Competition And Local Press Freedom
I’m all for a competitive media sector offering a range of choices to media consumers.
But in one case media competition can actually make it harder for media outlets to publish fearlessly.
Regional and suburban newspapers, local radio and website directories all rely heavily on local Council advertising. And, on occasion, on grants.
All Councils have a substantial advertising budget which they can allocate to local media with absolute discretion. That advertising spend can make up a large percentage of local media revenues.
We can see where this is going.
When a Council can withdraw 5-20% of a media business’s revenues because there are other outlets available to take advertising, it has a huge weapon of influence.
When there are competitors, media outlets have no choice but to tread carefully on Council matters, lest they lose their advertising. And to take notice of angry calls from Mayors and Council General Managers.
Ironically, a media monopoly can lead to freer local speech.
Oh, and this isn’t an abstract thought bubble.
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We don’t need right-wing comedy
Be clear: comedy can be about politics, but the moment it is for politics rather than for humour, the comedy dies. -
ABC Hysterics Miss The Organisational Point
The Commonwealth needs to sh*t or get off the pot. Either do something that will make a difference to the ABC's perpetual propaganda, or spend your time somewhere else. Pretending to act may be this government's core competency everywhere except within 100km of Christmas Island, but all it does is piss away political capital for no benefit.
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5- 20% ? In one inner west newspaper I can think, it is more like 80% and that publication simply rewords press releases. There is no independent news or comment available anywhere on the election in the inner west. On the inner west Courier’s (News Ltd’s near monopoly) web site, even the readers comment facility has been blocked. For example:
http://inner-west-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/letter-sounds-alarm-on-council-amalgamation/
The beginning of this asks readers to submit their views. And then it blocks them – as if a bland story about council amalgamation were a sensitive crime story!
It is a crime – against democracy. And I don’t believe the pressure is all coming from advertising. A repressive political culture is developing in the inner west, one which should frighten anyone even remotely interested in freedom of speech.