I want the TV coverage live on ABC 24. And I want a large caption superimposed all throughout the proceedings, about one third of the screen, on the lower left-hand corner, and it will read: “Funeral For Divisive Leader Gough Whitlam”. And that graphic is to remain on screen the whole time, for however many hours the coverage is being transmitted.
OK. Next, I want the show’s presenter to be a Conservative (I know it’s impossible to find one at the ABC, but maybe they can hire one for the day). And I want him to be with a panel of guests who will provide commentary and analysis. Actually, just pare it down to one guest. And he will be a right-wing academic who has already either written a book – or series of books – critical of Whitlam’s political career, or maybe he’s done a PhD about it. He could have wild and wooly hair that says “Not only am I an intellectual, I am a very interesting intellectual”. The hair isn’t important, but it would be nice. This guest will provide a constant stream of criticism of Whitlam’s policies, noting his short-comings, and downplaying his legacy.
The studio host will have regular conversations with other correspondents via audio, and they will be reporting solely about any street parties or other celebrations related to the passing of Gough Whitlam that they may be witnessing in other capital cities around Australia. The fact that there probably won’t be any will not deter the host and his live links from trying to seek out any demonstrations of glee from the general public about the death of Whitlam. Even when notable figures such as the Governor General and other dignitaries are arriving at the funeral service, the host will still be allowing audio correspondents to keep up a stream of blather about non-existent street parties and potential but unseen expressions of glee. The studio host will not remark upon Australia’s head of state arriving, and no respect will be shown towards them or any other high profile person seen on screen.
In short, for the whole program, Whitlam will be presented as a bad and unpopular leader as if it’s common knowledge, and no counter view will be aired.
You think that sounds far fetched? Extreme? Well that’s exactly what ABC 24 did for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral. Just reverse the political bias, and that’s what we were presented with. On our national, taxpayer-funded broadcaster.
Source:
http://ift.tt/1w6Jyjh