michaelwest.com.au Open in urlscan Pro
104.21.73.25  Public Scan

Form analysis
4 forms found in the DOM

GET https://michaelwest.com.au/

<form role="search" method="get" class="et_pb_menu__search-form" action="https://michaelwest.com.au/">
  <input type="search" class="et_pb_menu__search-input" placeholder="Search …" name="s" title="Search for:">
</form>

GET https://michaelwest.com.au/

<form role="search" method="get" class="et_pb_menu__search-form" action="https://michaelwest.com.au/">
  <input type="search" class="et_pb_menu__search-input" placeholder="Search …" name="s" title="Search for:">
</form>

POST https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/83422/forms/62937292043454261/subscribe

<form class="ml-block-form" action="https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/83422/forms/62937292043454261/subscribe" data-code="" method="post" target="_blank">
  <div class="ml-form-formContent">
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-name ml-validate-required">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="name" aria-required="true" type="text" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[name]" placeholder="Name" autocomplete="name" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ml-last-item">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-email ml-validate-email ml-validate-required">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="email" aria-required="true" type="email" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[email]" placeholder="Email" autocomplete="email" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- Privacy policy -->
  <!-- /Privacy policy -->
  <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRow ml-block-groups ml-validate-required">
    <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRowCheckbox group" style="">
      <label>
        <input type="checkbox" name="groups[]" value="59130005749237224" aria-invalid="false">
        <div class="label-description">Weekly Edition</div>
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRowCheckbox last-group" style="">
      <label>
        <input type="checkbox" name="groups[]" value="62414007881958555" aria-invalid="false">
        <div class="label-description">Daily News Feed</div>
      </label>
    </div>
  </div>
  <input type="hidden" name="ml-submit" value="1" aria-invalid="false">
  <div class="ml-form-embedSubmit">
    <button type="submit" class="primary">GET NEWSLETTER</button>
    <button disabled="disabled" style="display: none;" type="button" class="loading">
      <div class="ml-form-embedSubmitLoad"></div>
      <span class="sr-only">Loading...</span>
    </button>
  </div>
  <input type="hidden" name="anticsrf" value="true" aria-invalid="false">
</form>

POST https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/83422/forms/62937292043454261/subscribe

<form class="ml-block-form" action="https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/83422/forms/62937292043454261/subscribe" data-code="" method="post" target="_blank">
  <div class="ml-form-formContent">
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-name ml-validate-required">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="name" aria-required="true" type="text" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[name]" placeholder="Name" autocomplete="name" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ml-last-item">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-email ml-validate-email ml-validate-required">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="email" aria-required="true" type="email" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[email]" placeholder="Email" autocomplete="email" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- Privacy policy -->
  <!-- /Privacy policy -->
  <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRow ml-block-groups ml-validate-required">
    <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRowCheckbox group" style="">
      <label>
        <input type="checkbox" name="groups[]" value="59130005749237224" aria-invalid="false">
        <div class="label-description">Weekly Edition</div>
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="ml-form-interestGroupsRowCheckbox last-group" style="">
      <label>
        <input type="checkbox" name="groups[]" value="62414007881958555" aria-invalid="false">
        <div class="label-description">Daily News Feed</div>
      </label>
    </div>
  </div>
  <input type="hidden" name="ml-submit" value="1" aria-invalid="false">
  <div class="ml-form-embedSubmit">
    <button type="submit" class="primary">GET NEWSLETTER</button>
    <button disabled="disabled" style="display: none;" type="button" class="loading">
      <div class="ml-form-embedSubmitLoad"></div>
      <span class="sr-only">Loading...</span>
    </button>
  </div>
  <input type="hidden" name="anticsrf" value="true" aria-invalid="false">
</form>

Text Content

 * ABOUT US
 * THE SECRET RICH LIST
 * Q.E.D. FEDERAL ICAC NOW
 * REVOLVING DOORS
 * THE WEST REPORT
 * Contact Us
 * Update Your Details
 * Support Us
 * Story Archive
 * Our Contributors

 * ABOUT US
 * THE SECRET RICH LIST
 * Q.E.D. FEDERAL ICAC NOW
 * REVOLVING DOORS
 * THE WEST REPORT
 * Contact Us
 * Update Your Details
 * Support Us
 * Story Archive
 * Our Contributors



a
a
 * ABOUT US
 * THE SECRET RICH LIST
 * Q.E.D. FEDERAL ICAC NOW
 * REVOLVING DOORS
 * THE WEST REPORT
 * Contact Us
 * Update Your Details
 * Support Us
 * Story Archive
 * Our Contributors

 * ABOUT US
 * THE SECRET RICH LIST
 * Q.E.D. FEDERAL ICAC NOW
 * REVOLVING DOORS
 * THE WEST REPORT
 * Contact Us
 * Update Your Details
 * Support Us
 * Story Archive
 * Our Contributors




HOME

LATEST NEWS

LATEST STORIES

WEST REPORT

ABOUT US

SUPPORT US


A CRY FROM THE REGIONS: MEDIA DOMINATED BY BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS IS NOT
JOURNALISM

by Andrew Chambers | Dec 28, 2022 | Comment & Analysis, Latest Posts

Broome, WA. Image: broome.wa.gov.au

This submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Regional Newspapers by Broome
journalist Andrew Chambers was rejected by the Committee for containing content
“adverse” to another party so we published it here.

I live in Broome, Western Australia, in the fiefdom of Kerry Stokes, owner of
the Seven West network. 

Our regional weekly is The Broome Advertiser which offers little in the way of
news in a traditional sense. It fills the columns between advertisements with a
variety of re-written press releases, opinion pieces and the very occasional
facsimile of news when it suits the editorial diktat. 

My understanding of what news should be is probably one based on a romantic
notion, that it  should attempt to retain some balance in reporting on an issue,
to inform the public debate on issues that are of importance to the readership
of the community. That, I had hoped, would include some attempt at fact-checking
or seeking the response of named parties in any piece being published. 

This is almost explicitly not the case when it comes to publication of items
under the banner of “news” in the Advertiser. It is invariably a trenchant
supporter of big business and a slavish correspondent on behalf of those who
take out advertising space, evidently the larger the  advertisement, the more
lavish and purple the prose. 

By way of example I include the two photos, the first of an advertisement, full
page, and a  corresponding “news” article on the opposite facing page. 

The advertisement was placed by the local Native Title Group, one of two full
page “advertorials” published by them, at members expense, in response to a very
messy and telling dispute between hereditary Traditional Owners and the local
Native Title Body Corporate and Corporations over a land dispute that has seen
the hereditary TOs, elders and families evicted from their traditional  country
and the government funded infrastructure that was on that land, left to
scavengers, vandals  and eventual demolition. 


NEWS OR BIG BUSINESS VIEWS?

As for the “news” article on opposite facing page to the advertisement, when the
editor of the paper was questioned (by telephone) on statements made in the
article, he claimed to have spoken “with one of the protesting members over
lunch that day” which I called into question as to who it may have been and how
that was relevant to an article that had most obviously been penned some days
prior to the distribution of the paper that day. He angrily hung up.  

This is cheque book journalism at its worst and is both dangerous and corrosive
in a community  dealing with a great deal of historic injustice and ongoing
dispossession. The members of the  Native Title Group have struggled for years
to have their say but find themselves outgunned by the executive who control the
asset and have unlimited funds and support for any legal offensive or defence 

This kind of reporting further disenfranchises important voices and conveys very
dangerous and  libellous characterisations. But there is no cash for them to
mount a case, not enough to take on the overwhelming power of this media group
nor the lesser, but substantial, means of the PBC.

We sought some review, but alas, 7 West has exempted itself from the sanction or
review of the Press Council, preferring instead its own internal process, it was
hardly worth the waste of any more time and energy. 

Some time passed and the editor moved on to new and innocent pastures, his
replacement came  promising a revamp of the paper’s editorial process claiming
that the recently awarded millions from the social media giants settlement would
underwrite a new and fearless independence in  journalism and editorial
independence from the notorious sub editors in Perth who are known for their
ability to completely re-write a story to suit the cut and bias of the group. It
was a claim that seemed to be holding true until the arrival of the recent
electoral campaign for  the local council. 

Theoretically (as described in the laws governing candidacy and council
representation) local  councillors are supposed to be independent, non partisan,
representatives of the ratepayers and residents deciding issues via robust
debate and open polls.  

Practice dictates that debate is a needless waste of time, that the forming of
“blocks” around  common interest are far more efficient and predictable for the
administration of Council as it competes for the attention and cash of state and
federal governments keen to build tourism and  other industry. 


TWO CAMPS IMBALANCE

Our shire has broken into two camps, the dominant party represents conservative
business interests and is the dominant block, the other camp represents any
other interest outside of the primacy of capital; the environment, First Nations
interests, the interests of the poor and the aged. 

The Advertiser’s stance is, and was, firmly in support of the business interests
and the block. It happily misrepresented the views of the most prominent of the
opposing camp, took their money for advertising but did nothing in the way of
editorial support, unlike the enormous effort that went into the final edition
of the paper before the election weekend. 

In collaboration with the Local Chamber of Commerce, not un-coincidentally
chaired by one of the  prime candidates for election, it produced a lavish full
colour, on quality paper, wrap-around  featuring the chairman candidate in
glowing reports on no less than five occasions with full colour photographs.

It also had many special reports featuring the block’s numerous achievements in 
shepherding the tens of millions of state and federal money spent renovating the
business district and Town Beach, ministerial plaudits and breathless stories on
future projects at the centre of the  block’s agenda for the coming term. 

Despite a strong grass roots campaign the opposing members were unable to muster
enough votes,  

This is a very dangerous outcome for a town that is at the bleeding edge of
serious social issues surrounding the plight of dispossessed indigenous people,
the commercial onslaught of drugs, legal  and illegal, that are devastating the
town with crime, violence and attendant other problems. It wouldn’t be so bad if
this paper were just a lone aberrant organ. It is one finger on the huge body of
a powerful media monopoly in Western Australia. 

Seven West is the dominant force in our local media, it has the 6 pm news, The
West Australian newspaper, the local FM radio stations playing all the hits and
a strong presence on social media  and the web. It is a political king or queen
making machine that works with its advertisers and  business partners to steer
the agenda at every level of politics in this state and is virtually
unchallenged at every level. 


BUT THE ABC?

We are fortunate to have a local ABC station which you might hope was a bastion
of some sort of  local interest and championing of the underdog but thanks to
the continual cuts made by  consecutive governments, it’s ability to be anything
but a roaring tiger from the safety of Sydney and Melbourne, is a tragedy for us
in the regions. Its ability to report is limited and it has no  resources to
defend itself when the going gets legally contentious.  

When we took the story of the dispossession of the TO’s to them we were asked to
provide our own  legal opinion as to whether the story might withstand the
challenges of the rich and litigious Native Title Body. Given the complainants
were all over 80 years old and retirees the imbalance of power is obvious, the
silencing deafening.

The only difference between our local paper and the local  ABC is that the paper
makes a profit out of rewriting the press releases.  

This news may be heartening to some of the panel, but for me this is a complete
betrayal and abandonment of the promise of the ABC. It has become, like our
paper, a tabloid devoted to slavish praise and shallow questioning of the
powerful, padding its output with gossip and trivia quizzes, left with but one
vital use, to be the broadcaster of last resort in an emergency.

Even in that the cuts have rendered it increasingly useless with the power of
its transmissions readily overwhelmed by signals from Indonesia and further
afield as you move away from town and up the coast. 


LAME OFFICIALDOM

I wish that there was something that this panel could do but given the balance
of power and a two party system beholden to the favours of the media tycoons and
their empires, really, what is the  point of this? 

We have ombudsmen at every level with such limited resources and legislative
remit that they are all but useless. This parliament has empowered an oversight
body, ORIC, to supposedly supervise the governance of Aboriginal Body
Corporates. In its history it has made three retrospective adverse findings
against directors who have bankrupted their corporations vested with lands,
titles and cash, compensation that held the promise of a better future for the
members.

Year after year Aboriginal RNTBCs are regularly being stripped of that hope
while that body slumbers or its members take seats on the very boards it
supposedly oversees.  

No-one sees it, no-one reports it out here, there’s too much money to be made
amongst the network of mates and acquaintances exchanging favour and cash. There
is however great news in the ever expanding calamity of indigenous misery and
anger which spills onto the street as ever more brazen and dangerous crime, the
cycle perpetuates, the roles are cast and the machine of state lumbers on using
Seven West to shout it’s war cry at an election for more police, more law, more
order. 

It is a diabolical apparatus that has no discernible limits, out here in the
regions and down there in the cities we are the playthings of tycoons with
limitless ambition unhindered by any law that can’t be changed or avoided with
the power of the press or legal campaigns seemingly without end. 


A SOLUTION: OPT-IN ONLY

I hope against hope that this Committee, the report, may find some means to
re-balance the power dynamic and tilt us back toward democracy and some
semblance of the representation of all  community interest in regional papers,
regional radio, TV and politics.

If not, our future is bleak. We face an escalation in the rise of temperature,
oceans and of civil unrest and insurrection as the anger and frustration rise
against the very real lack of franchise and  agency in making the necessary
change that can hold back the predator businesses so keen to frack this country
(a business interest of our paper’s proprietor), massive mono culture
agribusiness dependent on the vital aquifers and virgin rivers of this unique
wilderness (another of his business interests) and other mining and mineral
plays (unsurprisingly another key business at the core of  the empire).  

All on these lands being rapidly being denuded of the traditional people, their
languages and  cultures while we build regional administrative centres to
deliver aid, legal remedy and punishment  at enormous cost to the public purse
and the lives of our fellow Australians. 

Again, I ask what is it that you can do with this inquiry into the finger of a
body that’s so intent on making it’s own way, unhindered by your inquiry?  

In consideration of practical responses I do have one suggestion that would be
helpful. That legislation be put in place requiring the delivery of these papers
to be strictly “opt-in” only. Apart from the obvious damage to community health,
well being and cohesion, it’s also a tremendous source of litter as many of
these papers are either left where they’re thrown or simply transferred from the
ground to a bin. It may also help independent publications gain a foothold if
they’re not  being swamped by a throw away competitor who’s only commercial goal
is “distribution figures”. 

I thank you for the time taken in consideration and wish you well in the quest
for some remedy to the near impossible problem you consider.

> Media paid to distract you





Don't pay so you can read it.

Pay so everyone can.

BECOME A SUPPORTER

 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow

This website is dedicated to the public interest. Our focus is investigations
into big business, particularly multinational tax avoidance, banking and the
energy sector.

Good sources are critical to good journalism. We have always worked closely with
our contacts and jealously guard their identities. Absolute confidentiality is
assured.

Don’t pay so you can read it.

Pay so everyone can.

BECOME A SUPPORTER
 * Lobbyland
 * What's the Scam
 * War Powers
 * Q.E.D. - Federal ICAC now
 * Revolving Doors
 * Secret Rich List

Weekly Edition
Daily News Feed
GET NEWSLETTER

Loading...

THANK YOU!



Weekly email normally sent on Wednesday

The Daily Newsfeed every day at 5pm



Don’t pay so you can read it. Pay so everyone can.

BECOME A SUPPORTER
Weekly Edition
Daily News Feed
GET NEWSLETTER

Loading...

THANK YOU!



Weekly email normally sent on Wednesday

The Daily Newsfeed every day at 5pm



© Michael West Media 2022

Westpub Pty Ltd  |  ABN 76 613 202 421

About  |  Contact  |  Privacy

© Michael West Media 2022

Westpub Pty Ltd  |  ABN 76 613 202 421

About  |  Contact  |  Privacy

Q

HOME

LATEST NEWS

LATEST STORIES

WEST REPORT

ABOUT US

SUPPORT US

Don't pay so you can read it.

Pay so everyone can.

BECOME A SUPPORTER
 * Lobbyland
 * What's the Scam
 * War Powers
 * Q.E.D. - Federal ICAC now
 * Revolving Doors
 * Secret Rich List

 * Contact Us
 * Update your details
 * Our Writers
 * Post Archive

 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow

 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow

BECOME A SUPPORTER
Q

HOME

LATEST NEWS

LATEST STORIES

WEST REPORT

ABOUT US

SUPPORT US

Don't pay so you can read it.

Pay so everyone can.

BECOME A SUPPORTER
 * Lobbyland
 * What's the Scam
 * War Powers
 * Q.E.D. - Federal ICAC now
 * Revolving Doors
 * Secret Rich List

 * Contact Us
 * Update your details
 * Our Writers
 * Post Archive

 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow

 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow
 * Follow

BECOME A SUPPORTER





PIN IT ON PINTEREST


 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


Share This
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email
 * 





Notifications