February 28th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
http://catallaxyfiles.com/2011/02/28/bias-from-the-abc-is-it-getting-worse/
Catallaxy Files
Australia's leading libertarian and centre-right blog
Bias from the ABC: Is it Getting Worse?
Am I the only one who thinks the bias emanating from the ABC is getting worse?
I remain absolutely flabbergasted that the ABC’s lead journalists are permitted to express personal and explicitly political views over at The Drum. Barrie Cassidy, in particular, seems to have completely lost the plot, slagging off at Alan Jones and Neil Mitchell – they were mean to his Julia; he didn’t like it.
And has anyone noticed the decline in the quality of The Insiders this year, including one program that was entirely focused on the Opposition in a week in which there were important policy and political stories about the Government – you know, the Government that is in power and actually makes decisions? And of course anyone who expresses the slightest reservation about asylum-seekers, immigration or multiculturalism is immediately branded a racist bigot who should probably be expelled from the country – perhaps to Christmas Island?
I have been away from Melbourne for a while and had quite forgotten how brazen and biased is Jon Faine on ABC 774. He was absolutely gushing this morning over the suggestion from the Climate Institute person – ok take a breath for laughter here – that the carbon tax would generate 30,000 net GREEN jobs – you know the ones, cleaning out windmills and turning solar panels, etc. And of course, Jools has not told a lie – circumstances have changed! Would he take the same approach with Tony Abbott, I wonder?
And then there have been several stories revealing what a sham the ABC’s complaints handing processes are: you know the ones where you complain about a story and they fob you off as an ignorant, right-wing idiot. In fact, I was at a function recently and was chatting to two ABC persons and they were having a good laugh about it all.
Always the same response:
- Tell the complainant that all complaints are taken seriously (general laughter in office);
- Tell the complainant that the ABC follows the highest standards of journalism and adheres to the policy of communicating different points of view as specified in the ABC Editorial Guidelines (more raucous laughter);
- Tell the complainant that the ABC has seriously considered the matter but can see no reason to uphold the complaint (that is, allow the complaint to sit in in-tray for a while before standard response is given);
- Add some blah-blah stuff about the complainant being able to take the matter further.
In fact, I tested the system and the above was exactly what I got, written by some recent Media Studies graduate no doubt, and notwithstanding the fact that I was once the Deputy Chairman of the ABC. Despair springs to mind. There was absolutely no indication whatsoever that any analysis had been actually undertaken.
And in the meantime it has taken nearly three months to build the new set for 7.30, replacing the 7.30 Report. What a joke! And when so many important stories needed to be covered. You don’t see the commercial channels take that sort of break.
So, Jools, forget the Flood Levy – take an axe to the ABC and we would all be better off – and many Australians wouldn’t even notice!
He sings for his supper.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Crabb and Marr both still think Abbott’s speedos are funny. Nobody has told them that he’s a surf lifesaver and a triathlon – both very impressive undertakings – and speedos are what you wear.
If he was a volunteer fireman they’d be laughing at his “funny hat” and “enormous boots.”
Some here think Megalogenis is as bad as the others, but I don’t mind him, because I sense he prides himself on being an impartial analyst, and therefore keeps partisan impulses in check. Toohey’s also pretty good. It’s not a complete wash.
(The point being, this actually gets him big kudos in some sections of the community.)
The journos who show a professional approach often are talked over. As for Barrie Cassidy being biased he does little to moderate the wild ramblings of the “token” conservatives
The Murdoch press shows absolute bias towards the L/NP. I regularly check out the stories thay run and the anti ALP/green bias is there for all to see. Perhaps given the comments here, the Australian is seen by some as a left wing rag.