MORE dangerous to Australia than the Labor Government

[dutchie]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Our freedom of speech is being attacked. If the recommendations proposed become law then our ability to talk about what is on our mind is eroded even more than it is now.

Forget about the political threads on this forum (they would become one sided if not exstinct), imagine not being able to make comments about Telstra, BHP, Alcoa, AGL etc etc because it did not suit the current government.

This media censorship must be stopped in its track. Any party advocating it should be
shoved out the door!


http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/polit...for-political-retribution-20120303-1u9vk.html

 

[DB008]

Thanks for bringing it to our attention dutchie.

Last paragraph of that article says it all.

We should reject Finkelstein's proposals, not to defend the media but to defend a fundamental liberal principle: no government should have power to decide what constitutes ''fair'' or ''balanced'' speech. Freedom of the press is just too important.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

I'm in favour of this. I see Australia as heading down the dark road to what USA is, where you have Fox News blatantly insult politicians and policies as communist fascist nazi marxist imperial and everything else at once.

What the media should do is create a discussion and debate about issues - which is not what News Ltd in particular does with their one-sided reporting, sensationalist headlines and articles, incorrectly reported facts and clear bias.

To me, this says it all:

Doug Cameron said in November: ''The Murdoch press are an absolute disgrace, they are a threat to democracy in this country and we should absolutely be having a look at them.''

And don't get me started on real-estate spruiking. Just check out these two very recent articles - from both Fairfax and News Ltd:

http://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/smart-ways-to-climb-the-property-ladder-20120218-1tfq5.html
http://www.news.com.au/money/proper.../story-e6frfmd0-1226275496776?from=public_rss

Why on Earth is this vile crap allowed to be published and read by millions of unsuspecting Australians who don't know better?

No, this crap has to end. This is why we need a media watchdog - there is nothing wrong with it nor nothing undemocratic.

 

[prawn_86]

No, this crap has to end. This is why we need a media watchdog - there is nothing wrong with it nor nothing undemocratic.

IMO we dont need a watchdog as such, just some sort of professional qualification, such as CA, CPA, CFA etc but related to journalism and then those journalists who are found to be constantly lying will have their qualification removed.

This would (should) ensure quality, realistic journalism is adheered too and other people (blooggers etc) would still be able to publish their thoughts, but readers would know that if they dont have a journalistic qualification as such then it may just be the bloggers opinion and not facts

 

[Glen48]

When the FEDS in USA can close down a lemonade stand for non compliance you know the game is over, we are just another arm of USA.

 

[Calliope]

To me, this says it all:

The fact that Starcrafty and loony left ratbag Doug Cameron think alike, speaks volumes about both. Cameron is a bigger "threat to democracy" and the truth, than the media

A senior ALP faction leader branded Rupert Murdoch's News Limited "a threat to democracy" today as the feud between the newspaper group and the Government intensified.

Left faction convenor Doug Cameron's extraordinary outburst was sparked by a story in News Limited's Daily Telegraph reporting that former PM Kevin Rudd is being urged by his backers to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-03/cameron-launches-attack-on-news-ltd/3616902

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Our freedom of speech is being attacked. If the recommendations proposed become law then our ability to talk about what is on our mind is eroded even more than it is now.

Forget about the political threads on this forum (they would become one sided if not exstinct), imagine not being able to make comments about Telstra, BHP, Alcoa, AGL etc etc because it did not suit the current government.

This media censorship must be stopped in its track. Any party advocating it should be
shoved out the door!


http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/polit...for-political-retribution-20120303-1u9vk.html

Thanks dutchie,

The Greens and the ALP are trying to muzzle News Corporation, so it is good to have you onside advocating freedom of speech against the voracious controlling instincts of the Left.

gg

 

[Starcraftmazter]

IMO we dont need a watchdog as such, just some sort of professional qualification, such as CA, CPA, CFA etc but related to journalism and then those journalists who are found to be constantly lying will have their qualification removed.

Well we have one already - here is their code of ethics, and they do cover journalists:
http://www.alliance.org.au/code-of-ethics.html

The issue is that nobody pays attention to any of it. The bigger problem than individual journalists is the management of some news companies which literally are hell bent on instituting regime change. No code of ethics will ever fix that.

This would (should) ensure quality, realistic journalism is adheered too and other people (blooggers etc) would still be able to publish their thoughts, but readers would know that if they dont have a journalistic qualification as such then it may just be the bloggers opinion and not facts

I also forgot to mention, the OP implies the watchdog will have an effect on forums, however the article linked doesn't mention anything of the such - nor about blogs - but rather publications which go out to a large number of people.


I also forgot to point out that there is nothing in the Australian constitution nor any laws passed which grants freedom of speech. Perhaps that should be looked at as a more important issue than this...

 

[Calliope]

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be
limited without being lost.
Thomas Jefferson

It is not more dangerous than the Labor government. It is the Labor government.

 

[wayneL]

I'm in favour of this.

You really are cognitively dissonant Starry.

I've never seen anyone with such conflicting beliefs.

 

[noco]

Thanks dutchie,

The Greens and the ALP are trying to muzzle News Corporation, so it is good to have you onside advocating freedom of speech against the voracious controlling instincts of the Left.

gg

This is Julia Gillard's communist back ground coming into play with Bob Brown's blessing.

 

[gav]

The book I am reading at the moment is called "The Information Diet". It discusses the information overload we receive today and compares this to obesity. It goes into the rise of the internet, blogs, biases of the media (both the right and left), etc. It's quite interesting.

Page 1, has this quote from Steve Jobs:
"When you're young, you look at television and think, There's a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realise that's not true. The networks are in business to give the people exactly what they want. That's a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! But the networks are really in the business to give people what they want. It's the truth."

 

[Julia]

You really are cognitively dissonant Starry.

I've never seen anyone with such conflicting beliefs.

+1 x 10.
As far as the topic is concerned, yes, it's hugely concerning. However, I imagine media of all colours will be mounting a massive protest against any such government interference with free speech.
This country 's governance becomes more frightening every day.
Any criticism by any body set up by the government to police the media will, of course, not include the pro-Labor propaganda put out by all arms of the ABC.

 

[Calliope]

You really are cognitively dissonant Starry.

I've never seen anyone with such conflicting beliefs.

It's his immaturity. He hasn't learned the difference between relevance and garbage.

 

[Calliope]

Bob Brown knows that the only arm of the media that will expose how dangerous he is to free speech is News Ltd. Stephen Conroy is his willing conspirator in media bashing.

 

[Logique]

Sinister. We have enough regulation already. This is about silencing dissent.

Step 1 - legitimize a process (yet another bureaucracy paid for by the taxpayer).

Step 2 - infiltrate and co-opt it, for example, stack the body with hand picked academics, on a handy retainer.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

Some people here seem to be confused as to what freedom of speech means and how it relates to the media.

No, the media should not have the freedom to publish whatever crap they want - they should be held accountable to publish only truthful facts and objectively neutral articles without bias.

 

[wayneL]

Some people here seem to be confused as to what freedom of speech means and how it relates to the media.

No, the media should not have the freedom to publish whatever crap they want - they should be held accountable to publish only truthful facts and objectively neutral articles without bias.

According to whom?

(who... whom... FIIK)

 

[Starcraftmazter]

According to whom?

(who... whom... FIIK)

What do you mean according to whom? Do you support a biased media which plays only to one side of the story thereby undermining democracy?

I for one favour neutrality within the media.

 

[wayneL]

What do you mean according to whom? Do you support a biased media which plays only to one side of the story thereby undermining democracy?

I for one favour neutrality within the media.

Neutrality is subjective.