Our weekly (mostly) look at media spin tactics: let’s dissect the PR and propaganda that aims to blow one’s own horn, bury one’s errors, resurrect the shambling zombie corpses of well-flogged deceased equines, and ooh look! A Big Distracting Thing!
Some of last week’s news stories are still in the headlines, others are getting hardly any attention. Perhaps an issue came up on the latest open thread which you feel deserves some more discussion. What other stories are being buried while more flashy stories are hogging the limelight?
For ongoing discussions, check out our latest roundtables and the 50 Most Recent Posts list in the sidebar on our general archive page to see what has generated most interest recently, and what got overlooked. If you have topical commentary to add to these discussions, best leave it on the appropriate thread – this one’s just for the analysis of media manoeuvres and their intended effects.
I love the ABC’s flexability in showing the Lib’s in the best possible light no matter the story. Hopefully it will have some impact and we’ll vote the RIGHT way. Highlight for me this week?
The tragic story of the woman murdered at Meadowbank. The ABC as part of the story not only told us the facts of the case but also pointed out that Barry O’Farrell was there at the scene mere days before during Clean Up Australia day helping the community. I know it is current policy to talk up the opposition regardless of the story but really?
Currently listening to The Insiders after watching the news this morning. The message the media is telling me that Rudd is more popular than Gillard but Rudd has been disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful over his comments about the Japanese disaster and must resign. Along with Gillard.
Why don’t the papers just demand the Governer General step in and cut out the middle man? (The media is also throwing up Turnbull as being more popular than Abbott. Watch as that story sinks.)
tssk,
Don’t know if the Turnbull story will sink. As people in power who pull the strings and shape our opinion realise Abbott is unelectable, even if he was running against Daffy Duck, there’ll be much more pressure to replace him with Turnbull who will wipe the floor with Gillard. Of course, there’s the minor problem of Turnbull believing in climate change, but they’ll spin that too.
Don’t think the Rudd story is spin. When Gillard’s staff are leaking against him (assuming that story is not a media lie) there’s real trouble there. The spin is -there’s nothing bad happening between Rudd and Gillard – they love each other and walk around Canberra holding hands so to speak. Only an idiot would believe that.
Insiders was like a funeral. Bolt was gloating and Cassidy was panicking. Didn’t seethe O’Farrell stuff.
Just want to add to the blogcom on the Insiders yesterday and how Barrie Cassidy allowed Bolt to get away unchallenged with what were (apparently) clearly inaccurate statements (ie. didn’t watch the show myself). Last year I did watch when PMRudd had begun advertising on behalf of the govt’s mining tax and Bolt appeared on the publicly-funded hate media and called/spat Rudd a liar on at least three occasions. He then said that what made Rudd’s advertising worse was the fact that HeroHoward had only ever used govt.advertising once legislation had passed the parliament. Anyone with a passing interest in Oz politics would know that wasn’t true (a lie?) and that HH spent tens of millions of public money in the ‘unchain my heart GST’ campaign before the bills passed the parliament. Presumably someone who’s worked in the political media for decades ie. BCassidy would have also known this wasn’t true (a lie?) but Barry just leant back and let this comment go unchallenged. Sunday’s behaviour was not a slip or mishap but part of a trend.
How extraordinary – Andrew Bolt uses the ABC to not just spin but blatantly lie about the numbers at the Pro Carbon price rally.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2011/s3162660.htm
The simple fact is that the ABC is not fullfilling its charter as a public broadcaster.
Therefore it should be sold and the money used to start a genuine public broadcaster from scratch, whose main goals are not to chase ratings and act as a coalition spin machine.
This has gone far beyond a joke and is a national disgrace.
Adrian, let’s be fair though. In the end years of the Howard government it relentlessly bashed the opposition. When Abbott or Turnbull gets back in I’m sure the ABC again will support the government and bash the opposition.
I still think Rudd did the right thing in not sweeping the ABC clean and trying to de-politicise it.
Some great reward isn’t it.
tssk I think you’re right. Jonathon Holmes in a Drum article talked of “the newfound willingness of ABC staff to critisize the govt.since 2007″. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the election of an Abbott Coalition government before we see “the newfound willingness of ABC staff to critisize the opposition”.
I miss the days when the ABC was tough on everyone no matter if they were in power or not.
But who can blame them. The ALP has decided to be hands off (as it should be.) The Lib’s however have long memories.
Besides…does anyone here on the left ring up to criticise the ABC if they slam the ALP? I know I don’t. But I do know people who ring and complain for even the slightest transgression against the Libs.
Sometimes I send e-mails.
Yes, I’ve sent e-mails, but after a while it becomes clear that they don’t give a shit.
As far as the ABC is concerned, complaints from the general public whose taxes pay their salaries count for exactly nothing.
Paul@2, why would a senior advisor on Gillard’s staff- and I heard it as one member of staff – leak this stuff to Grattan if the only thing that is likely to come from it is trouble and more work for her boss?
I do not think Rudd and Gillard are on the greatest of terms but I reckon this has media ‘beat up’ written all over it.
Rudd might be done over the tie thing anyway.
I was reading through the comments on Bolt’s blog (out of some sense of Catholic punishment) and one of the commentators there pointed out something interesting.
If he took the tie it’s theft. He has to stand down.
If he accepted it as a gift even in error that’s a gratuity or bribe. He has to step down.
Howard ministers have walked for less.
Damn it.
I see Angry Anderson is to have some sort of mc/speaker role in the upcoming anti-carbon tax rally. I can remember in the mid-80’s when AA was first being used on the Ray Martin Midday Show where he stood on a crate and ranted on about some particular issue. One day there was a sitdown panel discussion with Ray, Angry, a representative of the gay community and another guest (a parent?) talking about violence against gays. Angry opened the discussion by off-handidly admitting that he and his “mates” in suburban Melbourne would often partake in “poofta-bashing” but of course he was now really sorry about this etc. etc. It was one of those instances where judging by the reaction of the other guests you weren’t sure if this was necessarily part of the script. Ray’s jaw almost hit the studio floor and the reaction of the gay community rep was extreme. There was a slight moving away and a look of disgust and discomfort perhaps borne of the terror of personal experience. A terror I’m sure that does not get easily erased by just a few ‘sorry sirs’. The discussion then had a very ’uncomfortable’ edge to it from then on. Angry Anderson sounds like just the sort of person to mc any event run by the cowardly thugs of the shock-jock world.
What’s the tie thing, tssk?
This David. Christ, the media in this country is a waste of space and tssk, get a life, mate.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/emirates-airline-free-tie-blue-has-kevin-rudd-seeing-red/story-e6frf7l6-1226020849629
The tie episode is irrelevant. But Insiders was the best entertainment for ages. The ABC have been bashing the conservatives for years. Now on one episode of one show on the ABC gets out of hand and Bolt couldn’t be stopped, even Mal Farr folded and people are outraged. Give me a break. Last time I watched they let Swanny blither on and on about what wasn’t a tax, fairly incorrectly, and not a whisper was raised.
The balance will be reset tonight on Q&A when Jones will give Gillard a series of Dorothy Dixers like he did for Bligh. Labor mates doing their best.
Damn you joe2! You’ve made me go and read the Hun. Yeah, beatup.
@13:
Refresh my memory.
All I can remember is Reith not walking when his phone was misused, and Howard’s standard response to any impropriety on the part of his ministers, “It’s not a hanging offence”.
tssk @ 13:
I seem to recall that the Howard Government’s “Ministerial Code of Responsibility” was conveniently forgotten after the 1998 election…
No wonder that you’re such a puzzled cat, Puzzled Cat.
Clearly reality doesn’t tend to confirm to your prejudices, hence a degree of cognitive dissonance rarely seen in unpuzzled cats.
A couple of blogs posting about the river of hateful right-wing spin that was yesterday’s Onesiders on Their ABC.
Pure Poison – Aunty, we have a problem.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/03/14/aunty-we-have-a-problem/
The Political Sword – The Day News Limited Took Over Our ABC
http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2011/03/14/The-Day-News-Limited-Took-Over-Our-ABC.aspx
So the left get it on one episode of a program when there were 3 lefties there who couldn’t argue one point for the government. Maybe because the government created the problem and it isn’t going away until they sort it. Or her.
The suggestion that News is taking over the ABC is too much. The status quo will be returned when they let Swanny go on and on and on and on for more than 20 seconds. Then the luvvies will be happy. Or perhaps tonight when Jonesy and Jooles have their expected love in.
Puzzled Cat @ 17, I actually thought that was a bad look for Bolt. Measured even tones have always worked much better for conservatives. Whatever though.
Zoot @ 19, I remember a Howard minister walking just before 98. Something about a teddy bear or a colour TV or something. But yeah, post 98 it was sen as non core for Coalition members.
The other beatup about Rudd and what he said re: Japan…I’ve read it several times and still don’t get it.
Rudd must have really really upset someone high up at News Ltd at some time. Payback for taking down Howard? I bet this winter if he catches a cold and sneezes the headline will be “Rudd spreads disease amongst constituents.” I honestly don’t know how he finds the strength.
Yeah, nuclear reactors are now being described as ‘atomic reactors’. You know, the scary, dangerous types unlike those user friendly nuclear ones.
For another reaction to the Insiders the always excellent Grog.
http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com/2011/03/bolt-makes-me-question-my-ancestry.html
It’s not just News Ltd, tssk – Fairfax has it in for him as well.
Rudd did bring an end to the massive government advertising spend of the Howard years, if you remember well enough, chaps.
Taking away direct government grants like that was unlikely to endear him to any media organisation.
Apart from the ABC, that received a large funding boost but decided to go after him, anyway, because of the well stacked Board and their rating crazed leader.
Tssk I think you’ll find the teddy bear and the colour tv were during the Fraser and Hawke governments. McKellar for the TV and Mick Young for Paddington Bear. A very long time ago.
There were a number of casualties of Howard’s code of responsibility in his government’s first year or so, so many he apparently decided (probably correctly) that it was unsustainable – he’d soon run out of cleanskins.
Bolt gloated. It was poor. But poorer, in a different way, was the likes of Mal Farr and Barrie Cassidy on the backfoot. I thought it was a reflection of the state that we are in. And before anyone starts I have just as little time for the oppositions “action plan”. But it was funny.
Irrelevant to what?
Now, there’s your problem, minor P Cat.
You’ve sadly mistaken jolly mercenaries like Farr and Crabbe for ‘lefties’, somehow as committed to something or other in the same way Andrew Bolt is an avowed conservative.
This is the same logic that leads people to say that both the PM of Australia and the President of America are ideological soshulists.
tssk talked about the tie he was given. He may well have thought it was a gift. I don;t think it’s relevant to anything. Someone else commented on it.
Listen Pavlov she is a socialist and a commie.
A rumour (not here thank god) is being published on a few web pages that rubber bullets have been used at christmas island.
This, speaking from experience in detention services, is pure bullshit. On par with the “electric batons’ we supposedly used (actualy the only think i can think of remotely looking like that was the metal detectors, plastic, 2 “aa” batteries)
It has NEVER happened before
I cant concieve of the Gillard government (or any Oz government) giving the ok for it.
It would rightly be a scandal if it did happen in anything other than a life threatening situation… and even then?
So if anyone sees this mentioned please clue bat the speaker and ask for evidence.
Kerry-Anne Walsh rather than Crabbe, in this case, Nickws@32.
Still, how Puzzled Cat could imagine those three are lefties is, in itself, puzzling. Quite frankly I have yet to see anyone approaching lefty status on Insiders.
Bambang spin
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/14/3163836.htm
I wonder who minor P Cat thinks is a commie. Whatever.
joe2, David Marr would be the closest thing to a lefty that’s ever been on Outsiders, AFIK. Still, I see your point.
I did think of him when I said what I said, David. His personal role in boosting the Abbott/Tory stocks in the last election would disqualify him, I think.
Joe2, what did he do? I don’t remember anything like that; could you refresh my memory? (I never do anything but fracking work, so I miss a lot.)
At a guess, I’d say it was his Quarterly Essay piece.
Surely, for for balance sake, Toni Abbott should be on Q&A to demonstrate his Kamasutra positions on AGW.
I went to both the Aus and the Age websites today as usual. The Aus had as a top story that Rudd was preferred PM, with the Turnbull preferred opposition leader story down the list. The Age was the exact opposite.
I think that’s a lovely example of spin. Although with the way decent content engines can re-arrange presentation based on reading stats it may say a lot more about the general readership of both websites.
Either way, interesting
Even Dennis Shanahan thinks Their ABC has gone too far this time…
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abcs-ambush-a-travesty-of-politics-and-news-reporting/story-fn59niix-1226021429347
Time for a public inquiry into the political activity of the ABC.
Sorry not back earlier P.C.@39- early to bed and early rise, and all that- and Terangeree has it right.
Mr pseudo psychoanalyst certainly did his bit in bringing down Rudd and seemed to me never far behind the collective media pack wisdom, of the time, on labor incompetence and waste while relatively silent on economic success in a crisis.
Not sure what happened to Brian Toohey. He was an once a very independently minded fellow. Maybe it is something they put in the media water fountain.
Cuppa regards Shamaham as a credible source. Says it all, really.
I didn’t see Q’n'A, btw – I don’t bother any more, as it’s just Big Brother for pseuds.
It just so happens that on this occasion, Shanahan is correct.
Regarding spin in relation to the media’s inherent impatience and chronic innumeracy, posters here may be interested in my latest posting on The Failed Estate called Noise Vs Signal.
I suppose there’s a first time for everything, adrian. Broken clocks spring to mind.
I’d like to know why Shamaham is suddenly so solicitous of the PM, though.
David Irving, maybe Julia and Rupert came to an agreement at their dinner in New York?
Yes, first and probably last, David.
Gillard was actually pretty good on Q&A and treated Tony Jones’ continual interruptions with good humour.
Memo to Tony Jones: The show isn’t actually supposed to be about you, your snide interruptions, gotcha style questions and general rudeness. Just because you didn’t get the 7.30 gig, no need to turn Q&A into the Tony Jones Show.
David Irving (no relation) wrote:
Says all what really?
It’s not very often I’d agree with Dennis Shanahan. But when he points out that the “supposedly even-handed” ABC is playing “politics”, he’s right.
“Just because you didn’t get the 7.30 gig, no need to turn Q&A into the Tony Jones Show.”
Dodged a bullet there if he was in the running.
And David, I generally agree that Q&A is not worth watching. I watched it last night because I was keen to see how Gillard would go.
It generally turned out a pretty good opportunity for her to get her message across in a clear and direct way before the dickheads had had a chance to spin it in some way.
The show isn’t actually supposed to be about you, your snide interruptions, gotcha style questions and general rudeness.
I’ve always thought Andrew Denton should chair Qanda. He actually understands the value of the role comes from knowing when to speak.
There was never any doubt in my mind Uhlmann would get the 7.30 gig. He pushes all the buttons that are important to today’s ABC: right winger, Abbott sympathiser, fundy Christian, little journalistic experience or skill.
Cuppa, have a look at this in the comments, surprisingly published, following the Shanahan piece by Brett Allen of Brisbane Posted at 11:00 AM Today
Yes, Andrew Denton would be great- he’s also not part of the Canberra political reporter group think I’d assume.
Interesting to hear the groans when Miranda Devine’s name was mentioned on next week’s guest list. Of course the ABC has to always include a standard far right nutjob for ‘balance’.
Joe2,
I’m not sure the conservatives have a problem with Assange. He’s said he has no time for the left.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” – I gather that’s the way conservatives view him.
These days I can take the ABC only in very small and measured doses before my Murdochracy dosimeter warns me that hormesis has ended and I am approaching toxicity.
“I’m not sure the conservatives have a problem with Assange.”
Well, Cuppa, maybe the particular conservative involved, here, has more than one slippery ulterior motive running.
John Pilger did say, a while back, that Wikileaks had dirt on Newslimited to be released soon and these are the words of another company man, above all.
I understand how you feel, Fran@58.
Julia faced their ABC forum openly and at length last night but apparently it was all just a case of….
Because, Tony, at a one minute doorstop meeting, said so.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/15/3164282.htm?section=business
Joe2, I find that interesting,
“John Pilger did say, a while back, that Wikileaks had dirt on Newslimited to be released soon and these are the words of another company man, above all.”
what are you referencing to?
It was on Q@A, the last time I watched the show before Gillard, last night, Ootz. Some weeks back….
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s3132359.htm
By “company man” I was suggesting that Shanahan and co seem to place their own organisations spin and interest as the highest priority in all that they write. ABC bashing is a classic example when the overall business plan is to blast all competition off the block.
Thanks Joe2, I generally do not watch Q&A with last night as an exception.
Well, Insurance files has he? I remember Manne in the Monthly thought of the man as a fabulist but then again Assange has ruffled a few feathers by now, not the least recently those of Susilo Bangbang Yudhoyono. And apparently there suppose to be a Chinese dirt pile, so it would be not out of possibilities for a News/doch pile to exist.
Yes Adrian, one right wing nutjob should be included for balance because the show is a left wing crapfest. Last night was typical. The Assange “set up” was the most pathetic set up anyone has ever seen. How easy was it to bat away the stupidest of suggestions. Jones is pointless. On the long shots he is tapping his pen impatiently while she drones on and on.
The problem is that she couldn’t answer questions directly.. She has to vomit forth the government spin doctor policy of the day, nothing more and certainly nothing less. She is spineless. She was dreadful. About as dreadful as Abbott.
Pussled,
Jones is indeed a frackin’ 4sshole:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgm2zLO5N5M
And should be in jail.
As far as Gillard is concerned she’s actually doing something, which is going to reduce the country’s CO_2 emissions while increasing the viability of alternative energy investment. Abbott’s the bloke takeing long shots. In the meantime I’d be very surprised if he can even do arithmetic to 20.
What a joke the coalition have become: Old fatty Hockey going to laugh his way through another policy release stuff up any time soon? Very likely– if he’s ever let off the leash again.
The coalition are a rabble. No doubt about that. Abbott flops on a daily basis it seems. I was talking about Tony Jones or did you give me the wrong link. I’m not talking about Alan Jones. Alan Jones calling the ranga a liar and interrupting her is hopeless. If that’s the best he can do then he can do nothing.
The ranga has done nothing. Nothing is going to be reduced. ?She is going to compensate those who are affected so why would there be any reduction. No american company involved in Australia will be worse off. Sorry but she didn’t run that past Bob.
She won’t reduce anything. Neither will Abbott.
PC the lesser – Pray, how does one as puzzled as you define ‘left-wing crapfest’ and what does such a figment of your imagination have to do with the organisation until recently known as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation?
Whatever Jones you are talking about, neither is worth much though one is definitely of the right wing nut-job variety and the other of the centre-right ABC politcal class variety. Both specialise in interrupting.
Puzzled Cat: “She is going to compensate those who are affected so why would there be any reduction.” If you’d watched the show last night and actually listed, she told you. And, it’ll work too.
I found the show refreshing because Gillard actually got to explain her positions with comparatively few interruptions and no spin from the media. You could tell it frustrated Jones…
Cuppa @ 43, Puzzled cat @ 64
If Gillard had never wieighed in on the Wikileaks debate then Assange questioning her might be considered an ambush.
But the truth is she attempted to influence the course of events for both Assange and Manning by describing information sharing by citizen whistle blowers as illegal before the court cases have run their course.
She is also in the business of sharing classified documents with foreign governments.
Not an ambush, these were her chickens coming home to roost.
Oh, spin happening on this very thread.
And today from ABC news:
Er, yeah.
NEWS LTD have no creditability whatsoever,they still have not published anything about the phone tapping scandal in the UK,even in the UK other NEWS LTD papers are keeping their mouths shut.
Who said Murdock dont tell his editors what to write,if Wikileaks has the dirt on NEW I wish they would release it
Apologies for the snark, Cuppa. I think I had you confused with someone else.
See below three “journalists” and one more complete drip spin, urgent information gathering by Kevin Rudd over his Japanese Nuclear Power station concerns, as signs of him being “out of control” rather than actively doing his job as Foreign Minister to protect the welfare of Australian citizens.
“Out of control”, incidentally, is now the current language being used to describe the situation of the power plant in Japan.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2011/s3162647.htm
Joe2
“‘Out of control’, incidentally, is now the current language being used to describe the situation of the power plant in Japan.”
Yes, I think we are going to be bombarded by even more nuclear metaphors than usual over the next few weeks. “Cabinet in Meltdown”, “Fallout from Rudd actions” etc.
Meanwhile in other news, Phil Coorey writes in the SMH:
‘Rudd’s latest television appearance on the ABC’s Lateline shows him in open conflict with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, Labor sources claim. Rudd’s insistence on making himself available for the interview was in direct contravention of advice from Gillard’s office that he either not go on at all, or go on with the PM, preferably holding hands.
These sources suggest that the relationship is now so toxic that it has completely broken down and is irreparable. “Every time Kevin fronts the media, Julia has a meltdown” one source explained.
Helen
Aplogies for misleading.
But this is unheard of in detention in Oz before.
I pretty well automaticaly branded it as a lie/mistake based on past involvement in these exact situations.
Im gobsmacked to tell the truth, thats not “concern trolling”, its just that there is only one other occasion during the Howard years (that Im aware of) that balistic crowd control was considered. (Curtin riots)
There are a number of “firsts”.
The AFP have never been used as crowd control in a centre before. (if that had been in the original info I would have called bullshit on that as well)
Weapons (shotguns) have never been used before.
Again I apologise for my knee jerk call of “bullshit”, but for this to be happening either means they have completely changed their riot control mesures, or the situation over there is worse than it has been before, even during the “old days” riots.
So no malice intended, just pure amazment this has happened.
And just to be a little picky, a bean bag bullet is significantly different to a rubber bullet. If used with malice/incorrectly a rubber bullet can be fatal.