A balanced, unbiased media sounds great, lets start by selling the ABC; an obvious case of employee capture. A lazy billion a year off the budget would help towards the 10 billion interest payments we now have as well as reduce the unfunded, bloated ("Public Service") retirement packages payable by our children.

First Murdoch, now Fairfax,

You can't fool all the people all the time.

When even the left of center press can't stand the 3 ring circus act that is Labor, it is time for them to be chucked out of office.

I think the lowest primary vote in 100 years shows that the Australian voters are tired of labor's lies and incompetence.

this guy raves on about evidence and truth, but where is the evidence that newspapers even have that much impact with so many other sources of info out there.

And where is the evidence that Aust's no longer can think for themselves from the abundance of info still being put out.

Hi all,

Alan is correct again, of course. And correct that this is a matter that needs continued and deep analysis. The mainstream media (msm) continues to be the source of most people's understanding of politics, personalities and motivations - and for democracy to function as it was meant to function, it is necessary for us to be able to trust the source of the information on which we base our understanding and our vote.

But the msm, because conservatives have allowed the development of a virtual monopoly, and consistently oppose any move to impose some accountability, is becoming corrupt. You could map the spread of the stain from the Murdoch strongholds outwards. Fairfax is infected.

Yes, people don't like to be told they've been patsies - but the msm's readers will continue to be used as patsies until they recognise this to be the case.

Really where is the proof.

Are you saying that if all Aust's read Alan Austin they would not vote Coalition.

How about offering evidence when you make assertions.

I bet that most would just laugh and be glad AA lives in france, given he offers a perspective that has no real idea.

But no worries, everyone can be legend in their on lunchtime. And AA types can continue to make appeal to those with blinkered vision.

"Now, why would the law firm seek an injunction? And why in a country which values freedom of speech would one possibly be granted? The only answer is if the stories were not true."

Well, this will come as news to the lawyers employed by Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid.

Nonetheless, after Fairfax's shameless fawning over Rudd in the run-up to the election, one would hope they had learnt their lesson; but no, just yesterday a Herald billboard was announcing all and sundry that stopping the Carbon Tax was tantamount to 'suicide' -- a soundbite from that Man Who Is Never Right, the twenty-first century version of Paul Ehrlich, David Suzuki.

Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.