Do you think current ABC programming, news and current affairs in particular, has any noticable leftist slant? If so, what can be done about it?

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Answers

the only slant I notice in the news and current affairs is towards trying to find and report truths about, and root causes of, the events we see about us. No, I do not notice a leftish slant tony hedemann

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

What? Bias in the ABC? I challenge anyone to find a conservative voter who can't detect the bias. Try listening to the BBC world service to hear truly objective journalism. When defending allegations of bias some staff defend themselves by pointing out the mainstream media is full of conservative bias, which is true. However, if we regard the bias in mainstream media as a bad thing, why would we accept that bias in our national broadcaster is OK? What I want is confidence that I am being told the whole truth.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Myself I see some leftist bias, but I think it is not as bad as some suggest. ABC news and current affairs seems to be the worst offender, say for example having Kerry O'Whats His Name (I forget) on the 7:30 Report. Kerry being a well known Labor man. Four Corners seems to do a reasonable job of balanced perspectives, for example you could hardly claim the expose on the CFMEU union was leftist could you?

At the end of the day I think ABC news and current affairs is streets ahead of anything else on Australian TV, it's not perfect by any means, but it is the best we have. If people out there want a more balanced approach to ABC programming I suggest they get behind the push to have an independently appointed ABC board, one that can be filled with people reflecting a wider range of views within this country. More representative ABC programming would surely flow from that.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

The answer is yes. There is an obvious overweighting in news and current affairs programs towards the views and interests of trade unions, green groups, the peace movement - groups we associate with "the left". In turn, members of these groups campaign for more funding and "independence" for the ABC, in other words the vested interests of ABC staff and of-course also make up most of the FABC.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Both sides of politics tend to suffer from a form of media paranoia. They both see media bias against their point of view as being prevalent. Myself I'm a bit of a lefty and perceive a strong bias against left wing politics, but I hear many right wing people claiming a bias against right wing politics.

It's all a bit confusing. I suppose the only thing anyone can be certain of is that both sides perceptions of media coverage is coloured by their own views.

Oh, and thank god Shiers gone.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2001

Recently a friend of mine did an experiment that I did many years ago. First she tuned into the 5pm news. When that finished she selected a 6pm news. Then she followed these mainstream news programs with SBS and ABC.

The result was dramatic and obvious. The mainstream news did not give the complete story. Even worse, they were slanted heavily to the right. Obviously anyone who tells the whole story will be to the left of the right wing stations which only tell part of the story.

To call the mainstream news mainstream or middle is a misnomer, they are firmly in the right. The ABC is in the middle, telling the whole story. It's a question of perspective, the ABC is left of the right wing "mainstream".

I want all sides, left, right and centre. Then I can make up my own mind. The ABC does this for me. Without the ABC where would I turn to for real news?

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2002

What have you done with NYPD.Without a word you put a piece of trash in that time zone, you have insulted the fans of NYPD blue. Bring my tv back, YOu have ruined by favorite ABC tv. First The Practice and now NYPD.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2003