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Media trends digest – 2006

Read between the lines: media reform missed the real issues (15 August)

(Opinion) As the Federal Government carefully puts the finishing touches on its media reform package, the real proposals of the reform are buried deep beneath a deluge of information for Australians to digest about our transition into the digital world.

For all its benefits, the package still encourages the gloomy scenario of an Australian media dominated by the corporate conglomerates.

Communications Minister Helen Coonan may trumpet the huge technological scope of the $3.1 billion investment in broadband internet services through the Connect Australia package and the Communications Fund and is reinforced by the Government’s development of a national Broadband Blueprint.

But when it comes to questions about the diversity of news and information available to Australians under the new laws, she has very little to say.

The cornerstone in any democracy is freedom of press, and a multitude of press sources and voices of opinion. The current system, derided by Coonan as outdated, contains safeguards ensuring diversity of ownership within the Australian media.

Under the new guidelines, restrictions on ownership in the three major sectors of the media - print, radio and television - will be largely removed.

Australia’s media ownership is already one of the most concentrated in the world. Of our 12 daily papers, 10 are owned by only two organizations.

The Media and Entertainment Alliance fears the revamp will lead to a feeding frenzy as big media players get bigger by swallowing vulnerable small media companies.

Despite ongoing revision, Senator Coonan’s package does nothing to address the media ownership faults, save for the curt suggestion that those looking for independent and less corporate opinions should spend their time browsing the internet.

The concern over this new package must be two-fold. Not only is the removal of the ownership restrictions anti-competitive, but it may seriously harm the standard of journalism within this country.

Australians deserve a vibrant media sector that can offer a variety of opinions and perspectives.

A media reform such as Senator Coonan’s, that carries the potential to send Australia’s media backwards, must be approached with a huge amount of scepticism.

By Ryan Mason

Further reading: Coonan policy; ABC Mediawatch; Media Alliance view

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