Talking to a Sydney newsagent today, they expressed frustration at the commentary News Corp. is running during the state election campaign. Rather than sticking to news, News Corp is “meddling” and therefore giving newspapers a bad name. I tend to agree with this view considering the front page of The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
I get that News is trying to set the agenda. This cover story and the headline especially disrespects politicians (okay they may deserve some of that) but it also disrespects a section of voters. The Tele should stick to reporting news. Inside the paper they had terrific stories which should have been on page one.
Its all well and good to point out when a news limited paper mocks a left politician, but how about all times fairfax attacks conservative politcians. The
Age has been obsessively pursuing ever more negative Abbott stories for months. The was the story with headline about punching abbott in the face, the F&#k Abbott t shirts printed and promoted by a fairfax writer with knowledge and support of the age, the age editors emails revealing his determination to have front page bagging Hockey etc etc. Im afraid mark you political views colour some of your blog posts.
Newspapers have been running biased articles favoring one side of politics or the other for years. Heck, the Oz has been doing it from the very first issue.
John it’s the derogatory mocking which I do not like. You can disagree through your commentary pieces without being derogatory on page one.
Dear Mr Fletcher
Whilst I accept this blog is your creation, I feel your comments re the Daily Telegraphs coverage of the NSW elections,is a bit out of order.if my memory is correct,Fairfax and the ABC seem to bear a grudge those on the conservative side of politics- and I fail to see any commentary on your blog rebuking them.
In the interest of a fair and unbiased commentary on issues of relevance to the broader news agency community,it would be appreciated if your blog focuses on issues of significance and relevance to newsagents.
I have noted your point on the deregotary and mocking nature of the article,but I am sure that’s nothing new and I again like to point out that both the Fairfax press and the taxpayer funded ABC , do a very good job of deriding those who do not conform to their ideology.
Having said this, I do confess to read your blog on a daily basis, although you do a great disservice to your fine blog when you choose to cover issues like this.
,
Thanks for your comment Burgess. I have never seen Fairfax or the ABC publish such derogatory content. Sure they will make fun as humour from time to time and so will News Corp titles. This front page on a newspaper is a different thing and it has, I think, the intention of telling voters what to do.
Which paper is in court at the moment?
The text communication between the SMH editor and his reporters would indicate otherwise Id have to say.
I seem to recall an ABC presenter being caught out on camera making some fairly derogatory hand gestures.
All media is biased and has an agenda so lets not pretend that Fairfax is above the normal rough and tumble of the media. it seems to me that it always depends on which angle you are viewing it from.
Mark,the point of my response was that all news outlets have a agenda to promote the cause which is closest to its core readership/listening audience. Therefore News Ltd promotes a more conservative pro-business stance,whilst Fairfax/ABC push a more left of centre agenda. To merely pick on one news organization and completely ignore others, is in my opinion biased and plain wrong.
As for your suggestion that Fairfax and ABC merely mock or poke fun at those with a conservative outlook, again that’s a matter of opinion personally I do not find it humorous or just plain mockery.You also raise the point that news headlines influences voting intentions, can I point out that in 2015 people are far better informed and are perfectly capable of forming their own opinions.Besides in this digital age,their are multiple platforms(radio, TV, newspapers,blogs etc) from which people can derive their daily fix of news.I personally think you place too much influence on news headlines, the voting public are not fools and can certainly see through the spin.
I guess we know how fletcher votes.
I don’t think it matters how Mark votes, Andrew – he is as entitled to an opinion as all of us are.
Chris Uhlmann was so disrespectful to the passing of Malcolm Fraser on Friday night’s news by saying he was the most hated pm ever in Australia.
Whether you liked MF’s politics or not – it was most disrespectful to both the position and the man and his family to denigrate him in this way.
ps. I will still watch the ABC news though although I sometimes switch to SBS and they have an excellent service with lots more world news in it.
Burgess, you also are entitled to your opinion and you used this blog to air it after telling Mark NOT to use this blog to air his opinion?????????????
Double standards methinks
June u r as predictable as the weather.
Andrew — maybe – maybe not???????????