During the Great Depression, many newspapers betrayed their readers. Some are doing it again now
The likes of Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones are downplaying the severity of COVID-19, and in doing so, are betraying their audiences, argues Sally Young in this crossposting from The Conversation.
Many newspapers betrayed their readers during the Great Depression and now some are doing so again during the coronavirus pandemic.
During the Depression, Australia’s major daily newspapers loudly resisted calls for economic stimulus to revive the economy. Even the tabloids – whose working class audiences were feeling the full brunt of unemployment – campaigned instead for government spending cuts that hit their readers hard.
Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND
*** loud clapping ****
So true! I recall when all this started, one of their titles had “End Of Days” plastered across its front page and large pics of the bogans fighting over toilet paper.
Talk about unnecessary fear mongering.
great article, well said professor Young.
Actually there are already whispers in the US about FOX NEWS being sued for their falsehoods over COVID 19.
So Alan Jones and Co. would best be a little careful …