Trying to Get Rid of Skynews from Qantas Lounges.

[Toad]

Not sure why you are pinning such value on the opinions of the Naura gvernment. Once one of the richest states in the world, now one of the poorest, this doesnt reflect well on the governance of this country. Either a) they are abysmal at governing or b) this is an indication of corruption, or c) probably most likely a mixture of both, its hard to see a good news story in relation to the government of Nauru.

And yes , the ABC has reported along those lines and the Nauru government doesnt like it, but is that evidence of bias? Most despots the world over make this accusation of bias and intelligent people the world over recognise those accusations for what they really are.

They are a Sovereign Nation (whatever their circumstances) and they have a right to think, deal with (ABC) and sanction whatever they choose whether we agree with their views or not. As to abysmal governing perhaps we should focus more on our own backyard and our own governments performance or lack there off. IMHO

 

[opusman]

Does the ABC even have opinion "journalists" like Bolt? Someone said they don't have any right-wing presenters but do they have any overtly left-wing ones either? The ABC reports unbiased news, rather than opinion dressed up as news. The problem is that those on the right, having been force-fed rubbish for so long, are unable to distinguish between opinion and reality, and see anything that doesn't fit their world view as left-wing bias.

 

[Toad]

Does the ABC even have opinion "journalists" like Bolt? Someone said they don't have any right-wing presenters but do they have any overtly left-wing ones either? The ABC reports unbiased news, rather than opinion dressed up as news. The problem is that those on the right, having been force-fed rubbish for so long, are unable to distinguish between opinion and reality, and see anything that doesn't fit their world view as left-wing bias.

I thought that is what the left do 'force feed rubbish" like global warming (hasn't happened yet), NEG, Paris agreement etc.......

Just wondering how can the ABC be unbiased if they don;t have left and right wing presenters putting across a balanced view? Just asking the question.

 

[opusman]

Just wondering how can the ABC be unbiased if they don;t have left and right wing presenters putting across a balanced view?

As I said, they report facts. Political leanings don't come into it. You have proved my point for me rather well I think!

 

[Toad]

Does the ABC even have opinion "journalists" like Bolt? Someone said they don't have any right-wing presenters but do they have any overtly left-wing ones either? The ABC reports unbiased news, rather than opinion dressed up as news. The problem is that those on the right, having been force-fed rubbish for so long, are unable to distinguish between opinion and reality, and see anything that doesn't fit their world view as left-wing bias.

As I said, they report facts. Political leanings don't come into it. You have proved my point for me rather well I think!

Sorry.. unless I am blind I can't see where you used the words 'report facts' in your post above. I see the word 'reality'. The reality is that not everything we do/say (or report) is fact. Now that is a fact. Thank you for proving my point. Good debate is great. Just about to hit the J QF lounge and watch some Sky News

 

[Moody]

I thought that is what the left do 'force feed rubbish" like global warming (hasn't happened yet), NEG, Paris agreement etc.......

Don't want to derail the debate, but this is EXACTLY the point made before. The sewerage and extreme right-wing dross and misinformation served up by Fox/Sky numbs whatever brain cells the viewers have remaining to them, until everything else looks like left-wing bias.

That the world is warming is unchallangeable by even the looniest of the loonies. The argument is whether it is all or partly or unconnected with human activities. I am glad that the consensus amongst the vast majority of climate scientists is challenged by the fringe element - it keeps them open to different models. But science being challenged by Andrew Bolt? I don't think so.

 

[burmans]

They are a Sovereign Nation (whatever their circumstances) and they have a right to think, deal with (ABC) and sanction whatever they choose whether we agree with their views or not. As to abysmal governing perhaps we should focus more on our own backyard and our own governments performance or lack there off. IMHO

I agree they can do what they want, I dont agree however that we need to assign any particular value to that decision (as you seem to be doing by repeating it).

As for abysmal governing I think we should call it our wherever we see it, unfortunately bad governance seems to be infectious so, no I don't think we can just ignore it.

 

[opusman]

Unbiased news means facts. That's what "news" is. There's a place for opinion in the media but opinion is different from news, unfortunately fox news and the like conflate the two.

 

[Toad]

Getting back to the original thread posted. There is in my view an easy solution to appease both sides. QF lounges have more then one TV. Just put some on Sky and some on the ABC. Problem solved. You get to choose what to watch.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Unbiased news means facts. That's what "news" is. There's a place for opinion in the media but opinion is different from news, unfortunately fox news and the like conflate the two.

And this Alt-News rightist view that all commentary has to be "balanced" by Alt-Right views from the likes of Bolt etc and that all news reports need to be "fair and balanced" is rubbish. News should present the facts as supported by the evidence not personal opinions.

As when Anti-Vaccers start complaining that MMD vaccines cause autism or the measles vaccine is designed to impede their children. Such views are rubbish and it's been decided by "quality" news companies that such completely false non-scientific unsupported, except by loons, views just should not be represented along with peer-reviewed findings. Bolt would have the opposite. The same should be done with the climate change deniers and the US Alt-Right fake news whinges.

 

[burmans]

Just wondering how can the ABC be unbiased if they don;t have left and right wing presenters putting across a balanced view? Just asking the question.

This supposes that part of good reporting means you need have presenters from both the left and the right whereas my view is that good presenters ask probing questions to get to the truth of both left and right regardless of their own political views. Asking the hard questions doesnt mean you are of a different political persuasion, its just their job.

Intellectual challenge is a good thing and should be practiced even when you agree with the politics/principles of the person you are challenging, the Catholic church being a really good example of an organisation where this should have been practiced much more vigourously.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Getting back to the original thread posted. There is in my view an easy solution to appease both sides. QF lounges have more then one TV. Just put some on Sky and some on the ABC. Problem solved. You get to choose what to watch.

Or satisfy all with one on AFL and the other on baseball/cricket/insert sport here.

 

[Toad]

Or satisfy all with one on AFL and the other on baseball/cricket/insert sport here.

Your right great idea let’s do that and get rid of all news programs and watch Fox Sport

 

[UP4014]

Sky News has about half the viewers of ABC NEWS 24 (not the mainstream channel 2) and a evening of about 1.5% of viewers which is not much.

Sky News would have a contract to be on the big on the big screen in the lounges, otherwise why not ABC 24 which is watched by more flyers statistically than Sky.

For those who want politics, Barry Cassidy beats the Bolt Report on ratings.

So if there was a channel button in front of you when you're sitting in the lounge that everyone would push, would you go for Sky? I wouldn't.

 

[UP4014]

Your right great idea let’s do that and get rid of all news programs and watch Fox Sport

Let's not.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure why you are pinning such value on the opinions of the Naura gvernment. Once one of the richest states in the world, now one of the poorest, this doesnt reflect well on the governance of this country. Either a) they are abysmal at governing or b) this is an indication of corruption, or c) probably most likely a mixture of both, its hard to see a good news story in relation to the government of Nauru.
<snip>.

Or d), and probably closer to the truth, its trade in fertiliser from mined bird guano was decimated by over-mining, increased shipping costs and competition from high analysis 'superphosphates'. When 99% of your national income falls over, its never going to be pretty.

Of course, if/when Australia tries to intervene somehow in directing how its aid is used within their world countries the NGOs scream paternalism, interference in sovereign nations etc etc.

 

[drron]

And here is what some ABC staff said in the 1980s re balance in reporting.Was reported in the National Times originally and then again in Quadrant in 1983.But the words are those of the staff members.
"Ashbolt: “We can discuss on Lateline ideas that three years ago would have been regarded not only as heretical, but subversive. And Lateline has broken down the ABC convention—and it was always a false convention—of balance. Five years ago it would have been unthinkable to have three people discussing an issue, and all of them to be left-wingers …”

Mark Aarons: “I don’t think any of us here would tend to think we want to be ‘balanced’. Because of this Ashbolt thing within the ABC establishment, it would be madness for us to put on right-wingers except in exceptional circumstances.”

Liz Fell: “Make sure you get all the speakers right because we’ve got a Maoist, a communist, an anarchist and Heaven knows what here, so don’t mix them up …” (This, by the way, was when the department had a Sydney establishment of six producers.)"

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
While I've not listened-to Sky News at all myself, I've seen that Andrew Bolt always seems to be there, which means it's 100% paid advertising for whatever the current Liberal Party agenda is ... but if people are stupid enough to (a) listen to him and (b) not see through it, I don't see why that should have ANY affect on what gets played in the background & ignored in a Qantas lounge.
Whoever's outraged should be more outraged at the amount of power being wasted.

If you did have a peek at Bolt every now and then, you would see that he is mostly a fierce critic of the Liberal government. Yes, he's well to the right of them, but declares such, so watch him or not, its all up front.

BTW, Sky has presenters such as Graeme Richardson, (ex Labor federal cabinet member etc etc) and other current labour figures such as former NSW Labor premier Kristina Keneally as prime time presenters. Dreadfully biased and right wing of course!! Can anyone name a single equivalent Liberal figure on any ABC slot (ie prime time TV?).

Another point re ABC Vs Sky etc. Don't forget we are all forced to pay for the ABC (their Sydney evening TV newsreader gets or got paid over $300K pa, IIRC) - no one is forced to pay or indeed watch Sky etc. If we had a fee-to-watch 'public broadcaster' as they do in Britain, I wonder how they'd go?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So calling for sky news to be banned in the QP isn’t censorship?

People complained so vigorously about the wearing of thongs (flip flops) in the lounge they go them banned. Being forced to listed to Sky/Fox/whatever is worse in my opinion as even if you look the other way - you can still hear it

Instead of trying to make a quick buck, go for something as least offensive as you can find - like BBC or something.

It's just a bit hypocritical that lounges are supposed to be havens - protected from thong wearers - but subjected often controversial commentary.

 

[tgh]

Very entertaining thread.. popcorn anyone ?