Tabloid Media: Ever More 'Over the Top'

From the ABC's PM program ....

RAY HADLEY: How many children do you have, and would you be happy for your children to be going to the little star club at the Sheraton Nusa Dua, knowing a three-year-old contracted gonorrheae? Yes or no?

ALEXANDER DOWNER: If I was, if I was rude to you, I would say that that is a preposterous thing to say. Obviously …

RAY HADLEY: You're a pompous dope. That's what you are. You're a pompous dope.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Don't be so bloody rude.

RAY HADLEY: No, I'll be more than rude to you. You're a disgraceful, you're a disgrace.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Nobody on earth would put their children, really, you're just so over the top.

RAY HADLEY: No, I'm not over the top. You knew, you knew …

ALEXANDER DOWNER: I didn't know. I've told you that already. The police investigated the case, and they were unable to establish who in this hotel was responsible.

RAY HADLEY: How many children do you have, and would you be happy for your children to be going to the little star club at the Sheraton Nusa Dua, knowing a three-year-old contracted gonorrheae? Yes or no?

ALEXANDER DOWNER: If I was, if I was rude to you, I would say that that is a preposterous thing to say. Obviously …

RAY HADLEY: You're a pompous dope. That's what you are. You're a pompous dope.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Don't be so bloody rude.

RAY HADLEY: No, I'll be more than rude to you. You're a disgraceful, you're a disgrace.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Nobody on earth would put their children, really, you're just so over the top.

RAY HADLEY: No, I'm not over the top. You knew, you knew …

ALEXANDER DOWNER: I didn't know. I've told you that already. The police investigated the case, and they were unable to establish who in this hotel was responsible.

This was Alexander Downer defending himself on commercial radio this week. The subject of the interview was the danger of child molestation in foreign hotels' 'kids clubs.' No one would deny it was a serious topic, and a lot of people agree that Downer is a 'pompous dope,' but Hadley way overstepped the mark. He didn't need to attack Downer like that to get his point across. I'm surprised he didn't end the interview there and then. He was certainly within his rights to do so.

The exchange above is an extreme example of just how out of control sections of the commercial media are. They push their opinion, overlook pertinent facts that give a balanced presentation of the topic, and ridicule anyone else who has a different point of view.

At least Hadley isn't claiming his opinionated show is news. Problem is, other media publications do.

Take Sydney's 'The Daily Telegraph.' I'm always amazed at this paper's headlines. Take a news item, have a guess at the what their readership's attitude towards it will be, and write a headline and story that reinforces that attitude.

The Terror's approach is certainly profitable and influential. Influence that's based on public prejudice, reinforced by 'news' that doesn't provide the whole story.

At least Fairfax and the ABC provide an alternative, but only until 1 July. The government's senate shackles are due to be released and they'll be free to meddle with the media laws. The future looks bleak.