I think every audience member of The Age should read Australian Press Council decisions. I get the feeling the big media organisations don’t like being held to account by the APC, which is why audiences should link into APC decisions. They generally start getting to the truth behind the published story. It also helps people to evaluate future stories more effectively.
This is the APC decision in relation to a story on waiting lists at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.
It would be interesting to know what the APC would say about a political story in The Age headed, “Victorian election 2014: Coalition big spender by 5:1” Do you think this would mean that the Coalition is generally outspending the ALP opposition by 5:1?
Well, the first paragraph reads, “The Coalition is outpromising Labor by as much as 5 to 1 in some of the key marginal seats that will decide the election.” (The emphasis is mine.)
In what might be a tightly contested election, is this ethical journalism? A question that should be conclusively answered by journalists Peter Martin and Sian Johnson! Particularly after they review their MEAA Code of Ethics!
I really do wonder what the APC would say about this reporting!
