tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post6351108083151079873..comments2023-11-05T23:07:01.842+11:00Comments on Grog's Gamut: The Sideshow zooms over the press gallery’s heads.Greg Jerichohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-54887518522929890442011-05-15T21:41:26.594+10:002011-05-15T21:41:26.594+10:00I covered politics for about six months but left t...I covered politics for about six months but left the round after being dismayed at the lack of straight answers. I look back at some of my own stories and realize I was covering the politics - as I was employed to do - but also trying to find a different angle, a different voice. <br /><br />That remains an issue. Journalists must find a point of difference, cut through to the strong news point. Sadly, policy doesn't always allow that. An ideal story under Tanner's analysis would start "Elected public officials continue to disagree or misunderstand serious issues relating to emissions trading schemes. Journalist representative have confirmed they continue to wait for someone to explain this to them".<br /><br />Good conclusion to this post - Tanner is to be applauded for highlighting the problem, but the solution remains aloof.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-5209071026095565932011-05-12T14:58:05.069+10:002011-05-12T14:58:05.069+10:00Hi Grog,
First time commenter, long time fan. I ...Hi Grog, <br /><br />First time commenter, long time fan. I completely agree with your article, it is time the media stop trivialising politics and rather focus on policy issues. Issues such as whether the Gillard government should put more money into government advertising to justify the mining tax. You know, the big POLICY issues.Just Trollingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-49930302829630464672011-05-11T17:55:18.725+10:002011-05-11T17:55:18.725+10:00Grog,
You say the chaplaincy programme will be ha...Grog,<br /><br />You say the chaplaincy programme will be <b>hated</b> by the left, yet elsewhere you have declared youself to be a committed Christian. How are we to take this? It appears you want to dissociate from the left because of their secularism, but I can't believe you associate with the religious right. So where do you stand on funding chaplains in public schools?silkwormnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-20271802748338794542011-05-10T13:18:03.381+10:002011-05-10T13:18:03.381+10:00Journalists seem to be reacting defensively to Tan...Journalists seem to be reacting defensively to Tanner. It would be more in their interests to see this as analysis of one of society's structures, which they too are caught up in. Individuals are not to blame.<br />Both politicians and journalists get trapped by all this because it is how the game is played at the moment. And the public is complicit, as well as long-suffering recipient of all the drivel.Siobhannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-88377461036057323232011-05-10T13:10:38.540+10:002011-05-10T13:10:38.540+10:00Truth in the media or the lack thereof can make or...Truth in the media or the lack thereof can make or break an issue (or a person, if they decide to do so). Without an independent, transparent media democracy won't work. Australia (at least South Australia) has neither a truthful, nor transparent media or judiciary.Dieter Fischerhttp://www.dieterfischer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-9238163021292183232011-05-09T21:38:15.038+10:002011-05-09T21:38:15.038+10:00Good plug on Media Watch tonight Greg, hope it pus...Good plug on Media Watch tonight Greg, hope it pushes a few more eyeballs your way.<br /><br />Interesting that they mentioned that they got the idea for tonights show from your above critique.<br /><br />Cheers, PeterNucMednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-72674500565962852722011-05-09T09:21:33.950+10:002011-05-09T09:21:33.950+10:00Anonymous, from what I have seen Samantha Maiden c...Anonymous, from what I have seen Samantha Maiden can write pieces that do indicate insight on her part. Her comments <br />on Marr's essay on Rudd inspired me to buy the bookl<br />Anonymous said...<br />So, from what you're saying, Samantha Maiden is a journalist? News to me.<br /><br />April 30, 2011 4:14 PMannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11403236329036040856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-65053776242810540292011-05-09T09:18:11.667+10:002011-05-09T09:18:11.667+10:00Anonymous 30 April 2011 has a go at Samantha Maide...Anonymous 30 April 2011 has a go at Samantha Maiden. Is that sour grapes on the part of anonymous? She might be tough but she does have the track record, see http://australianconservative.com/2010/06/rudd-marred/ of writing pieces with insight.annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11403236329036040856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-83723670548294113032011-05-06T19:14:00.860+10:002011-05-06T19:14:00.860+10:00contraptor has it 100%. Those political and social...<i>contraptor</i> has it 100%. Those political and social commentators and bloggers who take 'politics' seriously - ie, they think it has a point, and that the protagonists largely believe in what they're involved with - are pissing into the wind of today's mediatainment industry, which couldn't give a FF about policy, integrity, truth.<br /><br />It's dis-spiriting, but your (grog's) review encourages me to read Lindsay Tanner's book, particularly the final chapter, which promises to suggest some remedies to this sorry situation.gxdatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-44365331744618462452011-05-04T00:52:21.689+10:002011-05-04T00:52:21.689+10:00Tanner was on on local radio tonight.
http://www...Tanner was on on local radio tonight. <br /><br />http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/05/03/3206370.htm?site=conversationsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-48073009655547546102011-05-03T22:16:10.523+10:002011-05-03T22:16:10.523+10:00The whole discussion misses the point. It should n...The whole discussion misses the point. It should not be about stupid journalists and politicians. They are not stupid. They all have very clear incentives to behave exactly the way they do.<br /><br />TV, radio and newspapers do not exist to report news or be the channel of discussions. The exist to make money. As much money as possible for their owners<br /><br />Their main source of income is advertising.They can charge more for advertisements in programs with high ratings. So, high ratings are the ultimate goal of all journalists. Some of them consider themselves entertainers rather than journalists, because it gives them more freedom in achieving better ratings.<br /><br />So, the ultimate question is: what sells? And the answer is simple: sensation and controversy in 10 second sound bites. It glues people to the screen. Whether journalists like this or not, does not matter. They do not have a choice - it is a race to the bottom. <br /><br />Same for politicians; they want/need presence, publicity. How can you get publicity? Give the journalists what they want/need, sensation and controversy. Policy does not fit into 10 second sound bites and does not bring rating.<br /><br />Welcome to brave new world of "News for profit".<br /><br />The question is: what can we do about it? I doubt that privatising and cutting the funding of ABC will fix it in a hurry. And no one is talking about a simple fact: all broadcast media is using a community resource - frequencies. In return for this resource, the community should mandate a weekly block of time from each broadcaster that is free of advertisement and dedicated to news.contraptornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-45184857710325194642011-05-03T04:48:46.764+10:002011-05-03T04:48:46.764+10:00The media don't get that policy is written as ...The media don't get that policy is written as legislation, it is debated inthe lower house and amended if necessary before a vote is taken on the floor. If the legislation is passed it goes to the senate.<br /><br />In the senate a majority can send it to committee if there is somethings they don't like or think need further discussion.<br /><br />After committee has reported it is debated in the senate, amendments are made and debated or not.<br /><br />Then after a vote and it is passed it goes back to the lower house to be signed off and sent to the GG.<br /><br />Only after she has given it Royal Assent can it be called law or policy.<br />Before that it is nothing more than a thought bubble.<br /><br />A prime example in the OO yesterday from the normally excellent Paige Taylor.<br /><br />Accusation that three people on Christmas Island raped another person. No charges laid yet, no court, no nothing but Taylor believed they would pass a character test change that has not yet even been written let alone debated.<br /><br />The problem is they are lazy and don't bother to find out the process.<br /><br />It is not rushing things through in 4 hours debate like serfchoices was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-83781058652506965942011-05-02T21:04:35.180+10:002011-05-02T21:04:35.180+10:00I'm sorry, Greg. I can't be convinced of ...I'm sorry, Greg. I can't be convinced of "stupid or disingenuous" as explanation for our press mavens. They're doing precisely the job their owners want from them. All recognise the standard they're to meet; it's the price they'll pay to stay in the job. Those who opt out do so at a cost.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-58481303283105002802011-05-02T19:20:19.012+10:002011-05-02T19:20:19.012+10:00In the dumbing down tradition
the late Bin Laden ...In the dumbing down tradition <br />the late Bin Laden was living in<br /><br />Abbottabad<br /><br />I am just waiting for the conspiracy theory from the Libs about the use of the name of their Dear Leader.sam sunshinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-19069623136376819982011-05-02T19:19:11.535+10:002011-05-02T19:19:11.535+10:00Thanks Rip-Off Red. Missed that oneThanks Rip-Off Red. Missed that oneGreg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-69270230824164900852011-05-02T16:34:00.901+10:002011-05-02T16:34:00.901+10:00Hello Grog
I liked the piece and not having a go, ...Hello Grog<br />I liked the piece and not having a go, I promise -- but where you have 'in the guise of many' I think you might have meant 'in the eyes of many'. Yes?<br /><br />Once a sub, always a sub...RipOffRednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-36489937926891827222011-05-02T11:59:26.527+10:002011-05-02T11:59:26.527+10:00Great piece Grog's. Made me race out to get a ...Great piece Grog's. Made me race out to get a copy... only they've sold out everywhere. <br /><br />Of interest to some of your readers, Graeme Dobell, a journalist with more experience than most of the press gallery combined has written a review for The Interpreter: http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2011/05/02/Mauled-by-the-media-monster.aspxAocarrhttp://lowyinterpreter.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-55495491866181145282011-05-02T11:50:47.879+10:002011-05-02T11:50:47.879+10:00Thanks for another great post Grog.
The problem i...Thanks for another great post Grog.<br /><br />The problem is not just here in Australia. David Roberts describes our current era as Post Truth Politics, in the article below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-04-28-policy-in-an-age-of-post-truth-politics" rel="nofollow">Policy in the Age of Post Truth Politics</a><br /><br />As he says:<br /><br /><i>But the crucial fact of post-truth politics is that <b>there are no more referees. There are only players</b>.</i>Stevehttp://steve-marg.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-73055265568206078132011-05-02T00:05:30.722+10:002011-05-02T00:05:30.722+10:00Let`s face it, Strolling turtles Soar High over th...Let`s face it, Strolling turtles Soar High over the heads of most media and Politicians. Seems Tanner is a bit different. Or has he just poached from a heap of blogs? I better read the sideshow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-516996115583348752011-05-01T23:51:46.777+10:002011-05-01T23:51:46.777+10:00On the Federal Election 2010, the Politicians and ...On the Federal Election 2010, the Politicians and Media were equally crap. The NSW and VIC State Elections were just as crap as Federal. Twitter, Blogs and Facebook users all were consistent in their dislike of what was on offer at the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-75106784821821885282011-05-01T16:34:04.559+10:002011-05-01T16:34:04.559+10:00"Geez. I don’t know to think whether Speers i..."Geez. I don’t know to think whether Speers is just idiotically naive, or just totally ignorant of how his own profession works"<br /><br />Thats a really interesting thought.<br /><br />Applied not just to Spears of course but virtually all journos, Tingle seems to get a bit of a pass ....this time.<br /><br />But, really, are the journos that stupid?<br />Or ....?<br /><br />In a state of denial about what their function is and how they perform it?<br />So entrenched in their mind set group think they are unaware of their own reality?<br /><br />Is their professed and blatant ignorance feigned or real?<br /><br />Do they know they are stooges?<br /><br />I think Bolt and probably most of the shock jocks do but its a bit hard to tell with some of the others.<br /><br /><br />Its really sad isn't it when our assessment of [most] of our media presenters boils down to whether they are stupid or disengenuous?<br />Because, lets face it, the only way many of them could say and write such tansparently blatant nonsense so frequently is to have deliberately chosen to do so.<br /><br /><br />fredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-18109949503393677582011-05-01T16:30:21.064+10:002011-05-01T16:30:21.064+10:00Tanner has a wonderfully analytical mind and a mat...Tanner has a wonderfully analytical mind and a mature approach so I would have read his book anyway but your review makes me really look forward to the read.<br />Many journos (TV, radio & print) have turned into political ambulance chasers and aggressively negative nit pickers constantly seeking scoops (no matter how trivial)rather than allowing a pollie to display what makes him/her tick. Politicans adjust accordingly and the whole scene spirals downwards. Most probably can't change so our best hope is to encourage the good ones.GeeForce77noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-2517904594765625842011-05-01T14:09:35.929+10:002011-05-01T14:09:35.929+10:00This book sounds like it's going to be great, ...This book sounds like it's going to be great, although I'm not sure about the cover. Before I realised the black things were microphones I thought they supposed to be some kind of spider legs growing out of the clown's ribcage.Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-17094302210167374212011-05-01T10:51:21.112+10:002011-05-01T10:51:21.112+10:00Just seen Lindsay Tanner on the Insiders this morn...Just seen Lindsay Tanner on the Insiders this morning, then saw the Insiders program do thier best to prove his point!<br />All I can hope is that Lindsay<br />(and others who have come to the same conclusion) keep talking and that the message can break through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-61623031926270569532011-04-30T23:24:50.693+10:002011-04-30T23:24:50.693+10:00Cheers DWM, I had heard she had written something ...Cheers DWM, I had heard she had written something on it, but didn't get round to reading it - will chase it up now.Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.com