and Mark Scott particularly are accused of RW media bias then Abbott gets a grilling and suddenly the ABC has a LW bias. The ABC can’t be both which suggests they are doing their job of keeping the b*stards honest. There are many new independent media blogs emerging as an alternative to the vested mainstream or ‘insiders’ club. Many of these blogs contain thorough research, analysis, documentary evidence and the like. Many ‘trained’ journos could learn something from them and media barons could invest more time and $$$ into investigative journalism.

By: ailie.bruins@gmail.com

ailie.bruins@gmail.com — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:35:11 +0000

By its complexity this issue can be subverted by powerful vested interests. What we need is a very powerful regulatory ‘journalist’ body which cannot be influenced by powerful media companies and their proxies. A body which independently upholds that ( once ) fourth pillar of democracy. Journalism should claim back its once powerful professionalism and independence. Courageous journalism is subverted by the much higher salaries that can be earned by serving vested interests. It is high time that that the media industry (reputation managers, PR consultants, media minders, etc …) was subject to disclosures so that we know who is being paid, what amount, by whom, to spin what message. Without this type of transparency we are no better than the Goebbels, and Stasis of this world.

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:43:39 +0000

Feels too much like déjà vu being addressed by dummies. Time to go. Bye.

By: Hamis Hill

Hamis Hill — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:58:37 +0000

Suzy is using the basic propaganda ploy of projecting the coalition’s faults onto their opponents.
Many moons ago The ABC may have represented the majority of citizens who usually vote for Labor.
Now the balance is in the other direction where TheirABC refers to the conservatives.
How easy to hide this fact by declaring otherwise.
This is an example of the reason the conservatives, as represented by the Liberals, and always a “Minority” party, must revert to undemocratic means to assert themselves.
The numbers tell you, Suzy, that democracy cannot work for the Liberals.
Hence the jetting out of clouds of ink, defensively, like a squid.
Sorry we are insulting the squid now.
You are either for democracy or you are against it.
If you are against it, anything goes, “whatever it takes” to win an unfair game? Abbott in a nut shell?
Just what is wrong with majority rule, Suzanne?
That single conservative party in Qld and the Northern Territory is looking a tad sad?
Riven by internal, eternal division?
“Mission Impossible” assembling a genuine, majority conservative party?
In the meantime deploy the stink and smoke bombs to avoid scrutiny, but unfortunately, a clearer declaration of defeat would be hard to find.
Don’t you just get sick of all the subterfuge?

By: Suzanne Blake

Suzanne Blake — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:25:43 +0000

@GocomSys

You need to be able to handle the truth and see all sides of the argument, without blinkers and without biased media, like Their ABC and the like.

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:13:38 +0000

Good to be reminded why I had lost interest some time ago. I truly thought Crikey had been able to lick the troll situation. Not so. Sad. The “moderator” I just remembered was bothersome. Why is it so difficult for moderate “fence sitting” writers like Ben Eltham (New Matilda), Bernard Keane (Crikey) and Michelle Grattan (The Conversion’s new recruit) to put the hard “policy” questions to a dysfunctional opposition and their media shy leader? It shouldn’t be that difficult! Please inform the public of the real danger a “tea party” philosophy poses to our democracy.
I gladly pay a subscription for good reporting. Not the MSM/ABC variety though!

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:08:53 +0000

Good to be reminded why I had lost interest some time ago. I truly thought Crikey had been able to lick the troll situation. Not so. Sad. Back to http://www.independentaustralia.net and such I guess. Why is it so difficult for moderate “fence sitting” writers like Ben Eltham (New Matilda), Bernard Keane (Crikey) and Michelle Grattan (The Conversion’s new recruit) to put the hard “policy” questions to a dysfunctional opposition and their media shy leader? It shouldn’t be that difficult! Please inform the public of the real danger a “tea party” philosophy poses to our democracy.

By: Suzanne Blake

Suzanne Blake — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:00:35 +0000

@Gocomsys

Not long now, before its all over. They long decades of a new Government. Its odds on now. No chance of 1993 event this time

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:56:46 +0000

Good to see deep intelligent and well phrased commentary.

“The Taxpayers own the ABC and they allow people walking with their remotes.”

“On the Rooty Hill escapade Lanor get smacked!”

“Pretty to watch.”

Insightful contributions are so rare these days!

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:29:13 +0000

‘Controlling the NEWS’? What news? To my mind there is no
NEWS service available anywhere in OZ.
I expect that at least the tax payer funded national broadcaster should be able to provide an hourly NEWS service on Radio National where:
NEWS = researched FACTS presented by ABC staff (newsreader, reporters, correspondents). No need for anybody else to comment.
Alas,
what we are presently getting is mainly he/said she/said OPINION, gossip and spin. Often MSM headlines and tabloid talking points are copied apparently without a veracity check. Complaints to the ABC are either ignored or misinterpreted. In the run up to the election and in the name of so called ABC “balance” I am afraid every Tom, Dick and Harriet will be given a chance to spout their propaganda during the so called NEWS program. Apparently the flawed ABC charter insures that any garbage voiced is acceptable as long as an alternative view somewhere along the line is provided.
That’s common practice during ABC opinion sessions, which I have been giving a miss for some time for this very reason.
I expect the ABC to provide a professional NEWS service. I can get better Infomercials or Infotainment anywhere else.
A terrible state of affair indeed.

By: Gocomsys

Gocomsys — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:06:40 +0000

“The old media (MSM/ABC) is interfering in our political process to unprecedented level …..”. Agree !
By all means keeping this government (supported by Greens and Independents) on the straight and narrow is important but before publishing an article it is worth reminding oneself that there are potential undermining consequences for our nation and for an overall responsible progressive administration.
I strongly believe it is obligatory for the few remaining journalists in the “free press” to take a stand, stop “fence sitting”, the “one bet each way” attitude and start making it plain to the electorate that there simply is no viable political alternative to choose from at present.
I believe that it would be a travesty if a stumbling confused kid like Abbott and his underwhelming cohorts get into power. I fear that any gains achieved recently will be wiped out. Does anyone really think it necessary to relive the miserable destructive Howard years?
The policy free LNP in its current state is dysfunctional and therefore unelectable. Also, if anybody thinks that someone like Turnbull using a magic wand will save the day is sadly mistaken.
Note: The “Tea party” philosophy is dangerous and undermines democratic principles. Beware!
Wake up before it’s too late.

By: Suzanne Blake

Suzanne Blake — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:00:31 +0000

Bernard

The Taxpayers own the ABC and they are allow to have their heavily left bias new reporting. It is lucky that their current affairs / insiders etc rating are falling, which is people walking with their remotes.

On the Rooty Hill escapade. Gillard knows she has lost, and Rudd doesnt want it, cause he knows he cannot win the election. He is hell bent of seeing Gillard and Lanor get smacked so he can say I told you so.

Its pretty to watch.

By: green-orange

green-orange — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:00:24 +0000

If News was prevented from providing content to Ten, or investing in TV, couldn’t they just sell their newspapers ?

Its not that they’re any great prize anymore. Murdoch had no compunction about scrapping the Adelaide News or the New York Post.

By: Day Bliss

Day Bliss — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:29:36 +0000

The old media is interfering in our political process to unprecedented level, as their business mode is threatened by Labor’s NBN. The Dinosaurs will eventually die, but in the mean time what shape will out Internet Industry be in after the MSM get Abbott elected by be easy on the Liberals this year and a Wolf pack attacking Labor about everything.

By: Hamis Hill

Hamis Hill — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:36:50 +0000

On the subject of balance, all it takes for outlets to “control the news” on the government is to say that the opposition spokespeople were “unavailable for comment”.
On the other hand this ploy is repeated when the opposition has something to say; then the government always, somehow, has “nothing” to reply.
See, balance!
So goes the “Belief Industry”. Out of control by regulation.

By: zut alors

zut alors — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:58:36 +0000

With skewed headlines such as “Conroy’s pitch to control the news” it looks pretty grim for diversified media.

The one bright spark of hope is the example of Berlusconi’s vice-like dominance of Italian TV: eventually, not even a near-monopoly could save him. Press barons et al, you’re not on a sure thing.

By: el tel

el tel — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:08:55 +0000

Very good summary of a complex issue, plagued with a lot of pre-existing positions.

By: Bill Hilliger

Bill Hilliger — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:58:01 +0000

Many people think Noos Ltd in all its forms is a pox on society. Fortunately, much of their product manages to alienate many who just stop buying their sh*tty products.