Bias and the media

Issue 

Picture

Bias and the media

The recent ranting of the minister for communication, Senator Alston, alleging biased ABC reporting of the waterside dispute is very revealing. His allegation is as false and hypocritical as his Liberal colleagues' claim that the wharfies are "overpaid bludgers".

If there has been any bias in the ABC's coverage of the dispute, it has been to favour Patrick Stevedores and the government. As media commentator Peter Reid wrote in the May 13 issue of Green Left Weekly: "Truth was the first casualty in the waterfront dispute, embattled wharfies being out-gunned by the propaganda clout of Patrick Stevedores, backed to the hilt by the Howard government, the National Farmers Federation and employer groups".

Alston's accusation is part of the Howard government's continuing efforts to cut funding to the ABC and place greater restrictions on programs, producers and journalists. It is also a crude attempt to undermine public support for the wharfies.

Alston claims he supports the ABC's "independence in programming and editorial policies". Yet the minister disapproves of the ABC involving a Canadian academic in a TV debate on the GST because he is an activist with left-wing leanings. Well, you're not going to have much of a "debate" if contributors are limited to the Business Council of Australia and their friends, are you?

Bias in the media is real, but it favours the rich and powerful. This is who Alston is batting for.

Green Left Weekly defiantly takes the other side. It reports on the campaigns, protests and discussions of those struggling for pro-people and pro-environment solutions to the problems created by a profit-driven system in crisis.

A subscription to Green Left Weekly keeps you in touch with the "people before profits" fight back. It also makes you part of a network of people who think solidarity and the fight for social justice are a good thing. The cost of an introductory subscription — $10 — is a small price for 10 issues of Australia's leading source of alternative news and analysis. Green Left Weekly — it's your newspaper.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.