ABC is Political

[Garpal Gumnut]

What makes the ABC Political in this case is, that the Guardian and the ABC have had this information on spying on SBY and his family for 5 months.

They chose to only release it when the Coalition were in power.

The sooner funding to this inner-city self-indulgent "progressive" broadcaster is closely audited, the better.

Sky News need to take up the Radio Australia Network, to properly support DFAT.

gg

I'm not sure that the ABC knew that much in advance, but then the ABC as the government funded national broadcaster should have never involved itself in its release in any case.

I wonder whether the Guardian approached Fairfax first. As a non-government media organisation with a left leaning bias, that strikes me as the most logical choice. Did Fairfax baulk and the Guardian then go to the ABC as a second choice ?

There is no evidence that the Guardian approached Fairfax to publish the spy story.

In fact Fairfax and the Guardian are in a fight to extinction, battling to hold the left luvvie reader from the inner city "sophisticated" suburbs.

Only one can survive.

The ABC must have had a distinct failure of governance to broadcast the spy details, given that it makes them unsuitable to be in charge of the Radio Australia Network which should work with DFAT to progress Australia's interests overseas.

gg

 

[AAA]

Just wondering whom Andrew Bolt might have actually invited to appear on his show from the shadow ministry who refused?

There's certainly Left bias across various parts of the ABC but I think Leigh Sales can be largely excepted from that, viz her questioning this evening of Bill Shorten on Labor's response to the spy debacle. She did not spare him at all.

What night was that. I'd like to see that. Abbott didn't dodge her even knowing he was in for a grilling.

 

[banco]

What makes the ABC Political in this case is, that the Guardian and the ABC have had this information on spying on SBY and his family for 5 months.

They chose to only release it when the Coalition were in power.

The sooner funding to this inner-city self-indulgent "progressive" broadcaster is closely audited, the better.

Sky News need to take up the Radio Australia Network, to properly support DFAT.

gg

The ABC certainly didn't have the documents for five months. Unless you are saying that they have been in possession of Snowden's archive since he flipped (now that would be news!!!).

 

[sails]

The ABC certainly didn't have the documents for five months. Unless you are saying that they have been in possession of Snowden's archive since he flipped (now that would be news!!!).

One question that should be asked - would the ABC have broadcast this sensitive information if Labor had won the election? It seems more than coincidence that this was released just when Abbott was getting co-operation with Indonesia over Asylum seekers.

This is not a good look for the ABC, imo.

Oh and no need name calling - just discuss the topic.


And to Whiskers - I still have you on ignore. Please don't reply to me directly.

 

[banco]

One question that should be asked - would the ABC have broadcast this sensitive information if Labor had won the election? It seems more than coincidence that this was released just when Abbott was getting co-operation with Indonesia over Asylum seekers.

This is not a good look for the ABC, imo.

Oh and no need name calling - just discuss the topic.


And to Whiskers - I still have you on ignore. Please don't reply to me directly.

The Guardian clearly determined the timing of publication. Supposedly Snowden has handed over literally thousands of documents to the Guardian so would hardly be surprising if it took them awhile to go through them and that documents about Australia weren't a top priority for a British newspaper.

 

[Whiskers]

It seems more than coincidence that this was released just when Abbott was getting co-operation with Indonesia over Asylum seekers.

Did I miss something! At what point did Indonesia start cooperating with Abbotts asylum seeker policies?

Didn't Indonesia publicly state they would not cooperate with Abbotts asylum seeker policies... before the election?

This must be an example of two wrong statements make one right statement, somehow!

 

[Tink]

I heard that the Wotif co-founder, Graeme Wood, was the biggest donor for the Greens, backing The Guardian.
I am not sure if that is true.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

One question that should be asked - would the ABC have broadcast this sensitive information if Labor had won the election? It seems more than coincidence that this was released just when Abbott was getting co-operation with Indonesia over Asylum seekers.

This is not a good look for the ABC, imo.

It is not a good look for the ABC, and if rational people ran the ABC, they would listen.

The ABC is attempting to become a third force in politics in Australia, in cahoots with the Greens and the inner city latte left of the ALP.

This is not finished. The ABC will harm Australia with further leaks, via an attack on the Abbott Government.

A sane, soon look at the ABC's funding is needed.

Save us all if the ABC run the Radio Australia Network.

Senator Rhiannon and her leftie mates will be slavering at the opportunity to run Australia's foreign policy, via an unelected mob of vain and overpaid inner city vanities, "Our ABC".

gg

 

[Calliope]

Save us all if the ABC run the Radio Australia Network.

Senator Rhiannon and her leftie mates will be slavering at the opportunity to run Australia's foreign policy, via an unelected mob of vain and overpaid inner city vanities, "Our ABC".

They do now, thanks to Stephen Conroy.

KATE Torney ("Criticism of ABC's spying scoop reeks of sour grapes", yesterday) exposes a central reason the ABC repeatedly failed to legitimately win the open tender to provide the international Australia Network on behalf of the Australian government: the ABC cannot accept that the Australia Network is not just another arm of the ABC.

The ABC's conflicted and inept handling of the Indonesian spying crisis has highlighted the folly of the extraordinary political intervention that handed the ABC the Australia Network contract against two findings of the tender board.

Let's start with the founding rationale for the Australia Network, and the more than $20 million a year of taxpayers' funds that is allocated to it.

The network was created as a service to be commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to promote our trade, cultural and related interests, with an independent budget and objective. It was only the extraordinary intervention in the tender of the former communications minister Stephen Conroy that enabled the ABC to continue treating the Australia Network as its vanity project on the international stage, just another branch of the ABC, and the source of an extra $223m in funding from taxpayers to subsidise the ABC's hobbyhorses.

Torney misunderstands, misleads or blurs this fact. The ABC's managing director Mark Scott is similarly blind.

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...y-e6frgd0x-1226769045661#sthash.0MARR3P4.dpuf

 

[Ijustnewit]

Seems like the ABC is clearly on a path to have us at war with every Asian neighbour. They won't be happy till this happens They are relentless in their daily attacks and beat ups and are on taxpayer funded media mission to see the Coalition Government fail at every turn.

www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/china-rejects-australian-criticism-of-new-air-zone/5120920

 

[Calliope]

Seems like the ABC is clearly on a path to have us at war with every Asian neighbour. They won't be happy till this happens They are relentless in their daily attacks and beat ups and are on taxpayer funded media mission to see the Coalition Government fail at every turn.

www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/china-rejects-australian-criticism-of-new-air-zone/5120920

Mark Scott seems to have a pathological hatred of the Coalition. The worrying thing is that he is prepared to put Australian interests at risk in pursuing his vendetta.

The Guardian itself says that less than 1 per cent of the Snowden material has been used so far. It is an open question whether the ABC will continue to play its devastatingly irresponsible role as the dedicated Australian broadcast network of the Snowden leaks and Guardian campaigns.

But the fact of more trouble from Snowden leaks is inescapable. No doubt they too will be timed to do maximum damage to Australia's interests. It's an open question how deeply the ABC wants to participate in damaging Australia.

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opi...y-e6frg76f-1226769965260#sthash.i0dKMGKJ.dpuf

 

[Julia]

There's no point in linking to anything in "The Australian" for those of us who are not subscribers.
It used to be possible to copy and paste the headline into search engine but they now have the paywall covering that as well.

 

[drsmith]

There's no point in linking to anything in "The Australian" for those of us who are not subscribers.
It used to be possible to copy and paste the headline into search engine but they now have the paywall covering that as well.

The paywall can be partly penetrated by deleting cookies in the web browser. This resets the weekly article count of 5 back to zero and provides access primarily to direct news articles. Premium content such as the article above however cannot be accessed in this way. Andrew Bolt however sometimes publishes part of these articles on his blog.

Deleting cookies also resets the article count on the Fairfax press (SMH) back to zero as well. I think that's a monthly limit of 30.

 

[Calliope]

For anyone wishing to get the alternate view on politics to the ABC, SBS, the SMH, The Age, The Guardian, Getup commercial TV, etc, The Australian is essential reading. The subscription is a mere pittance.

 

[trainspotter]

Journalists who have turned to politics:-

Maxine McKew (ALP NSW), Bob Debus (ALP NSW) Peter Andren (Ind NSW), Bob Carr (ALP premier NSW), Peter Collins (Lib leader, NSW), Brian Burke (ALP premier WA), Gary Hardgrave (Lib Qld MHR), Pru Goward (Lib NSW), Alan Carpenter (ALP premier WA), Clare Martin (ALP chief minister NT), Mary Delahunty (ALP Victoria), Jodi McKay (ALP NSW).

Anyone care to guess how many were employed at the ABC before throwing their hat into the political ring?

 

[overhang]

Journalists who have turned to politics:-

Maxine McKew (ALP NSW), Bob Debus (ALP NSW) Peter Andren (Ind NSW), Bob Carr (ALP premier NSW), Peter Collins (Lib leader, NSW), Brian Burke (ALP premier WA), Gary Hardgrave (Lib Qld MHR), Pru Goward (Lib NSW), Alan Carpenter (ALP premier WA), Clare Martin (ALP chief minister NT), Mary Delahunty (ALP Victoria), Jodi McKay (ALP NSW).

Anyone care to guess how many were employed at the ABC before throwing their hat into the political ring?

I would say 15 whilst 13 went on to the coalition. http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/06/25/speaking-of-media-independence-how-does-aunty-fare/

I think the ABC has a left leaning but nowhere near as pronounced as a lot of you think. I think if you read The Australian (which is a good paper) and believe its found the healthy medium to journalism regarding impartiality then you will naturally think the ABC is a Labor propaganda machine. Sometimes their bias does get the better of me and I need to stop reading/watching/listening but this is predominantly from opinion pieces. A lot of you don't help your case though when you keep smearing anything center or slightly left as commie socialists. Balance is the key, if many of you had your ideal society then turmoil would unfold as it would if whiskers did (sorry whiskers).

 

[trainspotter]

Talking of the impartiality of the ABC here:-

Significantly, according to an academic paper (From the Gallery to the Parliament: Journalists in the House of Representatives and the Senate, 1901-2007*) journalists have been over-represented in the federal parliament. There were 89 with 'backgrounds in journalism' between 1901 and 2008, averaging 7.32 per cent, a "statistically significant figure and out of step with the number of journalists in the Australian workforce in both historical and contemporary terms".

(Incidentally, the paper confirmed current concerns about MPs having little or no life experience outside paid political party staff work. Between 1991 and 2007 lawyers represented 8 per cent and business 9 per cent in the House of Representatives, but compared to previous periods 'all occupations had been superseded by the growth in party and union-related employment as the dominant pre-parliamentary occupation - 35 per cent of MHRs'.)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-13/journalists-as-politicians/2296686

Whether we like it or not odious conclusions are being drawn by some that Australian journalists are inherently unprofessional and biased in favour of the Australian Labor Party.

Errington and Miragliotta found that most of the journalists entering (federal) parliament 1901 to 2007 were with the Labor Party. This finding was said to have complemented other Australian studies which found that some 84 per cent of Australian journalists (John Henningham, Australian Journal of Political Science 1995) considered their political leaning to be either 'left' or 'centre'. Only a small number identified themselves as being on the 'right' of the political spectrum. 'Most journalists were unionised, with approximately 86 per cent belonging to the MEAA. If journalists gravitate to the party which most closely approximates their political ideology, then more will seek preselection with the ALP rather than the Liberal or National parties'.

Nup ... no bias here ...just calling it like it is.

 

[overhang]

Talking of the impartiality of the ABC here:-

"Australian studies which found that some 84 per cent of Australian journalists (John Henningham, Australian Journal of Political Science 1995) considered their political leaning to be either 'left' or 'centre'"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-13/journalists-as-politicians/2296686

What percent out of the 84% actually had a left leaning and what % were center, what a worthless stat. Also what were the statistics of ABC employees as this is what we're discussing.

 

[Julia]

The subscription is a mere pittance.

Perhaps consider that some of us actually like the hard copy delivered, especially the large Weekend Australian.
I just don't get it every day of the week, and am not going to subscribe just for the occasional article I might miss on the days I don't see the whole paper.

Noco has recently taken the trouble to copy and paste the entire article to which he is referring which is much appreciated. Hope this doesn't infringe any copyright?

 

[Julia]

I think the ABC has a left leaning but nowhere near as pronounced as a lot of you think.

I'd find it hard to quantify overall. There are particular radio and TV presenters whose bias is strong, and the content of their programs reflect this. Others who are doing a good job of being fairly rigorous with both sides, eg Leigh Sales. There's a great little program on Sunday evening on the Local Radio network - James O'Loughlin covers a huge variety of interesting topics with great guests, and there's not a political comment amongst any of it. Also useful literary reviews and other non-political info on Radio National, and great music on Classic FM.

I think if you read The Australian (which is a good paper) and believe its found the healthy medium to journalism regarding impartiality then you will naturally think the ABC is a Labor propaganda machine.

Yes, that's a realistic comment. We all, whether we admit it or not, seek out sources of information which confirm our own bias.

A lot of you don't help your case though when you keep smearing anything center or slightly left as commie socialists. Balance is the key, if many of you had your ideal society then turmoil would unfold as it would if whiskers did (sorry whiskers).

Agree again. There seem to be quite a large number of people who believe utterly in their 'side' regardless of what policy or performance that party engages in. I just don't think that's realistic. There are good ideas and levels of competence on both sides. It's the whole exaggerated hyperbole from the die hards that leads to all the combativeness and angst on political threads.