Media
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Anti-Chinese press vitriol in press gallery
From 2004 to 2014, I ran a program on behalf of Sydney University to send highly-motivated Australian media students to English-language newspapers around Asia. They were to work as professional journalists, researching and publishing their own stories about local events. On return to Australia, their experience was designed to equip those who joined Australian media Continue reading »
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In the ever deteriorating relationship with China, the mainstream media have a lot to answer for
Australia’s mainstream media seem determined to scuttle a reset of Australia-China relations. Continue reading »
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What to do about the Treasure Island of Taiwan
“Sir, with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth,” Captain Smollett said in Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. Continue reading »
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In Asian Media this week…The reckless Pelosi
Plan to stabilise US-China links; Beijing’s hand strengthened; tighter control over Taiwan; war not imminent. Continue reading »
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The Chinese Ambassador and our ignorant and hostile media
We should be alarmed, if not ashamed, at how some of these journalists behaved and reported. Continue reading »
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A hodge-podge is not an international service
As Opposition Leader touring overseas, Anthony Albanese probably clicked on ABC Australia TV to kill time. If so his claim that ‘it’s a matter of national security that the ABC makes more content that projects Australian values and interests to the Indo-Pacific region’ sounds like despair driving action. Continue reading »
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John Menadue: The Ukrainian / Zelensky propaganda war
Amnesty International has just released a report that drew attention to Ukrainian violations of International Law in its war with Russia. It quickly became a footnote in the propaganda war. Continue reading »
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Gilding the cage of suburbia: farewelling Neighbours
The statistics of Australia’s longest running drama series about sickeningly idyllic suburbia will interest soap show boffins. It lasted 5,955 episodes over 37 seasons, starting in 1985. Continue reading »
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In Asia media this week
Myanmar’s sickening political executions; a terrible ‘new normal’ in Sri Lanka; dictatorial democracies; ‘bananas’ a code for bribes; China hits out at ASPI; no consensus on Taiwan consensus; HK’s latest status symbol. Continue reading »
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What made you stop trusting the international media?
Top cause was coverage of Hong Kong, followed by the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, say respondents to a social media tweet that quickly turned into a fast-growing discussion Continue reading »
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Rupert falls out with Jerry and Donald
In the space of a few weeks Rupert Murdoch has dumped both Jerry Hall and Donald Trump. One dumped for threatening to cost him money and one because he can no longer deliver Rupert’s other love-power. Continue reading »
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Menace from George Brandis: how to represent state interests not Julian Assange
Appearing on last Thursday’s ABC Q&A programme, George Brandis, former Attorney General and former Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, behaved as though Australian citizens should always be grateful for the way he would protect their interests. Continue reading »
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The propaganda war in Ukraine
Freedom of press critics have complained how the Russian government news program, RT, has been blocked by many Western outlets during the Ukrainian fighting. Continue reading »
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Misconstruing China’s ‘demands’, Australian media beat the drums of war
After three years in deep freeze, Australia’s relationship with China may be starting to thaw, with the foreign affairs ministers finally talking to each other. Continue reading »
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Keith Mitchelson: A trove of treasures
The National Library of Australia is preserving our past wealth of regional newspapers, magazines, and books. Trove holds treasures relevant to understanding the present. Continue reading »
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A radical future for ABC children’s television programs
Now that the new Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland is considering a review of the whole broadcasting sector, the lid might be lifted on failures in the system for children. Among all the resets needed for the digital age, the ABC should be charged with the mission for children it should have been on for the Continue reading »
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In our identity culture wars is the ABC promoting cohesion or pulling us further apart?
The Western world is undergoing a war between cultures and ideologies with the future uncertain. David Anderson the Managing Director claims, ‘the ABC nurtures social cohesion and national unity’. But, in their attempt to be inclusive, is the organisation having the opposite effect and contributing to the spread of contagion and a tyranny of the Continue reading »
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Happy Birthday ABC. Where are you going now?
The ABC celebrates its 90th birthday June 30th this year. There are few Australians alive today who were here at the birth. So, it is timely to ask what the future of our public broadcaster is, particularly given the BBC, its model and guiding star, is in trouble. Continue reading »
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The Asian Media this Week
Uncomfortable choices between US and China; support for stronger Japanese military role; Marles moves closer to India; Myanmar military oppression worsens; South Korea joins space race. Continue reading »
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Geraldine Doogue: Engaging young Australians with their ABC
Another highly engaging Classic 100 music countdown came to a close at 4pm on Sunday, enthralling many thousands of Australians, linking them like maybe nothing else, to their ABC. Crucially, younger Australians engaged like never before with the Classic 100, according to the network’s website. Altogether, 215,486 listeners took action and voted—a record, with an Continue reading »
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What is the “mad left”?
Even before the Albanese government was certain that it would have a clear majority, the Sky News chorus had begun baying about the “mad left” taking power. What the madness constitutes is never quite made clear. It is “vibe” rather than diagnosis. Continue reading »
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Brutality, cynicism and unequivocal incompetence
On 21 May Anthony Albanese led the Australian Labor Party to a historic victory, winning government from opposition at an election for just the fourth time since the second world war. Labor appears set to form majority government with at least 76 seats and several seats still in doubt, taking 10 seats from the Liberal Continue reading »
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Media Watch and the Election 2022
After what has been described as a turbulent campaign, often devoid of vision, ABC’s Media Watch dissected the coverage and behaviour, and whether it swayed the final result. Continue reading »
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I have not seen an Australia so bereft of trust in its politicians, so cynical of their motives and their promises as it is today
A strong, independent public broadcaster, with its governing board appointed at arms-length from executive government, and funded by and accountable to a healthily functioning parliament, is a gift to democracy. Continue reading »
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Election coverage: ridiculous questions, irrelevant answers
There has been justified criticism of journalists’ fondness for gotcha questions. But there is a broader and more costly crisis in the way that election campaigns are structured and covered by media. Continue reading »
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The destructive Rupert Murdoch
The grim news is that Rupert’s heir, Lachlan, is a less intelligent and harder right force in News Corp. The death of the old man can’t save us. Continue reading »
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The Murdoch media has gone rogue again in the 2022 election (Updated repost from 27 Oct, 2017)
Denis Muller puts it this way in The Conversation Continue reading »
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Voting season sees clichés bloom
Elections are spring rains bursting dormant seeds into carpets of weeds. Common varieties include sun-intolerant promises and herbicide-resistant lies. The most tenacious is Diurnarius proverbium, commonly known as journalistic clichés. Continue reading »
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In Asian media: Sri Lanka crisis gets worse by the day
Sri Lanka crisis gets worse by the day Plus: Assault scandal unfolds in Thailand; moral leadership on Ukraine; Singapore to get new leader – sometime; the greying nation. Continue reading »
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Western media have failed dismally in reporting the Ukraine war
While Western news agencies and media have been falling over each other in the rush to cover the Ukrainian side of the story the Russian side of the story has been ignored. Continue reading »
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