Foxy, while you seem to struggle with OLO participants disagreeing with you, I think you need to look at the issue in another way.

Try this: Ask yourself what is the agenda of the Murdoch media empire in Australia, and what are the policy outcomes in Australia.

I think you would find that there is an immense difference between what the right wants and what the right gets.

For example, take the anti-global warming sentiment, how do you explain that most Australians believe there is a link between human activity and global warming.

The truth is that many Australians agree and disagree with the Murdoch media on a wide range of issues.

Why? because many Australians listen to a variety of media players and make their own mind up.

That is the way the media continues to work and have influence in Australia.

If there is a concern, then the whingers should avoid the Murdoch media altogether and take up the many other choices.

Chris Lewis,

I don't struggle with people disagreeing with me.
On the contrary, I welcome disagreement. What
I don't welcome is misinformation, lies and
propaganda. As for people using many and varied
sources? Of course that's what rational people do
hence the decline in revenue for the Murdoch media
and the necessity of the petition. Having such a
large percentage of Australian media by the one
ownership needs to be debated.

If you have a problem with that - fair enough.
That's your right. As is mine to question it.

that is the key point: if people hear a message they strongly disagree with, they will turn to other alternatives.

But in a free society, the market should decide just which media sources flourish and/or decline.

That is my opinion.

Dear Chris Lewis,

The Murdoch press own over half of the newspaper share in this country and in some capital cities they are the sole provider. This means there isn't the so called choice you have banged on about.

They are also the largest in terms of online news reach.

Yet they are the purveyors of mistruth, outright lies, and toxic, inciting propaganda.

They do erode our democracy in many other ways including running ads like "Labor's death taxes" from Palmer.

The fact that each and every recent PM in Australia has at one time or another gone grovelling to Murdoch's door shows just how much power he exerts on or democracy. Your flippant disregard is not in keeping with the situation, one which has seen Murdoch's own son wash his hands of the company.

Dear SR,

So what is knew.

I wish you well as you wipe away your tears.

It is a tough gig living in oppressive Australia where are supposedly brainwashed by a rampant Murdoch media.

But, let us if there is a an alternative nirvana out there.

I am sure you will find some joke of a country that can impose the supposed truth on all of its citizens.

Dear Chris Lewis,

Oppression comes in many forms. Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent outlined this many years ago. I'm just pushing back on one of those incarnations.

As a reader put quite aptly in the comment section of the SMH:

"An someone from a science background, I had to stop buying the Australian years ago. Bias is one thing, but the publication of misinformation is a different thing altogether. Regardless of anyone's opinions of Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull, there is a real problem. Democracy does not function well in an ignorant society and if we want a healthy democracy then we have to maintain a healthy, scientifically educated media. There might be differences of opinion on policy but facts are real."

I want the media in this country to be held to a standard. It doesn't have to be onerous just reflect half way decent journalistic ethics. The Murdoch press are so faraway from that standard but with such a concentration of our media that it should concern any thinking Australian.