Trevor Cook

Gillard keeps mashing-up the message

Another strange week.

Talkback radio, and Internet comment streams, was filled with people screaming about the pollies going for a big pay rise. It was running about 4 to 1 against. If you're practiced in sophistry (and self-delusion) you can probably mount a convincing case for giving pollies an increase. Certainly, the benefits packages should be cashed out so we can see exactly what we're paying them. But it emerges this week, also, that Gillard has reneged on an equal pay for women deal because, she says, the nation can't afford it. A bit insensitive. Doesn't the monkeys and peanuts line work for low and middle income earners too?

Then there was gay marriage. Apart from the fact that much of the media kept conflating marriage with civil unions as if there was no difference, the real message from this episode is that the ALP is a mess on this issue. The secondary messages are that the Greens were leading the way on a left-wing issue and that Gillard, again, failed to demonstrate leadership. Now, it will drag on to the national conference in December 2011 and presumably beyond. 

Next down the issue list is carbon pricing. Is there anyone out there who knows what the government is doing on this issue? I think this is one of those do something now or shut up issues. A lot of people think carbon pricing just means that their electricity bills will go up. This still looks like an inner city Greens issue to me, with little traction in the outer suburban seats, where cost of living is the barbeque stopper (along with asylum seekers of course).

Then there was the great anti-siphoning issue, which we can only hope will be solved soon and without forcing poor voters to pay to see good sport on TV.

In the middle of all this, Gillard wasted an hour of her life launching an update to the MySchool website. For gosh sake, just leave the third order stuff to the Ministers. 

On the other hand, some ministers like Penny Wong and Greg Combet need to get out more. 

If it keeps like this for much longer, I'm going to think that all it is proving is that when it comes to front-bench performance that Rudd wasn't the problem, or the only problem. And worse, there will be another wave of cries for Julia's 'vision' from political commentators in Canberra.

Please bury the 'tough' interview in 7.30 report land

Anne Summers begs the ABC to retain a program that is losing its viewers. Fears for the future in 7.30 Report-land.

We are apparently waiting for the Queen to die so we can finally bury Australia's redundant links to the empty glitter of royalty. The same should be true of Kerry O'Brien's departure from the 7.30 report. It is a tired old format that adds little. I rarely watch it now, though I used to find it essential. 

Of course, there is a market for this stuff with people who see politics as a form of entertainment. Just as there is a market for the ABC's other political versions of light entertainment - Insiders and Q & A. What all these shows have in common is the idea of politics as combat. A bit like professional wrestling, lots of grunting and groaning - most of it exaggerated for effect.

Anne Summers lauds the 'tough' political interviewing style of O'Brien and others. It had it's day, but its over. Toughness too often just means rudeness, where the interviewer treats the prime minister (or some other public figure / victim) with smirking condescension. 

For the growing, but thankfully still small, numbers who follow this stuff on Twitter, like so many old ladies knitting by the guillotine, the 'tough' interview has its appeal. As do football matches, "give it to him Kerry, yay".

There's no need to be rude to be effective and important.  The best interviews elicit information and let you decide. I know this sounds like an ad for FOX but I have in mind programs like Conversation Hour, Late Night Live, Australian Story, Talking Heads on the ABC. I also listen to podcasts of similar programs from overseas like the BBC's Analysis, Thinking Allowed and In Our Time. And from NPR, "This American Life".

I love these programs, you come away feeling informed and like you've had a good chat, not a bar room slanging match. Of course, they don't lend themselves to the chaos of a Twitter feed - you just sit there and focus on the program (gosh). These programs also ask you to think, reflect and empathise. The tough interviews encourage people to jeer when their side is copping it and to cheer when their opponents get it in the neck. (Don't believe me - follow the twitter feed for the 7.30 report or Q and A).

When you hear a journalist say they must be getting it right because they cop abuse from both sides you know they've left journalism behind and opted for entertainment. 

Real journalism has people thankful for the information and insights. Tough interviews are celebrated for the moments when the interviewer poised like a matador plunges his lance into a hapless pollie. GOTCHA!

Thanks for the memories, 7.30 report. The ABC is right to take the opportunity of O'Brien's departure to rework a tired, dying format.

Hi, I'm Michael Rowland or Virginia Trioli

Elton John, Leon Russell, Neil Young - Gone to Shiloh

LJ Hill - Pretty Bird Tree

Do casual tutors increase drop-out rates?

I wander if this is true in Australian universities too where PhD's are sweated as tutors: "According to a large-scale 2008 study cited by Hacker and Dreifus, the more students are taught by itinerants, the more likely they are to drop out." Higher Expectations | The American Prospect.

Wow! Shock jock voted Green

Twitter / Home. JohnStanley2UE John Stanley 

 by Colvinius

Please ignore tweet confirming Steve Price voted Green while in Sydney. Should have been a direct message. #meandmyfatfingers