Reinforcing what Fox Corp is and what it isn’t (ODT)
Fox doesn’t have much in the way of ethical standards, and the ones it has don’t apply to everyone. Just ask Hannity.
Category: Media
Fox Corp doesn’t need advertisers or subscribers they are indirectly subsidised. www.unfoxmycablebox.com
EVEN IF YOU
NEVER WATCH FOX NEWS
YOU’RE FUNDING THEIR PROGRAMMING#UNFOXMYCABLEBOXDue to the network’s toxic programming, advertisers have largely rejected Fox News. To date, Fox News has been able to ignore this advertiser exodus because it currently takes in approximately $1.8 billion annually in subscriber fees — well above industry averages for other networks.
While there are 90 million cable and satellite subscribers in the United States, Fox News averages just 3 million daily viewers at best. That means 87 million subscribers are being forced to subsidize a network they don’t watch and may not support.
The Right-Wing is turning on itself and it’s not just Fox Media. (ODT)
I knew a toddler once who used to write on his bedroom wall with his own faeces. There’s a future for him with the Murdochracy, I think. (MC)
Despite James Murdoch’s speaking up against the company’s climate change denial, nevertheless, the award for the Most Dangerous Disinformation and Misinformation Crusade goes to the Rupert Murdoch Media Empire for its tenacious and tireless climate denialism, as exemplified by its broadcast and print outlets in Australia during that country’s bushfire catastrophe.
Murdoch’s Massive Media Australia-on-Fire Disinformation Crusade | The Smirking Chimp
General trust in news dropped from 50 per cent to 44 per cent in 2019.
Australian Broadcasting Authority found more than 85 per cent of Australians thought commercial sponsors were very influential or somewhat influential in news coverage.
The Free TV Code of Practice currently requires broadcasters to present news fairly and impartially, and to distinguish factual material from commentary and analysis.
In radio, current affairs programs are not required to be impartial but a licensee must provide reasonable opportunities for “significant alternative viewpoints” when dealing with controversial issues of public importance.
In media’s ‘Wild West’, news consumers struggle to find truth, trust and transparency
What if Rupert Murdoch’s legacy is not that of being labelled the “great climate change denier” but the man who told the world: “The planet deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
A Murdoch does a ‘Prince Harry’: James and the climate according to News Corp
James Murdoch shows News Corp climate criticism goes to top of family tree
Free Press in GOP and Trump’s America (ODT)
Australia’s national firestorm tragedy has driven many of the usual right wing, Newscorp, coal lobby, anti-science climate change denialists back into their caves.
Stark factual reality has a way of subverting ideology and belief, no matter how strongly we cling to our chosen “views”. It’s hard to argue that climate change is a greenie conspiracy when its impacts are so evident: lives lost, homes destroyed, dreams shattered. Extreme weather events are now occurring on a global scale.
Where are Malcolm Roberts, Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt, Peta Credlin, et al? Where’s that guy who regularly rings ABC Radio talkback regurgitating the dodgy claims of Rupert Murdoch’s opinionators?
The battlefield of climate change debate is now littered (figuratively) with the bodies of the denialist fallen.
Who shall fight the good fight on behalf of the billionaire class to repel those hordes of scientists, with all their researched facts and evidence, before they take the castle of the plutocrats?
Don’t worry, Gina. Don’t worry, Rupert… you still have Tony Abbott and Craig Kelly, those staunch legionnaires, out there proslytising on your behalf: “Reality be damned!” they cry. “Facts don’t matter, it’s how you interpret them.”
Meanwhile, Morrison is cutting funds to the ABC (ODT)
Trump capturing attention any way he can (ODT)
via Here Are Mother Jones’ Most-Read Stories of 2019—and the Decade – Mother Jones
Digital Literacy
All Left Parties in opposition or in State Power, must make it a priority to encourage or fund digital literacy programs. If they can do neither, the Federal Leadership must be proactive in promoting this via their own channels.
The Labor Party has the power and the technology to create tools to counter claims from all types of propaganda. Speak loud and speak often, via text and video. Importantly, be bold enough to respond to claims made via comments on Social Media. Make it known that truth telling in Democracy is paramount and false claims and misrepresentations will no longer be tolerated by the voting public.
via 2020 How to Kill Propaganda with Three Blows – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The Washington Post reported over a year ago that the CIA had concluded, on evidence that included intercepted phone calls, that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing. His close friendship with Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner has certainly contributed to the impunity he has so far enjoyed. One way to punish Saudi Arabia is through sanctions and denial of military aid — options that were open until just last week, when Congress passed, and sent to the White House for Trump’s signature, the $738 billion 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna issued a joint statement calling the NDAA “a bill of astonishing moral cowardice,” in part for failing to deny aid to Saudi Arabia.
via Let 2020 Be the Year of a Truly Free Press | The Smirking Chimp
via
Character assassination is what Fox News does. The problem for Trump when it comes to the impeachment scandal is that Fox News has too many characters it needs to assassinate.
Association for International Broadcasting is convening to explore the challenges faced by media organisations as they react to increasing infringements on media freedom in an ever greater number of territories. What is extraordinary is that alongside the usual suspects of Iran, states in Central Asia and dictatorships across Africa where media freedom is a distant dream, Australia will feature prominently in our discussions, and for all the wrong reasons.
via ‘Extraordinary’: There’s a new name on the list of media-unfriendly nations
Trump Whines: My Murder Of A Terrorist Leader Is BIGGER Than Obama’s
One of the two main hallmarks of Trump’s Presidency* is his constant pathological need to outdo President Barack Obama.
via Trump Whines: My Murder Of A Terrorist Leader Is BIGGER Than Obama’s | Crooks and Liars
George Orwell’s novel 1984 was supposed to be a dystopian work of fiction, a warning of the perversions of truth which would be required to sustain totalitarianism if we were not careful.
In 2019, it has become a User’s Manual, a play-book, and some of the worst hypocrites in the world – otherwise known as the free-media in free-countries – deploy it to the nodding approbation of the political-classes they serve.
As Humpty Dumpty said, “The question is, which is to be master – that’s all.”
Right to Know Coalition is run out of News Corp’s Sydney headquarters at 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, and all its material is authorised by News Corp’s corporate affairs, policy and government relations supremo, infamous former Daily Telegraph editor Campbell “Dead Fish” Reid (note the below).
News Corp only began to express concerns about “press freedom” under the Coalition Government when one of its journalists, Annika Smethurst, had her house raided by the Australian Federal Police in June, shortly after the last Federal election. Now, the “Right to Know Coalition” has sprung into action.
Independent Australia strongly supports press freedom. But it does not support a campaign led by a self-serving, amoral and deeply corrupt organisation. An organisation tightly in the grip of a foreign billionaire, Rupert Murdoch, who has so many unanswered questions about his own opaque behaviour.
So much for “your right to know”.
via Blacking out your Right to Know
Key points:
- Major newspapers feature “censored” front pages to show the impact of government secrecy
- It follows a television campaign launched on Sunday night
- Media organisations want greater protections for journalists and whistleblowers
So it must be TRUE Hannity only attacks the truth (ODT)
via Sean Hannity Freaks Out Over ‘Idiotic’ Mulvaney Presser | Crooks and Liars
Fair and unbiased reporting is disappearing in Australia as the Coalition Government and Murdoch Mafia gain control of our news, writes Ranald Macdonald.
via Australia’s Right-wing stranglehold over public interest journalism
Sinclair Broadcasts News Across America. This Is their Message (ODT)
Before Trump became president, 654 miles of the nearly 2,000-mile U.S. Mexico border had primary barriers. As of today, that hasn’t increased.
To date, the administration has replaced about 60 miles of dilapidated barriers with new fencing. And a major component of Trump’s pledge — that Mexico would pay for the wall — hasn’t been part of the equation. U.S. taxpayers have paid the cost.
As Media Matters also noted, the Trump campaign amplified the lie:
via ‘Straight News’ At Fox: Ed Henry Lies About Border Wall | Crooks and Liars
So here comes Sinclair, and Breitbart (ODT)
So while I do not doubt that Trump is unpopular at Fox and that his detractors have become more audacious, it’s also true that his supporters are sticking by him as strongly as ever, if not more so.
In other words, Fox News civil war. Grab the popcorn!
via Stable Genius Reportedly Very Unpopular Among Fox News Personnel | Crooks and Liars
Sinclair Media vies to become Trump’s favoured messenger. (ODT)
“We are fighting to guarantee healthcare in America. To make education and housing dignified and accessible. To save our planet. To set living wages. To establish justice at home and peace abroad.” (AOC)
You think John Bolton was a HAWK (ODT)
Many major retailers that previously refused to take a stand on the issue of guns in their stores are now stepping up, and this highlights the momentum on the side of gun safety advocates. The tide is turning in this country, so radical holdouts at Fox News turn to threats of violence.
Fox News and GOP Media Now Warn of Bloodshed If Democrats Win in 2020 | The Smirking Chimp
via 
Australia has become a dangerously complacent country, dancing to the reactionary tune of the Murdoch press (Rudd)
Your right to know has been eroded by
1) Attacks on the ABC.
2) By the very business model MSM Private media has adopted to operate on.
Since the turn of the century the the ABC has been a target of constant LNP attack to be diminished as it was seen to be in direct competion with the profit goals and business model adopted by private media like News Corp and now Ch9. News public information,government and corporate accountability were less and less the domain of the media and the ABC was increasingly showing that reality up rather than competing with it. The domain of private media had become a public relations agency and it’s mode of operation an excercise for profit. It’s target client was oviously where the money was concentrated and that was just 1% of private enterprise and its allied associations and political crusaders. Those political parties that supported the mega- industries with the money their associations and donors. In contrast with the ABC the difference was not just striking but magnified and amplified and had to be muted at all costs and with the coming of Tony Abbott it has and continues to be. Now the attacks will begin to be turned on the digital and independant media sources that don’t really have the focused power of distribution and coverage. Furthe the model is no longer just national but global as exemplified by Murdoch media in the English speaking world.(ODT)
Acts of legislation enacted over the last six years of LNP-dominated Governments have eroded press freedom, with its collected effects ranging from cloak-and-dagger secrecy to threats of prison to journalists and whistle-blowers.
Press freedom is democratically essential, so protections must be enhanced
Looks as if they intend challenging Murdoch in Australia with his own business model. We need to save the ABC (ODT)
Key points
Nine’s newspaper journalists were outraged TV bosses held the fundraiser for the Liberals
CEO Hugh Marks admits it was a mistake
Newspaper executive James Chessell argues there has never been any influence on editorial decisions
With his back to the wall Trump media now says he’s not running the country. Sounds like the voice of a bankrupt man(ODT)
via Frank Luntz Blames Media For Trying To Hurt Trump By Destroying The U.S. Economy | Crooks and Liars
News Corp and Nine do ABC doesn’t Save the ABC (ODT)
Nine Entertainment used its historic TV studios in the Sydney suburb of Willoughby to host a $10,000-a-head corporate fundraiser for the Liberal party on Monday night.
Hosted by Nine’s CEO, Hugh Marks, corporates paid handsomely for the chance to dine with the prime minister, Scott Morrison, and the communications minister, Paul Fletcher, inside Australia’s biggest locally owned media company.
Since the merger with Fairfax Media last year, Nine has had control of the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the Australian Financial Review, mastheads which have always prided themselves on independent journalism.
Government sent ‘chilling’ letter to Channel Nine over One Nation strip club broadcast
Read moreThat independence was still evident as the venue for the Liberal party fundraiser was revealed by the AFR’s gossip columnist Joe Aston.
Nine is emerging as a local rival to News Corp Australia after making a $113.94m offer to acquire the remaining shares in Macquarie Media, which owns 2GB.
The networking event was organised by the Liberal party’s fundraising arm, the Australian Business Network, which asked Nine to host the dinner at Willoughby and carry the cost of the catering.
via Nine Entertainment hosts $10,000 a head fundraiser for Liberal party | Media | The Guardian
Uhlmann’s arguments hardly do justice to the Age as it’s senior political editor reminding me of the 60’s cry of ” All the Way with LBJ”.
Yes, we might have politically different systems the CPA of China recognises that. However, it has nevertheless raised the tide in China for everyone so much, so poverty and starvation for 1.3 billion people is something relegated to the past. Kids from rural China can be educated and are today’s Teachers Doctors and Lawyers in Shanghai, sending money home. These kids have never seen anything less than a 6% GDP in their life, so why shouldn’t they love and be proud of their country. Nationalist demand we all be here. The tiny population of Hong Kong and Uyghurs are they worse off than Indigenous Australians or people in detention on Manus and Nauru? We stole children and never sent them back to their families. China isn’t doing that. Does Uhlmann a political editor really believe that in the current world atmosphere nobody hasn’t an interest to keep the HK demonstrations ongoing? They started over a single law about extradition, which was stopped. Who has the most to gain by making China look bad?
Uhlmann’s talks of China’s aggression it has one military post outside the country we have more than they do and our closest ally the US has 8oo in some 160 countries. Australia and China really have a defence system. America has a business a military-industrial complex which is central to its economy. If that business of war grinds to a halt, so does America. So to talk of China’s aggressive interests seems stupid and hardly thought out to me. Is Uhlmann a paid propagandist for Murdoch and Trump?
As for 400,000 Chinese students and the mass of Chinese tourists flooding the world today does that really look like the moves of an increasingly totalitarian government or a decreasing one. It seems to me Peter Dutton is fast removing freedoms of Australians and becoming more paranoid than China. The CPA knows what it has done that freedom is dangerous and they know they are an anachronism, but they are still providing their people increasing freedom and allowing their citizens to do business across the world without an army to back them as the Americans do. Meanwhile, poverty is growing here as is debt and savings are falling we, in fact, seem to be heading in the opposite direction handing the country to the control of our corporate mandarins.
Universities had the funding cut and were told shape up or ship out to raise their own funds and maintain affordable education for Australians. They didn’t volunteer to do it so yes the Chinese are revenue forced on them by largely the Howard government. How mismanaged is our tertiary education system? It’s as mismanaged as the Australian governments have forced them to be? Are these Foreign students expected to stay on as graduates Uhlmann seems to think so? No, they are meant to go home yet he expects their standard of English is meant to be as good as his. When Australian University staff can’t be guaranteed tenure, how can the teaching at any level be regarded as first class?
What we hear today is the drum that was beaten back in the 50’s ban the Communist Party, the dominoes are falling, They are stealing our ideas is the anything new Uhlmann, and Ch9 it seems is taking us backwards (ODT)
“Australia is at an inflection point. For the first time our major trading partner is not a liberal democracy and it is a strategic rival of our key ally. We need to have a serious debate and have a right to expect more of those who lead our academic institutions.”
olddogthoughts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.