“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?

——————————————————————————————————-

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”

  1. I’ll support Labor in the hope of an election win. I’ll vote the way I’ve decided to vote. I’ll keep on trying to persuade as many people as I can to ditch their plans to punish the party by voting for anyone but Labor in the senate, but that’s as far as it goes.

    I do not have to like Rudd, nor do I have to praise anything he says or does. I detest the man. I will not be making gushing remarks about him, his family or anything he may say or do. I intend to exercise my right to be critical if I think criticism is warranted, just as I was critical of some of the things the Gillard government and Julia Gillard did over the last three years. Supporting a political party does not mean one has to blindly agree with every single thing said or done.

    I’ll be boycotting all Rudd TV appearances because I cannot bear the sight of that smarmy face and the sound of that faux plummy voice. He can go to hell as far as I’m concerned. I do not and never will trust him.

    in a year or so Julia Gillard will be doing something important on the international stage while Rudd will just be yesterday’s stale news, a former politican discarded by his party after being used to get an election win.

  2. Breaking news – Abbott has bailed on tonight’s 7.5 interview. No reason given except ‘unavailable’. He has been invited to appear next week.

  3. In the new spirit of winning the race with our dodgy horse…

    The attack has gone onto Abbott. Australian’s have what they like, a cage match between two thugs. The MSM may decide to let the is one even out (except the Murdoch press, if Rudd hasn’t done a deal) as there are sales in a closely fought blood-match.

    Will Abbott attack a man the why he attacked a female PM, sly digs at Rudd’s sex-life, reproductive organs and the evilness of his character based on his gender? We will see how much this played in Abbott’s campaign against PMJG by the lack in such attacks on Rudd.

    The ALP removed gender as an issue, while confirming its importance, to try to win the election. How much difference it makes will be the measure of Australia’s character.

  5. Julia Gillard would be well aware of K Rudd’s shortcomings. But as a former Labor PM she can only be gracious. Although she would have mixed feelings. She did know him better than anyone else in the Party. If he does win she will be quite apprehensive. The man can’t change and she knows. it.

  6. http://www.afr.com/p/technology/nbn_statistics_reveal_many_homes_0VcMsUKNI0XGyZ5uoxt6xK

    NBN Co has confirmed it has met its June 30 target of homes and businesses that have access to the national broadband network, but more than a third of those premises cannot get the service….

    As first revealed by The Australian Financial Review on Monday, many are premises in apartment buildings, shopping complexes, town houses and industrial areas.

    These premises are classed as “service class zero”, meaning they are counted in the footprint but cannot physically receive a service until extra work is completed, often 12 or 18 months in the future…

  7. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/melissa-doyles-axing-was-plotted-for-weeks-20130704-2pdd9.html

    Channel Seven executives had been plotting for weeks to axe Melissa Doyle from Sunrise before the popular presenter “resigned” on air, sources have told Fairfax Media.

    The move is seen as a pre-emptive strike against plans by former Sunrise producer Adam Boland to revamp Channel Ten’s morning line-up. Doyle was reportedly told to take a pay cut, step down from Sunrise and pretend she had been promoted to a news presenting position…

    Her reported pay cut of $150,000, from a rumoured salary of $700,000, is also believed to be part of a broader push within the network to force its big stars to slash their wages. One presenter is said to have had their pay more than halved….

    No wonder they agree people on $150000 incomes are ‘doing it tough’…

  9. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/charges-may-be-laid-over-home-insulation-deaths-after-coroners-referral/story-e6frg6nf-1226674233139

    Queensland coroner Michael Barnes said the risk of electrocution “was not appreciated” by government authorities at the outset of the home insulation program, despite it being raised by industry representatives…
    The coroner said it was “primarily failings in the planning and implementation of the (home insulation program) by commonwealth agencies that led to an increased risk of harm”.
    But he said state-based workplace safety agencies also failed to proactively respond to the increased risk, and some blame rested with employers and supervisors of the tradesmen, who weren’t adequately trained…
    Tony Abbott recently resumed pressure on Mr Rudd to release warning letters about the “pink batts” scheme written to him in 2009 by then-environment minister, Peter Garrett….

  10. You are right, mm…it is depressing, but it does record the names and images against the outrageous slander of our first female PM. Keep it ansd store it for later use…it just may come in handy!
    I couldn’t watch it all the way through….low bastards!

  11. I keep thinking of my partner, my daughter…if any old arse-fart like Jones said that about them I’d want to invest in a ticket to the appropriate city and punch his lights out in public!

  12. Just been listening to 2GB. They are very cranky that Rudd is calling Abbott to a series of debates. They say Rudd has no right to do so.

    Apparently Rudd is debating himself next week? According to 2GB, anyway…

    I wonder whether he’ll use Clint Eastwood’s “empty chair” trick?

  17. Mark,

    Thank you 🙂 It is so nice to see two of my favourite people in the one image.

  18. jaycee,
    .”it just may come in handy!”
    How right you are.
    When Julia is completely free of the parliamentary shackles, it would be great to see her seek retribution against the likes of Jones, Hadley, Chris Smith, Pickering, et al. Oh what Karma it would be.

  19. My time just ran out on SMH and they would only let me see their homepage. A bit of Google here and there and the solution is when you use Chrome go into Customise and control button and click “incognito window”. Easy peesy.

  20. I am sure the Murdoch press and the ABC will try to ramp up the findings released today in relation to the insulation deaths but whether it gains any traction so long after the events remains to be seen. However, I do believe that it is karma that the findings have been released now when Rudd is PM again,

    His shafting of Peter Garrett was disgraceful and it says a great deal for the character of Mr Garrett that he has kept quiet on this issue and carried the blame and also that there has not been any leaks of the correspondence from Mr Garrett to Rudd warning Rudd of the dangers.

  21. Cliff,

    I have just bookmarked your comment – it will be most useful. Thank you.

  22. The good thing about MM’s vid’ is that in the past, if one wanted to research a past news item, one had to go to the newspaper archives and do a tedious search…now, all the bastardry of the MSM. is in the public domain!…their shit-for-brains comments are there in a nanosecond to pull up and put on display!….serve the bastards right.
    They can’t write their own history anymore!

  24. One matter that has occurred to me about Fairfax and Limited News disappearing behind paywalls is: what will happen to my collection of “favourite” articles?

    Maybe I should convert them to pdfs …

  26. If you were wondering about Andrew Leigh’s dumping, here’s what happened.

    From an interview Leigh did on Monday –
    Jonathan Green: Did you resign, or were you pushed?

    Andrew Leigh: Well, I thought in the circumstances of last week, after supporting the incumbent Prime Minister, that I should tell Kevin Rudd that while I was willing to continue to serve, I was also willing to tender my resignation if he wanted it. And he accepted the resignation and said that he wanted me to continue to offer advice to him on international economic issues, which I’m very happy to do.
    http://www.andrewleigh.com/blog/

  29. Hello all,
    A.quick visit as for some reason( It is all my own fault) I am extremely busy and surviving on about 5 hrs sleep atm..
    The mood I have gathered from very informal chats around the traps is pretty positive for labor.
    True this is only in Qld. but it is a lot better than what it was a month ago and the Gutless Abbott theme is starting to bite.

    Julia is an exceptional woman and made great changes to our political and social landscape, but for whatever reason she was not popular with the voters .
    The polls were not rigged they were a fairly true representation of what I was hearing from people.

    The worst thing that could happen for aust. is a abbott led govt. so If it takes Rudd to do it so be it.

    Julia and tim will, be better off and she will get much more respect from the world media than the Aussie journo bottom feeders.

    Be Happy Rudd will be PM. and Julia will be Gen SEC. of the UN.
    Wouldn’t that be nice.

  30. Joe6pack,

    Thanks for the gee-up 🙂 I agree that Julia will go on to bigger things on the international stage where she will be more appreciated.

  31. Fiona – old pre-paywall articles at The Australian are still all free (none have those little yellow sticker symbols for pay-walled articles). Its the same at Crikey, where some articles are free (including all the old pre-paywall articles) and some are not.

    It may be that older Age/Fairfax articles will still be OK, but their new paywall works on a measured number of free articles then it kicks in, so it may affect the old ones too. Depends how often you visit the site in a month/week.

    Or you could do what I do with the UK Telegraph. Clear your cookies/history every once in a while, and hey presto back to visit one. Another work around, use different browsers in the same week/month. Google Chrome / Firefox / Explorer / whatever, all count as a separate viewers even when used from the same computer.

  32. foreverjanice

    Abbott would be a disaster and I think people should start thinking about that possibility.
    What has happened as happened the same as when rudd was replaced. The caucus voted and that’s that.

    I remember when Rudd was voted out and there was the understandable angst and many people (even some that are upset about Julia’s demise) chiding people saying you don,t vote for the leader you vote for the party. Caucus decides the leader.
    You can’t have it both ways.

  33. The biggest Hypocrite Abbott

    The debate challenge by Rudd is ” A SILLY STUNT”

    What a unbelievable piece of trash Abbott is. Hide like a Rhino isn,t even close

  34. Joe6pack,

    I agree. I have come to accept the situation we’re in but I can’t yet bring myself to watch Rudd on TV. I want Labor to win.

    Please take good care of yourself and try to get the sleep you need.
    Cheers.

  35. Just being bitchy but look at Credlin and than have a look at Kelly O’Bigmouth and maybe even the Jackson lady connected to Craig Thomson.
    They all look similar

  36. Torch Browser is a good alternative if you want anonymity.

    It bounces your ISP around a bunch of contributing sites in a random manner so that each time you run it you are a “different person”.

    Basically you communicate with Site #1, then Site #1 passes your message onto Site 2. The same happens with several other successive sites, until at the end the destination doesn’t know who you really are.

    Each time you run Torch a new, random chain of sites is engaged. If you like you can change identities manually, without re-running the program.

    The same applies in the reverse direction.

    The idea is that if “the FBI” is directly eavesdropping on your ISP, they only see the message sent to Site #1. If Site #1 is in another country, then that’s as far as they can trace. Same for the other end of the chain. “The FBI” only see Site #x as the originating source, not your computer back in Australia.

    It’s for paranoid geeks, mostly, but works just fine as far as browsing is concerned too.

    The only downside is that it’s a fair bit slower than a direct Chrome or Firefox link. So expect to wait a little while for a response from the target site.

    In conjunction with anonymous email sites, you can set up an almost untraceable link between yourself and anywhere else. By “almost untraceable” I mean you’d have to be Julian Assange for them to be bothered trying to track you down. Ordinary slobs like us aren’t worth the effort.

    I’ve tried Torch browser here on an experimental basis and it works a treat.

  37. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/06/28/3791858.htm?site=newengland

    http://www.percapita.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=615

    Click to access wmo_1119_en.pdf

  38. http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/07/03/how_the_egyptian_opposition_learned_to_love_its_new_military_overlords

    http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/dream-team-albanese-primed-to-push-nbn-20130703-hv0o1.html

  45. Leroy and BB,

    Thank you both for the tips.

    Joe6pack,

    Great to see you, and thank you for the Queensland news. Interesting indeed. And now do get some sleep.

    Leone,

    Wicked!

  47. Joe,

    Mr Abbott is:

    * gutless

    * spineless

    * brainless

    and – worst of all –

    * heartless.

Comments are closed.