Allan, James and the list.
Continuing Allan's question on the difference between News in
Australia and other countries.
I am trained in writing for the Media and for the past three years
worked as a media analyst, after decades of producing a wide range copy
for print, radio and TV. Thus I can speak with some authority on the way
news is written and presented and identify the intention of the writer
and the sub editor. We get quite a lot of your syndicated news on our
cable TV and when in the UK, I was also exposed to more of your packaged
news, along with the local material.
In Australia, we have several tiers of news availability. Our print
media is in the hands of only a few and does not have the degree of
independence and amount of variety it had in the past. In some ways it
is very similar to some papers in the US and the UK, not surprising as
the same men own many of them. Our Radio is basically:- commercial,
again owned by few, thus a lot of commonality; the ABC, our national
broadcaster, which has in depth, investigative journalism and reliable;
Radio National a specialized public broadcaster catering for more depth
and including greater overseas coverage. Gives much longer time to
issues of importance. In TV we have: commercial, again owned by the few,
but news and current affairs at greater depth than US or UK; Cable which
is largely piped directly from overseas with a bit of local sport and a
few programs lifted from commercial TV, a lot of the content is exactly
the same as the same channels in the US. Then we have the SBS. This is a
gem, it is part of our public broadcasting system, with special coverage
to include the interests of our numerous ethnic groups. The news on SBS
is much longer in each item and at greater depth than on other
broadcasters. There are also a number of news programs from other
countries that go to air on SBS. When we want to get a well balanced
understanding on an issue, we turn to SBS, Radio National or either of
ABC Radio or TV. In addition we have both Radio and TV produced by and
for Aboriginal communities, specific to their needs and interests.
That said, I think there is a basic difference between the product that
goes to air here against that in the US. Our media can question our
Government, our businesses and our lifestyle without being seen as
anti or non. This does not seem to be the case in the US. There
seems to be an official or un-official code of conduct in your media
that means many questions are not asked and many subject not covered.
From the perspective of one used to our media, I see your media
emasculated.
Gil
