Good old Channel 7 does it again

[red750]

Report out of US about a forced night landing on a freeway offramp by a Beech Debonair following an engine failure. The plane landed safely and the occupants exited uninjured. The video shows the G33 on the road with emergency vehicles around. The vision then changed to a C152 inverted on a beach in daylight, with no supporting report of that incident.

 

 

[Bats]

It really is a race to the bottom with our media. Must be rather soul destroying for those individuals within the organisations that actually care about ethics and accuracy.

 

 

[red750]

Here's a still from the above story:

 

 

My bad. The other video was very brief. The aircraft was a C172 which came down on a beach near New York and flipped. Here is a still from that incident which I later located via Google.

 

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Everytime I watch an aviation story on the TV, I realise that if they get this wrong because they are lazy and self serving what other stuff are they getting wrong.

 

 

[onetrack]

One of the reasons I refuse to pay subcription fees to any news feed, is because todays journalism is amongst the laziest work I have endured.

 

Spelling errors, misplaced paragraphs, poor grammar, words omitted, and an often-disjointed story, are just regular features of news articles. Proof-reading is obviously a lost skill today.

 

Then there's always the poor effort at finding some kind of photo that has just a passing semblance to the news article.

 

I'm surprised the media didn't find some unrelated photo of an aircraft collision with a car, to add true gripping drama to the story.

 

 

[Flying Officer Kite]

One of the reasons I refuse to pay subcription fees to any news feed, is because todays journalism is amongst the laziest work I have endured.Spelling errors, misplaced paragraphs, poor grammar, words omitted, and an often-disjointed story, are just regular features of news articles. Proof-reading is obviously a lost skill today.

Sadly, onetrack, it's worse than that. Proof-reading in most printed and online "journalism" is no longer bothered with. Sub-editors were among the first casualties of cost-cutting by national and local newspapers and journalists are now required to sub their own copy, a task for which far too many are totally ill-equipped, having little, if any, detailed knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax (not that such ancient arts seem to matter much to many in today's media).

Anyone seen an ad for a Sub-editor lately?

 

FULL DISCLOSURE: In an earlier life I was a print journalist and although "sub-bashing" when a sub-editor dared to "improve" or correct our carefully-crafted prose was a daily pastime, we grudgingly recognised that only the sub's vigilance and skill not infrequently had protected us from at least the odd irate complaint from someone whose name we had mis-spelled or, thank God, some expensive litigation.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

...Spelling errors, misplaced paragraphs, poor grammar, words omitted, and an often-disjointed story, are just regular features of news articles. Proof-reading is obviously a lost skill today...

I can understand mistakes made in the rush to get a story ready for a deadline and the removal of staff to cut costs. I've even offered to do proof-reading for magazines, but haven't even received the courtesy of a reply.

What I cannot forgive is the "unreachability" of most media. Good luck finding their phone number or email address. It's obvious they don't want to hear your well-meant suggestions or corrections.

 

Our own Auntie ABC is one of the worst.

 

 

[Bats]

Ha ha, I get the impression that Aunty ABC is a bit of a special child. I did quite a bit of work with them at one stage and whilst there seemed to still be an emphasis on quality, there was also a breathtaking assurance that their world view was the only one worth having and definitely not to be challenged. I did work with the Catholic Church at about the same time and there were distinct parallels in attitude; a somewhat cloistered environment.

 

 

[w3stie]

Ha ha, I get the impression that Aunty ABC is a bit of a special child. I did quite a bit of work with them at one stage and whilst there seemed to still be an emphasis on quality, there was also a breathtaking assurance that their world view was the only one worth having and definitely not to be challenged. I did work with the Catholic Church at about the same time and there were distinct parallels in attitude; a somewhat cloistered environment.

Unfortunately the ABC is taxpayer funded and is supposed to represent all Australians.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Just like 'Our' BBC then. . . . It's the unique way they're funded. . .they do not HAVE to get anything right as they are unassailable.

 

I have to seriously wonder who gets the job of proof reading their Africa, 'PIDGIN' site though. . . something we all thought was a parody initially, but him dead serious Bwana. . . .interesting to read, if you have not done so already. . .

 

 

Back in the early 1970s My mate's Dad was a proof reader for the Melbourne AGE broadsheet. . . days long gone. . .

 

 

[GeoffRV7]

I've got to agree with general distrust sentiments with media. It all changed for me whilst working at Holden Customer assistance and knowing all the facts of a 'lemon' vehicle and its owner as I was the go between between them, the Dealer involved and us as the manufacturer. Seeing the news report that made it to air and the two were absolute poles apart. The sensationalizing was simply incredible with not the slightest regard whatsoever for anything that detracted from the fanfare and BS they wanted to pump out.

 

That was many years ago now, but to this day, I question everything I hear and see from the media - very, very clearly, their agenda's are elsewhere.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

I've got to agree with general distrust sentiments with media. It all changed for me whilst working at Holden Customer assistance and knowing all the facts of a 'lemon' vehicle and its owner as I was the go between between them, the Dealer involved and us as the manufacturer. Seeing the news report that made it to air and the two were absolute poles apart. The sensationalizing was simply incredible with not the slightest regard whatsoever for anything that detracted from the fanfare and BS they wanted to pump out.That was many years ago now, but to this day, I question everything I hear and see from the media - very, very clearly, their agenda's are elsewhere.

Agreed, But I must apologise for the slight thread drift, prompted by Peter's comments about media mis-reporting / mangling of aircraft incidents. . . I know very little about Australian Media. . .

 

 

[Jaba-who]

Basically the media seems to have two major areas of failure.

 

The first is when there is a lack of knowledge about a specialist topic they don’t require an expert or even someone vaguely knowledgeable to handle the story. They just flog it off to anyone who makes an event into a story without adherence to fact. I see this almost every day in either an aviation or a medical related story. When you know something about the topic you just cringe when you read the utter rubbish they print.

 

The second is that all facts will be ignored or corrupted to suit an angle or preconceived belief. Especially if it can be made into something controversial or to start a thread which can be dragged out over multiple editions or programs. This will include selective editing, cutting and pasting etc.

 

I would never give an interview or opinion to any media person after seeing the corruption that has been done to colleagues who gave a straight forward factual statement about something which was then highly selectively edited to produce a completely opposite response to what was said so as to generate a controversy where none existed and to paint the speaker in a bad light.

 

 

[Jaba-who]

And as if to emphasise my low opinion of reporters and aviation stories I just read some of the utter crap in the text about an ultralight down near Bundaberg.

 

This time not a lack of fact just bizarre statements.

 

Like the homeowner came home after a call that an ultralight had crashed into his house. Ok so far so good. But then .....

 

It was reported he “was at home” several years ago when a different plane crashed in a different area several years ago.

 

What??? It’s news worthy to state a home owner was at home when a plane which had nothing to do with him or his house crashed in a different part of his region several years ago? Really?

 

I have been home when accidents that didn’t involve me, my home or my immediate area happened. Hardly news worthy to relate it to being at home at the time.

 

Also the story stated multiple times the pilot had a minor leg injury.

 

Then at the end it gives a report from an ambulance officer to say it wasn’t fatal. Very odd chronological to and fro-ing.

 

I suspect it was a school student on work experience who wrote the story. At least I hope it was.

 

 

[w3stie]

I disconnected from all news media some time ago and I am a lot calmer. Mark Twain said if you read the paper you are misinformed, if you don’t read you are uninformed, you have to make a choice. If an issue is important I take steps to inform myself and do not rely on the media.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Its interesting that when Barnaby Joyce was having his by by-election last year the details of his marriage split was actively suppressed by the media, I'm assuming that if anyone broke the media embargo that organisation would not be privy to gov information.

 

 

[Bats]

Don't you have a boomerang to register? A better use of your time than displaying your prejudice for all to see, I'd suggest.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Its interesting that when Barnaby Joyce was having his by by-election last year the details of his marriage split was actively suppressed by the media, I'm assuming that if anyone broke the media embargo that organisation would not be privy to gov information.

Contrast that to the dirty campaign they ran against his rival Tony Windsor (a gentleman).

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Barnaby is vulnerable because the media can drop that information at any time and wreck his career.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Barnaby is vulnerable because the media can drop that information at any time and wreck his career.

Your grasp of politics is amazing FT, you should become a Ministerial Advisor; dropping the news of his split could put him out of business on an instant. Don’t tell anyone, please!

 

 

[fly_tornado]

look at the hatchet job the media did on Bronwyn, never once had she breached the ministerial rules and she was destroyed for one helo trip. What happened with Joyce family split is far worse

 

 

[Yenn]

Bronwyn deserved what she got. Lollies seem to think they are entitled to more and more perks.

 

 

[Bats]

Actually it was a clear breach of la Bishop's parliamentary entitlements, hence the fact that even her closest supporters turned their backs on her and she quickly agreed to repay the cost plus penalties. I know facts have a way of getting in the way of a nice little conspiracy theory, but the media in Australia is not some homogenous block who decide on the quiet which direction they're going to push things. Some organisations lean right, others have a decided bank to port and about all they have in common is a tendency to sell their mothers into slavery for the chance to be first with a story.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

I'd describe it as collusion, the media rely on the pollies for early access, the pollies rely on the media for a story to go away.

 

 

[Jaba-who]

Actually it was a clear breach of la Bishop's parliamentary entitlements, hence the fact that even her closest supporters turned their backs on her and she quickly agreed to repay the cost plus penalties. I know facts have a way of getting in the way of a nice little conspiracy theory, but the media in Australia is not some homogenous block who decide on the quiet which direction they're going to push things. Some organisations lean right, others have a decided bank to port and about all they have in common is a tendency to sell their mothers into slavery for the chance to be first with a story.

Actually it was not a clear breach of entitlements. In fact it was approved prior to her taking the flight. That was agreed by even the Labour Party. What it was, a “clear” breach of, was it failed the pub test. Despite it being within the rules and being legal it clearly was inappropriate.

Unfortunately The pub test has no solid basis in definition but rather is a variable set of conditions depending on which pub you go to.

 

Clearly I would agree that to hire a helicopter even for a function to which there was no debate, she WAS entitled to paid transport - where multiple other forms of cheaper and minimally more inconvenient methods existed, she should have chosen one of those methods. That is where it failed the pub test. At the time there was no requirement to only chose specific forms of transport.

 

But it did not fall outside of ministerial guidelines and after that even those guidelines have been tightened although, realistically,I don’t think they are still as tight as they could be.