Panel beater
It sounds like such a great idea for a TV show: five opinionated and articulate guests drawn from a wide range of orthodoxies and professional fields, facing-off against an engaged studio and television audience that asks tough questions which challenge each individual and spark heated debate amongst the group. Such a program idea promises insight, provoked thoughts, and a little bit of verbal biffo, which is the dream television combination for political tragics on a Monday evening. But if it’s such a great idea why does its execution in the form of ABC TV’s Q&A suck?
Archive for the ‘Media’ category
Answering the Q&A question at ABC Unleashed
March 10th, 2010Podmendations
March 6th, 2010I got out of the habit of listening to podcasts late last year as I slowly disconnected myself from everything in advance of my big trip. But now I’m back in the country, and since I’m staring in the face a shitload of travel over the next few months I really want to start listening to some good podcasts again. My brother-in-law has recommended This Week In Google, and the most recent episode is right now sitting on my iPhone awaiting playback, but I want lots more recommendations as well.
So, hit me. No restrictions on subject or genre, just your favourite podcasts for whatever reason.
How the mighty Fairfax has fallen
October 16th, 2009Two street posters I spotted today for Fairfax’s lamer-than-lame-attempt-at-a-cool-yoof-advertising-bait-website:

I have no idea if they’re standard ads or if they’re promoting some special feature, and to be honest I really couldn’t care less.
Party started
October 7th, 2009Bronwyn Bishop has shown up to Piers Akerman’s place with a slab of Tooheys 2.2 and a bottle of Crème De Menthe.
It’s not everyday, as Chairman of a Committee, you get an award like the one given to me in 2004 as Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
The inscription reads – Whistleblowers Action Group (Qld) – Whistleblower Supporter of the Year 2004.
I was presented for the work we did in formally taking evidence and reporting on the infamous Heiner Affair.
Punch commenter “iansand” nails it:
Bronwyn Bishop, Piers Akerman and Alan Jones. That is all you need to know.
And commenter “hoofman” finishes it:
you are group of political partisans who are using the alleged victim of sexual abuse from20 years ago as a pawn in a failed political witch hunt. You are not seeking justice but political scalps. Your supporters are conspiracy theorists with a track record. That you are among them shows what a liability you are to the party … The Senate looked into this a couple of times and decided there was nothing in it.
Drink!
Because some things just deserve a wider audience
September 30th, 2009This morning a couple of off-topic comments lobbed into Pure Poison from another single-issue nutter who sees a giant media/political conspiracy wherever he looks. As usual we didn’t approve the comments but this only served to motivate this particular nutter. In no time at all he was threatening to expose us on Twitter as the evil conspirators we clearly are.
Crikey’s, in the tweet below, are fearful that knowledge will leak out about their cover-up of Editor Fagan’s cover-up of Hallam’s crimes.
After repeatedly failing to get any comments published, Don Ross emailed the Pure Poison authors.
Subject: Hello the Fulsome Foursome, A good tip to you personally but not to Crikey members in general. Cheers and good luck, Anon.
Crikey, you guys are not the sharpest arrows in a Fletcher’s quiver …
The email, CC’d to most of Australia’s major newspapers, contained a creative Photoshop of the Pure Poison logo.

So I replied to Don’s email.
UNSUBSCRIBE
But somehow Don took my smartarse reply to be genuine interest and emailed me back. (If only I’d ignored him like the other guys did.)
From: On 4/08/09 Fotheringham admitted Hallam falsified certificate under BCC instructions by BCC Arborist Mr Fletcher. Evidence for police investigation requires Bligh to respond on behalf of Beattie . [XXXX@optusnet.com.au]
To: $$ Scott Bridges of Crikey a blind leading the very dense [sdebridges@gmail.com], “Mark Day covers-up Wardill’s cover-up of crime.” [XXXX@ozemail.com.au]
CC: $$ Syvret hides Hallam’s extortion crime to prote [XXXX@qnp.newsltd.com.au],
“$$ Syvret sees no Hallam falsification.” [XXXX@thecouriermail.com.au],
XXXX@qnp.newsltd.com.au,
XXXX@qnp.newsltd.com.au,
$$ Sashka Koloff on behalf of Jo Puccini [mediawatch@your.abc.net.au],
XXXX@newsltd.com.au,
madonnaXXXX@bigpond.net.au,
Bill Conor was aware of falsified cerificate on 2 [XXXX@griffinhilditch.com],
$$ Fotheringham never denies his blatant falseho [XXXX@griffinhilditch.com],
$$ Fotheringham flopped after Anstey & Anskern hi [Danielle.Trezise@griffinhilditch.com],
“$$ Crikeys swear black & green they see nothing.” [XXXX@crikey.com.au]
Date: 30 September 2009 11:50
Subject: Hello Scott, Just a wee bit of spoon feeding to give you a head start on the journos North of the border. You have to laugh, journalists no more honest than lawyers. Take care, & good luck with the cover-ups. Don RossHello Scott Bridges, Crikey’s Team,
I sense in you I can get another Syvret-type character to commit hara kiri.
Just respond to this email honestly or as best you can.
Scott, two lawyers from South Australia & two arborists will go to jail for missing the extra SULE falsification shown below. Sure, it takes time, Scott, to achieve that result but if lawyers wander into an engineering field expect the unexpected.
Deborah Blythe of the CMC did not like to read my emails on 21/11/2006 but you are a “come in spinner” type of journalist I would like to come aboard.
Sir, why not write to me again and claim there is some way that the assertion in the red font above will not be proven true but see if your argument is fair & honest before you send it off.
Dozens of Syvret’s, Soorley’s, Williams’s and Houghton’s emails never achieved that standard.
Remember, Scott, when push comes to shove, journalists, politicians & lawyers, in my considerable experience, lose all ability to make intelligent observation because falsified government certificates are plain for all jurors and honest persons to see.
Ciao & I always welcome my getting another Syvret in tow,
Don Ross.
Wow. Just wow.
Pledge your support
September 22nd, 2009Last night I had a hasty thought and, as is the way of The Internet, I tweeted it.
I will seriously do a nudie run around Brunswick if Jonathan Holmes ever says “pwned” on Media Watch.
The idea of a Holmes pwning prompted a few other Twitter users to make similar pledges.
@Toaf: Me too. Around Manuka. RT @s_bridges: I will seriously do a nudie run around Brunswick if Jonathan Holmes ever says “pwned” on Media Watch.
@veganza: RT pledge + location! RT @s_bridges: I will do a nudie run if Jonathon Holmes says “pwned” on Media Watch. #mediawatchnudierun #goldcoast
@sendai: RT pledge + location! RT @s_bridges: I will do a nudie run if Jonathon Holmes says “pwned” on Media Watch. #mediawatchnudierun #Brisbane
So come on, Internets, pledge your support for a nudie run around your local area if Jonathan Holmes ever says what we all know he’s thinking.

Couldn’t give a fucking shit
September 21st, 2009Kevin Rudd has previously called Glenn Milne the “Liberal Party journalist of choice” but after the weekend’s “explosive” revelations about Rudd’s “expletive-laden tirade” I can’t help wondering if Milne is the ALP’s journalist of choice as well. I mean, doesn’t it seem just a little too perfect that Rudd’s aggressive slapdown of backbenchers keen to hold onto allowances that the public overwhelmingly see as rorts was leaked? And leaked to a journalist that would trumpet the leak as loudly and widely as Milne?
The electorate couldn’t give a fucking shit about people (yes, politicians are people too) swearing and Rudd knows it. That’s why he’s always so smug when giving his non-apologies for “robust” language that seems suspiciously pre-planned. And as for Milne’s faux-shock at the presence of “three female MPs”, I would simply ask Milne how many delicate women were present when he drunkenly tried to rip Stephen Mayne’s face off?
Behind the paywall #3
September 5th, 2009Behold! The promise of a “behind-the-scenes” glimpse of a brothel, complete with a silhouette of a naked woman. But first, watch this 20 second ad from Telstra Bigpond.

The Age: a serious broadsheet. Seriously.
Behind the paywall #2
September 1st, 2009The Heiner drinking game
- Purchase a bottle of vodka, Jägermeister, single malt, Mudshake (if you’re Craig) or whatever else tickles your fancy
- Read a Piers Akerman column
- Drink a shot each time Piers writes “Heiner” or “Heiner Affair” *
- …
- Slaughtered!
* Reader Jason reckons the phrase “unresolved Heiner Affair” is a double-shotter.




Article at Crikey
October 16th, 2009Published today in Crikey’s subscriber email:
2 comments »
Posted in Media
Tags: Andrew Bolt blogging comments Crikey moderation