Media inquiry in danger of turning into ‘an UnAustralian Activities witch-hunt’
Veteran TV producer and media writer Gerald Stone has warned that the widening scope of the government’s inquiry into media convergence is in danger of becoming akin to Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for Communist sympathisers in the US.
McCarthy led attacks in the 1940s and 1950s via the House UnAmerican Activities Committee.
http://youtu.be/hysJaltzrWg
In an interview with Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes, Stone said:
“They’re now talking about an inquiry into media bias.
“I’ve got to say that reminds me of the days when I was back in the States at the height of the witch-hunting expeditions, inquisitions, led by people like Senator Joseph McCarthy.
“I’ve even got a name for it. We call it the House UnAustralian Activities Committee. And I can think of the first question they would ask is: ‘Do you now, have or have you ever had, an opinion?’
“I think it’s probably the silliest idea I’ve heard in a long time.”
Among those calling for the “hate media” to be held to account is Greens leader Senator Bob Brown.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard also suggested that News Ltd had “questions to answer” after the News of the World phone hacking scandal in the UK.
Stone’s memoir, Say It With Feeling, has just been published. A full Mumbo Report interview with him will appear on Mumbrella later in the month.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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He’s just promoting his book
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He may well be promoting his book but that doesn’t negate his opinion on the media enquiry.
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Is this some media twist on Godwin’s Law?
Find “Hitler”, replace with “McCarthy”
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As tempting as it is to dismiss as mere hyperbole, I agree the witch-hunt comparisons are accurate. What’s particularly worrying is that the mood in parts of the broader community and some sections (not all, to be fair) of the non News Ltd media is surprisingly complicit when it comes to government fear-mongering about bias and media trickery.
The populist desire to kick Rupert Murdoch and his organisation risks blinding those who should know better. At this rate by the time everyone realises the broader issue of media freedom is actually what matters, the likes of Brown will have already succeeded in exploiting the News of the World debacle for their own self-serving ends in Australia
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Too many people are conflating a ‘media inquiry’ with a plan to take away freedom of speech. That is the line being pushed by News Ltd, unsurprisingly, but others are falling into that trap.
Brown hasn’t called for any restriction of speech anywhere. Usual smears are to be expected.
The really vital issue for our democracy is VARIETY and DIVERSITY of speech. One proposed area for inquiry is diversity of control over news media. As the law stands, Murdoch is the only foreigner allowed to own/control news media in this country. Any other foreign investor is locked out unless the treasurer says OK. To date that OK has never been given. That locks in Murdoch’s uncompetitive domination.
News Ltd has proven that it is not only FREE to publish whatever rubbish it likes but is doing so on a daily basis over 70% of our newspapers.
We need DIVERSITY of media. One way to get this would be to break up News Ltd (probably not a real option). The only other way is to throw open our news media to all foriegn ownership. Could it be worse than what we have now?
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We do have diversity in opinions viz Fairfax and Murdoch papers – but how many readers buy both? In other words, readers tend to buy the papers that support their own views. Diversity of media is not the leveller of bias it is made out to be. And even within the Murdoch press there is diversity – but again the Tele readers generally don’t read The Australia and vice versa (except the political class).
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Wow, Andrew! You have both kinds – Country AND Western.
And up here in Queensland we have THREE to choose from – The Gold Coast Bulletin, The Courier Mail and The Australian – all News Ltd and all rubbish.
As I said before, they should be free to publish whatever rubbish they like, but a functioning democracy is failed by a lack of diversely controlled media. Whatever level of diversity I’d like, surely nobody can argue that the level of control Murdoch has over the subjects for our political debate is a good thing?
Bias isn’t so much the issue as lack of a true and level marketplace. If people have a good variety of choices then they’ll shop around.
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@Megan: Bob Brown isn’t so foolish as to actually admit any inquiry will result in some sort of subsequent regulation, and thus restriction, of freedom of the press. But of course it will – why else pursue it with such overt glee?
I don’t think you’ll find any reasonable citizen opposed to increase diversity of media ownership, but simplistically laying all the blame at Murdoch’s feet won’t solve anything. All that is going on here by politicians calling for an inquiry is dog-whistling re anti-News Ltd sentiment
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Of Course!
The cunning devil, he’s never said it because that’s exactly what he wants us to THINK he hasn’t said.
But he really wants it, and we can tell that he secretly wants it because if he didn’t secretly want it – he would have said it openly!
Brett, I bow before your genius.
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why is the Press Council such a joke?
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andrew and brett – megan has just eaten your lunch. She is right when she says:
“Too many people are conflating a ‘media inquiry’ with a plan to take away freedom of speech. That is the line being pushed by News Ltd, unsurprisingly, but others are falling into that trap”
Please admit to simply being News stooges – otherwise your critical reasoning abilities are sadly lacking.
As for Gerald Stone – what a sad, transparent and flimsy attempt to flog your book. (Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy).
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You’re right, Megan, how dare I suggest a politician might actually be less than forthcoming with the general public as to their real intentions and motives? Not being entirely transparent with voters… gee, it’s positively unheard of.
@Bob, I could tell you that I actually work as a consultant for a TV network and am not a News Ltd employee but I doubt you would believe me. But don’t you see how pitiful this “debate” is that you assume only “News stooges” would feel a little uneasy about the way politicians and those with an anti-media agenda are seeking to exploit the atrocities of the British tabloid market to smear local journalists too?
It’s to the infinite credit of those commenters who are not aligned with News Ltd (such as this site’s own Tim and the ABC’s Annabel Crabb) who have also cautioned about the temptation to gloat over Murdoch’s woes and allow defensive MPs locally to usher in an unnecessary and nasty media inquiry/witch-hunt
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As a trained journo i have little sympathy with any journos out there Do they not take a code of ethics oath, But they no wats going on and refuse to divulge it take for eg the schapelle corby case everyone in the media knew she was guilty they laughed and joked about it but yet drove oz to the brink of war over it. Another example would be of this HARRP actviity that everyone is talking about, but no the media ignores it. Their days as an information source are numbered for what good is a info source that refuses to report information correctly. Oz journos and most journos ive ever read or come across are so concerned with themselves and their interests that they wouldnt no what the truth was if it turned around and bit them, which is why they and traditional media in general are a dying breed. dinosaurs of the age before internet.
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Wow Nat, you sure have been brainwashed by your own media. There was never ever any proof that the drugs in Corby’s bag came from Australia. Visit http://www.freeschapelle.com.au and learn the truth. Australia should have gone to the brink of war but Howard blinked and it was a fait accompli for Schapelle.
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