tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post119570385778846236..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Status quo journalism can't deal with changeAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-82135880900541664732011-12-05T08:50:24.571+11:002011-12-05T08:50:24.571+11:00"Just a hunch but I have had a suspicion for ..."Just a hunch but I have had a suspicion for a while now that both of them have a personal dislike of Gillard and their reporting reflects this."<br /><br />Ha! You can confirm your suspicious hunch! The bile in Grattan's 'I hate Gillard' piece today (5 Dec) is just embarrassing - for Grattan, obviously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-6920858299570837082011-12-04T12:16:39.100+11:002011-12-04T12:16:39.100+11:00Alpha, I would have thought the appropriate quote ...Alpha, I would have thought the appropriate quote from the Bard would be from the play that is not mentioned:<br /><br />"It is a tale told by an idiot.<br />Full of sound and fury signifying nothing".<br /><br />I believe that it is emerging that the sickness at the heart of Australian politics is driven by an intellectually enfeebled fourth estate rather than the legislature, with the quality of our public representation and concurrent policy debate reflecting the journosphere rather than the inverse.Lachlan Ridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-9687902029024453182011-12-03T23:40:39.266+11:002011-12-03T23:40:39.266+11:00More good stuff. Though I can't help thinking ...More good stuff. Though I can't help thinking of fish in a barrell. It stimulated me to go re-read End of Certainty. Discussing the sources of Hawke's power after 1983, Kelly notes "above all Hawke had a discredited opposition". The Abbott opposition is sliding towards discredit. Although history never repeats, there's a sense of rhyme developing around Labor. The big story is thus not 'Gillard is so very doomed', but rather is the question of 'does Gillard have what it takes to both beat Abbot AND craft and market the large scale reform agenda needed for Australia to meet the multiple challenges of a destabilising modern world?'. In that sense it's also proxy for a greater question about Australia's capacity as a nation to face these challenges. And as a number of commenters have noted only a few journos have their eyes and ears open to this question the rest are dazzled by the epiphenomena. If Gillard can discredit Abbott then the Libs will be defunct for at least two more terms. If she can't the nation faces a period of drift, not unlike the Fraser years.<br />"And enterprises of great pitch and moment,<br />With this regard their Currents turn awry,<br />And lose the name of Action."Alphabajangodeltanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-19137514477240295862011-12-03T01:51:45.803+11:002011-12-03T01:51:45.803+11:00Great post again. Glad it is not just me who can s...Great post again. Glad it is not just me who can see through the superficial dross that is pushed out by people like Grattan and Farnsworth.<br /><br />The Farnsworth schtick is that he thinks he is going against the 'deluded' views of his mostly left of centre peers. He thinks he is right because he disagrees with them and this somehow gives him insights. See, he is supposedly controversial but really just reports press gallery group think.<br /><br />The Grattan schtick is really sad. She is worse than the other hacks only because she actually believes that pedestrian banalities count for political analysis. Also she seems to be mixing her news and opinion reporting. Like Farnsworth, she gets lost in all the minute details, missing the action altogether.<br /><br />Just a hunch but I have had a suspicion for a while now that both of them have a personal dislike of Gillard and their reporting reflects this. This is confirmed usually on their first reactions to some of the PM's actions or speeches.<br /><br />My main gripe with the press gallery is that they go for the easy political horse race calling with the added pop psychology for good measure. It is lazy and does a disservice to the quality of the political debate in this country. They too have a public service role to play that is greater than themselves.<br /><br />We are lucky to have some bright shining lights such as Laura Tingle and George Megalogenis as well as political discussions on blogs to cut through. Twitter and blogs are now the best way to find the signal in the 24 hour media noise. Thanks for your great insights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-18605321131317386242011-12-02T21:38:37.706+11:002011-12-02T21:38:37.706+11:00Rod: I have no idea why Fran bothers. The ABC empl...Rod: I have no idea why Fran bothers. The ABC employ their own reporters, the appeal of Grattan star-power is hard to discern.<br /><br />Anon1 & 4: thank you.<br /><br />Mick: this is their time to take the risk. The idea that there is no going back to Howard-Costello will be devastating for many Libs.<br /><br />PeterH: and they wonder why their sales are declining.<br /><br />Kymbos: no, it's typical and the sad thing is that someone like Malcolm F will regard being lumped in with Grattan as a vindication.<br /><br />Ruprecht, what we need are new journalists, not new "punters".<br /><br />Anon2: I don't find it entertaining and it's effete to say so.<br /><br />aslsw: journalists believe that policy debate has to be dry, which is more an indictment of their lack of skill in presenting information. Politicians should only be allowed into the policy debate when they actually address policy, and the assumption that everything they say or do is newsworthy should be beaten with a stick.<br /><br />Anon3: Not surprised. She likes orderly, dull politics with assiduous briefing of media, and Gillard doesn't offer that. I keep hoping Grattan throws in the towel, admitting that she doesn't understand this business any more.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-79839579837222988442011-12-02T21:13:00.100+11:002011-12-02T21:13:00.100+11:00"You only have to beat the opponent in front ..."You only have to beat the opponent in front of you."<br /><br />What a beautiful blinding glimpse of the obvious. An excellent piece of writing. This is becoming my favourite blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-48977574744477413982011-12-02T09:47:49.781+11:002011-12-02T09:47:49.781+11:00Grattan is at it again today. Too lazy to write a ...Grattan is at it again today. Too lazy to write a piece about the Coalition's audit scandal, she just spits out another 'I hate Gillard' piece. <br /><br />Grattan is a complete waste of space. She's written so many articles predicting the downfall of Gillard that her pride is preventing her from admitting just how wrong she's been.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-79431930770064630852011-12-02T06:24:26.764+11:002011-12-02T06:24:26.764+11:00To quote from one my own Tweets: "Political c...To quote from one my own Tweets: "Political commentary in Australia these days is just blah blah blah polls blah blah blah leadership blah blah blah".<br /><br />I used to like RN and Insiders, but now I see how it IS Just about the game. I admit that there's not much appetite for policy out in the community, but if journalists don't do it, then politicians won't even bother.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-67865003953482396482011-12-01T21:19:11.554+11:002011-12-01T21:19:11.554+11:00As an aside; we have the theme for Januaries round...As an aside; we have the theme for Januaries round of Rudd restoration (journalist repeat every two month for Ruddstoraion, fundamentals every two year for the end of the world). <br /><br />It will be Gillard's lack of authority over the upcoming gay marriage conscience vote (how you have authority over a conscience vote is something I am looking forward to finding out). <br /><br />The predictability of the articles offered by the likes of Farnsworth etc. is actually becoming quite entertaining.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-44806909009153451102011-12-01T14:19:30.880+11:002011-12-01T14:19:30.880+11:00Spot on, as usual.
I'm heartily sick of comme...Spot on, as usual.<br /><br />I'm heartily sick of commentators talking about how stuff "plays" (usually not far away from that odious term, "punters") and "perceptions" or "being seen to" -- what is the difference between Abbott actually broadening his circles and him being seen to do so? <br /><br />If the journos focus on the substance of things, maybe others will too.Ruprechtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-11088960094522145522011-12-01T09:44:22.554+11:002011-12-01T09:44:22.554+11:00That wasn't even the worst piece by Grattan ab...That wasn't even the worst piece by Grattan about the Slipper coup. From memory, her first rushed piece was all about how it would reinforce Gillard's reputation for being untrustworthy etc etc blah blah blah. Honestly, it was like a cut and paste piece where the subject was added to the 'untrustworthy theme', no thinking required.Kymbosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-58539966696264103962011-12-01T09:32:16.617+11:002011-12-01T09:32:16.617+11:00Great piece again Andrew, that last paragraph in p...Great piece again Andrew, that last paragraph in particular. The news media are only interested in the type of contest where results are measured by an election (or even better: near continuous poll results). The contest of ideas is well beyond their capacity for analysis. <br /><br />I can only bear to read the SMH on Saturdays now, and even then it is full of 'well, der' opinion dressed as analysis.Peter Hhttp://www.hillarchitects.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-83214850485056360252011-12-01T08:48:43.499+11:002011-12-01T08:48:43.499+11:00There are no second prizes in elections. Calwell l...<i>There are no second prizes in elections. Calwell learnt that in 1961 (etc.) <br />...<br />Malcolm Farnsworth has learned the wrong lessons from history.</i><br /><br />I question whether any, and particularly Abbott, learnt the lesson. Just as Farnsworth has seemingly learnt the wrong lessons from history most oppositions take away the wrong lessons from their loss.<br /><br />There is no better example than the Labor Party that still thinks that the main lesson of the 2001 election was <i>... being tough on Asylum Seekers and Stopping the Boats</i> wins elections.D Mick Weirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16252058098977395761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-61276657939058916522011-12-01T07:41:44.381+11:002011-12-01T07:41:44.381+11:00Do I feel vindicated reading this! Farnsworth wri...Do I feel vindicated reading this! Farnsworth writes his commentary as though he is still teaching Year 12 Politics (badly) - all history, no insight, as you argue. The recurring themes - Oh the glory days! This useless PM, this weak and temporary government - have made me feel trapped in his virtual classroom (I no longer take his subject - Politics for the Unenlightened). As for Grattan liking the sizzle more than the sausage - there is no more to be said!<br /><br />Thanks Andrew -Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-91403490603786163422011-12-01T00:50:03.129+11:002011-12-01T00:50:03.129+11:00On Grattan, is her morning bit on RN with Franny a...On Grattan, is her morning bit on RN with Franny about the most tedious example of political commentary known to person kind? Almost always a collection of the " well der " moments described above. With Fran breathlessly following up with " but Tone is so fantastic ". <br /><br />Or is that just me?Rod Pnoreply@blogger.com