ABC boss Mark Scott says News Corp pursuing an ‘aggressive editorial positioning’
ABC managing director Mark Scott has taken aim at Rupert Murdoch’s media empire saying News Corp newspapers have “never been more assertive in exercising media power”, and warned the power could increase if Fairfax retreats from print.
Delivering a speech at the University of Melbourne Centre for Advancing Journalism last night, Scott said: “Given the aggressive editorial positioning of some of their mastheads and their willingness to adopt and pursue an editorial position, an ideological position and a market segmentation, you could argue that News Corporation newspapers have never been more assertive in exercising media power.”
The ABC has been the subject of persistent attacks from News Corp titles, and The Australian has called for Scott to resign claiming leftwing bias. The paper has also singled out Media Watch host Paul Barry over an “anti-Murdoch” agenda, which has now triggered an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority into the journalist.
Scott also commented on Lachlan Murdoch’s recruitment as co-chair of News Corp and 21st Century Fox last week. He said: “The return of Lachlan Murdoch to his position of power in the family business was clearly a significant story, not just for his company but for our society. We will all watch to see how he wants to exercise that power.”
So Scott has realised that News wants to win? Hmmm. Good call Sherlock. If he had said that the core issue in media is competition policy then he might have some credibility. But then that might invite questions he doesn’t want asked.
We are very poorly served by the leadership of our media IMO.
Hi, the link to the speech is pointing to /users/marcus
A very brave and apt offering from Mark Scott as the government is currently considering media ‘reform’. I don’t think there is much doubt as to who the major beneficiary of these ‘reforms’ will be. Or that it will be payment for ‘services rendered’, as it certainly isn’t in the public interest. And clearly acts against the proper functioning of our democracy, where a diversity of voices, and a spread of mainstream media ownership is fundamental.
And, unfortunately, precisely because of the domination of our media landscape by one very aggressive campaigning media company, these are not ideas that can be raised and discussed in our mainstream media. They are automatically either ‘ignored’ out of existence, or alternately shouted out of existence with screeching about attempts to muzzle ‘freedom of the press’.
It’s all but sewn up, and about to get worse.
The King of the Luvvies has finally realised that Judgement Day is upon him.
A taxpayer-funded enterprise, competing against those who fund it from an unfair playing field is staring its comeuppance directly in the face.
For all ABC sins past, present and future, the May Budget has appropriate penance in store.
Bring it on.
He might try a unbiased and balanced approach by his current affairs and news services, including mediawatch and he might find the attacks will lesson. The ABC deserves all it gets.
How Scott can even consider mentioning, let alone criticising, somone else by using the term ‘ideological position’ is quite stunning.
ABC runs its ideological positions relentlessly, 24/7….on taxpayers’ money.
He’s gotta go.
Mark Scott is exactly right. And Paul Barry is a shining light amongst the laughable bias from the Murdoch press.
The Australian and the Telegraph have a strangely communist block feel about them, with page after page of stories about the fine things Tony Abbott and the boys are doing. It’s insulting. If you believe all this propaganda you see the ABC as bias. If you see through it, it becomes clear the ABC and Fairfax are the only ones telling it like it actually is.
Peter Rush – I could not agree more. News Ltd is bias but most importantly they always have an agenda and they flaunt that by way of intimidation of their own journalists and editors. News Ltd seek and drive for self gain NOT reasonable nor insightful journalism.
Any change to the number of voices in market – WILL favour News Ltd and decrease fair and accurate reporting.
FULL STOP !
@Peter Rush
I think that’s the dividing line…being able to tell when you are the victim of a snow job and being fed a line for someone else’s benefit.
Now, is it the media company that has the most stringent complaints procedure in Australia, that has had multiple enquiries and investigations all finding…no systemic bias? And that is the most trusted and respected media organisation in Australia according to very single survey of this there has been.
Or, is it the media company, run by exactly the same autocratic mogul, that is up to its neck in criminality and political subversion on another continent? With charges being considered against it on yet another continent. And which ex-employees claimed ran an absolute campaign against our government at the last election as it was in their notorious owner’s interests to do so.
It doesn’t seem a difficult call to me!
ABC = Australian Biased Corporation, it has a nerve pointing the finger at News; it has the most biased political reporting we have ever seen. Scott is a joke.
@PeterRush Freedom of the press is the freedom not to buy the rag you don’t like. What I don’t like is the ABC is the broadcaster I pay for whether I watch it or not. Tony Jones is paid $650,000 a year by taxpayers, no wonder he wears a constant smirk.
@ Glenn Mabbott Sorry to let facts intrude, but Tony Jones is actually paid $355,789 annual salary according to the recent ABC leak. You didn’t get your figure from the Murdoch media did you?
And, given that he is one of the most experienced and eminent journalists/hosts in Australia, winner of 4 individual Walkley Awards, and this pay level is peanuts in commercial tv, I’d say it’s a pretty good deal.
It is funny how those who support the mad right claim the ABC leans to the left without any proof, when the reality is it just reports the news as it is.
@ Bob Smith My mistake, the salary figure was inflated by my shrinking memory. Still dear at half the price for my money.