June 21, 2004

RADIO ALERT

Australian readers: tune in to Michael Duffy’s Radio National Program at 4pm AEST to hear me, Greg Hywood, and Jon Faine talk about bias, culture wars, and associated stuff. Or, if you have something better to do, don’t.

Posted by Tim Blair at June 21, 2004 03:03 PM
Comments

Overseas people might be able to catch the show live online using Real Player.

Posted by: EvilPundit at June 21, 2004 at 03:09 PM

Yes, and I believe the ABC will put a recorded version of the interview up tomorrow.

Posted by: TimT at June 21, 2004 at 04:06 PM

Damn, the host cut you guys off just as it was getting interesting (ie just when people started talking over the top of each other).

Tim, please tell me you at least had the chance to run over one of your naysayers in the carpark afterwards.

Posted by: Andrew D. at June 21, 2004 at 06:03 PM

ok, i just cranked up the wireless to check it out. you were cool tim but those other dudes with you were knobs!! one of em' even called the ABC 'centrist' in the views it projects. was that Fahey?

Posted by: roscoe.p at June 21, 2004 at 06:05 PM

I thought Faine's complaints about the money his commericial rivals to be a bit off-putting. No one's forcing these guys to work at the ABC after all. I hear McDonald's is still hiring...

Posted by: Scott Wickstein at June 21, 2004 at 07:40 PM

I liked the segment, but it was way too short - it was just getting started when the bell rang. Still, it was a good precis of the problem with Tim, Hywood and yes Faine all making worthwhile contributions. I can almost imagine the three of them retiring down to Southbank afterwards (assuming Tim's in Melbourne) to debate the matter further over lubrication.

Posted by: Craig Mc at June 21, 2004 at 07:42 PM

John Faine's a clever guy, but I reckon he was sailing close to the wind when he said there was no bias at the ABC -- "I just totally reject the notion that they're [ABC workers] biased" -- then later said they had to dump Bolt to better reflect their listener's (plural ... I assume) leftist leanings. Ergo, ABC radio must also be left.

In fact Tim, I think you picked him off neatly with your rejoinder about popping right-wing Bolt into the cultivated leftist culture.

Posted by: Tony.T at June 21, 2004 at 08:02 PM

Faine was honest enough to admit that there is a common "world view" about the ABC, because of hiring policies and the the gap between ABC salaries and not only the real world, but even the rest of the make believe media world. There's a reason why there's no leftys working for Kerry Packer.

Hywood's editorial experience was good to hear. He made the concession that for outlets like Fairfax, bias is seen as a viable marketing strategy targeting specific demographics. He has a point - it could be all cynical schtick. I'm inclined to agree.

Faine got into a little trouble at this point over Andrew Bolt, by effectively saying that his program is designed to pander to his lefty audience (which it is). Tim & Hywood nailed him on the point that unlike Fairfax, people don't have a choice as to whether they pay for that pandering, and that the ABC therefore has an obligation to present views from the right.

It could have easily gone on for hours, and it was refreshing to not only hear a lefty speak honestly about this problem, but even to expose his beliefs to real-time criticism in a very un-ABC two-sided debate.

Posted by: Craig Mc at June 21, 2004 at 08:19 PM

Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

Posted by: Japanese proverb at June 21, 2004 at 10:30 PM

Was Tim paid for his appearance on the ABC, I assume he would not take the coin (if offered). What a wonderful gesture of donated content to the public broadcaster.

Posted by: baker at June 22, 2004 at 02:26 AM

I wasn't paid. I did, however, steal two staplers and a green Mao cap from Phillip Adams' office.

Posted by: tim at June 22, 2004 at 04:10 AM

You should also have taken Adams' stash of Cuban cigars and his McDonalds Gold Card as well. Hit him where it hurts.

Posted by: Richard at June 22, 2004 at 04:15 AM