How free are we? Politics and the Press
On November 2, the Walkley Foundation came to Perth, convening esteemed panels of the some of the country’s best journalists. In a year where politics and the press have very visibly clashed heads, this talk on the interaction between politics and the press was as timely as ever. Here are the key takeaways.
“We live in Australia, a bastion for democracy. On the surface, the media looks completely free,” Gary Adshead, WA state political editor for Nine News and panel moderator, began the discussion.
“We’re free to ensure the public has all that’s required about the political class, who pulls their strings, who funds their political parties, who pays for access to cabinet ministers and what is being discussed behind closed doors…well that’s not really right is it.”
The crux of the conversation was rather on how a journalist can do their job, when the flow of information from government is often restricted or released in line with an agenda.
Nathan Hondros, WA Today’s political reporter who previously worked in political communication, said politicians have for a long time been trying to circumvent the media, US President Donald Trump being a prime example.
“Trump’s just done it beautifully, he has mastered it, through the use of social and digital media in a way that Australian politicians haven’t quite got to yet but are working steadily towards.”
Hondros said the US President has also raised concern by dubbing journalism ‘fake news’.
With distrust in the media being peddled my powerful figures, the battle against ‘fake news’ is increasingly important.
“It is incumbent upon us to demonstrate the work that we do for readers in order for them to continue to trust us to fulfill that role,” said Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor.
Another challenge presenting itself in political reporting, highlighted by The West Australian’s federal political editor Lanai Scarr, is a tactic used by politicians to curtail research time.
“I’ve noticed them coming to us at 4pm in the afternoon with a story for tomorrow, so we have less time to analyse the data they’re giving us.”
This is alongside the difficulty of getting politicians to respond frankly, beyond the answers heavily workshopped with media advisors prior to an interview.
“Before they go out and talk about an issue, they’re talking about how they’re not going to answer a question. That is definitely happening but to an extent has always happened,” said Scarr.
“It certainly doesn’t serve us well, but its doesn’t doesn’t serve them well either because they come across as inauthentic,” added Taylor. “Readers and listeners can hear that they are just parroting answered they workshopped.”
Offering some insight on the nature of these briefings, Hondros outlined a hypothetical briefing of the premier before a press conference.
“He would be briefed on the issue. He would also be briefed on any contentious issues. He would workshop through what he’s going to say and what he’s not going to say. He would know the personalities of the different reporters.”
A common experience expressed by the whole panel was pressure from media advisors to follow a certain line of questioning.
“As soon as you write something that a politician doesn’t like you are besieged with text messages and emails,” explained Nathan Hondros. “And while you’re on the radio, if you don’t put your phone away you will see text messages from advisors correcting you and suggesting ways you can rephrase it.”
These challenges make the work of political journalists harder. But the fact that the work is important, was unquestioned.
The Shining A Light Newsroom was supported by Edith Cowan University. See the full Shining A Light Newsroom coverage here.
