Tag: truth

Media Influence on Democracy Unwanted.

We have been quick to criticise ,analyse, American politics and the system of government they try to achieve democracy and equality to their nation.

Our Westminster system flys in the face of many parts of their processes of basic culture of what we regard as good governance, and unfortunately we will follow their path if we are not aware of the way the real story is told and who will profit or has a agenda to influence politics in their favour.

Lobbyists and lobbying, factions and deals are part of the dirty game but when the media seek to influence outcomes that’s when we the punters need to ask is it fact or fiction.

People will read what suits them and their beliefs but that does not make It fact.

In America their is a distinct divide/canyon in reporting politics and that divide was created intentionally, as do dictatorships to divide so it becomes “your with me or against me mentality,” and the space we regard for compromise is diminished.

I was startled at first but not surprised when Cambridge Analytica who specialise in disinformation and voter targeting was engaged by the Coalition for the next federal election as they were the part of the Trump and Brexit campaigns, successful they were but the aftermath of the splitting of the populations is something I fear would happen here in Australia.

My belief in balanced reporting was shaken when the well respected Brisbane Masthead was turned into a Newsletter for the Coalition under ownership orders, reenforcing the well reported quote the “I have the power to change governments” so we need to be aware but not surprised when digesting reporting.

Observers can see the major parties are setting themselves on a election footing and I want to see genuine debate on the direction our county takes, and politicians that represent people not conglomerates or billionaires as sooner or later some learned soul will wake up and realise our biggest asset is our people, race, colour or creed indifferent, that is when we will rise above those nations and leaders who only survive on division.

Policy and Truth Reporting without Drama Queens

In every election campaign its political savvy to play the underdog, the poor candidate the big boys are picking on, yes the victim.This charade is being played in ipswich if we believe the Queensland Times reports and it up to you weather your gullible enough to swallow it or just accept the fact it’s part of the election tactical cycle. 

Truth is precious, and reporting truth can be hard unless some investigative journalism is carried out and printing spiel from one source, one PR office, one press statement may be fine at the time but we in ipswich should be very wary as we were led up the garden path for years as we are discovering now before the CCC and the courts. All stories we thought were true because it was in the paper. 

The punters want facts, policy, how this will effect them and their families not the poor me sympathy spiel. We saw that in the red pyjamas act and what a headline and what a con, so in the closing week please cut the drama queen act and focus on who has the form and experience to keep Ipswich going forward 

 ABC fights Dumb Down Strategy. 

“Don’t you Worry about That” should stick in the mind of every Queenslander when a precious politician attacks the ABC as that was the spiel that we all were expected to believe as corruption flourished in our state and exposed by 4corners Moonlight State. It’s ironic in a world where the word transparency is used as a reason to be confident of the elected, however when it is used by the ABC it becomes a reason to ban them from press conferences or cut funds so they can’t ask uncomfortable questions. 

This tactic highlighted by Trump dumbs down the public intentionally and that’s where they want us. Only feed us what we need to know and feed the networks that play their game. 

If the public broadcaster is the outlet that steps outside the club that’s good for the sake of transparency, but it’s quite clear investigative journalism is not a priority in the land of commercial broadcasting in Australia. 

We do not want to go down the road of “he who pays the piper calls the tune” in our media culture, we don’t like the chicken pellets thanks.

Whistleblowers need Protection 

The dust has settled after our council election and punch lines of transparency daily as the CCC continues its investigations I cannot recall one statement or assurance that council employees would be covered and supported by whistleblower indemnity locally. We many have reorganised the deck chairs at the top table but until this council is prepared to guarantee no employee will be sacked or discriminated against on the record the words of change are sceptical to say the least. 

The former council structure was in power for 17 years and culture does not change on one Saturday night so if we are to believe total transparency, then these employees must not be impeded if they choose to stand up and should be encouraged. 

When will America Stand Up Australians ask? 

Remember Today, it’s a Elvis, John Lennon, JFK, moment.I woke up to hear the President of the United States, the leader of the free world give the Nazi’s a free pass, justification for demanding white America .

I’m bloody Australian,my roots are from all over the world, I grew up post WW2 in Australia, I learnt from a history book of experience working in a shipyard at 15 with immigrants from all over the world living about a mile from the shipyard at Yungabar hostel, their first landing place in our country.

I learnt from the victims of Hitler directly. I saw the hope of a new life, something I took as granted and often shared that hope with them when they left the yard and took up jobs and professions they had done before invasion.

So when I see groups anywhere in the world mimicking the Nazi movement I cringe,even more when I see a world leader treating them as equal to any dissenting group, justifying their actions. 

Trump owes them and other extreme groups for his election and after today is quite clear they called in the debt, and Trump responded in his true colours.

Any we can waffle on with our opinions from a far land but it’s up to Americans to get off their arses and get rid of him or he will drive their country into another Civil War as after today he has justified rasism, bigotry, murder, street violence as a 2way street. 

They call him Mr President. That title should be withdrawn by the media and the people as respect for those who have gone before. 

But do they have the guts to do it or will the procrastination continue?

Someone has to stand up America, is that person you?

The world awaits. 

ABC 4 Corners leads Aussie Media on Investigative Journalism.

The response to the 4 corners program has shocked many Ipswich residents as it has the rest of Australians.That report is a clear indication of the value of the role investigative journalism plays in our day to day lives. 

Ipswich residents were oblivious to the goings on in their own backyard on this issue as we were on many other issues highlighted by the show over time, so I have to question why do mainly conservative governments consistently cut funds the public broadcaster?

I’m not going down the road of political blame but with news outlets getting skimpier on basic content, staff cuts and amalgamations, true investigative journalism has never been so important to our democracy as well as our day to day living as this example has proven. 

Keeping your Job 

With every administration comes culture some good and some bad and that culture trickles down to every employee in the organisation regardless of what level they are at.As we march to the polls in Ipswich too are being fed trickle down facts, rumour and innuendo from various news sources, our loyal council employees are wedged between the legalities of sub judiciary, and on going investigations.

Often in situations like we have presently we forget that our public servants have to abide by the culture or loose their livelihood, and that is a daily decision to those who prize their professional integrity.

Not all will be called to the bench for evidence, fewer will whistle blow and risk public judgment, so the vast majority will just go home a keep their experiences private for the sake of their careers and live in hope of better days ahead.

They say a fish rots from the head down and my question is how much did the rest of the inner council and councillors know about that culture and why did no one stand up? 

Media Laws and Ownership vital to democracy 

To the average punter the debate on media ownership takes little or no interest to many.Channel 10’s demise and pending purchase and the ideological and financial attacks on the worth and content of our ABC network is swinging the media menu in Australia more towards network ownership controlled by billionaires. 

That’s fine if journalists are allowed to follow their oath to balance,truth, and fact, and encouraged to write accordingly.

My concern is that oath is not being respected by the owners and pressure is exerted to support the owners views over the code of ethical journalism.

If we want our country’s media to be independent the laws governing media ownership are vitally important, and we the punters deserve factual news, true investigative journalism without bias, or we will go down the road of America and get only the extremes on either side dominating and our news becomes properganda. 

Pauline Trump

Out of the aftermath of the West Australia election was the fact that truth and accountability are expendable in the political world. One Nations leader stated Queensland should take a GST cut to subsidise West Australia then blatantly denied saying it even though she was recorded nationally.

Then encouraging non immunisation, spruking a non existent test, then denying she said it, then being forced to apologise for her ignorance and stupidity. 

Unfortunately the most worrying thing is the fact she banned the ABC from questioning after the election result came down. 

When a politician regardless of any party cannot stand the scrutiny of the media scrum is a clear indication they have something to hide. In this case it was the incapacity to understand the election, it’s result, and what impact she had or didn’t have in getting the Liberal government annihilated. 

It would be sad if Australia fell into the Trump philosophy of lying then only talking to the media who will ask the questions they want to answer.

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