Unfortunately Numbat has swallowed the general Howard Government/Mass Media line in relation to Habib. Numbat’s not alone of course. Many voters did the same in regard to the lies told about interest rates preceding the last election.
It seems a majority of callers to the wastelands of talkback radio can’t analyse the crucial points in the Habib saga, and have already fallen again for the misinformation and outright deception pedalled by the Government/Media manipulators.

All of this – especially Weekend Australian’s "Guilty because we say so” editorial fantasy on Habib - only shows how untrustworthy most mass media has become in Australia, and this unreliability is probably the main reason for the success of Online Opinion and other news & opinion websites like Crikey and Newmatilda. We live in a time when government’s furtive duplicity is almost as widespread as the recent tsunami, when media honesty and integrity are crucial for our democracy to thrive. People in search of in-depth, truthful reporting, investigative journalism, and informed opinion supported by factual relevance, are forced to abandon newspapers. I cancelled my subscription to The Australian 9 months ago for these reasons.

jayjaz

ringtail: You said that 'whether habib or hicks fraternise with or were involved with {lunatic-my term)terrorist is moot...'You really mean that if habib and/or hicks could/would meet and train with the nasties that this would not worry you at all??? Boy I am glad you are not a member of a Police Force in this country with views like that! By the way there is NO hatred from me to moslems.I just do not want to be bombed by barking mad basque, IRA or moslem terrorists.Fair enough sport.

instant ramen: murdock will print lttle that is anti howard. Don't forget howard's new media bill will be out soon then murdock will get his "wages".
what should western democracies (there are NO pure islamic democracies only brutal dictatorships) do?? Pat the brutal sods on the back give them passports and import licenses for their bombs and armaments?? Have you read what the saudi's - the main backers of terrorists - think of us in the west, have you read of their plans for us - if they were powerful enough. Open your eyes sport! Should they start exploding bombs in this country neither you nor your family will be immune you know. I do not hate moslems but you seem to hate those of us who have differing opinions. By the way using foul language does nothing for your argument at all. Regards, numbat

jayjazz: NO!! I have not swallowed anyone's line and you know it!! but it looks good to demonise someone eh??especially if their views are different from yours. Yet you have the hide to accuse others of demonising gutless, cowardly, bloodthirsty terrorists -get a life curly. Note that I have not accused you of peddling someone else's thoughts. I totally agree with your comments on the 'australian'It is just a lying liberal rag. No journalists just paid one-eyed obedient, compliant hacks or prostitutes of the press. murdock is not doing this for nought either. regards, numbat

Boaz, you say that those of us who are deeply concerned about the abrogation of human rights in Habib's case, must believe the following, "he was not charged, therefore he is innocent".

No Boaz, you are wrong. Most people who share my concerns are making no judgement whatsoever about Habib's guilt or innocence. That is for a court of law to decide, not the court of public opinion.

There is an old story from the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw in WW11 that goes something like this. When they came for the grocer down the road, I made no complaint. When they came for my neighbour, I made no complaint. When they came for my best friend, I made no complaint. When they came for me, who was there to complain?

Grace and JayJazz, don't know what you know about the influence of the media but it is not wide reaching. Studies show the media may be able to sway the opinions of about 3 per cent of the population.
The other 97 per cent use the media to confirm their own beliefs.
Like you said, The Oz had a piece you didn't like so you reject it, the SMH had something you like so you agreed with them.
This is what most people do.
Even on OLO very few people change their mind - they get their opinions reinforced.

t.u.s.

Usual suspect, interesting study that you have quoted. I wonder what "media" was covered in that study. Did it include talk back radio and television, as well as newspapers? Did it distinguish between reading editorial opinion and reading news information? What does "sway opinion" actually mean? Was the study conducted in a particular time frame, say during an election period, so that it related only to changing voting intentions? Do you think we deserve media in this country that honestly and fearlessly reports the facts and holds government and other powerful interests to account on our behalf?