I think we're long past the point where Fairfax, Newscorp, SBS and the commercial TV stations are considered "real media" by most normal Australians. The ABC is an exception, it's been a lot better over the last few years, it's programs and analysis are mostly objective (ie uncontroversial) and it's the only network to do any real investigative journalism.
SBS is unwatchable for the most part, it has occasional gems like "Prisoners Of War" but in our house we call it "The Hitler Channel", since it seems every night there's a show on where Silvio Rivier gets to do his demented Hitler impersonation throughout the narration.

Hello again o sung wu
Many years ago a school friend was lucky enough to get an internship at a local country newspaer after finishing Yr 12 (matriculation as it was known then). Her first jobs were pretty basic then after sometime moving into the more interesting stories such as police reporting, courts etc. She then moved to the big smoke and was disillusionsed after a few years with the lack of ethics in the industry. Stories that she wrote based on interviews and facts, ended up being edited and becoming far sordid than they really were. Naturally she became disillusioned and eventually left.

Opinion pieces are fine if they are advertised as such. But I agree with your view that reporters once reported facts rather than statements based on rumour and/or before due process had ascertained the 'facts'. Some of the best investigative works now come via books where authors (some ex jounos) can spend the time researching and interviewing sources, fact checking etc without the pressure of the 24 hour news cycle.

Hi there CSTEELE...

Many thanks for your interesting questions. Apropos your request that I furnish evidence attesting the bias shown by the Parliamentry Press Gallary, and to a lesser extent, the ABC.

My answer surely must be... 'res ipsa loquitur' - the thing speaks for itself !

On the occasions I've watched the ABC, or read an account by some notable political journalist. I'm amazed at how patently obvious it is, that some material, or a rebuttal, or some contrary opinion expressed from the Right, is altered in some way ?

Often accomplished by modifying or 'refashioning' a story, by having the facts reworked, or skewered, omitted, or even embellished upon. In order to obfuscate the true essence of such an account, from a figure from the Right.

Of course, no responsible journalist would deliberately seek to fabricate an account, notwithstanding whatever his political proclivities may be. However, as a human being his personal tendencies, and penchants for a particular side in politics are sometimes evident in whatever he chooses to write ?

A retired Police Commissioner of the Feds, a notable former high ranking & decorated soldier, was allegedly heard to say '...he'd rather face a Company of highly trained NVA, than face the media...' ?

When I was working, I was required, not only to give an update, or a public sitrep, on some crime or other, but also to appear on TV on more occasions than I care to remember ! I'll freely admit, it's probably the hardest, most daunting task that can confront police. A view shared by almost everyone I served with !

We're neither trained, nor skilled in dealing with the media (in ALL it's forms). And most large Enforcement Agencies around the world now give specific training to members who're likely to be called upon to give such interviews, as well as employing a dedicated Public Relations & Media Liaison, Department.

Thank you for your contribution CSTEELE.

Good afternoon to you PELICAN, and you too (again) CSTEELE...

Hi again CSTEELE...

I'm sorry, in answereing your questions, it would seem inter alia, I didn't quite make myself clear -

Police are not 'afraid' of the Media, far from it. Indeed, they (the coppers) often NEED them for many reasons. Actually, it's been 'interviewed by journalists' - on or off camera, that's the daunting feature of police/media relations. Being misquoted, being watched or listened too, both by the police command, or other bosses' and of course, the public at large.

You get back to the Station, you're called into the Inspector's Office..." what in hell's name did you say all that 'S...' for, you goose..." OR WORSE ! If your boss is upset, HIS boss is upset too, all the way to the top !

Discipline in the police force is like water and gravity ? 'Water' (like trouble), (flows 'down' hill - Gravity) right 'down' to my level...a humble detective sergeant, and his hapless squad ! You follow me CSTEELE ?

Hi there PELICAN...

That's indeed a great shame. Your friend followed a career path only to be profoundly disappointed and thus disillusioned, and then needed to seek another career ? I'm not entirely sure, but isn't a Journalism Degree at Uni. pretty demanding ? Your standards of english, expression, in fact everything associated with skilled writing, needed to be very high, I would've thought ?

A professional skill far beyond my modest NSW Leaving Certificate results back in 1957. Ten or so years after I joined the job, they decided to require all new police cadets, to study and pass 'Pitmanscript' shorthand. Wouldn't have effected me, as I joined up, post the Army. But I'd think shorthand as hard to master ?
I used to watch them in Court, and they were very very quick and adept at their profession, as well as being well remunerated too. I thought, many journo's were capable of taking shorthand, perhaps I'm wrong ?

Thanks again PELICAN & CSTEELE, I appreciate both your contributions immensly.

Dear oh sung wu.

You addressed my query about your remarks regarding the ABC with “My answer surely must be... 'res ipsa loquitur' - the thing speaks for itself !”

I must respectfully respond that it does no such thing.

Would you have accepted that as an answer from a witness or somebody you were questioning?

I fully accept that bias is mostly in the eye of the beholder, but when one makes the type of sweeping generalisation that you have just done with out any equivocation then it is only right that you be called upon to provide some concrete evidence of which I await with interest.

Perhaps you may have addressed, in a round about manner my question; “could you please tell me why there were so many camera crews present when the NSW detectives arrested Craig Thompson recently?”, but if you have a more fulsome response I would appreciate it.

Cont...

Cont...

I'm not sure the title to your thread “The Media - injurious or beneficial?” was exactly reflecting the point you were wanting to make about the media but if I may I will take it literally and offer the following.

At my daughter's school there were a series of suicides that occurred in quick succession a couple of years back. There had been a set of protocols in place about the reporting of particularly youth suicides. These along with other measures had managed to drive down the number of young people successfully taking their own lives. The local paper had respected these measures until the fourth life was lost then ran with the story hard and loud even approaching students in the streets outside the school. The principal and others were horrified and protested strongly. The paper's response was that the story was too big to ignore.

This same paper had also devoted a hell of a lot of resources and column inches to an anti-bullying campaign particularly addressing school kids.

Therefore your question; 'The Media - injurious or beneficial?' probably rightly deserves Individual's answer of 'Both'.

Of course we need to respect the nature of the beast when dealing with our media but also recognise its absence would leave us far more vulnerable to excesses of power. Often the cosy relationship between the police and the government means the only real prospect of our society managing to prevent such excesses within the force is our media.

I have no problem with any institution wielding such strong power over our citizens liberty and often lives being scrutinised by the fourth estate even if they get it wrong sometimes. A free and un-intimidated press is a vital foundation of any democracy and as long as it provides the function of shining spotlight on those particular institutions I will forgive many of its failings.

Therefore, in my opinion, the Media is on the whole highly beneficial.