This is from GetUp! I may for fun put in CAPS my view.
Morrison’s cuts will force the ABC to fire up to 200 staff, Susan.1
IS THAT TRUE?
And who will they be?
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS, WHISTLEBLOWERS AS TRUTH TELLERS HMMM
Will they be the journos who risk their freedom to protect ours?
THEY DON’T RISK THEIR FREEDOM TO PROTECT OURS, THEY ARE CLEAR ABOUT THE LAWS AND ARE INSPIRED BY STORIES IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
FREEDOM CAN’T BE TAKEN. WE CHOOSE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
Will they be the story-tellers creating the programs that help us understand ourselves? Will they be radio producers holding their communities together with emergency fire broadcasts?
IS THAT TRUE?
These sackings are the ugly reality of Morrison’s cuts to our national broadcaster – and he’s going to try to cut even more from the ABC in the upcoming budget.2
I WONDER WHY?
WHAT YOU RESISTS PERSISTS WHAT IS LOOKED AT DISAPPEARS. THAT IS, THE MORE THE LAST REMNANT OF DEMOCRACY IS DISMANTLED (FREEDOM OF SPEECH) THROUGH CRIMINALISATION, THE PUBLIC WILL START TO AWAKEN TO WHAT IS BEING LOST. MANY DO NOT KNOW THEIR RIGHTS NOR DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY, EVEN IF IT IS BELIEVED MORE THAN A LIVED EXPERIECE. WHEN THEY REALISE THAT INFORMATION IS CONTROLLED AND NOT TRULY INFORMING OR DIRECTED, THEY WILL MAKE ANOTHER CHOICE.
But the fringe politicians who attack the ABC just don’t get it.
DON’T KNOW WHO THE FRINGE ARE.
They don’t realise that more than 18 million of us rely on the ABC every week, or that more than 80% of us trust our national broadcaster.3
NOT SURE THE PERCENTAGE IS THAT LARGE.
THEY DO DO REALISE IT IS POPULAR. THE LIBERAL PARTY VOTED TO PRIVATISE THE ABC (SECRET FOOTAGE REVEALED). YET DON’T UNDERESTIMATE JOURNALISTS NOR THE PUBLIC WILL.
We have to come together and speak up – louder than these ideologues – for the broadcaster that gives us so much:
A MEGAPHONE MIGHT BE FUN, YES YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY IF YOU WANT TO PRE-SERVE IT. THE CHALLENGE IS TO LIVE THE DEMOCRACY YOU SAY YOU WANT. WHAT IS IT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? CAN YOU TOLERATE THOSE WHO ARE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC?
NO AS THEY USE PETITIONS TO PROFILE PEOPLE. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO DEVELOP MORE PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDIA BY THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY ITSELF. PERHAPS GRASS ROOTS MAGAZINES, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, COMMUNITY BUILDING TO FIND THEIR VOICE. THERE IS A STRONG MARGINAL FOLLOWING OF THE ABC BUT THE MAJORITY DO NOT WATCH IT AS INFOTAINMENT DOMINATES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER NEWS SOURCES GLOBALLY NOW. INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM MAY WELL THRIVE, PARTICULARLY OFF SHORE.
It’s a powerful time to raise our voices, Susan.
IT IS – BUT DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS POSITIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE AND ENVISAGING OF SOLUTIONS WITHIN A DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE. IF YOU FIGHT AGAINST YOU WILL ATTRACT WHAT YOU DON’T WANT AND MORE LEGISLATION IS PASSED AS THEY IDENTIFY A ‘THREAT’. THERE IS MORE VULNERABILITY TO CRIMINALISATION GIVEN THE LINE OF DISSENT IS HARDENING IN RESPECT OF SEDITION LAWS, ANTI-TERRORISM AND THE ASIO ACT.
Note and Refer to:
Australian sedition law – Wikipedia
Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Security_Intelligence_Organisation_Act_1979
Fresh-faced Liberal MPs understand the ABC’s incredible popularity in their urban electorates. Old hands in the National Party know how much their remote constituencies rely on regional radio. This is bigger than party lines.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTY LINES, NOR REMOTE BROADCAST MEDIA OR POPULARITY, IT IS ABOUT CONTROLLING INFORMATION FLOWS TO PREVENT UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURES. DEFUNDING IS A MECHANISM WHICH WEAKENS INSTITUTIONS AND CRIMINALISATION TENDS TO INTIMIDATE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE ARE 7 YEAR JAIL TERMS.
Because, at a time when social media giants and the commercial press divide us up to make a quick buck and sell newspapers, the ABC brings us together.
YES, THEY DO DIVIDE TO CONQUER AS THEY ARE BUSINESS INTERESTS MAKING PROFIT NOT WORKING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OUT OF SOCIAL CONSCIENCE. THE ABC IS THE BEST OUT OF A HIGHLY COMPROMISED (CONCENTRATED OWNERSHIP) MEDIA THAT IS DELIBERATE IN INFORMATION DELIVERY. IT HAS NOT PROVIDED FULL DISCLOSURE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IF IT TRULY DID, OUR WORLD WOULD CHANGE OVERNIGHT. YET DISCLOSURES ARE HAPPENING NOW AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE STILL IN A WINDOW WHERE THIS CAN HAPPEN.
The broadcaster must finalise which staff will be sacked early next year, which means we have to raise our voices now:
THE ABC STAFF COULD CONSIDER CREATING ALTERNATIVE NEWS AGENCIES WITH PUBLIC CROWD FUNDING AND SPONSORS. THEY MAY FIND THEMSELVES FREE TO SPEAK BUT IN WAYS THAT DO NOT CONTRAVENE THE LEGISLATION CRAFTED TO LIMIT THIS FREEDOM. CREATIVITY IS WHAT IS REQUIRED AND INFORMING THE PUBLIC FACTUALLY. DON’T FALL INTO THEM AND US, THAT IS DIVISION.
THE ABC DOESN’T BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER BUT IT IS A PLATFORM THAT DOES BROADCAST STORIES FROM CAPITAL CITIES, REGIONAL AND RURAL. IT SHOWS COURAGE IN ITS DELIVERY OF CONTROVERSIAL STORIES HOWEVER THERE IS INTERFERENCE IN ITS MANAGEMENT WHICH WATERS DOWN ITS ABILITY TO BE NEUTRAL AND IMPARTIAL. THIS IS CRITICAL IN JOURNALISM. THERE ARE FOREIGN INTERESTS AT PLAY AS WELL.
In defiance,
CONSIDER A DIFFERENCE CHOICE OF WORDS. I WOULD ADVISE TO STAY IN THE TRUTH AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT. LOOK AT BOTH SIDES, TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOT HATE PEOPLE OR INSTITUTIONS. THERE ARE NO ENEMIES (THEM AND US) ONLY OPPORTUNITIES TO DECIDE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU.
DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT THE MANY VOICES, INCLUDING THOSE PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH, THE CLASHING IT UP IS WHERE NEW IDEAS EMERGE, SO IT IS A GOOD THING.
WHAT YOU RESIST PERSISTS WHAT YOU LOOK AT (CLARITY) DISAPPEARS. WHEN WE FIGHT AGAINST WE ENSURE WHAT IS RESISTED IS FIRMLY IN PLACE AS THEY WILL FIGHT BACK. THEN WE TURN THEM INTO THE ‘EVIL OTHER’ WHEN THEY ARE SEEING DIFFERENTLY. DON’T MAKE IT PERSONAL JUST LOOK DEEPLY AT WHAT IS DRIVING DEFUNDING AND CHANGE. SMART DISRUPTION IS A CRITICAL PLACE TO START.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SILENCE PEOPLE FOR VERY LONG AS THEY WILL REBEL, IT IS THE NATURE OF PEOPLE TO EVENTUALLY, AFTER SOME PAIN, STAND UP AND SPEAK UP AS THEY CAN’T BARE IT ANYMORE – USUALLY GETS TO THAT POINT. IT WILL BE THE PEOPLE WHO BRING OUR NATION TOGETHER AS THEY WILL MAKE A CHOICE.
Patrick, Justine, Sarah and Tosca for the GetUp team