The Alan Jonestown Massacre
Link (to Philip Adams op-ed piece)
Saw this on Media Watch last night as well. In brief:
Something tells me those appointees aren't really there for balance.
The footsoldier mentality of people in Australian politics is cause for concern. Albrechtsen, Brunton and Windschuttle, none of whom I imagine listen to or approve of Jones' talkback nonsense except in a strictly academic sense, still feel compelled to "take one for the team" on this. Or are somehow under sinister instruction.
Likewise Masters for wanting to write a Jones bio in the first place, I guess - although as MW pointed out, Jones is one of the few important media figures in the country to lack a "proper" biography, so a case could be made. Oh, and there goes the $100,000 the ABC spent on the book: it's now an unrecoverable sum.
Saw this on Media Watch last night as well. In brief:
- ABC Enterprises sets down $100,000 of funding for Chris Masters (Four Corners reporter) to write an unauthorised biography of Alan Jones.
- After four years of (supposedly "meticulous") work, Masters completes the book.
- Alan Jones' associates get hold of interview notes and other materials and send a threatening letter to the ABC saying the book will be defamatory (no evidence provided).
- ABC Enterprises recommend the book be published anyway.
- The ABC board blackball publication, allegedly after complaints by Janet Albrechtsen (renowned right-wing opinion columnist), Ron Brunton (former journalist, former Senior Fellow of the right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs), and Keith Windschuttle (controversial historian, prime supporter of the "white armband" view of Australian History), all of whom are Coalition appointees to the board.
- Masters receives hot interest from commercial publishers to print the manuscript for him.
Something tells me those appointees aren't really there for balance.
The footsoldier mentality of people in Australian politics is cause for concern. Albrechtsen, Brunton and Windschuttle, none of whom I imagine listen to or approve of Jones' talkback nonsense except in a strictly academic sense, still feel compelled to "take one for the team" on this. Or are somehow under sinister instruction.
Likewise Masters for wanting to write a Jones bio in the first place, I guess - although as MW pointed out, Jones is one of the few important media figures in the country to lack a "proper" biography, so a case could be made. Oh, and there goes the $100,000 the ABC spent on the book: it's now an unrecoverable sum.