20 Years Of Supercilious Gits

May 7, 2009 10:59 PM

Twenty years old this year, fifteen-minute long Australian television programme Media Watch criticises television and print journalism. (Previously).
posted by Fiasco da Gama (17 comments total)

I saw this last night, but had to keep changing the channel every time John Laws appeared to justify his cash-for-comments actions. Dude, you got caught. Just admit it and move on, stop trying to make it sound like you did something noble.

I do like a bit of Media Watch snark. It's always worth flicking over to if you've got the telly on already - sometimes they break the big stories, but if they don't, it's 15 minutes of mildly amusing media goofs.
posted by harriet vane at 11:40 PM on May 7

Man that John Laws was funny. All I could do was laugh.

Oh and david flint, my is there a more pompous ass in Australia?

Andrew Bolt, yeah well I just want to punch him. I'm not a violent man, normally.
posted by wilful at 11:46 PM on May 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

I have to say, David Penbarthy, editor of the Daily Telegraph, seems reasonable enough. Not someone I’d agree with, but who says he’s just in the business of getting eyeballs. Of course, not being a Sydneysider, I can afford to be relatively neutral about him.
posted by wilful at 11:54 PM on May 7

derail --> When oh when will content providers get over building their own video platform? Just dump it on youtube and embed the vid in your page. I am tired of players freezing midstream and then having to watch from the start again. <-- derail

When Media Watch first appeared my family used to watch it all the time. I think I stopped when that Acland guy appeared on it.

The Cash for Comment thing was the absolute pinnacle of the show though.
posted by awfurby at 11:59 PM on May 7

Friend of mine used to be a teacher where David Penberthy went to school (he also has a twin sister). He said if there was anyone you wanted your kids to be like, it was them; clever, nice, hard working, funny, for social justice.

I'm guessing the guy is doing a gig.
posted by Wolof at 1:04 AM on May 8

Also — Barcelona.
posted by Wolof at 1:06 AM on May 8

Oh and david flint, my is there a more pompous ass in Australia?


I'm reminded of a comment from a now-defunct blog imagining Flint's departure from the ABA after his disgrace and resignation:

Elegantly dragging a rhinohide briefcase (shot by Rupert while on safari some twenty years ago) with an extenda-handle, forcibly maintaining the aloof air of it not being there at all. Quietly whistling "How Great Thou Art". Wearing a light purple cravat and women's underpants.

posted by the duck by the oboe at 2:39 AM on May 8

The first memories I have of Mediawatch were as young lad, during the Paxton's 15 minutes of fame. That was the first time I remember being exposed to how the media were a bunch of shifty bastards who were only barely to be trusted, and I started watching Mediawatch at that time to learn more about just how badly ACA was doing these poor buggers over.

I watched Mediawatch on and off over the next few years. One of my favorite moments was when they exposed David Flints letter to Jonesy. I think my jaw dropped and I literally shouted "Oh my fucking god" at the sheer audacity of the thing.

It wasn't until I started working in the job I'm in now that I started to watch Mediawatch with a passion. In my current role I have regular contact with journos and every time I do, I feel soiled somehow. No, really. And it's almost as if all I want to do is get to a shower to get the dirt off. They really are a contemptible lot. They act as if they're the lords and guardians of all that is pure and whole (understandable; they were probably told as much in journalism school.. indoctrinated with that whole guardians of the 4th Estate crap) but what they really are is something more akin to human vultures. Find and circle the scraps, eat it, and then type it up and publish with little to no fact checking, usually with a hint of bias to taste.

Now my job makes my life like a daily episode of Mediawatch. I won't go into too much detail but there was one instance where a journo contacted someone we deal very closely with, asked him questions (supposedly off the record), with a line of questioning that clearly showed she had an angle she was working towards, and then ended it on a question worded very specifically so as to ensure no other answer could be given. Then my colleagues and I had to deal with the 'report' she published, essentially full of lies, to put out all the fires she had started. Fucking pathetic.

When I tell close friends and family these stories, many of them are astounded at just how much journalists lie. That, sadly, is because not many ordinary people watch Mediawatch. It's ratings are ridiculously low... but it's a credit to Aunty that it keeps it on the air, exposing the shit that journalists peddle as fact every single day of their lowly existence.

In short; journalists suck, Mediawatch rocks. I hope it stays on for many, many more years, because with the state of journalism the way it is these days, it's the only thing keeping the media from going absolutely apeshit feral.

Great post Fiasco. Thanks for it!
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:46 AM on May 8 [3 favorites has favorites]

When I was in Australia last year I kind of stumbled on an episode of Media Watch and was astounded by how brilliant it was. My experience of it is that it's a distilled, non-humorous version of The Daily Show.
posted by Kattullus at 4:12 AM on May 8

I like Media Watch, when it's on form. The problem is when they can't find anything dodgy in a given week, and end up with seven minutes on how a community newspaper published a press release (gasp!). That's when I hate it, it belittles the other great work they do and makes it easier for right wingers to dismiss.

Flint and Jonesy, some of the political links they uncovered, that stuff is pure gold, though. I do miss David Marr, he was my favourite. Didn't rate Monica Attard; thought the show really went down during her tenure (though I suspect that had more to do with the ABC board, than anything she personally did).
posted by smoke at 4:31 AM on May 8

My experience of it is that it's a distilled, non-humorous version of The Daily Show.

I don't know about now, but in the Stuart Littlemore days, Media Watch was one of the funniest shows on television, albeit as dry and smug as an Positivist convention in the Sahara Desert. More importantly, though, as an insufferable teenage nerd, I loved that the Media Watch format was basically "An insufferable adult nerd (and his team of researchers) sneer at and put the boot into rich liars."

(You would not believe my nerd rage at what that idiot apparatchik Shier did to Media Watch starting in 2000.)
posted by No-sword at 4:47 AM on May 8 [2 favorites has favorites]

Also, this post is missing the "pompousgit" tag.
posted by No-sword at 4:48 AM on May 8

I like Media Watch, when it's on form. The problem is when they can't find anything dodgy in a given week, and end up with seven minutes on how a community newspaper published a press release (gasp!). That's when I hate it, it belittles the other great work they do and makes it easier for right wingers to dismiss.

But that's an easy criticism to make, and was dealt with early in this special. There isn't goingt o be a Flint (what a fucking pompous puffbag he is )/Laws/Jones moment every week. But the journalists words are theie tools of the trade, and when they are used poorly it's worth noting. I think Media Watch recognises that- and is dealt with in a kind of (groan) here we go again attitude.

That Laws interview was something else, he lives in a different reality. Perhaps he drinks Valvoline.
posted by mattoxic at 6:37 AM on May 8

Shane Paxton saying "Don't do it Ray, it's not worth it" is the best thing that's ever been on Australian television.
posted by hawthorne at 7:54 AM on May 8 [4 favorites has favorites]

Those who like MediaWatch may enjoy Pure Poison.
posted by Jimbob at 3:09 PM on May 8

Also, this post is missing the "pompousgit" tag.

You're right. Sorted.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:41 PM on May 8

I just want you all to know that I'm a proud owner of the Media Watch Campbell Reid Perpetual Trophy fridge magnet.
posted by ponystyle at 3:54 AM on May 11