Continuing an irregular series commenting on how the election looks to commercial tv viewers: commercial free to air is the biggest single source of information for voters.
The election’s still still back at number one on Channel Nine Brisbane, probably because it enables them to talk about Laurie Oakes’ role. The item led with the newsreader citing Julia Gillard’s statement that her concern in Cabinet about paid parental leave was fiscal responsibility. A large number of grabs from her press conference were shown, and Joe Hockey was giving a weird grin when Tony Abbott started his spiel, before returning to the now traditional nodding role.
The theme of “internal disunity” was reinforced by Oakes’ observation that Labor MPs were blaming Kevin Rudd, throwing attention back on the leadership change. Rudd’s denial was cited, but this sort of episode makes the negatives of the leadership change a continuing spectre haunting the campaign, as Barrie Cassidy observed at The Drum.
Oakes gave Gillard top marks for her press conference. Oh, and Tony Abbott’s confused and confusing policy announcement on small business tax was “overshadowed”.
If I was on Team Abbott, I’d be pretty happy about being “overshadowed” today.
Does anybody know what Channel 7 news is showing? They rate better and obviously don’t have to push the Sphere’s story du jour.
I cant say I’ve ever seen anything quite like it before. A journalist initiates his own news story, then attends the news conference to record his victim’s response, and finally reports to the nation on her reaction to his missive, including offering a patronising evaluation of how well she survived the whole cynical setup. To me it all smacks of a cheap rerun of the Truman Show, not to mention making a total mockery of the idea of credible media reporting.
@2 – I might watch Channel 7 tomorrow night, Sam.
Now that is devotion to the cause above and beyond the normal call of duty Kim.
Adamite, good call.
Come one everyone: its obvious. Oakes has been the country’s dark puppetmaster for years – and only now is he emerging into the light.
The leaks spring from the Big Ship himself … and they foretell his coming!
@5 – hannah’s dad, it’s lucky that elections only go for a finite period!
LE @ 7 Who could win with a leak on Oakes? Surely there’s a cub reporter out there just dying for the chance. Problem is both News Ltd and Fairfax are in on this one. Where could he go with his story without crashing his budding career?
Sorry, can’t agree. I was cynical on one of the other threads that the leaks might not have been coming from the ALP but another poster put me straight.
The ALP deserve this sort of coverage from the media. TO think anything else would cause so much cognitive dissonance my head would explode.