Sorry Alan, I got the polling numbers wrong for question “Does the government deserve to be reelected?

The on-line polling is now running at 15,753 for YES and 56,151 for NO

Dear Spindoc,

Thanks for this thoughtful letter.

Sound observations. Just a couple of points of difference.

Regarding, “Perception is created by the information we absorb which can be quite different to what is actually presented.”

True.

We probably differ on “what is actually presented.” Evidence suggests strongly that “what is presented” in Australia is not objective reality.

The point of this article and several preceding has been to demonstrate that Australia’s mainstream media – Murdoch, Fairfax and the ABC – actively prevent customers from knowing what’s really happening.

By omisson, by distortion and often sheer fabrication. Evidence is overwhelming. Refer the Australian Press Council.

You suggest, Spindoc, “Australians have been exposed to a great deal of spin from our current government”

Really? How?

By what means does the Government gets it message to the people?

What is an example of something the Australian Government has spun to the people in the last year or so – which is not true?

Observers abroad of Australian affairs are continually dismayed that Australia’s incredible success is seldom communicated.

Three examples:

1. Your Government recently eclipsed the Michael Savage Government in New Zealand (1935-40) for the lowest rate of ministerial resignations and sackings due to incompetence or corruption in the Westminster world since 1820.

2. Your Government has not only the best economy in the world now, but the best economy the world has ever seen – and this during the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s.

3. Your Government has restored all relationships with regional neighbours fractured during the previous regime. It has been rewarded for its foreign affairs achievements with a seat on the UN Security Council, plus chairing the Pacific Island Forum, plus the vote to chair next year’s G20 group of the world’s 20 major economies, plus your PM was given a standing ovation after addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress. No other administration has achieved that quadfecta.

Any other country achieving any of these would celebrate them.

Can you point to any mainstream media article/report which has acknowledged any of these accomplishments fairly?

Thanks, Spindoc.

Cheers,

Australia’s mainstream media – Murdoch, Fairfax and the ABC – actively prevent customers from knowing what’s really happening.
Alan Austin,
Yes & most journalists are University educated. Any figures on as to how many journalists there are from a non-academic background ?

Good Morning Alan,

Another great discussion - Thank You.
Keep on stirring, you're doing a great job.

I've got to confess that I thoroughly enjoy
programs like - "Q and A," "MediaWatch,"
"Insiders," "7.30 Report," "News 24"
just to mention a few. I feel that
were these to go we would all be the poorer for it.

As we all know and as Julian Burnside has pointed out
in his article - "Good Media is Good For Democracy,"
the media in this country is notoriously narrow and
full of strident voices all giving us the same predictable
points of view. We need a place where we can get the
facts without a political agenda or bias.
I always thought that the ABC was such a place.

Dear Alan,

<< We probably differ on “what is actually presented.” Evidence suggests strongly that “what is presented” in Australia is not objective reality >>

Oops! Did you just mix up “evidence” and “objective reality” in the same sentence? Do you mean your evidence or our evidence?

Either way it doesn’t matter. You can change the context and distort the meaning as much as you like but you cannot change the perception.

<< The point of this article and several preceding has been to demonstrate that Australia’s mainstream media – Murdoch, Fairfax and the ABC – actively prevent customers from knowing what’s really happening. >>

True however but you miss the point, it’s the same for everyone and is not confined to Australia. It’s just that many are too lazy, disinterested or lack inquiring minds. Others don’t even look because they already know the answer from their ideological compass.

<< By what means does the Government gets it message to the people? >>’

Same as everyone else Alan! What’s your point here?

<< What is an example of something the Australian Government has spun to the people in the last year or so – which is not true? >>

Silly point because for the majority of Australian’s who have already developed a negative perspective, such a list would exhaust my post limits.

<< Can you point to any mainstream media article/report which has acknowledged any of these accomplishments fairly? >>

Yep, they all have. Now define “fairly” for us and “accomplishments”.

<< Observers abroad of Australian affairs are continually dismayed that Australia’s incredible success is seldom communicated. >> Who cares?

I’ve no idea who these “observers” are but I spend four months each year travelling, much of that in the EU and I have yet to see CNN, SKY or BBC even refer to Australia.

<< Any other country achieving any of these would celebrate them >>

Assumption close? Being that we don’t see any “achievements” so why would they be “celebrated”? Our majority perception Alan, not yours.

Stay clear of the “grey devil” mosquitoes in Arles.

individual - Yes & most journalists are University educated.

I very much doubt that one would get a job as a journo without a degree, certainly not in the case of mainstream media including ABC / SBS. Maybe one of the itty-bitty specialist boutique operations might consider an outsider though.

Is the possession of academic qualifications as such necessarily a bad thing ?? Possibly that could be argued if said degree was in feminist studies or something equally weird (mind you it would be a major advantage for a pro-feminist rag). I did an arts / humanities degree in political science (as well as one in biochemistry) & I could just imagine what hairbrained ideas would be aired if most of the humanities students I encountered got loose in a media organization. Even the professors & lecturers were right out of their trees.