MEDIA WATCH
With so many jobs being cut from newspapers,radio and television stations, democracy is suffering and journalists are becoming an endangered species. It is becoming lonely working as a surviving reporter in increasing parts of Australia .
You get an idea of the situation in Queensland . Due to the Murdoch closure of some regional papers, the Townsville Bulletin runs supplements from some of those places. In a recent four- page regional roundup from Charters Towers, all 10 stories carried the byline of busy Trudy Brown ,seemingly the last reporter left standing .
Once again , The Bulletin has been running inappropriate, smiling stock photographs of a reporter in serious stories. One about a man being bashed at home, another covering a gang of kids in a brutal assault and with a two-page spread about vigilantes putting themselves in danger by taking the law into their hands . It must be embarrassing for the female reporter , makes the paper seem insensitive and is poor subbing as well .
In another matter, there is an early morning ABC newsreader who irritates with his mispronounced place names . Auckland, New Zealand , comes across as Akland ; the New South Wales country town of Scone has become a Floh Bjelke -Petersen scone.
