Best We Forget: The Tyrrany of False Balance in the Media

MATTHEW HEPPLEWHITE

On the morning of 19 November this year I turned on the television and ruined my day. The ABC News was on and flicking across the bottom of the screen was the usual text feed telling us about police arrests and unemployment rates when the feed announced, ‘Sacked Wallabies player Israel Folau links bushfire crisis to same-sex marriage’. Now let me be clear, I do not have any issue with Mr Folau’s right to hold his beliefs and opinions. He is free to do. I also believe he is free to share them in appropriate and respectful ways. My issue is with the irresponsibility of the media to promulgate such views and our mindless obsession with the opinions of sports stars and celebrities.

To give someone a public platform to disseminate any sort of ignorant opinion based solely on celebrity status is not only wrong, it distorts the narrative and creates false balance. It helps validate radical and offensive positions that do not necessary reflect mainstream thought. It is bad enough that sport can dominate the media and push out real and important issues like domestic violence. This was demonstrated recently on Q&A, where it was reported the West Australian ran several pages of football stories and dropped an already prepared story about domestic violence and the unnecessary and avoidable death of Jessica Carter, a young woman killed by her partner.

The media often justify sharing these opinions as ‘public interest’ or ‘in fairness to both sides’ While this may seem reasonable at first glance Dr David Grimes in The Guardian reminds us ‘Impartiality lies at the very heart of good journalism – avoiding bias is something on which respectable media outlets pride themselves. This is laudable, as robust debate is vital for a healthy media and, by extension, an informed society. But when the weight of scientific evidence points incontrovertibly one direction, doggedly reporting both “sides” equally can result in misleading coverage’.

The idea that both sides of an issues need to be aired to be fair is ludicrous. We accept there is only one side regarding many matters. The media does not promote a flat earth, storks bringing babies, or a geo-centric solar system. Society has moved on and recognises such is patently incorrect and would not even countenance suggesting or reporting otherwise. In contrast, there are times when opinion is definitely and closely split such as Brexit in the UK, or gun control in the USA, and in such cases it is reasonable to seek informed opinions from both sides.

However even the most mouth-foaming, bible-thumping, knuckle-dragging, climate change denier, Alan Jones fan-boy would probably baulk at claiming God’s wrath as the cause of climate change and bushfires in Queensland and NSW. Yet the media publicises Mr Folau’s fringe opinion on this matter, fans the flames of controversy, and benefits from the resulting exposure. This is the same sort of revenue-based model of the media that brought us climate change denial, anti-vaxers, and islamophobia. Sales and click-bait disguised as public interest and fairness. Shame on the media, and shame on us for consuming it and enabling divisive and ignorant content.

One of my facebook friends pointed out that she had forgotten about Mr Folau and his hateful speech but now she was reminded again and she would like to ‘re-forget’. This is an important point. Perhaps the best way to usurp the power of such hateful people, and ultimately the media which promotes them, is to ignore and forget. We saw how this was used so effectively by Jacinta Ardern as she refused to empower the Christchurch killer by not speaking his name.

So I encourage everyone to forget, or re-forget, about hateful and ignorant comments that some would use to divide society or sell advertising. But instead promote and share the positive and cooperative stories that show how people and communities can work together to overcome adversity and build a better world.

The bushfire tragedy, while horrific, is not the wrath of God. It is the result of man-made climate change, severe drought and land management practices that have failed many of our fellow Australians. The fires are a reminder that communities can show resilience and compassion when faced with disaster and trauma. Our leaders should be standing up andclearly recognising the role of climate change and preparing real policy and action to address this challenge - thoughts and prayers alone simply will not do. The media needs to properly support and broadcast the science of climate change and not promote the hateful ignorant words of an individual - no matter how great a football player they might be.

So best we forget, or re-forged, the ludicrous and unsubstantiated ravings of some individuals and focus on the good humanity can do when we recognise facts and work together to achieve our goals. We are stronger united than divided.

THE BUSHFIRE TRAGEDY, WHILE HORRIFIC, IS NOT THE WRATH OF GOD. IT IS THE RESULT OF MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE, SEVERE DROUGHT AND LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT HAVE FAILED MANY OF OUR FELLOW AUSTRALIANS.