I think the media should be held to account... what do you think?

[MovingAverage]

I think we all know that we live in very troubling times, but personally I am completely over the outrageous and sensationalist headlines being trotted by our poor excuses for what is passed off as media. I mean even the ABC are running trashy sensationalist headlines. I for one would love to see the government slap the media about and pull them into line with their irresponsible reporting. Headlines such as this being run in our "respected" national broadcaster (I use that term very easily) do absolutely nothing for meaningful public discourse and I think it is time the media was held to account. What do you think?

 

[Frankieplus]

I think we all know that we live in very troubling times, but personally I am completely over the outrageous and sensationalist headlines being trotted by our poor excuses for what is passed off as media.
View attachment 101533

I was kind of in a similar mindset as you up until 30 minutes ago when I read this:
https://bit.ly/2IZ5lo3

And watched this:
https://bit.ly/3dc4kqK

The media exaggerate and have caused a lot of panic, but I think this situation has the potential to be more of a problem than I anticipated.

-Frank

 

[JJADV]

Just freshening not to have to wade through all the over hyped climate change outrage to get to a worthwhile article.. I guess I will think the same about the China Virus panic stories soon enough..

 

[MovingAverage]

Just freshening not to have to wade through all the over hyped climate change outrage to get to a worthwhile article.. I guess I will think the same about the China Virus panic stories soon enough..

I'm with you on the climate change

 

[MovingAverage]

I was kind of in a similar mindset as you up until 30 minutes ago when I read this:
https://bit.ly/2IZ5lo3

And watched this:
https://bit.ly/3dc4kqK

The media exaggerate and have caused a lot of panic, but I think this situation has the potential to be more of a problem than I anticipated.

-Frank

Thanks for the links Frank. They make for an interesting read. I think you have hit the nail on the head when it comes to my frustration with the media "The media exaggerate and have caused a lot of panic". My personal belief is that we wouldn't see the pack stupidity that we've been seeing with people stripping supermarkets bare if it wasn't for the continual media reporting of panic buying. I mean, it is of no public good for for the media to continually report on panic buying. To do so serves absolutely no public good.

 

[Smurf1976]

My view is that the full facts should be reported no matter how unpleasant they may be. Ignorance might be bliss but it ends in unnecessary misery.

Where uncertainty exists and plausible scenarios are being discussed, it should be made clear to the reader that what they are reading is published in good faith to inform people of the situation but that the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

Outright hype and nonsense is however most unhelpful and should be strongly discouraged.

As a more familiar example:

Fact: There’s a large fire burning which is not controlled.

Speculation: Based on the weather forecast this fire may threaten towns x, y and z over the coming days. All residents should monitor the situation and be ready to take appropriate action.

Hype: Towns x, y and z are all about to be destroyed and everyone is dead.

Etc.

 

[MovingAverage]

My view is that the full facts should be reported no matter how unpleasant they may be. Ignorance might be bliss but it ends in unnecessary misery.

Where uncertainty exists and plausible scenarios are being discussed, it should be made clear to the reader that what they are reading is published in good faith to inform people of the situation but that the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

Outright hype and nonsense is however most unhelpful and should be strongly discouraged.

As a more familiar example:

Fact: There’s a large fire burning which is not controlled.

Speculation: Based on the weather forecast this fire may threaten towns x, y and z over the coming days. All residents should monitor the situation and be ready to take appropriate action.

Hype: Towns x, y and z are all about to be destroyed and everyone is dead.

Etc.

Couldn't agree more. Do you think there is public good to come from reporting on panic buying? Panic buying is a fact but reporting it serves what purpose?

 

[IFocus]

To be honest I don't think the media have been aggressive enough often just politician mouth pieces rather than seriously reporting the consequences of being to late for exampl.

Did you know going to lock down 1 day to late think Wu Han changes the infection rate by 40%.

 

[qldfrog]

Exactly while the reporting is maybe hyped our politicians reaction is more than lame, criminal...

 

[Dona Ferentes]

In another life, media sought wife and myself out for comment; very specific, but lasted a year or 3. This was a few decades ago

Key takeout: A journalist is someone who seeks to confirm their own prejudices.

 

[rederob]

I think we all know that we live in very troubling times, but personally I am completely over the outrageous and sensationalist headlines being trotted by our poor excuses for what is passed off as media. I mean even the ABC are running trashy sensationalist headlines. I for one would love to see the government slap the media about and pull them into line with their irresponsible reporting. Headlines such as this being run in our "respected" national broadcaster (I use that term very easily) do absolutely nothing for meaningful public discourse and I think it is time the media was held to account. What do you think?
View attachment 101533

I don't know where you go for all your news but if you think that tens of thousands being hospitalised in a matter of months in Wuhan, and needing to be kept separate from other patients is sensationalisation, then we are living in different universes. And if you think that is a misjudgement, then look at Italy which now has a greater death toll.
Our media have been way too soft.
We appear to have learned nothing from what China did, until push came to shove, and only then did the government finally make some decisions that mitigated spread.
I had to get on to Youtube to discover what worked and why because our media live in their own importance, except for the specials on ABC radio I have tune in to. Comparing a few minutes on the TV news to an hour on radio is cheese and chalk.
As to your linked headlines, they are actually spot on.
A bit off topic, but in another thread an ASF poster claiming to have "genetics" expertise claimed he knew that COVID-19 was "engineered" so I linked the scientific evidence that showed he was not too good at what he believed was his area of expertise.
There is a thing called "evidence" and it's based on "facts." Your other comments in this thread suggest you don't know where these exist.

 

[MovingAverage]

I don't know where you go for all your news but if you think that tens of thousands being hospitalised in a matter of months in Wuhan, and needing to be kept separate from other patients is sensationalisation, then we are living in different universes.

I don't ever recall suggesting that reporting on the issues you mention was irresponsible journalism and I am certainly not suggesting the media stop reporting serious facts. But I do have a serious issues with the media's obsession on reporting around the clock on sensationalizing some of the shitty characteristics of human nature that are now being displayed by many. For example, what good comes from the constant media reporting on panic buying? Here is something for you to give some serious thought to, in another thread I asked a genuine question as to what positive developments were happening around the world to help us in the fight against Corona and another ASFer gave a great summary of some of the real developments around the world that have been advancing us against Corona...do you see any of that being reported by our shitty media outlets...nope, they are more interested in constantly reinforcing the major economic implications such as we'll all be visiting centrelink...really, why is that crap news? And they're very happy to continue reporting on the fact that supermarkets are being stripped bare. That crap serves no purpose whatsoever

 

[rederob]

For example, what good comes from the constant media reporting on panic buying?

Governments have lifted restrictions on delivery hours.
Stores have set aside a time for older Australians to have a go.

...another ASFer gave a great summary of some of the real developments around the world that have been advancing us against Corona...do you see any of that being reported by our shitty media outlets...nope...

Where I go for news that's exactly what I hear.

... they are more interested in constantly reinforcing the major economic implications such as we'll all be visiting centrelink...really, why is that crap news?

People on Newstart (as of today it's the JobSeeker Payment) are not able to support themselves financially, so the increasing numbers of unemployed will become a social and economic burden. Add that to business closures. It's not rocket surgery.

... happy to continue reporting on the fact that supermarkets are being stripped bare. That crap serves no purpose whatsoever

It helps me work out whether or not it's worth getting up early and heading to shops!
It also tells me that there are a lot of people who are not particularly concerned about others who may be in more need and, despite being told not to hoard, they keep at it.
That's who we are now.
Are you proud?

 

[MovingAverage]

Are you proud?

definitely not! but you have given me some insight into why the media report the rubbish they do.

 

[Tumbarumba]

Couldn't agree more. Do you think there is public good to come from reporting on panic buying? Panic buying is a fact but reporting it serves what purpose?

I agree with you and Competent Government should be aware of what is happening in the world without having to read it in sensational media reports.
Here’s upcoming proof, imo. At present there is no panic to withdraw cash from banks,just wait for the panic when the media start to (needlessly) hype it up.

 

[JJADV]

Exactly while the reporting is maybe hyped our politicians reaction is more than lame, criminal...

Criminal.. really.. what planet are you on.. They walk a fine line of controlling the hysteria of the plebs, controlling the situation and trying to have an economy on the other sine.. what would you do Einstein??

 

[MovingAverage]

Seriously

 

[MovingAverage]

I agree with you and Competent Government should be aware of what is happening in the world without having to read it in sensational media reports.
Here’s upcoming proof, imo. At present there is no panic to withdraw cash from banks,just wait for the panic when the media start to (needlessly) hype it up.

I have no doubt that the media is circling like vultures just waiting for the first bank to make the slightest hint regarding liquidity and then boom...the media will run headlines regarding the banking system collapsing. That’s sure to get people scrambling to withdraw their money.

 

[SirRumpole]

Criminal.. really.. what planet are you on.. They walk a fine line of controlling the hysteria of the plebs, controlling the situation and trying to have an economy on the other sine.. what would you do Einstein??

That's my view too mainly.

Coming back to the headline "People who have never known themselves to be out of work face Centrelink, PM warns".

Did he actually say that ? I can't find it on his press conferences. If it's just a journalist's paraphrasing of Morrison's remarks then I think it's dishonest. Journo's should directly quote what is actually said.

 

[sptrawler]

To be honest I don't think the media have been aggressive enough often just politician mouth pieces rather than seriously reporting the consequences of being to late for exampl.

Did you know going to lock down 1 day to late think Wu Han changes the infection rate by 40%.

Unfortuntely I think the media have made it a circus, as usual, rather than take their facts from the source of Government information.
It doesnt make for sensational gossip IMO.