Tag: Australian media

The best journalism isn’t national – it’s local, and it’s written by people who live the story

I subscribe to The Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald, and like many Australians I also read The Conversation and ABC online content . On paper, that should feel like a rich, informed mix. Instead, these days, it feels like hard work.

I am worn down by the relentless presence of Donald Trump. What a dreadful individual. Why does the world keep giving him so much oxygen. There are real crises unfolding across the globe, yet the headlines keep circling back to the same man as if nothing else deserves attention. It is exhausting, and it has very little to do with journalism and everything to do with spectacle.

Then there is the cost of living. Every day brings another headline about strain, pressure, hardship. We know. We live it. What is missing are the solutions. Journalism should help us understand the world, and understanding has to include ideas worth trying, not a daily loop of despair.

And what can Australians say about the Liberal Party and the National Party. They have become the comic relief in their own narrative. The Sydney Morning Herald faithfully reminds us of this almost every day, sometimes in pieces so long  (TL:DR) that you lose the argument halfway through and wonder why none of it lands anymore.

It does not have to be like this. Jenna Price manages to write with impact and precision, without burying her message beneath unnecessary weight. Clarity is still possible. Good journalism is still possible.

And here is the moment of honesty. When I log into my Guardian subscription now, I often log out again almost immediately. It feels tired. It feels like a lecture I did not ask for. In contrast, every time I open The Conversation, I feel grateful. The arguments are grounded in science. The writing respects we want the science presented in a language we all understand.  The tone respects its readers. It gives you space to think. It remembers why journalism matters.

Maybe this is the moment to ask for better. Journalism that expands the world instead of shrinking it. Journalism that tells the truth without drowning us in noise. Journalism that treats readers as citizens, not consumers.

#Media #AusPol #Journalism #NewsFatigue #QualityMedia #GuardianAus #SMH #ABCNews #TheConversation #MediaReform #NewsCulture #AustralianPolitics #PublicInterest #MediaAccountability #TLDR

Seriously, Who Cares About Laura Tingle’s Comments?

Sometimes, the media just can’t help itself. Case in point: the current brouhaha over Laura Tingle’s comments at a recent event. In a sea of issues that genuinely matter to Australians, this tempest in a teacup has somehow become a headline story. Seriously, who cares?

For those blissfully unaware of the latest media obsession, here’s a quick rundown. Laura Tingle, a journalist with a formidable reputation, has been accused of partisanship. Shocking, right? No, not really. Most Australians are more concerned about paying their bills, getting decent healthcare, and ensuring their kids receive a quality education. But the press? They’re caught up in a frenzy, dissecting every syllable Tingle uttered as if it were a national crisis.

Meanwhile, real issues, like racism in Australia, are far more complex and impactful. A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald highlighted that racism in Australia isn’t just a black-and-white issue. It’s about the myriad ways different communities experience discrimination, whether they’re Indigenous Australians, migrants, or people of various ethnic backgrounds. These are the conversations we should be having, not the tedious nitpicking over a journalist’s comments.

Let’s be clear: this is not a story. It’s a non-story, a distraction, a nothing burger. Yet, here we are, with column inches dedicated to debating whether Tingle’s comments were biased. The real question is why the media is so consumed by it. The answer is depressingly simple: sensationalism sells. In the age of clickbait, any whiff of controversy is pounced upon and blown out of proportion.

But let’s step back for a moment. Why should we, the public, care about this so-called scandal? In truth, we don’t. We’re not interested in the internal squabbles of the press. We want to know how the government plans to tackle housing affordability, cost of living pressures, commuter times, and how they’ll fix the healthcare system. Laura Tingle’s comments? Not on the list.

This media obsession reveals a troubling trend. Instead of focusing on stories that matter, the press chases after every potential controversy, no matter how trivial. It’s a case of misplaced priorities, where the pursuit of drama overrides the duty to inform and educate.

And let’s talk about the real impact of this fixation. By diverting attention to non-stories, the media fails to hold power to account on the issues that truly matter. It’s a disservice to the public, who deserve better from those tasked with keeping them informed.

So, here’s a thought: let’s move on. Let’s stop giving oxygen to these manufactured controversies and start demanding coverage of the real issues. Laura Tingle’s comments are not a scandal. They’re not even a story. And the sooner the media realizes that, the better off we’ll all be.

In the meantime, let’s keep our eyes on the prize. Let’s focus on what matters, and leave the distractions where they belong – in the trash heap of non-stories.

#LauraTingle #MediaFrenzy #NonStory #RealIssues #RacismInAustralia #PressPriorities #PublicInterest #AustralianMedia #ClickbaitCulture #Sensationalism