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He is the most powerful person in Australia. He is the symbolic ‘average viewer’ who influences television news content, which in turn affects polling, which in turn drives government policy, which is based on keeping the ill-informed happy, which is based on … not very much at all really.
By far, the majority of Australians mainly watch commercial TV rather than the national broadcasters ABC and SBS, and herein lies the problem. Despite the onslaught of social media, television remains the major influencer of community attitudes.
As a depressing example, people who get most of their news from commercial TV (and radio) are more likely to believe the conspiracy theory that climate change is a natural phenomenon rather than caused by humans, a new study has found.
The Monash University study has also shown that the standard of civic values is decidedly lower across the broader commercial viewership spectrum.
Commercial TV newsrooms know per se, that justice for Indigenous people is of little interest. Any talk about climate change has become boring, and politicians are instant channel-surfing prompters. No conscience pricking, no evoking worthwhile thought about real issues, no substance – these are ratings killers.
There’s nothing like a really good freeway pile up to attract ghoulish interest, and when a celebrity like Alan Jones becomes scandal material, the tall poppy syndrome kicks in with fiendish delight. These things keep people – who vote – happy and ill-informed, leaving public awareness in a sad and sorry state.
Sadly, the most powerful person in Australia is a bonehead.
Sadly, this is Australia where democracy is based on … not very much at all really.
But wait, there’s more! There is another disturbing reality that further erodes confidence in our so-called democratic system. It happens when elections come around – when truth becomes the first casualty. It is perfectly legal to lie in a political ad at a federal level.
According to Bill Browne, Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program,“Political advertisements that are deceptive and misleading interfere with the public’s ability to make informed decisions. Without action, we risk election campaigns sliding into a free-fall of fake news.
“Earlier this year, Labor and Liberal politicians voted to give political parties tens of millions of dollars more in public funding. Without Truth in Political Advertising laws, there is every danger that taxpayer money will be spent lying to the public.
“Corporations are already prohibited from making misleading or deceptive claims – Australians should be able to expect the same or higher standard of honesty in politics as in trade and commerce.”
Sadly, this is Australia where democracy is based on … bugger all.
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So true. Good stuff. Insightful as well.