There it was yesterday. A plethora of Australian journos standing mic in hand in front of the Champs Élysées or the Eiffel Tower reporting on the French presidential election.
The trouble was what they were doing was not reporting. Or to be more precise, they started with a little reporting and then moved quickly on to speculation and opinion.
Welcome to Australian media’s version of the Kon Tiki tour. With elections looming in the UK and the French National Assembly in June and elections in Germany in September, it’s all aboard the bus. When you get there, don’t worry so much about factual reporting. Tell us what you reckon.
On last night’s ABC News at 7.00pm, the ABC’s European correspondent, Lisa Millar, spent the first five seconds repeating the result and then moved full steam into divination. To be honest, it wasn’t her fault. She faced questions posed from the desk in Sydney from newsreader, Juanita Phillips, all of it demanding a “What do you reckon?” response.
Ms Millar spent the bulk of her report waxing on what might happen by Christmas and beyond.
Full column here.
Mark Colvin, i looked at his twitter feed just the other day, had a photo of his dog visiting him in hospital.
just reading the responses he was much loved by his colleagues and peers, another great loss.
He was a terrific bloke, mate. You would have enjoyed his company. Smart, funny and wise without a smidgeon of conceit. He had an anecdote at the ready on most occasions but didn’t contrive the opportunity to tell them. When he did it was pure joy. His story on scooping the commercial networks on the death of ‘Aussie Bob’ Trimbole in Spain was a ripper. Generous, big-hearted, brave and bright. We lost a good one today.
Is there anything on which the Safety Nazis won’t put a warning label?
http://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/food/avocado-hand-the-serious-injury-caused-by-brunch-fruits-popularity/ar-BBAZRF5?li=AAgfLCP&ocid=mailsignout
Nope. And we’ll just keep making stupider people.
Well my wife doesn’t have a warning label Bowie, but she does have an electromagnetic shield which is not only invisible, and unpredictable, but works exclusively to entrap me without the Safet Nazis offering even a word of caution.
I have become a smashed avocado, is there a recipe for that?
This how you do it, quick too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMfdkIY4aAA
or this version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URFUV0_uh7g
Vale Mark Colvin. A huge loss to Australian journalism and far more.
Well said, Rhys.
I am so Sad Cafe about this. A man full of empathy and humility. The last great thing he did was a discussion on truth in politics. I was eagerly awaiting the second instalment….not to be. Definitely a role model amongst journalists. There are many hacks around who could learn so much from this great man.
Oops…..forgot the link…. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/behind-the-lines-podcast
PM Turnbull in Parliament, Mr Insider, like the Dentists Drill, high pitched and goes on and on. If the average Aussie voter ever warms to this cove I will eat my socks!
Ah yes, Jack, journalists! A collective pain in the scrotum. Always sticking their beaks into politicians’ business. Why can’t they butt out and let our *elected* officials get on with it. The fewer the better, I say. If we must have them, why can’t they be subject to scrutiny & licensing by the government of the day?
Lock up a couple, just for the hell of it, then they’ll come to heel.
Vale Colvinius . Mark Colvin, long time presenter of ABC’s PM has passed away from a rare disease he acquired on the job. Great presenter gone too soon. RIP Mark.
Indeed, GW. He was a fine man. I was lucky enough to have got to know him well the last five or so years. He was a big-hearted, wise, smart, funny and thoroughly decent human being. I visited him in hospital a week or so ago and while his long term prognosis was not good, the news of his death came as a complete shock. We should celebrate his life and his contribution to this country. His last tweet was a posthumous one, presumably typed in by a family member. “It’s all been bloody marvellous.” Thank you, Mark. It has been our honour and you have been bloody marvellous.
And in a most unhelpful turn of events, given the topic, Colvinius has left the building. Great shame. Vale Mark.
And also my surviving aunt overnight. Two in two weeks, from a total of two.
TV, sorry to hear of your losses, it does get to the time of life when one seems to get weekly reminders of mortality.
i used to chuckle when i arrived home after the paper round to find Dad, with his e and b plate pushed back and enjoying his morning cuppa and toast and scanning through the death notices in the Melbourne Sun, and eager to tell me where this or that one fitted in to the very large numbers of families we knew.
that sort of scanning seemed an odd thing to do then, but not now.
Commiserations, TV. That’s a big chunk of family to lose in such a short time.
I heard Hillsong this morning being asked by Fran Kelly about why he wasn’t keeping the higher income levy. He furnurled out something about . Funny how taxes on the wealthy are class warfare and the politics of envy whereas taxes on the rest of us are sensible budgetary measures…
Correct version
I heard Hillsong this morning being asked by Fran Kelly about why he wasn’t keeping the higher income levy. He furnurled out something about . Funny how taxes on the wealthy are class warfare and the politics of envy whereas taxes on the rest of us are sensible budgetary measures…
Have you started drinking early again UQ?
The “correct version” is identical to the presumably incorrect version above it. I can only take it you are conceding both are incorrect.
I recommend double strength, extra hot coffee before Midday, that should keep you lucid.
Tips in but the only real upsets I can see this week are Saints/Blues where I think Carlton have enough to poke Saints in the eye, and Suns to surprise Port. I didn’t like tipping the Hawks but the Lions are not a team to back just now and they’ll freeze down in Tassie. If a draw was an option in the tipping I’d tip this one for a draw.
The Suns won the battle to wear their home strip of red and gold G, which of course are China’s national colours. Kotchie was really pissed off (Port home game and they didn’t twig).
Now I can’t imagine the trouble Port will have leaving the country if they do the Suns over, so you could well be in the money.
As for Carlton poking the Saints in the eye, I’m telling you you’re dreaming. Oh by the way, good old Carlton have done it again, finding a million dollar black hole in the club’s finances. When will they ever learn?
A million bucks. Pfft. Smoke night at the Pratts will sort that right out. The Saints are two years ahead of the Blues in development. Bigger bodied. I’d expect them to win, especially at Etihad.
The Shanghai stadium holds 10,000 and it’s a sellout. That will be 10,000 voices cheering the Gold and Yellow. I think the Blues have found something judging their last 2 outings. They’ve been more accurate inside the 50 and are finding ways to get there. It will probably be the game of the round.
Oops. Red and Yellow.
J. Edgar Hoover, Mr Insider, this is the type of chap POTUS Trump needs at the FBI, here in this short clip giving his thoughts on the dreadful spread of Communism. Well said indeed, lets keep the “Pinkos” at bay!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtcjMYYbLdc
A criminal and a traitor Nossy. In cahoots with Washington elites ignoring widespread corruption at high levels, in cahoots with powerful criminal organisations and a vicious manipulative bully ,racist and bigot.
He played the confected communist threat card for all it was worth. A paranoid tyrannical enforcer for the interests of Americas most influential private citizens. A very nasty piece of work.
No doubt a hero archetype holding great appeal for the shadow Nossy lurking under the froth and bubble persona.
Love your work Enery.