Bad chemistry in media battle
Yesterday saw a string of media bosses appear before the politicians – and cameras – in Canberra. The Conversation’s Michelle Grattan was there.
The media chiefs expect to have the last word about the government’s plan for a print media watchdog – more poodle than pit bull – and a public interest test to prevent further ownership concentration. And in private, the last laugh.
If, as seems likely, these media reforms crash, they will chuckle over how they put that upstart Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in his place.
They came to Canberra, tempers variably in hand, and locked horns with the feisty left senator Doug Cameron.
Please tell me mumbrella has a little more than a republished article on what was one of the biggest and astonishing days in media.
I want to hear what you’ve got to say.
Hi Billbored,
I’ve formed the view (rightly or wrongly – you decide) that the twists and turns of the politics in trying to get the bills across the line is less important to our readers than the substance once the chips have fallen.
So while as journos we were glued to the Sky Business Channel in the office all day yesterday, I wont be inflicting as much of it on you.
Certainly, we won’t be joining either side of the campaign at this stage…
It’s worth stating (yikes – you’ve got me going now…) that personally, I think it is a disgrace to try to jam through something as potentially significant as this in a week regardless of its merits or otherwise.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Once again Labor fails to communicate the issues to a voting Public who more and more only understand Slogans and Sound-bites. (Ironically thanks to the MSM)
The whole thing will die a painful death now that they’ve allowed it to be framed as an attack on “Freedom of Speech.”
Hywood Claims that “The broadcasting industry is fundamentally an entertainment industry with some news on the side,”
I would say that the Print Industry is fast becoming one big opinion piece on behalf of their proprietors.
I would argue that the industry needs some help understanding the context of what is being discussed.
It is sites like yours which are first place the industry are turning for expert (and easy to understand) advice.
I think it’s too big an issue for Mumbrella to sit on the fence on myself Tim, please don’t cop out…