Topic Tags:
12 Comments

The ABC’s Reign of Error – Part II

Geoffrey Luck

Dec 16 2021

5 mins

On November 20, ABC television news ran a report from its Washington correspondent, Kathryn Diss, on the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, charged with the murder of two men in a street altercation. As is common with Ms Diss’s reports, her account was emotionally charged, stressing division and going to some lengths to imply, from her selection of street comment, that the jury got it wrong. There was much in her piece to object to, but I chose to complain only about the throwaway editorialising with which she concluded:

“The justice system continues to favour those holding the gun.”

ABC reporters increasingly begin and/or end their stories with summary comments which colour the story emotionally or politically, or both. This is in breach of Editorial Guidelines (as well as good journalistic practice). Overseas correspondents are especially prone to using this technique to colour their stories.

Some three weeks later – remarkably swiftly – came this response from Audience and…

Comments

Join the Coversation

Already a member?

What to read next

  • Letters: Authentic Art and the Disgrace of Wilgie Mia

    Madam: Archbishop Fisher (July-August 2024) does not resist the attacks on his church by the political, social or scientific atheists and those who insist on not being told what to do.

    Aug 29 2024

    6 mins

  • Aboriginal Culture is Young, Not Ancient

    To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case

    Aug 20 2024

    23 mins

  • Pennies for the Shark

    A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten

    Aug 16 2024

    2 mins