What is the role of a newspaper?

[i-need-a-martini]

I would have thought it was the reporting of up to date information of relevence to the general public.

I read two newspapers this morning - the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.

The Sydney Morning Herald had fairly extensive news coverage of the what happened at Manus Island and some intelligent dialogue about what it means. Front page coverage as well as extensive coverage inside. They interviewed key witnesses, attempted to make contact with officials, have someone posted in PNG waiting for updates and have placed the incident into a national and global context. 

The Telegraph had a small blurb (approximately 6 short single line paragraphs) at the bottom of page 4 with a small headline which basically said little more than the body of a man murdered on Manus Island is now back in Iran and that the "people of Manus Isalnd have expressed their sadness that the violent death has drawn attention to their peaceful home".

And people get upset if you dare suggest that the Murdoch news is the media of choice for the least intelligent Australians...

[just_me_karen]

I think the difference is, the SMH is a newspaper, but the telegraph is LNP political propaganda disguised as a gossip mag.

[windrake]

I would rather wait for the results of the professional inquiry to be released rather than read the biased reporting of newspapers & the unsubstantiated verbal of vested interests.

[crystal**flake]

To line the budgie cage.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@windrake wrote:

I would rather wait for the results of the professional inquiry to be released rather than read the biased reporting of newspapers & the unsubstantiated verbal of vested interests.

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What vested interest do you believe that the SMH has? You can't exactly say it is anti Liberal or Left wing because it has exclusively brought some fairly damning investifgations against the Labor Party in the last 6months.

The SMH's reporting on this story is far from biased. They are simply providing the NEWS that is RELEVENT whilst it is topical.

And do you honestly believe that our media will be issued with the results of any professional inquiry that the government may or may not undertake? 

[boris1gary]

SMH, Telegraph, The Mercury, Courier Mail, Sun Herald, etc - all good for wrapping kitchen scraps, lining bird cages, toilet training puppies and kittens, starting fires (in the fireplace), wrapping stuff sold on ebay, crosswords............. forgot the Australian

[windrake]

By vested interests I mean migrant advocates & all the other NGO's who have vested interests to further the people smuggling industry, I wasn't referring to news media although they can be biased too like the ultra left Guardian.

[ufo_investigations]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I would have thought it was the reporting of up to date information of relevence to the general public.

I read two newspapers this morning - the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.

The Sydney Morning Herald had fairly extensive news coverage of the what happened at Manus Island and some intelligent dialogue about what it means. Front page coverage as well as extensive coverage inside. They interviewed key witnesses, attempted to make contact with officials, have someone posted in PNG waiting for updates and have placed the incident into a national and global context. 

The Telegraph had a small blurb (approximately 6 short single line paragraphs) at the bottom of page 4 with a small headline which basically said little more than the body of a man murdered on Manus Island is now back in Iran and that the "people of Manus Isalnd have expressed their sadness that the violent death has drawn attention to their peaceful home".

And people get upset if you dare suggest that the Murdoch news is the media of choice for the least intelligent Australians...

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Newspapers were good when you could get fish & chips wrapped up in them.

[izabsmiling]

Is it a case that even the best of media ...can only publish the information they are allowed to have access to ?

Our Government has made some information (which can be read overseas) part of a secret millitary operation 

our PM has said in the past ...there are some things the public have no right (or need) to know....

some things have been decided not to be in the public interest or fall into the right to know

[monman12]

The Telegraph had "a small blurb", how about this one INAM? : Telegraph

"the body of a man murdered" I would think that term (yours INAM) is more aptly replaced by "killed"

"the SMH have someone posted in PNG", actually the link above is from the Telegraph's  PAUL TOOHEY on Manus Island.

Sadly INAM what you complain about  is also apparent in the OP, and the subsequent comments from the pink  myopics: personal/political bias,  which is encapsulated by the term used to describe the unfortunate death .

SMH:              "one person was killed,  the man who died, A man has been killed. "
Telegraph:    "the violent death, the riot that killed,  left one Iranian asylum seeker dead "
INAM              "the body of a man murdered"

At least Annie LL is open in her hostility  (aim) to the media that she perceives as opposing her political outlook.

"I would rather wait for the results of the professional inquiry to be released rather than read the biased reporting of newspapers & the unsubstantiated verbal of vested interests."
Good/logical reaction WR, because the vested  (political) interests herein mostly overide any desire for facts or research.

Business Spectator (who reads it?)
"Western Australia's election looks set to showcase a sorry wave of hyperbole from each side of politics - and ignore Australia's real standing and urgent needs. "

That sums up what is constant reality here.

nɥºɾ