10 December 2010

Ding Ding Ding - Gloves come off in Posetti v. The Oz

| johnboy
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Media Spy are thoroughly enjoying the blue between the University of Canberra’s journalism lecturer (and twitter evangelist) Julie Posetti and the Editor in Chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell.

HWL Ebsworth, acting for Posetti, wrote in a reply today that Posetti denied defaming Mitchell and that she would not publish an apology or correction. Posetti holds that the tweets constituted fair reporting of proceedings of public concern.

“Whether or not the matters stated by Ms Wahlquist were right or wrong, they were matters that nevertheless related to a matter of public interest, namely, the conduct of journalism and the editorial policy of a major national newspaper in relation to climate change, being in itself a significant question of public interest, especially in the lead up to a Federal election,” the reply said.

Ms Posetti also responded to Mitchell’s kind offer of a tour of the Oz’s operations:

The letter also responded to Mitchell’s offer for Posetti to visit The Australian’s offices to observe its day-to-day operations. Posetti indicated that she would be glad to assent: provided that Mitchell attended some of her lectures at the University of Canberra.

In a sneering response published on The Australian’s website, Mitchell claimed that Posetti’s actions showed that she would be an incompetent lecturer.

“It is fascinating that a journalism lecturer and a university are risking public money to defend their right to publish lies, already admitted as such by the speaker,” he said.

“I marvel at the lessons Ms Posetti’s students must be taking from her action and that of the university. They are lessons that will have to be forgotten quickly should any of Ms Posetti’s students ever become journalists.”

To all of Ms Posetti’s former students currently applying for jobs at The Australian, I wish you the very best of British luck.

UPDATE: The full version of Julie Posetti’s letter is on the Vice Chancellor’s blog.

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“I encourage you to read The Australian once in a while – if only to maintain the rage.”

There is nothing wrong with the coverage in the Australian. Its fair and balanced, even Julia Gillard said so.

Gungahlin Al12:16 pm 10 Dec 10

I am frequently amazed (but probably shouldn’t be) at how some journos (and waanabe journos) are more than happy to dish it out, but have a total spack attack should anyone dare question them.

“The letter also responded to Mitchell’s offer for Posetti to visit The Australian’s offices to observe its day-to-day operations. Posetti indicated that she would be glad to assent: provided that Mitchell attended some of her lectures at the University of Canberra.”

– I love this bit!

Prof. Ian Lowe is wont to say “I encourage you to read The Australian once in a while – if only to maintain the rage.”

Hmmm… Looks like I’ll have to settle for Public Service PR… journalism degree fail!

Ha ha – man I hate the Oz. I couldn’t stop laughing at Janet Albrechtsen’s article yesterday defending the right to free speech. In light of the fact that her editor is considering taking legal action against someone who has fairly and acuratley reported what was said at a conference (and the tapes show that it was fairly reported), it was a good laugh.

Wasn’t the Oz a prominent member of the “Australia’s Right to Know” campaign?? I think Australia has a right to know about the nation’s most prominent broadsheet having editorial policies that would please Genghis Khan.

amarooresident310:50 am 10 Dec 10

Must be nice to have a national newspaper that you can use for personal vendettas. What a douche.

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