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You know what annoys me the most about this
ridiculous few weeks of politics that we’ve faced? The fact that the media in
this country just doesn’t seem to know how to respond to it.
I don’t just mean Howard Sattler coming up
with stupid and ridiculous questions like the one he asked the PM (although
let’s face it: sexism or no sexism currently existing this wanker would’ve
asked a stupid question anyway). No what upsets me is seeing shows like Sunrise
discussing sexism with champions sexists like Alan Jones and an entire panel
consisting purely of men. I believe that this is indicative more generally of
an attitude within the media of creating balance for the sake of balance. When I
last checked though balance was the least of our concerns.
(via @GetUp)
Surely at some point a producer at one of
these shows must have sat down and said to themselves: why are we discussing
sexism with men? Who is the most qualified to talk about sexism? Erm….oh yeah
women. Even then though if the show did discuss sexism with women it would
still actively seek women with differing viewpoints. My question is WHY? Why do
we need to pretend to care about all aspects of viewpoints on a particular
topic when we are compromising healthy and informed debated in the process.
Isn’t it time that we threw in the ring and said that sexism isn’t ok and nor
is homophobia – nothing more to discuss. Alan Jones is as qualified to talk
about sexism as a camel is to talk about living in the ocean. This isn’t just a
trend that plagues Australia, in fact, such a trend occurs across most of the
Western world.
We need to pick up our game and I think the
best way forward is by dropping any pretense of objectivity in programs that
clearly provide none. There’s
nothing wrong with having a panel of women to discuss sexism because they are
the most qualified to talk about it -
just as you would have a panel of education experts to discuss Gonski.
My point is that either ACTUALLY genuinely conform to some sense of balance in
reporting or put it out there and say – yep we’re sexist and proud of it.
Everything else in between is what muddies Australia’s current conversation and
confuses the hell out of the general public.
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