“Just the facts, ma’am”: What a citizen should expect from the media

Guest Author Uncategorized

Today’s Guest Author is Catalyst, with an eloquent plea to the media and our legislators. Thank you, Catalyst.

The earnest request for ‘Just the facts, ma’am,’ came from Dragnet’s lieutenant Joe Friday. An old time TV series with clear back and white values. Joe Friday’s remark encapsulates what I want from the media in their role of reporting news stories. The facts, clearly stated without distortion or interpretation.

Opinion pieces that are labelled as such are another matter. For some time now in my opinion, our ‘fourth estate’ has been failing us, the public, in factual reporting

The fourth estate, which is how journalists are described, has a unique function in our western democracies. They are supposed to represent us, the people. Their task is to stand for the interests of the people in scrutinizing the events of the day, fairly and without favour, especially the actions of the government and opposition. I’ve italicised where I believe our media fails us, most especially when it comes to subjecting the opposition to scrutiny. Not just reporting what they say, but actually looking for policies.

The term ‘fourth estate’ derives from the British Westminster system. This includes the Lords spiritual, the bishops, the Lords temporal, the aristocracy, in the House of Lords and the lower house, House of Commons, representing the majority of people in the Parliament. Accountability was supposed to be ensured by the scrutiny of the parliament by the ‘fourth estate’. Our Parliament is run along Westminster lines- replacing the concept of The House of Lords with the Senate- also supposed to be a house of review.

Under their own code of ethics (which some these days believe an oxymoron) journalists are expected to ‘report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts. Do not suppress facts or give distorting emphasis.’

(Australian News Commentary. Journalists code of ethics – an oxymoron? http://www.Australian-news.com.au/codethics.htm. Accessed 28/6/2009)

The Journalists’ code states that they are not supposed to display any type of bias. ‘Do not allow personal interest…to undermine your accuracy.’

(Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Journalists’ Code of Ethics http://www.alliance.org.au/code of ethics.html. Accessed 24/06/2013)

Additionally, journalists are also expected to apply the rules of disclosure. These say that a journalist must publicise facts about themselves which might reasonably be assumed to colour their opinions.

Opinions might be influenced by belonging to a political party, company or organisation. Equally, being married to someone who was a member of a political party, having worked or consulted for a party, company or organisation. Being a relative, a friend or former employee, would also need to be disclosed, as would any payments made to the journalist or gifts or trips. I believe that these rules are breached almost daily, knowingly, and flagrantly. The process has escalated since the tabloidization of the media.


(Image credit: iStockphoto)

What I want are the facts: unadorned, reported as fairly and accurately as possible, given these I want to evaluate them for myself. Facts unslanted by bias, opinion or commentary.

I don’t want to read reports affected by the ‘special relationship’ a columnist has with a pollie. Neither do I want an opinion paid for by Telstra, Qantas or any major company or person. The type of thing that both John Laws and Alan Jones espoused a few years back, whilst failing to disclose their commercial arrangements to their listeners.

And I want a code that is enforceable: one than makes journalist responsible for accuracy, look out for bias, and actually be responsible for checking their facts. How can I believe in a self-regulating code which has journalists judging the actions of other journalists? A code that has no meaningful penalties?

One example we in Australia might emulate is a code that has amazed Americans: the Canadian Truth in Media Code. This made news when a new broadcaster, SUN TV, wanted to enter the Canadian television news market.

Americans discovered that you could not lie on Canadian broadcast news. They were shocked. The idea that a FOX-type news programme was set to be presented in Canada galvanised thousands of ordinary Canadians into action. They liked their factual news, and did not want to the sort of reporting FOX is known for.


(Image credit: Roguemedia)

The Canadian Media Authority, CRTC or Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (similar to our ACMA) had a proposal under consideration, one which would have relaxed the current rules. Disallowed programming content included ‘broadcasting false or misleading news’. The plan to loosen up this rule was scrapped once Canadians made their feeling known. It appears the public feared a lack of civility in public discourse and a deliberate muddying of political waters.

(On the Media http://www.onthemedia.org/2011/mar/o4/lying-is-illegal-in-canadian-broadcast-news-transcript.30/06/2013)

Canadians expected, nay, demanded that their news remained factual. While the Canadian code only applied to broadcast news, it is surely not beyond the will and wit of lawmakers to extend its scope to newspaper reportage. Something similar, if applied here, might help restore civility to the public domain.

If newspaper sales are declining (and they are) and journalists are held in little regard, may I suggest that in some small part this situation is of their own making? They told us what they were supposed to do – and then failed to do it.

They played their own game, rewrote the rules to suit themselves, and forgot that they were supposed to be representing us, the people: verifying facts, and working on our behalf. Instead they decided to collaborate, to tell us the same stories, and to direct us to think as they did and do as they told us. How can they fail to realise they trashed the brand?

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Disclaimer. I am not, nor have ever been a member of any political party, none of my family are politicians, I have not worked, consulted or been paid by any political organisation, or worked for any political organisation in a paid or voluntary capacity.

I am simply a citizen with an interest in politics.

963 thoughts on ““Just the facts, ma’am”: What a citizen should expect from the media”

  3. Gerrans still in yellow!

    I sort of feel that winning is stage is a little second rate in the light of the publicity.

    Let them restrict the fanfares to riders, with their teams, who can win.

  4. So Cavendish is the greatest sprinter in the TdF of all time?! The TdF is about winning the Tour de France and Cavendish is a blot on that.

  5. Good morning Dawn Pstrollers. I’m a bit rushed this morning but here goes!
    The Gutless Abbott strategy is starting to get traction.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/kev-defies-tony-to-hit-a-raw-nerd-20130703-2pceg.html
    BArney Zwartz gives us more from the Victorian child sexual abuse inquiry. Our friend Pell does not come out in a gooid light here.
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-sorry-for-legal-abuse-20130703-2pbqy.html
    Well I did sy it would end in tears for VW Australia. Well done fellas!
    http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/volkswagen-sales-crash-20130703-2pbye.html
    How do you light the policy spotlight, Tone? From Tim Colebatch “Don’t just stop the boats, Tony. Stop the humbug.”
    terrain-for-ttp://www.smh.com.au/comment/voterland-rougher-abbott-20130701-2p7dx.html#ixzz2Y16XuUSe
    David Pope on education with a terriffic depiction of Kym Carr.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/opinion/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html

  6. And from the Land of the Free –

    North Carolina – The Stupid State (quite an honour seeing the stiff competition).
    http://americablog.com/2013/07/north-carolina-gop-sharia-law.html
    Some cartoons on their dysfuntional democracy.
    http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/07/03/cartoons-of-the-day-dysfunctional-democracy/
    And something’s happening in Texas.
    http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/07/02/bonus-cartoons-of-the-day-somethings-happening-in-texas/
    Virginia’s idiot Repug governor is in a bit of strife.
    http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/virginia-gov-bob-mcdonnell-asked-resign-am
    A huge spit by Rupert Murdoch captured on tape. Poor Rupe!
    http://www.channel4.com/news/murdoch-rupert-tape-police-the-sun-journalists

  12. Well. after witnessing and reading the MSM. chunder this last week, I have to conclude Julia Gillard/ Tim Matheson is by far better out of it! what a bunch of turds!

  13. Well, Leigh Sales was just as rude to Rudd on 7.30 as she was to Gillard.

    Wouldn’t you think she could get past repeatedly asking, “Was you policy wrong?”, “Sorry for interrupting, but doesn’t that mean your policy was wrong?”, “You made a mistake, didn’t you Mr. Rudd?”

    I found myself thawing a little towards Rudd, actually.

    It really IS all about Leigh, isn’t it? She gets one gotcha up against Abbott, wins a Walkley, and suddenly she’s the Interview Nazi, striking terror into politicians’ hearts.

    To both their credit, she doesn’t seem to have struck too much terror into either Gillard or Rudd, or any of the Labor ministers.

    Only Abbott seems scared of her.

  14. Those Egyptians are badly in need of a western style Reformation..get the “church” out of state business….there’s way too much Vatican Nose in Aust’s politics at the moment!

  15. http://www.afr.com/p/national/catholic_schools_get_special_deal_znCHYEiPtZ4xfjpal3pR4J

    The National Catholic Education Commission is now seeking a second major concession from the government: the ability to control how money is distributed between its schools free of ministerial intervention.

    If all states and territories agree to the Better Schools Plan, Catholic schools will receive about $3 billion extra over the next six years.

    The funding will be based on state-based averages of the socioeconomic status of students attending systemic Catholic schools rather than a strict application of a new funding formula, which is designed to give more money to schools with students from poorer backgrounds.

    The deal will blunt expectations by individual schools they would automatically receive their full funding allocation and will allow central authorities to redistribute resources and keep fees lower. Critics say it is a big departure from the plan promoted by federal Labor of a more transparent, equitable system based on individual need.

    Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said he spoke directly to Mr Rudd and talks would resume between the parties. “As the Prime Minister said to me, Gonski is gone-ski,” Dr Napthine said.

  16. Yes..Have to agree BB. and I hope with Rudd’s vanity being “cramped” by Sales rudeness, he’ll take offence and deport Scott, Uhlmann and Sales to Tierra Del Feugo!

  18. From last night..: TLBD….”jaycee,

    You are in Cape Byron?”

    No!…I’m in top hat and tails…..and the names not ; Byron!

  19. I don’t know what I ate yesterday, but I’m going to try smoking it today!

  20. ” I’ve been thinking for some time now that Leigh Sales was cut from the same cloth as Mesma.”………..As in : “Never mind the quality, feel the thickness”?

  21. These MSM. journo’s are a joke!..perhaps we could have a side panel with links to all the arrogant/crawlnig/ gutless/grossly mistaken public commentry, both vid and written copy of the MSM. journo’s…for history to judge!?

  22. Wixxyleak’s take on the events of the past week. Praise for Julia Gillard, derision for Abbott, not much about Kevin and a lot of good stuff.
    Especially this –
    ‘Over the weekend many of you may have witnessed the spectacle of Tony Abbott at a Liberal campaign launch. Tony stood before a room full of people all wearing the same shirt and waving the same silly flags while Tony Abbott paraded himself on a platform like he was Sarah Palin jumping onstage after a moose hunt.’
    http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/07/03/special-k/

  23. “The Australian media have failed to hold the Federal Opposition to account. Here is a set of 63 questions you can tweet or email directly to the 20 members of Tony Abbott’s team.”
    http://goaskabbott.com/

    You choose from a list of questions then tweet or email, sit back and – I suppose – wait for Tony and the team to ignore you.

  24. Yeah, leone..and when Mesma waved weakly to the… “crowd” (they really looked like they were recruited from a grand opening of another ‘Cheap as Chips’ store!) and breathed the words ; ” Iove you all”…do you think she realy meant it?…I mean, after all, hardly any ONE of them was wearing ANYTHING ; Gucci!

  25. I better go attend to the horses before I say something silly!…..then i gotta go check the infra-red camers set up at the wombat warren for the last couple of days!…looking forward to that!

  26. Thanks for posting that link Janice. I had only just seen it minutes before. I thought, what grace and dignity our great ex-PM showed, as well as loyalty to the cause. C@tmomma will be vindicated by it.

    That Swan, Emerson and Garrett, all of whom would have had reason to be bitter, also were gracious and positive, says a lot about the discipline and dedication of the team she led. I must say I warmed to Swan over the last three years, after originally thinking he was an odd fit. It is very clear he blossomed under the inspiring leadership of the PM, as did Garrett, Emerson, Combet, Wong, Burke and even the already gifted Roxon.

  27. Thanks Janice. I liked this bit:

    An equally upbeat Mr Swan called the night a “road bump” and urged the crowd never to forget the reason they worked so hard, telling them “the loyalty and the passion in this room can change the country”.

    He also joked with Ms Gillard when she turned to him and asked what they should do the next day.

    “Get pissed in the afternoon,” he replied.

  28. Interesting re Rudd and NSW labor,

    Is this just bells and whistles ?

    Sam Dastayi is still there by the looks of it. So whether this is a full on intervention I am still to be convinced.

    If Daystari goes and those in charge of the branch are stood down then I will look at it a different light but to me it reeks of a deal between Rudd and the NSW right.

    The very backers of Rudds return are now the subject of his ‘wrath ” ?

    I doubt it very much.

    Seems to me this has been cooked up between Rudd and the NSW right in a attempt to defuse the issue before the election.The NSW branch seems too compliant for it to be otherwise.

    Full and fair dinkum intervention or a “whatever it takes ” action by Rudd and the NSW right ?

    We shall see.

    I will leave my judgement for later as more is revealed.

    Good politics I suppose but just noise in the reality of it all.

  29. I think Rudd’s NSW Labor thing is not only an attempt to defuse the issue ahead of the election in the hope of saving a few NSW seats, but also part of the plan to win over voters in Sydney’s western suburbs who are said to have deserted Labor. NSW isn’t looking good for Labor right now, something has to be done to win votes back and there are a lot of seats at risk in Sydney’s west. There were two announcements last night that play straight at these voters.

    First the clean up Labor one and then Tony Burke and Rudd ‘admitting’ that Labor had been too slow to act on boat arrivals in 2007, saying they got it wrong back then.
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-03/burke-admits-errors-in-offshore-processing-stance/4798198

    This came just as Rudd is about to go to Indonesia for talks – a visit planned for Julia Gillard. The message from Rudd is aimed at NSW voters – ‘we know you don’t want boat arrivals and we know NSW Labor is broken. Trust me, I’ll fix it all’.

    On the boat issue – add the ‘we got it wrong’ admission to Bob Carr’s ‘economic refugees’ remarks and it’s easy to see where things are heading. Rudd and his team are setting things up for a tougher approach to asylum seekers, a policy that should go down well in certain risky western suburbs seats.

  30. I think the NSW branch intervention will be very well received amongst casual observers (most people) in NSW. This is regardless of whether its actually just helping one part of the machine (Sam’s part of the NSW Right) against another part (the union appointed operators) or if its going to have real lasting good results. We’ll wait and see. But I think people out there really want to see blood spilled after ICAC, and Rudd & Sam are going to give it to them.

  31. This is a much bigger deal than anything happening in Australia right now…

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10158775/Egypts-army-drives-Mohammed-Morsi-from-presidency-and-power-in-dramatic-coup.html

    Egypt’s army drives Mohammed Morsi from presidency and power in dramatic coup
    Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected leader, has been decisively ejected from power after the army flooded the streets of Cairo and announced a new interim government.

    By Richard Spencer, Cairo12:47AM BST 04 Jul 2013

    Mr Morsi, who had earlier refused to resign, was told at 7pm local time he was no longer president as Egypt’s military seized control in a coup.

    As the streets of Cairo erupted in jubilation, Gen Abdulfattah al-Sisi, the head of the army, made a televised address to the nation accusing Mr Morsi of rejecting calls for national dialogue.

    Backed by the main religious leaders, Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, and Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Church, he said the military was taking up its “patriotic duty to the Egyptian masses”.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10156630/Egypt-in-crisis-live.html

    Egypt in crisis: live

  32. GD & Narns,

    This country was greatly enriched by the term of the Gillard Government and C@t, of course, is right to plead with us all to work for the return of a Labor Govt despite it being led by Rudd.

    For all my anger at the treachery and blackmail tactics of a termite on a vengeful mission to get back what he lost, when push comes to shove, I could never countenance helping an abbott into the Lodge. I find it easier if I don’t watch him on TV so that I am not seeing a termite !

    I read an article somewhere very recently that the USA Ambassador stated that the former PMJG had impressed him enormously with her intelligence, grace and warmth and she impressed Pres.Obama as well. He said this great lady is not finished by a long shot and will make her mark on the world stage in the near future.

    Australia didn’t want her but it appears she won’t be left without job choices on the world stage where she will be appreciated. How many of our ex PMs have left such deep impressions on other world leaders as this fine lady we were privileged to have as our first female PM?

  35. Julia Gillard would have felt a big sense of loss and yet she remains as always all class and grace. I predict a great future for our Julia.

  38. That vomitous appearance was supposed to be the launch of Tony’s election campaign in Victoria, so where was his wife?

  40. I saw two little ugly men standing on that podium, giglene.

    leonetwo, Margie was at home doing the ironing, as a good woman should.

  41. Re Leigh Sales. I think it’s possible to pinpoint the difference between the interviewing style now and that of, say, pre-2010. Up until Abbott became opposition leader, PMs were asked tough questions but the difference was that the question was put, then answered, and then either developed further by the interviewer or a different question was asked. I know one of my big gripes with Howard was, “answer the bloody question!” The PM was more-or-less seen as the final arbiter on issues of importance, and journalists would trot off and try to make sense of whatever was said. That was true of Sales’ interview style on Lateline as well.

    That’s a question of respect. Whether you like or loathe your leader, they still deserve a measure of respect when interviewed. It’s not just a courtesy, it’s an indicator of the health of the media-politics relationship, and the standing of the national leader as a public position.

    It’s clear that’s since been trashed. I don’t think it’s accurate to simply say the media has gone feral, though. They’ve been, let’s say, allowed to. Firstly through the Credlin-Loughnane-Abbott nexus deciding to stuff the political dialogue and just go for the jugular. Once that side of politics was debased, it was only a matter of time before the media followed it down the slope.

    I don’t think it’s possible to underestimate the impact of the change of direction the Coalition took. It completely razed the landscape, and it seeped like gangrene through every aspect of political discourse. No policy, no debate, no contest of ideas. From the start it was all about trashing personalities, making hyperbolic accusations, and attacking the reputation of their opponents. It’s pretty much the most disgusting thing a civilised country can do politically. But it’s very seductive, as it puts the scent of blood in the air.

    The ALP response, under Gillard especially, was to reply with, in effect, “This country is better than that.” It’s a mistake, politically, but it’s one I’m glad they made. Because the only logical response would have been to get down in the gutter with the Coalition, and that would have caused untold damage to the country. Because the ALP chose to continue as a responsible, mature political party we got all sorts of good things – carbon pricing, NDIS, Gonski, PPL, plain packaging, Murray-Darling Basin agreement, and an economy the envy of the world.

    But on the flip wide we got an opposition rewarded by the press gallery for a base campaign of slurs and insinuations. And we also got a press that has no respect for the institution of Government, little understanding of how Government operates, and a taste for the gotcha over considered discussion of issues. We have Leigh Sales asking the same dumb question ten times in a row because maybe, just maybe, her interviewee will slip up once in those ten identical answers.

    Her current attitude is that anyone in a position of power must be attacked and hounded in order to get ‘the truth’ from them. And that those who aren’t in power need to be assisted in that search for ‘the truth’. What she appears to have forgotten is that when someone is attacked, they instinctively defend. They’ll only let something slip when they feel comfortable enough to relax.

    But look, she got the idea from the Coalition. They’ve been completely useless at getting anything done for three years. They’ve had no impact – in a minority Government, mind you – on policy. The only thing they’ve managed is to bugger up asylum seeker policy in the short term. But they were pretty good at creating the illusion of success. The media are much the same. They tell each other they’re a great success at reporting on politics, but they’re failing completely at getting answers, extracting information, informing people.

    They’ve nobbled themselves. It may be a big issue if the Coalition get up, because the media clearly don’t know how to keep anyone to account. We’ve been fortunate that the ALP have taken the mantle of power as seriously as they did. There’s been no pressure from the fourth estate for them to do the right thing, that’s for sure.

  43. The National Party just couldn’t wait to be rid of Rob Oakeshott so they could start re-writing history.

    The postie just delivered a glossy 12 page booklet from my state Nats MP Leslie Williams. The filthy thing has Mrs Williams’ photo on the front (and on the back, in case we mised all the other photos of Leslie inside) and every page features National Party green and gold. It claims to be ‘a community information intitiative from Leslie Williams’ but it’s just lying propaganda. It’s all about the expansion of our local hospital, paid for with $96 milliion from the federal government, obtained by Rob Oakeshott as part of his 2010 deal with Julia Gillard plus $14 million kicked in by the former NSW Keneally Labor government.

    Does this piece of shit mention that? Of course not. According to Leslie funding was announced in 2011. Well, sorry, but I have a brain and a memory and I know funding was announced in 2010, not in the 2011 NSW budget. During her 2011 election campaign the useless and clueless Mrs Williams claimed that the NSW National Party had obtained all the funding. She was howled down and had to retract that lie. Now she’s at it again.

    There is not one mention of Rob Oakeshott in the whole thing and only couple of grudging mentions of the ‘co-operation’ of the federal government. There are photos of every Liberal and National stooge with a link to the project but no photo of the man who organised it all.

    This piece of garbage is getting the envelope treatment – mailed back to Ms Williams in an A4 envelope without a stamp but with a very stern letter about my lack of appreciation of blatant lies.

  44. This LNP. “All Hail the Chief” bullshit!…who’s coordinating this rubbish/….It hasn’t the style of a Harry M. Miller. , nor the pizzaz of a Baz Luhrmann!…is it Ronald McDonald the clown?…have a look at them all sitting there like constipated clowns.

  45. Oops…I meant clerks!…(got a phone call in the middle of the post…another charity group!).

  47. Thanks to Janice for linking that article on Julia & Swanny’s get-together with her supporters and staff …what grace …what C.L.A.S.S. this wonderful woman possesses …and Swanny’s pretty good too…

    If Julia can show that much magnanimity to such a treacherous bastard …it would be churlish of me not to do the same …well, ALMOST the same 😉

    From now on it’s ‘bite your tongue’ …and, ‘grit your teeth’ time….and:

    …onwards, and upwards with ‘Saint Kevin’ …patron saint of treacherous rats ( that’s my last negative comment about the Member for Griffith …promise)

  48. I sometimes amuse myself reconstructing a moment in “history” with the conversation between some of the players…for instance…for fun..: the idle chat between the Roman clerical payer and Judas Iscariot, when he went to pick up his thirty pieces of silver…:
    “There you go…twenty nine, thirty….sign here…….and listen, for what it’s worth…(looks around) from one slavey to another..you did the right thing…turning him in…he wasn’t really going anywhere…..(a wink)..a loser….(taps on the Roman legion insignia on his armour) this..is the “A team”.

  49. Mark,

    I am looking forward to observing Ms Gillard’s stellar career on the world stage, or to her settling down to a “tree-change” life on the block by the river with Mr Mathieson and Reuben the Cavoodle, or to her doing whatever she likes free from the muck that has been hurled at her in the most disgraceful abandonment of civility by the Opposition and the OM that I have ever observed.

    The agenda is, indeed, upwards and onwards, backing Mr Rudd to lead the ALP to victory against the brainless, heartless, gutless and spineless Mr Abbott and his motley crew.

    By the way, what happened to your Wolfie gravatar?

    Jaycee,

    😀

  50. I am keeping my eye on the Termite. I am watching for any trashing of the PMJG legacy.

    i will support the ALP but never that revolting traitor. It does no good to the party nor the country to pretend the sow’s ear is a silk purse. Getting behind the ALP does not mean letting Rudd get away with whatever he wants.

    I do not, and never will, trust him like I trusted Julia Gillard.

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