The ABC of Media Bias...

Ok, so I probably should preface this tirade by disclosing the context within which this whinge takes place. As a strong willed, opinionated man I like to let it be known what my views are on various issues. That is, after all, why I blog; I'm a passionate conservative and, by God, everyone needs to know about it! So not only do I write The Right Side but, occasionally, I write contribution pieces for other sites, with my latest up on Menzies House. I have, also, sent quite a few submissions to the ABC for their consideration... quite a few... And what has been their response? Silence; absolutely no response what so ever... not even a polite e-mail... not even a generic, computer-generated e-mail response...

Now, I admit, that at some points I may stray from Centre-Right to more Tony Abbott-Right, but whenever I put forward a submission to any external website I make a conscious effort to stay in the middle of the road, writing so that all might enjoy what I put forward, not just those who share my political colours. So, after sending my latest submission piece to the ABC (the same as I sent to Menzies House, which I have since posted here on The Right Side), which I thought was a nice apolitical analysis of the current federal landscape, and again receiving no reply, I was a tad dissatisfied with our national broadcaster. When you see the calibre of the ABC's contributors, such as Geoff Lemon and Jeff Sparrow, you begin to wonder about their selection process. Well, actually, I don't wonder at all. It seems as though the process is: go Left or go home. Our national broadcaster is anything but politically neutral, especially when you see how stacked their opinion section is with what is, undoubtedly, the entire GetUp! organisation.


Beats to the same rhythm as Gillard and Brown's propaganda...


Now, being the cunning, deceitful, deceptive conservative that I am, I decided to set the ABC a little trap and test just how neutral they are. After having a number of my submissions ignored, I decided that, after a life time of thinking and writing from a conservative perspective, that I would put myself in the shoes (or should that be thongs...?) of a grungy, smelly hippie socialist. The Left-wing persona I fabricated for this rouse was a Bachelor of Arts student (shocking, right?) who likes ragging on the Righties and their evil capitalist ways. The article I constructed was by far the most politically biased piece I had put forward for the ABC's consideration, and the response I received left me speechless. I had barely clicked the send button before receiving a very friendly reply from one of The Drum's editorial staff. Complimenting me on the piece, the staffer was more than happy to report that the piece would indeed be run on the ABC website at the first available moment. And, sure enough, a few days ago in appeared, front and centre in all it's rhetorical, biased glory...

I would like to make it clear that I don't mind our national broadcaster providing a forum for strong political views; in fact I believe it is necessary for a strong and healthy democracy. What does frustrate me is the fairly obvious bias that the ABC holds, despite the fact it is a tax-payer funded organisation and, therefore, should provide views that reflect the diverse nature of the Australian political debate. The ABC has, in recent times, been one of the biggest - and loudest - mouthpieces for Gillard and Brown's propaganda on Climate Change and the Carbon Tax. They have, essentially, opened the doors to all who would heap praise and adulation on the 'Green Coalition' while simultaneously ridiculing and decrying all who don't agree. Case in point: the Convey of no confidence. There has been nary a mention of the event on the ABC website this morning and, the mention that there was, grossly underestimates how many are present. The piece instead ops discuss how Bob Brown believes it is a flop.



Brown says 'Flop', I say 'Lot's of angry people - justifiably so, I might add - who are sick of being ignored'

 I have no problem with media organisations having a political leaning; after all, they will reflect the views and opinions of their readers, not just on politics but across many social issues. What I do have a problem with is our national broadcaster, who was founded to be a neutral voice in Australia media, is wasting our tax-payer dollars to help shield this incompetent government.

By the way, I haven't revealed how to find my Left-oriented article on the ABC because this is a trick I may look to play on them again in the future. However I encourage you all to look over the opinion section of The Drum and see if you can't spot it. I would also state that I denounce everything which I wrote and needed to take a shower after writing it... worth it for the laugh, though...