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Australian 'Public' Broadcaster becomes Government Outlet
by Cleaves Editorial Team
Tuesday October 17, 2006 at 03:00 PM
The Australian Public Broadcaster -- "your ABC" -- has been re-shaped to become a government media platform. The 'new' editorial policy is designed to curb the "perceived" bias in presentation, said Mark Scott, the new managing director.
For a very brief nano-second we all thought that Lateline would forego its role as the Liberal Party's mouthpiece -- but no such luck.
Former Prime Minister, Paul Keating sums up the changes in characteristic style,
"The only apologia for this brazen interference by the Howard Government is the new whispered word 'balance', which, decoded, means 'let's hear more from us'," he said.
There is an advantage in the ABC becoming a propaganda platform for government. The public could entertain itself attempting to discern the difference between 'opposing' parties.
The public response will no doubt be more internet activity -- 'good one', Janet and Keith!
Independent Media applauds your decision; we all look forward to an increase in readership.
cleaves.zapto.org/
bloody
by Disgusted
Tuesday October 17, 2006 at 04:39 PM
What do you mean by "becoming..."? I thought it already was a government platform.
need an independent ABC
by david
Wednesday October 18, 2006 at 02:15 AM
david@ironyparty.org
always has been a Government instrument, or an establishment instrument, to a large degree. The ABC has always perpetuated the myth that the people worth listening to are the ones wearing suits and doing press conferences at Parliament House. They have to be held partly responsible for shoring up Australia's dysfunctional democracy through representations that suggest it's a valid democratic system.
But this latest attack from the Government represents a new order of control. It's a matter of degree.
The response should be the absolute rejection of the charter and the rejection of strings attached to Government funding. The ABC ONLY HAS TO ASK and it will find itself supported directly by the public. Then it will be a truly independent institution, and no longer beholden to censors and those that would use it for propaganda.
www.ironyparty.org/newsfeed
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