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May 15, 2003

Australian press

I find myself in full agreement with Gerard Henderson on this. The Australian press is very insular. It was clearly evident in the Iraq war. They---as a collective body---- had little understanding of the Middle East.

Canberra is the centre of their media universe. Do they----the Canberra Press Gallery----- actually read the international papers?

Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at May 15, 2003 09:42 AM

Comments

I agree about media insularity in general. New Zealand had an archbishop as governor-general and he was a tremendous success.

Hollingworth's problem is not that he is a prelate but that he is a prelate with poor judgement and has defended that record by less than impressive methods.

Posted by: Alan at May 15, 2003 10:14 AM

All journalists are insular. University journalism programs require absolutely no study of history, science or religion.

Posted by: chutney at May 15, 2003 02:01 PM

Chutney
I suspected the insularity of journalists may have had something to do with a university education. But I had no experience of what was taught in a journalism degree. So I couldn't judge.

Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson at May 15, 2003 07:46 PM

Hi Alan,

I concur with that judgement about Hollingworth.He seems to get worse in his defence. It cannot just be put down to the bad advice surely??????

Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson at May 15, 2003 07:50 PM

Disagree with Hendo. As someone from the SMH said, they were more interested in an important local issue.. the 'war' may be important but the 'high sugar, low protein drivel' that pours out of such press conferences can be excluded from your diet altogether without adverse health outcomes. The Americans have gone the Henderson route, puffing every doorstop about the war as nationally important, at the expense of everything that matters to ordinary people. Remember Centcom? Or the Presidential pre-war propaganda ceremony, all solemn and somnambulent?

Is this what really want? Gerard's a bit too keen to give power the benefit of the doubt, especially when power's recent record is so spotty in the truth dept.

Posted by: Glenn at May 17, 2003 02:57 PM

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