Alan Austin makes a valid point about Journalist Code of Ethics and the failure of news outlets to stick with 'untainted facts' in reporting with room for opinion in editorials. The Journalist Code of Ethics has about as much teeth as the APS Codes of Conduct.

This is not only applicable to the Murdoch press but other media as well.

The media is big business and income is derived not only from subscriptions but advertising. Increasing market share of advertising is about circulation figures.

My question is why do so many people still buy these papers. If we all refused to purchase trash media, the market would respond.

Have consumers driven the push to sensationalistic journalism or has the consumer appetite been fed by the celebrity-isation of the media? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Either way it does not excuse media outlets from undertaking in illegal and immoral behaviours.

One can only imagine that the people defending News corp work for them. I couldn;t for the life of me think of any other reason for defending criminal acts.

Steven, have you read the article or not? The writer specifically said anyone can express any view in the opinion columns. This certainly permits "attacks on the Gillard government" and "HOWARD HATRED that emanated from lefties in bygone years". These are both perfectly okay - in editorials and op eds.
But what we are seeing now throughout the Murdoch network is newsrooms - like in Brisbane at the moment - being used in political campaigns. News reports routinely falsified - not just people expressing opinions.
Can you think of any news story that was falsified or distorted during the Howard years by Howard haters in newsrooms?
And as for those who talk about 'real world' or shout 'get real', what sort of real world do you want? Are you satisfied with the one we have now, or do you want to strive for a better one?

Last edition of News of the World this Sunday.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/08/3264142.htm

Ave atque vale, News of the Screws.

We shall mourn your demise in the same way that we mourn roadkill that we pass on the Nullarbor.

We shall miss you in the same way that we'd miss the National Enquirer, should the same fate ever befall it.

The transvestite vicars of England may now indulge in their salacious romps with B Grade actresses and canine friends undisturbed, and their abandoned bi-sexual love-children remain forever hidden from public scrutiny.

Has anyone here actually read the rag, by the way...?

So New of the World is being shut down, no problem to me but some will miss it in the UK obviously.

I wonder at some of the posters who want all of Murdoch's news outlets shut down, so what would we be left with in Australia if that happened. Fairfax who deliberately turn a blind eye to things they do not like, and make grand decisions to join activist causes, like green earth day, where we all have to turn on every light and appliance, I hate being told what to do by activists.

I used to read the Age and SMH, but they just are so biased and petty, the "journalism" is so biased, I gave up. The Australian is a better read, pure and simple. It is written by people who can distance themselves from injecting personal opinion and bitter hatreds.

Fairfax press is pretty well dead, no surprise!

The ABC has drifted into leftist opinion, has daily "hate the climate denier" articles, has morphed into Fairfax groupthink.

Yes they allow comments now from conservatives, which I see the rank and file detest and complain about, but differing oipinions actually make life interesting.

What is it with the left and censorship?

You can call John Howard "an unflushable t*rd" and it's a giggle and acceptable, typical leftist titillation, but are shocked if anyone calls Juliar a "b*tch". One cannot meow at the ALP (outrage!), but the ALP can meow at the coalition (it was just in fun)

It's a constant in the media debates, the left is constantly hypercritical and breathlessly so, they insult and pour scorn, but then react with outrage if any turns their way.

However there are not enough lefties in Australia, regardless of how loud the minority is, to save Fairfax, and the conservatives clearly have the numbers as The Australian thrives.

The ABC remains under pressure as it realizes the conservatives are growing in Australia, possibly in response to the left's stupid and reasonable behavior?