Question - without notice

[Gozu]

I think your last few words echoes what I'm saying, scoob.

The question is whose fault is it?

The politicians. If they didn't resort to stuff like "stop the boats", "moving forward", "great big new tax", "working families" etc the media would have to report statements of substance. They've got a captive audience in the Canberra press gallery too so have no excuses.

[redandblack]

All that's correct, but I'd say the media reporting standards have a lot to do with it.

Politicians are understandably an easy target, but to label every one of them as bad is a bit simplistic.

I used to know Lynn Arnold, for example. He was a very promising politician, given the poisoned chalice of taking over the Premiership of the state after John bannon and the State Bank.

Since he left politics, he's been with World Vision and (I think) Anglicare, following his philosophy of helping those in need.

[dedja]

It's all our fault ... we (the collective we being the electorate at large) encourage the behaviour of the pollies because they are now so wedded to public opinion (whatever that is).

The media is the same ... whilst there is some evidence of bais due to some of the ownership issues, in the end they too essentially play to their audience.

If people stop buying their papers, or listening/watching their radio/tv programs then their behavour would certainly change.

[Gozu]

If people stop buying their papers, or listening/watching their radio/tv programs then their behavour would certainly change.

Not sure about that, there are just too many vested interests in covering politics now. ABC 24 is the least watched channel on FTA, Sky News doesn't get any ratings and The Australian loses money hand over fist for example.

[dedja]

There's certainly a chicken/egg scenario here ... do the media report the news or create it?

[Gozu]

There's certainly a chicken/egg scenario here ... do the media report the news or create it?

Report it but then create it when there's nothing to put in the space between the ads

[Sojourner]

All that's correct, but I'd say the media reporting standards have a lot to do with it.

Politicians are understandably an easy target, but to label every one of them as bad is a bit simplistic.

I used to know Lynn Arnold, for example. He was a very promising politician, given the poisoned chalice of taking over the Premiership of the state after John bannon and the State Bank.

Since he left politics, he's been with World Vision and (I think) Anglicare, following his philosophy of helping those in need.

Have wondered several times over what would happen if Labor actually got Lynn Arnold back again and set him into the Ramsey By-Election and put him up as the leader of the ALP, if that did happen I think with the lack of any real competition from the State libs, people would likely connect with his recent work with World Vision and vote him in, in a landslide!

[Psyber]

Part of the problem with politics is the fact that it is played to the media and the polls, and depends on short sound grabs and drama.
I've often thought we may get more serious debate and more serious politicians if the media were not involved.

This gave rise to my fantasy of a system in which 20% of electorates, and non-contiguous ones, came up for election each year.
Then, because it wasn't country wide and the electorates were not a block in one location, the national media wouldn't find it as exciting, and wouldn't be able to influence the results as easily. So, local newspapers and local meetings in town halls may become more relevant, and those elected may turn out to be more loyal to their local electorates than to party machines.

Perhaps we would get more independents, and negotiation and consensus would become more dominant...

[Psyber]

All that's correct, but I'd say the media reporting standards have a lot to do with it.
Politicians are understandably an easy target, but to label every one of them as bad is a bit simplistic.
I used to know Lynn Arnold, for example. He was a very promising politician, given the poisoned chalice of taking over the Premiership of the state after John bannon and the State Bank.
Since he left politics, he's been with World Vision and (I think) Anglicare, following his philosophy of helping those in need.

Have wondered several times over what would happen if Labor actually got Lynn Arnold back again and set him into the Ramsey By-Election and put him up as the leader of the ALP, if that did happen I think with the lack of any real competition from the State libs, people would likely connect with his recent work with World Vision and vote him in, in a landslide!

Some Libs have had similar fantasies about Nick Xenophon - mostly those who know him personally.

I think Lynn Arnold was disenchanted with politics, that's why he committed political suicide with a half-hearted campaign and took the opportunity to do the state the favour of allowing the Grand Prix to be "stolen" by Melbourne. He probably feels he is doing more good where he is now.

[Booney]

There's certainly a chicken/egg scenario here ... do the media report the news or create it?

*Peeps back into the politics forum*

I think quite often they create it. Without ACA or whatever show it was would we even give a shit about live animal export, more so would it have been in our thoughts/discussions? I doubt it.

[Q.]

Politics is the coffee we drink, the clothes we wear, the people we love and the life we live.

You can say you just float along, but there is politics behind every choice you make. Everybody makes some sort of impact, whether you realise it or not.

I personally don't need the government to help me decide on any of these things.

You've missed the point. Politics isn't only about governance.

It should be in my opinion.

You would want the government to decide whether, for instance, you can eat cage eggs or free range eggs? That decision is indicative of politics infiltrating every facet of life.

We should be free to make informed and educated opinions...the responsibilities that come with democracy shouldn't totally be left in the hands of government.

Society has become complacent and what we have to show for it are indistinguishable major political parties and one of the worst press freedoms ranking among OECD nations.

[The Apostle]

Which party would a centre right social and economic libertarian join???

That's what that website says I am...

[Bat Pad]

It should be in my opinion.[/quote]

You would want the government to decide whether, for instance, you can eat cage eggs or free range eggs? That decision is indicative of politics infiltrating every facet of life.We should be free to make informed and educated opinions...the responsibilities that come with democracy shouldn't totally be left in the hands of government.

Society has become complacent and what we have to show for it are indistinguishable major political parties and one of the worst press freedoms ranking among OECD nations.[/quote]

No, that's my point.

Give me a break. One minute your posting about people being able people being able to post comments inciting violence against the government, now your saying our press isn't free. Can't have it both ways.

[Q.]

Give me a break. One minute your posting about people being able people being able to post comments inciting violence against the government, now your saying our press isn't free. Can't have it both ways.

Pardon? When have I done this?

[Q.]

Besides, criticising something like concentrated media ownership and noting the inflammatory nature of anonymous commentary are two very different things.

[Bat Pad]

Besides, criticising something like concentrated media ownership and noting the inflammatory nature of anonymous commentary are two very different things.

Sure, but you were referring to a free press.

Free press refers to government control(or lack of) of media usually, thats how I took your comment.

The media ownership in this country is concentrated only in what is actually accessed, not what is readily available.

There are plenty of independent media outlets out there which simply aren't popular.

[Gozu]

Which party would a centre right social and economic libertarian join???

That's what that website says I am...

Shooters & Fishers Party?

[Q.]

Besides, criticising something like concentrated media ownership and noting the inflammatory nature of anonymous commentary are two very different things.

Sure, but you were referring to a free press.

Free press refers to government control(or lack of) of media usually, thats how I took your comment.

The media ownership in this country is concentrated only in what is actually accessed, not what is readily available.

There are plenty of independent media outlets out there which simply aren't popular.

Refers to mainstream media.

[Q.]

Does the media reflect public opinion, or create it?

The media is fond of insisting that its reporting reflects public opinion, what the people think and what they want. It rejects the notion that it creates public opinion, but might reluctantly concede it influences it. That it attempts to do so is undeniable. Its opinion pieces and commentary clearly express views that it hopes readers will back, and at election time it often endorses one side.

The thrust of this piece is that the media, particularly some sections of it, does set out to create public opinion, certainly to profoundly influence it, rather than simply reflect it as any proficient media outlet ought to do. Some do this in pursuit of a commercial agenda – to sell newspapers and attract viewers and listeners – but others have another deliberate agenda: to have their audiences embrace the same beliefs, attitudes and preferences that they have adopted. This might be relatively harmless in some spheres, but in political arenas it is tantamount to manipulation and indoctrination. We have seen, and are even more alarmingly seeing this in the political media in Australia where the agenda and intent of some outlets, notably the Murdoch stable and its flagship The Australian, is now overt and the subject of much concerned comment in both the Fourth and the Fifth Estates.

[redandblack]

Have the political parties moved to the right?

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/opin ... -fhd6.html

Very funny

st, I'd say it's 'a classic', but I have to acknowledge it's only partly a joke