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Media pack unthinking & agenda pushing

Australia's media is currently entering into very dangerous territory and, unfortunately, there are not enough wise heads among any of the news groups around to halt an inexorable slide into irrelevance.

In days gone by journalists were supposed to give the facts, both sides of the story and then let the public decide issues for themselves.

Nowadays - and it doesn't really matter whether it is print or electronic media - the reporter gives an interpretation of events, or comments on matters, rather than doing their job as presenters of accurate information.

Take, for example, the bayings of the media pack over the Governor-General and the various issues that are sticking poo to him faster than an unlucky septic-tank cleaner.

Firstly do I think the GG got it wrong in his dealings with those scum peds in the Anglican church. They should have been sacked, then hanged drawn and quartered. But he didn't and that is on his conscience.

As for these rape charges - well they are to be tested in court and all that should be said on the matter is the fact that the legal system should be the judge, jury and punisher, not the media.

However, what those calling for the GG's resignation seem to forget is that everyone is entitled to be considered innocent under the law until it is proven otherwise. People should not be punished until found guilty.

Therefore all those clamouring for Peter Hollingworth to resign have got the basics wrong. If he is found guilty then he should be drummed out of the country - let alone the office of Governor-General - but the allegations against him have to be proven.

To me, it smacks of reporters and commentators losing sight of their jobs and instead pushing their own barrows or agendas.

It gives many of the pro-republican media a good opportunity to kick the office of Governor-General - without deference or thinking about fairness, legality or common decency.

Peter Hollingworth has stepped aside from the official role of GG, but he should not resign - yet.

Why? Well, if he quits then he will be marked as a man who resigned over rape allegations. It would not matter if he was later found innocent - his notation in history's page would be unfairly sullied.

So, as all decent and thinking Australians will no doubt agree, the man is innocent until found guilty and so therefore should not be hounded into infamy by a media that has lost the plot.

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