The following link taken from Media Watch,
Feb. 23, 2015 - and is still relevant today and
worth a read:

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4185606.htm

We should applaud the fact that we do have a national
broadcaster that is independent from government.
There is little choice in the views being presented on our
commercial media. They are narrow (and strident)
and tend to run along
predictable lines.

I shall repeat what was said earlier -

Imagine an ABC that told its journalists not only what kind
of stories to pursue but also what kind of assumptions and
values to engage when they caught up to them.

It is only fair and telling that the ABC might compare itself with Richard Carlton's superficial, 'gotcha' tabloid journalism.

However that confirms the criticisms being made of the ABC.

It is alright for political partisans such as yourself, Fox, who sit in rapt attention at the superficial, 'Progressive' conservative-baiting that pretends to be an 'exercise in democracy' on the ABC's Q&A and other 'drag 'em down' media outlets. You might get your jollies and justification for living in a self-imposed, simplistic rut of leftist or the highway to 'prove' your superior morality (to whom and for what?).

However many people aren't anything like that and expect REAL interviews and REAL opportunities from the Auntie taxpayers fund for guests to expound their outlook on life and interpretation of what is going on about them.

To be blunt, you seek the entertainment of the Roman Colosseum, which is as you are freely admitting (and supporting) is Q&A to a tee.

Others seek a range of views to compare and contrast with their own and to assist them to make sense of what is going on about them.

Is Q&A like Richard Carlton's 'interviews'(sic)? Yes, but it shouldn't be. It is NOT what taxpayers are paying for and the sly 'Progressive' hidden agenda that isn't much concealed these days IS unwelcome too.

There are elements in the ABC that are bringing the ABC down. Time for new blood and an end to the protected workshop where the few 'celebrity journalists' take home mountains of cash and the creative people in other programming get SFA for their efforts.

Interesting that those who criticise the ABC
don't really have much to say in the way of criticism
on the values of any other Australian public commentators,
especially those working for News Corp.

These people only seem to single out those
on the ABC.

Take one - Mr Andrew Bolt (please).
Mr Bolt - not only has a newspaper column but also a
TV show - and his influence is widely felt.

Yet not a peep from any of our resident critics on
any of Mr Bolt's comments - especially on his vicious
anti-Muslim writings where Mr Bolt equates Islam with
jihadi terrorists. (This means equating 1.5 billion
people with terrorism).

What does that tell us about the values of some people?

Malcolm Turnbull once described Mr Bolt's views as
extreme and "quite unhinged."

Mr Turnbull in his description of Andrew Bolt said,

"Now Mr Bolt is fond of attacking what he regards as the
government's enemies in the media. Principal amongst whom
of course he numbers the ABC. I don't think you would see
anything as crazy as that on the ABC... I just have to
say to Mr Bolt, he proclaims loudly that he is a friend of
the government. Well with friends like Bolt, we don't need
any enemies."

Somewhere in this process, somebody should be questioning
media bias in general and not just attacking one group
whilst totally not reacting to the latest ravings of a
blatant and biased other.

"It is alright for political partisans such as yourself, Fox..."

Excuse me!...but surely there is really no point taking these debates to heart on OLO if Mr Political Partisan himself can make a comment like that in all seriousness.

What a joke!

Get a load of Commandant in Chief's latest cunning plan...

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/qa-boycott-tony-abbott-prepares-to-back-down-on-frontbench-ban--with-a-catch-20150710-gi9n5v.html

Being the honourable gent he is, his interference in the independence of our public broadcaster (not a 'state' mouthpiece) is afoot once more.

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott will drop the directive for his frontbenchers to boycott the ABC's Q&A program if the ABC moves the program into its News and Current Affairs division."

Oh but...

"But the ABC is not expected to accede immediately to the request, meaning Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull would not be given clearance to appear on Monday's episode of Q&A."

Our L-Plate Despot is a doozy....it seems that he'll do anything to stop his nemesis, Malcolm "Everybody-Prefers-Him-To-Tones" Turnbull, from taking his seat on the panel.

"Fairfax Media understands the ABC will not rush to a decision on the issue as it would view this as a major breach of its independence from government. The issue is expected to be discussed at the August ABC board meeting."

Fox,

Doubtless you have been told many times before but the realities haven't got past your bias, so here it comes again.

Whatever Bolt and others do is irrelevant, they are subject to their shareholders (and advertisers!), UNLESS you are saying that the ABC must 'balance' by leaning left. That would be ridiculous.

The taxpayers and the wider Aussie community OWN the ABC, government has NO money of its own and it is the public's money, directly or indirectly taken, that funds the ABC to the tune of $1.3billion dollars a year and rising.

Taxpayers expect quality programs throughout the ABC. It is NOT acceptable to lose funding from worthwhile drama for example, simply to blow it on the juvenile, superficial, 'GOTGHA' pap - the 'shock, horror, humiliation and hysteria' entertainment for Housos, Bogans and Green-Left lunatics - being produced by those overpaid celebrity journalists and producers on Q&A and other ABC political stunt shows.

Frankly, I would very much prefer it if the large sums of PUBLIC money that are being poured daily into the over-paid political talking heads on the ABC were used instead to pay for outstanding, apparently unfunded, medical treatment for the many deserving elderly who are having trouble affording to put protein on their tables.

I understand that it is 'YOUR' ABC, but in that case I don't want to be paying for it. I would relish the chance to commit my tax money to the elderly instead.