With our media dominated by the commercial Murdoch press and Fairfax media, aka tv Channel 9 Media, our ABC is to be treasured, being government funded and free of commercial and notionally free of government influence.
Both private media companies are very involved in daily newspapers too, and also country daily and weekly newspapers.
I pay a bit over $30 a month for access to my local paper, The Age. The gives me access to Sydney's equivalent local paper and other digital only interstate papers.
But some twelve years ago an electronic media disrupter arrived in Australia, The Guardian, with its English origins being the Manchester Guardian, a very old and very well respected newspaper, based in Manchester, England.
When politicians talk the talk, it will cut them down.
When commercial avarice is apparent, it will tell you.
It investigates. I pay $100 a year as a donation and it is worth every cent but generally the online paper is free to read.
The paper's chief editor for the last ten years, Katherine Viner, sent out an email to note whatever occasion and there were some links to terrific reads. I took the time to read them.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, post office.
A female Somali refugee who has made a good life for herself with English citizenship, but it wasn't easy.
This one is heartbreaking, and if you read neither of the above, read this heartbreaking one about what how arguably the best public health system in the world failed. Sorry, it won't cheer you up at all. How Martha died. There are lessons to be learnt.
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The age as a paper dropped the ball in quality and depth of its journalism. I only read the free ones at cafe these days
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian one I support with a recurring donation.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Martha's story is dreadful - and similar stories have played out here.
ReplyDeleteYou will be totally unsurprised to learn that I also support the Guardian. And the ABC.
Sorry to say its hard to find news these days here, that actually says what is going on. They're all afraid to speak the truth I guess. Nothing in depth I can find that I can afford that is.
ReplyDeleteMy local paper only does three days a week of "new" news, the four days are reruns. It does have an online presence, but it's not in the "form" of a newspaper, meaning you can't just turn a page and discover something, which I prefer. Instead you have to know what you want to read about ahead of time, which I don't prefer.
ReplyDeleteI’m a freebie while coffeeing as well.
ReplyDeleteUsed to take the Age many years ago - weekend versions were terrific- then they moved from broadsheet (and yes I realise it shouldn’t affect the content) and I lost interest. Seemed like every other paper out there.
I don't subscribe to any newspaper online Andrew. I do read the ABC news and sometimes the Guardian newspapers though and a few others. I actually get tired of reading sad news and certainly there are dreadful things happening out there in this world.
ReplyDeleteMartha's story is sadly not uncommon. Every day there are misdiagnoses, though not usually with the tragic results of Martha's. The NHS is in dire need of a thorough overhaul. It is mostly good, yes, but could and should be better.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Guardian, I stopped reading it years ago.
It is often said 'freedom of the press' is the 'freedom of the owner'.
ReplyDeleteObjectivity is not something that can be very easily achieved.
I follow the ABC here. I watch their news on YouTube and I listen to programmes of ABC Radio National and ABC Local Radio 702 Sydney on my mobile app. There are quite a lot of very interesting programmes.
Thanks, Andrew, for sharing the three links ... I read the Ardern one. The other two I will read soon.
On January 23, 2023, I had blogged on "The right time to quit or retire". I wrote on Ardern's resignation as well as "Tennis champion Ashley Barty's surprise retirement.
https://bpradeepnair.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-right-time-to-quit-or-retire.html
I love The Guardian. I subscribe here in the UK (online) and I've never regretted it.
ReplyDeleteI just read the Martha article. I'd heard about the case but hadn't seen a full account, top-to-bottom, until now. Shocking and terrifying!
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