When Journalists are abusers of their own industry as they are on Murdoch media and have control on such a large scale over the technology and distribution of the lowest and most disgraceful standard of news and information Australia has ever seen in this country then the collateral damage done to those who claim “but I’m different” comes with the territory doesn’t? Who defines “exceptionalism”?

News Corp, Ch 9 and even the ABC have changed the nature of media today. So if you can’t stand the heat get out of the…business seems a consequence of loss of power. There was once Speaker’s Corner Murdoch Media and other Corporations bought all the fruit boxes and own the microphones. Back in the day any abuse was policed by other speakers and listeners in face to face contest not so today. Social media really doesn’t do the same but on the whole it gives individuals a voice “some” not so nice but are they the norm? Pick up the front page of Murdoch press turn on Sky and 2GB and you’ll witness the norm the musak of media Australians are forced to endure. (ODT)

As Posetti puts it, “What many journalists are enduring in online communities goes well beyond [critique] – it involves targeted abuse, threats of violence, often sexualised in the case of women journalists, and it risks spilling into the physical realm. Research indicates that it’s chilling their online activities and even leading some to leave the profession all together.” Which might be what some want.

I mention my message because of what happened to Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas after her appearance on Barrie Cassidy’s Insiders. She read on-air a text from Joyce denying any involvement in negotiations on water buybacks and was roundly abused on social media.

The entire water buyback story, dubbed #watergate on Twitter, is made more thrilling because of the way in which Australia’s enthusiasm for Barnaby Joyce has declined even more quickly than our rainfall. But it’s become compelling for another reason. It’s become a linchpin for social media attacks on journalists.