More media diversity needed

The two documentaries about Rupert Murdoch's media empire, recently shown on ABC TV, clearly demonstrate the need for more media diversity in Australia.

Leaving Murdoch's remarkable entrepreneurship and the growth of News Corporation aside, the role of the powerful Corporation in pushing his own ideological preferences can only be described as demonstrably dangerous to democratic values.

PM Major was cast aside in favour of Thatcher in Britain; in Australia, Hawke, Keating and Howard were favoured.

Now it is Abbott and his team who are assisted by his newspapers, having 70 per cent of circulation here.

Winners are those who are favoured by Murdoch's personal world views but democracy is not a one-man show, quite the opposite.

That is why Gillard's legislation aiming at media diversity remains very important.

The Murdoch propaganda war against her is in full swing in this election.

A major reason why the Gillard Government is down in the polls is the non-stop negative treatment by the Murdoch media.

Election outcomes here should never be the result of the views of one media owner, amplified by his virtual media monopoly.

This is not a fair-go Australia.

Surely, it is a modern form of tyranny.

Voters should reflect on this.

Email, 14 May 2013

Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach