Alan Jones: My critics are small minded losers and I’ve stood the test of time
2GB presenter Alan Jones has labelled his critics as “losers” and “nasty, small minded people on the ABC” in a strident defence of his broadcasting style.
Speaking in a rare interview to mark the one year point from the beginning of the Olympics – for which 2GB is Australia’s official commercial radio broadcaster – Jones told Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes that his listeners realise he is expressing his opinions and that he does not set out to be a journalist.
http://youtu.be/eyjVYY_VgI0
He said:
“small minded losers”? sounds more like his audience…
Good interview. I think you’ve got a fan there Tim!
I’ll leave the irony of Jones’ description of his detractors- which actually fits the description of his listeners- to others for comment.
I find it odd to say the least that he would make disparaging comments about the Olympics given 2GB is an official broadcast sponsor. I’m sure Olympic officials would take a very dim view of his comments. Being AJ however, I’m sure he couldn’t care less!
Go figure:
36% of Australians oppose and 9% can’t say whether they approve of ‘Muslim immigration’ http://tiny.cc/a9l95
41% of Australians are opposed asylum seekers http://tiny.cc/a9l95
64% of Australians want ‘boat’ asylum seekers to be returned and apply through normal refugee channels http://tiny.cc/a9l95
John Farham is art?
Mr Jones – It’s your opinion but you are listened to by (many?) people. You need to take responsibility for what you say. Anyone with any sort of respected public profile should speak from fact rather than opinion, based on… what… thin air? Yes, sounds ideal. But perhaps something to aim for in your non-journalism (WTF) career.
If the ABC was replaced with Alan Jones and 2GB, I’d emigrate to New Zealand….
I hope to never hear Jones helming something. It sounds awful.
gosh, he is such an awful awful man and indicative of all that is racist and ultra-conservative in this country.
like him or loathe him, it’s a huge coup for Mumbrella to get Alan Jones. Well done Tim
So to paraphrase:
Because I’m not a “journalist” but merely a common man with a microphone, I don’t need to worry about stuff like ‘ethics’ and ‘probity’ or even anything remotely resembling impartiality. Besides, even though I have a million listeners therefore hugely influential in setting the day’s media agenda, everything I say is purely my personal opinion and is not in any way intended to be mistaken for fact.
I call bullshit on his whole defence. But I guess that makes me a small-minded loser.
I love how people are so angry at boat people since they only make up 1.8% of the total immigration number coming into Australia.. haha
they are just the refugees who are really desperate and flee because they are about to die…
then people go on to say ohh well the boat people could be terrorists, over 97% of boat people are confirmed as legitimate refugees … ?
i just put this down to racism, yes i said it, racism… deal with it
Alan Jones you should be ashamed of yourself, you totally caused the Cronulla Riots, one of the most darkest moments of our democratic society.
Funny how tabloid opinionists like Jones despise and deride the ABC, one of the few remaining pillars of journalistic commitment left in our dumb country. Personally, I love the completely truth-obfuscating, deceitful, bullying, self-serving style of Jones, Hadley, The Australian, Bolt etc. They make me feel comfortable. But I do worry that the liberal, left-wing machine that so wholly dominates Australian media and life today is just going to send us down the gurgler. Thankfully, Alan and his mates give us ‘real’ Aussies some hope in the darkness.
Au contraire Alan. Your inflammatory garbage is aimed squarely at the small-minded, paranoid, and angry.
Oh, and if he’s NEVER watched Media Watch, how can he possibly have the opinion that it’s ‘rubbish’?
Guilty of either lying or holding an uninformed opinion. I wonder which one it is?
Now, I think Alan Jones’ show is garbage, but at least I’ve actually listened to it in countless cab rides across Sydney.
Alan Jones’ opinions are paid for – simple as that.
If the solar industry walked into 2GB and emptied a few large sacks of $100 notes on the reception desk, he and his fellow jocks would change their tune overnight.
The influence that he and other media outlets have on our lives is disturbing, as is the recent trend towards the polarising, American style of broadcasting where only the person who shouts the loudest gets heard. He recently told his audience we’d be better off if Julia Gillard and Bob Brown were dead – taken out to sea and drowned in a sack I think was the comment. How long will it be before some nutter takes him up on the call?
This kind of ‘hate-speech’ in out media needs to be nipped in the bud while we still have the chance.
His John Farnham answer did make me laugh out loud however…
Nice interview Tim – well done!
It’s a shame someone who is so smart & powerful and does a lot of good things (charity etc) can be such a pig….he & Ray Hadlee sound like a couple of crazed rednecks from mid west America when they get going …… you just lose all respect for them and their opinions.
Give me Media Watch anyday, at least is factual.
Hey Hmmmm, James and Sylvia- very well said people!!!
The link below has Alan talking to a male listener who says ‘I have never hit a woman beofre but this Julia Gillard – don’t think I could trust myself to keep my hands to myself”
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawat.....272275.htm
Quality.
Maybe someone could just drop Alan Jones in a chaff bag out at sea. And let him squawk, sorry, swim back.
I think Alan says it all – he is no journalist… and the media should probably stick to those who are trained to provide information and opinion, thus ensuring that we maintain some sort of ethics in the industry.
“a certificate or something” normally means that one has been trained to know how to perform well in their chosen profession rather than winging it … like this particular person has done his entire career.
Sadly listeners continue to feed his over-the-top ratings … and as long as they listen, he will continue to spew forth.
Radio commentators like the Jones’, Hadleys, Hinchs etc have had their day – proof is in the ratings which continue to decline.
It is refreshing that FINALLY today’s society has begun to switch off what grumpy old judgemental men have to say. If only more would follow the fold!
“Journalist” no. “Political correspondent/commentator” yes.
So he thinks a small bunch of redneck fifty-pluses are the pulse of this country? I think we know who are the real losers.
All his despisers are full of envy .
Hope his opinion somehow causes an overthrow of this pathetic incompetent self serving govt .
A loathsome character who seems to be as unhappy with himself as he is with the rest of the world.
Hey MC, dont fall for the hype mate, AJ wouldnt get on your cause unless it was good for ratings!! After twenty years of voting to the right, I may swing to the left just to differentiate between me and AJ.
Whatever your opinion it must be said that Alan Jones is an extremely intelligent & articulate man.
Sure he has a strident opinion on matters he speaks of, and whilst they may be in opposition to your own, is it necessary to be so disparaging towards a man that is not afraid to voice his views?
Sure he ridiculed Media Watch, but a hell of a lot of people in the media world do also, he is certainly not alone on this front.
I listen to Alan Jones in the morning and then switch to the ABC for the rest of the day. As AJ said, they are broadcasters not journalists (the certificate remark was, I think, quite humorous). The answer to all of this is simple; if you don’t like it, switch off.
i would love alan jones to do an alan jones on alan jones, (edited for legal reasons)?, imagine the language, imagine the vitriol.
Check out You Tube ‘Chopper Reid v Alan Jones’.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts” Daniel Patrick Moynihan
MC @ 3:49 pm – you’ve accidentally wandered onto a creative media blog. Try clicking back to dailtyelegraph.com.au
Nobody talks about Alan Jones better than Philip Adams http://www.theaustralian.com.a.....1112441864.
Except perhaps Mike Carlton…………………………….
One of the most puerile interviews I’ve ever heard.
Easy to deduce the questions had been vetted by “The Parrot in Pink Socks and co. well beforehand, if actually scripted by 2GB. The Olympics have become a chunder bowl of commercialism, and adding “PPS” and Ray “Hoppa” Hadley ensures at least one person will search for other channels. Incidentally, is Jones allowed back in the UK? And, doesn’t his face match his socks.
Interesting interview. Thanks. Great comment feed too.
PS Not often we see Burrowes in a shirt! How sophisticated. Dressing up for Alan Jones. Now there’s a thought.
Thanks for the kind words ‘Ow smart. I must confess that the shirt was because the interview was shot just before heading for the Astra Awards. Normal T-shirted service is now resumed…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
I am fairly disgusted and wholly disappointed with this interview.
Here I was thinking that this would be a proper interview with a man who rarely gets stood up to in his daily life (except for an extreme high point of Julia Gillard’s PMship) and yet, no –
– none of his stupid assertions on climate change challenged
– not one of the EXTREMELY OBVIOUS counterarguments about the Cronulla Riots were put to him, e.g. how he said ‘wouldn’t it be good to get some Pacific Islanders down there to sort them out’ and we can send the Muslims ‘scurrying back to their lairs’.
– not even a gibe about how he says he’s the champion of the common man and hates elitism, yet lists his interests as Puccini operas, Rugby Union, Tennis and working for the Prime Minister (oh, he knows about country music cos he knows some kid who did stuff once)
So the question must be asked, what agreements were made with Mr Jones in order to get him to agree to this interview?
I’m guessing that he can finish all his answers uninterrupted and unchallenged was the first. Am I right?
Take away the microphone and what have you got?…. an overblown redneck windbag without a microphone. That must surely be a big plus for the commercial radio industry generally, and 2GB in particular.
Hi Joshua,
I’m afraid you’re not.
To answer your question, there were no preconditions about not interrupting him or not challenging him. Regardless of whether you agree with his views, I’m not sure such a thing would frighten him in the least.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Surely it’s not about frightening anyone but rather about putting legitimate counter arguments to someone in a position of such power, someone that rarely gets challenged on his (often extremely factually incorrect and/or offensive) views?
If there truly was no agreements made then I think you’ve missed a huge opportunity.
Still harboring some bitterness from the ’76 Earlwood by-election where he lost the seat to Labor after the resignation of his Liberal party predecessor.
“Political correspondent/commentator” and, of course, a 24/7 “Captain Flint* – Conservative Publicist and PR Advertorial Manager – for Regime Change”?
(*”Treasure Island”?)
Alan Jones highlights government ineptness at all levels. He happens to be talking a lot about the current Federal Government as they give him a lot to talk about.
I bet he opens up far more to flattery than he does to jibes.
I don’t mean to play on names, but are we talking about the real Alan Jones from Wales?
Or are we referring to the senseless brand spruiking numb skull from 2gb?
If the latter then I bid you all good day !
Very good interview. Being a Victorian resident I don’t hear much of Alan Jones. Maybe you could follow up with an interview with a Melbourne talk personality like Jon Faine, Neil Mitchell or if you can wait until he gets off home detention the Human Headline himself Derryn Hinch. It would be interesting to see if there is any difference between how the Sydney and Melbourne radio talk personalities operate in regards to where their responsibilities lie and how they approach their work.
@Ann – your link made me laugh out loud (for reasons I can’t legally go into on a public forum about Mr Jones…)
Keep up the good work.
hahaha.. I loved the Alan Jones / Chopper Reed vid on youtube…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj3jrpQzCe0
Oh – and did you know that Twinings has named a tea after Alan Jones? (Yes, really!).
Apparently, tasting notes are: “an overwhelming tang of self-righteousness on the nose, balanced with an underlying deep bitterness at the back of the throat…”
Mao Zedong also stood the test of time. There are plenty of other nutters extremists that hung in there through history and had plenty of followers. Why shouldn’t he still be around – the liberal party have propped him up all these years!
51 coments and none of them mention an elephant or a room.
Despite the coup of Mumbrella having interviewed Alan Jones for the site, Tim, I have to agree with Loader and a few others in saying that any interview that fails to press him on his violations of the CRA’s code of conduct has to be considered a huge failure.
He may want to mince words about the difference between his role as a broadcaster with opinions versus that of a journalist, but the broadcaster’s code also demands accuracy, fairness, balance, and any number of other requirements for having a voice on what we must all remember are the publicly owned airwaves, conduct which he violates on a near daily basis with his particular brand of vitriol and misinformation.
I can understand that he’s a tremendously charismatic individual, and a bit of a bully to boot with his ad homonym attacks on the ABC and journalists in general, but your inability or unwillingness to delve deeper into the divisive nature of his on air comments and whether someone so controversial in the community is an appropriate voice for broadcasting the Olympics, which has a distinctly non-political charter, is a huge disappointment for many of your readers/listeners.
A bit of a fluff piece in the end, which is not what we might have expected from Mumbrella. It looks as though you were a bit caught in the spot light to be honest.
Tim didn’t say there were no interview pre-conditions (or questions vetted prior), just none about interrupting him. As the most single most dangerous man in Australia, and the biggest control freak, I imagine Jones joined this forum to try and sell himself to the yoof of Australia – his listenership is almost entirely +60 and represents an Andre Rieu audience at their big night out for the year.. (edited by MUmbrella for legal reasons). Yet the voice of ‘struggle street’ would flatly deny entry to Oz for those that need help more than anyone else..
Sylvia and others – that vid – toilet jokes aside – Jones’ crocodile tears, parroting on about “people picking on others, and where that’s all going to lead”? What about his own m.o. – “the raison d’être” for his celebrity?
He’s “the best judge” of who deserves his sort of summary judgement and public humiliation, from his position of influence – and who doesn’t deserve that sort of publicity/PR? From the terraces high above, and down-wind of “Struggle St”?
And Kennelly oblivious to the irony too.
just a comment and my opinion; isn’t it ironic that the level of vitriol towards alan jones is on par with what people perceive Alan Jones delivers
It’s why we have opinions – it’s ok if not everyone agrees on things. It’s called the rich tapestry of life. I mean we know the ABC appeals to a certain politic leaning as do commercial networks.
If you are passionate about what you believe in, go out and do something, don’t just sit in your room and write vitriol, go and volunteer your services and do work rather than write about it
The reason AJ did this spot was to spruik the Olympics advertising opportunity. No-one has commented yet on his claim that radio as a medium is better than TV for capturing the excitement and immediacy of the Olympic events as they happen. There is some truth in this actually given radio commentators by neccessaty need to paint a picture. Personally I’d rather see it for myself given a choice but yes for driving into work in a morning radio will do a great job. Is this all too obvious to comment on as this is a media blog site?
For what it’s worth I think Tim did a good job of covering the issues relevant to the mumbrella audience. There’s plenty of journos doing a job on AJ already working at ABC and fairfax.
Doesn’t know the difference between a journalist and a opinions based broadcaster? I’ve heard of ‘journalistic ethics’ but never heard of ‘opinion based broadcaster’ ethics … so maybe that is part of the difference.
JG – do you mean “Bolt hole”?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.....Alan_Jones
Better still read the book. It’s a cracker.
I don’t care how these clowns treat “politics” as long as they treat all sides similarly, with the same venomous “scrutiny” or the same passive acquiecence, and don’t use their influential position to push their own “infallibility”, through “selectivity of disclosure”, to influence the electorate to “vote their way”.
Does anyone else find it interesting to hear him talk about the Government not spending enough on Sport.
I love sport, don’t get me wrong, but when you consider the AOC were lobbying for $100’s of Millions of extra funding to win a few more medals.
I’m sorry, but there are much better uses for that money.
As for his insistence on getting a jibe in against the federal government, while true, was just petulance of the highest order.
Great interview, Tim, but the other bloke’s losing it.
Sure, Jones has a great dramatic radio voice and his ability to keep the words coming is peerless. But much (most?!) of what he says just doesn’t make cohesive sense any more. He defends Olympic radio vs Olympic TV (not a partisan view, he argues, but reality!) on the basis of being live. Then he says he’ll do a magazine summary of the day’s events.
In my book (and in Jonestown too), Jones is a nasty bully, and debases the public realm. Intellectual rigor? Nah, he’s a power-hungry self-aggrandizing showman, a la PT Barnum. A valued contributor to a civilized society he’s not.
As he says, there’s a time to get off the stage. Go Alan, just go!
It certainly is an interesting book.
Even a quick skim and it’s clear that Jones is fortunate the majority of his listeners don’t like to read books with big words in them.
He says he winds most age groups. Another Alan Jones fact!
2GB has 32% of 65+ and 2% of 18-24, 8.7% of 25-39. Is he trying to tell us that his own show bucks that trend to beat 2DAY at breakfast for 18-39 year olds?
There’s not enough material in Abbott’s “Pick-a-Box? Pick-a-Day” policy game show, for the likes of Jones and the other “shock-jocks” to be picking up inconsistencies, to scrutinise in the same way they attack “the Left”?
“O’Farrell hasn’t screwed up yet”?
Yep, we agree he’s not a journalist and Jones said recently that he, Hadley and Smith are paid by their employer to provide opinion, not objectivity. Their broadcasting genre is opinionated entertainment for not very bright people who believe capital punishment is a great idea and global warming is crap. MRN and its shareholders know that no-one ever lost money pandering to the rabid right. So do Rupert Murdoch, the Tea Party and Tony Abbott.
The Murdochs get some scrutiny, so why doesn’t Jones’ employer (majority shareholder John Singleton) ever get held to account? Surprising entities (Opera Australia currently has a prominent banner) continue to advertise on the 2GB website, adjacent to torrents of borderline fascist commentary. It’s not enough to just not tune in – if we want responsible broadcasting, then MRN should be subject to an advertising boycott, and “good ol’ Singo” hit hard in the wallet.
Hi JC,
To spell it out: there were no interview pre-conditions (or questions vetted prior).
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Tim
If that’s all true (no preconditions and no pre-vetting), and there’s no reason not to take you at your word, then why did you fail to take the opportunity to press Mr. Jones on any number of the controversial issues involved with his show, his personal statements and the contradictions and inconsistencies surrounding the use, many would consider misuse of his bully pulpit at 2GB on what is a public licensed airway?
You had a chance to do a real interview and opted, from what we can tell, to let the interviewee run the show, tossing softballs for Alan to run away with and giving him yet another unfettered voice to air his bile without even the slightest attempt to hold the man’s feet to the fire of truth and the code of ethics for broadcasters, which is not just a journalist’s code of conduct, but one for anyone with a voice on the public airways.
I find it amazing that he can personally rail against so many yet has avoided any real scrutiny into his own personal life. Especially given his, shall we say, suspect over-interest in young male sportsmen……
“If those opinions lack validity or if those opinions are extreme or if they are overly provocative, they won’t listen. I’ve stood the test of time.” Jones states. Well that’s exactly why people do listen to Jones, and his equally uninformed, hectoring and churlish cohorts such a Hadley, Smith and the like. Audiences like to be perversely outraged or blindly comforted regardless of the facts, hence Jones attracts advertisers and is why talk-back radio is so pock-marked by fringe right wing broadcasters of his ilk.
The real question is whether this kind of pseudo “edutainment” is a proper use of the electromagnetic spectrum, a valuable and scarce public resource, ostensibly regulated by ACMA. 2GB et al must follow strict licence guidelines but seldom adhere to issues of balance and newsworthiness. It suggests another reason media laws in this country need overhauling
No surprises Malcolm. Tim gave Jones a pissy & soft interview. Jones lead him by the nose as he does with anyone “he allows” to interview him.
Alan Jones does not have opinions. He only has attitude. When he dismisses anyone critical of his rants, I’m left wondering, who is the audience that’s left? I can’t imagine them to be very interesting.
Major Study Program
Subject Code
Subject Name
Session
Credit Points
100-Level
JOUR111
Introduction to Journalism
Autumn
6
JOUR112
Theory Meets Practice
Autumn
6
DESN190
Graphic Design Basics: Printed Media
Spring
6
JOUR113
Legal and Professional Issues for Journalists
Spring
6
JOUR114
Newsroom Practice (1)
Spring
6
200-Level
JOUR214
Feature Writing
Autumn
6
JOUR215
Convergent Journalism (1)
Autumn
6
DESN290
Graphic Design Basics: Web Design
Autumn
6
JOUR217
Newsroom 2 – Convergence
Spring
6
300-Level
JOUR314
Newsroom Practice (3) – Editing and Production
Autumn
6
JOUR312
Internship
Autumn or Spring
6
JOUR320
Journalism Project
Autumn or Spring
6
Students are required to complete an additional 36 credit point in journalism subjects and must include one 300 level subject chosen from the following list.
Subject Code
Subject Name
Session
Credit Points
JOUR205
Professional Writing 1: Writing for Organisation
Autumn
6
JOUR216
Introduction to Broadcast Journalism
Spring
6
JOUR231
Political Journalism
Autumn
6
JOUR232
Photojournalism
Spring
6
JOUR233
Arts Journalism
Autumn
6
JOUR234
Lifestyle & Magazine Journalism
Spring
6
JOUR301
Investigative Reporting
Autumn
6
JOUR305
Professional Writing 2: Editing and Publication
Spring
6
JOUR316
Advance Broadcast Journalism
Autumn
6
JOUR330
Advanced Journalism Research Project
Autumn or Spring
6
JOUR331
Literary Journalism
Spring
6
JOUR336
Advanced Documentary Journalism
Spring
6
I watch Media Watch. I wish it was a longer show – it’s not like there’s not enough to make a compelling show each week. Maybe some production staff from New Inventors can cross over.
I feel sorry for Alan struggling with his internal demons…
I wish he could be himself – don’t live half a life Alan…
Be who you are…. Life’s too short
Just writing in to congratulate Tim on this interview and for getting the pitch and tone of his questions right. Any more aggressive or accusatory and Jones would have shut him down, as it is Tim gave him “enough rope” to give us an interesting listen. Well done.
BTW, most people have always been aware of the Jones personna and orientation that some of you refer to above. Soon after he became coach of the Australian rugby union team in 1984, the commentators on ABC gave us this classic in reference to one of Alan Jones’ athletic young male friends who had been selected for the Wallabies without appearing to have the necessary rugby skills: “Yes, he’s been on his knees to get into the team”!. Cue much sniggering from the other commentator …
I wonder how often Jones will cross to London for a chat with John Coates during the Olympics.
Finally a website that fits well with me.
Btw Singo know what the average Oz bloke needs …. a Punt … a Beer …. we don’t like bludgers ….. and if you disagree with him or his shockjocks its simple just call them UNAUSTRALIAN!
A famous Nazi leader also knew how it worked too….
“The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country!”
Hermann Göring
Alan Jones is no idiot that’s for sure and he knows how to get listeners using the same logic.
He is an embarrassment to Australia but I bet he is laughing at us all and guess what he is making millions doing it.
[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]