The Fairfax Readers’ Dictionary I
In past months it seems words have developed a different meaning, especially from our Fairfax-reading friends:
Minister for Communications: Editor
Media Standards: Media Control
Social licence to operate: ALP licence to operate
Socially acceptable outcomes: That which keeps Steve Gibbons, Swanny and Marieke Hardy in a job
Independence: An ideology espoused when losing other people’s money is no longer acceptable
Quality journalism: Anything I write that my friends like
Shocking: Expected
Mandatory: Required of super-rich women with a BMI over 25
Impartial: Independently applying, in an impartial way, the partiality that is shared by anyone who likes David Marr
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Even Miranda Devine is “impartial”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/gina-more-like-smh-than-its-own-staff-writes-miranda-devine/story-e6frezz0-1226406319712
I know reading long articles in newspapers (newspapers themselves) is so last century, so if you don’t get to the end, here’s Miranda on David:
“I will say, because he is often cited as a malign influence, that working with David Marr was a pleasure. He was the first to welcome me in those uncomfortable early days, saying it was good for the paper to have multiple voices. We had disagreements, but he was always a gentleman, and at least puts his name to his beliefs.”
I remember a book launch at Gleebooks a few years back. Both of them were on the forum launching something (something worthy, I can’t remember, I think it was Elizabeth Farrely’s Blubberland, dissing all those who don’t live in the inner west). The audience was made up totally of inner west luvvies like myself (most were older). Miranda was late arriving. When she did, the elderly lady beside me hissed loudly. David greeted her warmly, the affection between them was obvious. There was an audible gasp as they pecked… Wasn’t David supposed to scowl angrily at the harbinger of everything hateful?
Subsequently, every time Miranda spoke, there was signing, whispering and hissing… This, as we all know, is the inner west way…
Probably should have written “pieces written by David Marr”. His name was just a emblematic placeholder.
Note thought, that it is quite possible to be a gentleman in personal relationships, yet calmly and eloquently argue for the most abhorrent policies, or take the most partisan positions while pretending to be a reporter.
It is good to know Mr Marr is a nice guy to everyone except Andrew Bolt, but it doesn’t change the quality, decency or partiality of what he writes, nor the cogency of the views of those who like what he writes.