editorial
22 Sep 2011
Do Your Bit For Media Diversity
Media concentration is one of the most frequent complaints we hear about Australian media. A few big players rehashing the same stories over and over again
It’s not healthy for democracy for the nation’s journalistic resources to be limited to a few large organisations in it for the money. (We’re looking at you News Limited, Fairfax, and AAP.)
The thing is, it’s not easy to keep an independent media business going in Australia. We can’t rely on sheer numbers like the independent media in the United States can. Here, everyone involved needs to be fully invested for there to be any chance of success.
New Matilda is a shoestring operation with two full time staff, but we box well above our weight. We don’t do it alone. We have an extensive network of freelance journalists and writers, and, through the stories we commission, we have brought important stories into the spotlight, on coal seam gas mining, immigration detention and more.
We’ve been doing this since 2004. We’ve been close to the wall lots of times and even though we’ve earned our stripes in terms of recognition as a media outlet, the only way we can continue is through the support of our readers.
By all means, get hot under the collar about who controls the news. But don’t forget that you can do something about it by supporting New Matilda. You’ll be paying writers and editors for the work they do — and you’ll be making a contribution to genuine media diversity in this country.
We have 680 paid supporters so far. Sign up here and help NM stay online in 2012.
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Posted Friday, 23 September 11 at 6:56AM
There is an irony here New Matilda, and I will tell you what it is.
You present the case that media plurality brings with it diversity and press freedom, but when a serious story arrives, which requires precisely that press freedom to ensure democratic accountability, you shirk it.
You know exactly what I am talking about… The Expendable Project:
http://www.expendable.tv
Day after day it is releasing government emails and cables proving corruption and malpractice, right at the top. You pretend it isn’t happening.
The project website is illegally ripped by the AFP and an FBI complaint lodged. Again, you pretend it isn’t there.
Exactly like the politically affiliated agenda ridden mainstream
So what is the point, New Matilda? Diversity is supposed to prevent the sort of cover-up you are involved in.
If you do your bit for press freedom and public accountability, more people may do their bit for diversity. At the moment you look just a tad hypocritical.
Posted Friday, 23 September 11 at 12:59PM
To dismiss the existence of an independent media publication because they haven’t followed up your story yet seems more than a bit petty. And i’m not writing this as someone who works for NM, because i don’t.
I know it’s irritating when you have important information that needs to get the light of day. As a journo I have followed many such trails of hidden information.
There are many stories that urgently need to be told. But that doesn’t mean that your information will automatically be published as a story.
Just because NM is independent doesn’t make them obligated to publish all information that’s forwarded to them - editorial decisions need to be made.
The difference is that here, those decisions are not dictated by corporate interests and the overarching desire to inflate profits, stock prices and CEO paypackets. That’s a profound difference.
Posted Friday, 23 September 11 at 5:17PM
This is a bit more serious than “important information that needs to get the light of day” Blanka.
If you actually read the reports on there you will see exactly what it is. It is serious corruption in government at the highest level. It is criminality. It is de facto human rights abuse by Australia. All in black and white, by the government’s own hand.
This is fundamental to the nation, and the nation’s media is proving that it does not constitute a free press.
Just take a look at today’s front pages. How many of those stores are anywhere near as serious as this one? Look at NM’s stories.
If the integrity of the nation, the moral compass of the nation, the standing of the nation… it is scandal which should dominate the news for months. Yet NM joins the wall of silence.
Why? Why don’t you tell us on what basis the “editorial decision” to avoid revealing this scandal has been taken?
Posted Friday, 23 September 11 at 6:40PM
Just look at the letters Matilda. Ellison, Keelty, Howard. Look at what they are doing.
Doesn’t the Australian government withholding key primary evidence from a citizen rank front page? Does lies to Parliament rank front page? Doesn’t the self-evident cover up rank front page? Doesn;t the whole filthy political charade rank front page?
Of every national newspaper?
Something else that ranks front page is the disgusting smear operation to hide all these facts, and to damn someone we now know is innocent.
This is Australia’s Watergate, but Australia is too corrupt to face it.
The biggest political story of a generation, and Matilda joins the rest of the complicit press and helps to hide it.