Copy and paste this this and see the illuminating selection of front pages from Murdoch's camp.

"This is what it looks like when a billionaire manipulates the election with 65% of a country's newspaper circulation"

https://twitter.com/itsneal/status/370332671710224384/photo/1

mainly sour grapes by people complaining about Murdoch. They have been silent for decades about the national broadcasters anti family, anti conservative, pro gay, anti Abbott, pro global warming fantasy mantras. They also were happy for Murdoch to back Rudd is 07. I suppose when you are the most incompetent and deceitful Government in Australias history you need to blame someone for the bad polling. Sad part is I think the likes of Shorten and Wong are to blind to see. At least Rudd knows they have been atrocious performers.

SM
Putting aside our differing views on some of the Coalition policies, can you not see the dangers in concentration of media ownership and in a biased media. Of everthing that is the biggest threat to free speech as well as overt government interference.

Media owners are businessmen. They are not elected to represent the people and should ensure their reporters check facts. I like opinion pieces that put forward a reasoned analysis even if I don't share the conclusions of that analysis. But these are clearly marked as opinion pieces. "Vote this mob out" is not an opinion piece splashed on the front page. I also criticised the media (you can trawl through my old posts if you want) when there was hyper-focus on some of Abbott's faux pas. It was trivial and in the realm of 'tea and scandal'. Churnalism instead of journalism.

Cartoons are one thing and all politicians get a lampooning from time to time, but front page Hannibal Lecter is not in that category. Surely you can see the difference.

Hi Pelican,

I would have thought that "Vote this Mob Out" WAS an opinion, it's hardly a dispassionate observation, or an academic finding. Any half-wit reading it would agree or disagree, but they would not be at all confused about whether it was an opinion or not.

Probably, once an election campaign has started in earnest, we all almost instinctively grow an extra layer of cynical skin, assuming that from now on, everything is opinion, hype, slag, spin, lies, dirt, etc. But isn't it fun too ? Surely, after seven months of election campaign, we're entitled to watch somebody sink the boot in ?

Buckle up, some of you fellas, and enjoy the ride :)

Joe

Joe
There is no dispute it was an opinion. Is it the media's place to 'put the boot in'? I am buckled in as you put it but already sick of the ride. Still trying to get rid of the political junkie addiction. :)

But some of us junkies will feel a lot better on the Morning of the 8th of September :)