News Ltd wants freedom to abuse

The domination by News Limited over the media, 70 per cent ownership of all media, looks like being tested somewhat by the Federal ALP.

That would be a great contribution to Freedom of Expression.

The so-called Freedom of Expression that News Limited wants to defend is the highly provocative Daily Telegraph treatment of Minister Stephen Conroy.

It was portrayed by editorial director Campbell Reid on the ABC's 7.30 Report on March 13 as creative journalism.

In fact to compare Conroy with Joseph Stalin and other dictators is merely sordid abuse.

Presumably he believes that by now Australians are sufficiently conditioned to accept such nonsense as the norm.

The extreme right in Australia seems to admire this abuse greatly.

However, most Australians were not impressed by the abuse of press freedom by the tabloid press of News Limited in Britain.

Clearly "self-regulation" was a disaster there.

They couldn't handle it.

The daily attacks by News Limited on the Gillard Government is actually the main reason why her Government is under stress.

The often vitriolic attacks generally lack substance.

A good Government could be destroyed this way.

The new legislation, apparently aiming to limit this trend, should be welcomed by all Australians.

It is also hard to believe that the proposed legislation is criticised by the Sydney Morning Herald in today's editorial.

Email, 14 Mar 2013

Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach