Partly by default and partly by design, The Australian is this country’s best newspaper.
But its great strengths are compromised by many flaws and seriously compromised by one big obsession. The flaws are idiosyncratic, erratic and often harmless. The obsession is fervid and relentless.
The Australian’s great obsession is with itself. It is narcissism of the kind that can’t be found in any other substantial English-language newspaper. Not only is this entrenched narcissism deeply embarrassing, it regularly undermines the paper’s otherwise legitimate credentials as a purveyor of serious journalism.
Almost no publication day passes without The Australian writing about itself, quoting itself, defending itself, congratulating itself, praising its writers, glorifying its proprietor, assailing its competitors or flailing at the shadows of its perceived enemies. On almost any random day it carries more references to itself in its own pages than any other respectable newspaper does in a month.
Today, for example, it publishes a defence of itself against other media (including Crikey) on its news pages, and a leader defending itself against criticism from ABC broadcaster Jon Faine on the editorial page.
If there is a key to The Australian’s manic self-absorption, it lies in the idea of campaigning. At other newspapers and TV networks, campaigning journalism is one of the highest forms of participating in the disclosure responsibility of the fourth estate. At The Australian, even though many of its campaigns are important and effective, the campaign often seems to be as much a statement about itself as it is about the subject it is covering.
Over recent weeks the paper has been embroiled in a “campaign” to reveal information about the activities of Victoria’s Chief Police Commissioner and to attack the state’s Office of Police Intergrity — a campaign that has coincided with the OPI litigating against The Australian itself. Of course, The Australian denies there is any link or vendetta involved, but this is far from the first occasion in which the newspaper finds itself “reporting” negatively about individuals or organisations with whom it has ideological, legal, personal, political or commercial disputes.
In many cases these “campaigns” last for months or years and create the clear impression that this is a newspaper with an active enemies list that is pursued vigorously under the pretext of objective journalism. And, one might add, pursued by an editor and his loyal reporters and columnists who, when they wind themselves up, act more like members of a cult than members of a journalistic institution.
The Australian’s obsession with itself is sad. Not for the insecurity or pretentiousness it reveals about itself, but because, partly by default and partly by design, The Australian is this country’s best newspaper.
I only notice what the Oz publishes in passing, via blogs and the traffic on the Internet etc. I can’t imagine ever buying a copy.
If, as you sayEric, the Australian is this country’s best newspaper, then there really isn’t much future for the rest of them. 🙁
P.S. I’m glad I’m a Crikey subscriber. I just hope you can keep the beast alive.
The alternative is pretty awful to contemplate.
In the paper’s defence of itself, “Rosebud” rants about conflict of interest and “how should it react?” – if it’s employees acted more impartially, with less overt self-interest and pushing their own barrows – like “professional” journalists, instead of small town hacks – then maybe they wouldn’t be seen as precious prima donnas out for their own aggrandizement.
It wasn’t their ability that brought them to this “pinnacle”, it was certain media ownership laws “that sunk any opposition”.
“And now, for “Best Dressed White Man on the Island” …… drum roll Friday…”
When campaigning on issues the Oz leads the nation; take the BER, or go back to the Haneef case.
But yes, the paper loves itself too much. (Editor) Mitchell, in his present personal, highly vindictive campaigns against Rudd and Overland, is out of control. Fancy doing Paul Mullett’s bidding.
The Oz is a perfect example of what’s wrong with Australia, that’s right!. Self obsessed xenophobic, delusional rightarded superiority complex sums it up well. All to placate those unfortunate enough to read it, ask yourself who owns it? Australians would shit themselves if they had decent press, not one that strokes their ego while pulling the wool over their eyes. The crap that covers it gives you the impression it been used as a wipe already. Sorry to go easy on your opposition Crikey, pssst “I don’t think they can handle the truth”
All the australian newspapers are captive to the advertising machine and to the egos of their executives. I am reading them less and less and using the internet more and more. The stuff on the internet is mostly pretty dreadful, but there are many nuggets amongst the mud.The Oz is the most bioased. It only ever gives the Big Business side of the argument and is pretty much the conduit for all the neo liberal think tanks and their pedagogues in Australia.
A good paper does not pick the same side on every issue. The Oz does and as a consequence it is not a good newspaper. Now that the Liberal Party has rid itself of anyone who believes that there is “society” the Oz is, as someone quite rightly said the Liberal Party Gazzette. And it is even less liberal.