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by Mick Lambe |
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NAP action -- September 25, 2002 NAP -- Network Against Prohibition (acting on a tip-off) attended a 'drug raid' in Karama. Customs were inside the suburban house, the NT Police guarding the perimeter, when the NAP squad arrived. We quickly unfurled banners for the benefit of passing motorists and began distributing leaflets to a receptive public watching the action from across the road.
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Protest ignored by local media A story about the drug raid was published in the NT News the following day by 'cub reporter' Chris Carter, who neglected to mention the NAP protest. Not surprising, given his less than objective manner. |
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Political censorship... ...is a fact of life in Australia. Issues that challenge the 'axiomatic' worldviews necessary to continue the State's socially destructive programs in Australia, are often ignored or manipulated prior to publication. Racism and the persecution of drug users, are prime examples of this process. Manufacturing a story The NT News went 'over the line' when it offered NAP members publicity (after censoring the speed house protest) -- but only if we adhered to the NT News' formula. The interviewee's script Essentially the reporter wanted a NAP member to state, that marijuana was a 'soft' drug which caused no social harm... ...and that Police should only be targeting people involved with 'hard' drugs. The source would have to abide by a criteria. - Only smoked pot at home. - Used only pot as a recreational drug. - Criticized 'hard' drugs. - Believed Police were targeting the wrong people. Our attempts to have an honest interview failed, despite three conversations with this budding journalist. The reporter would not allow the interview, unless we agreed to his Editor's contrivances. The reporter's censorship of the NAP protest at an alleged 'speed house' (a few days earlier) was an essential part of this dishonest 'spin' which culminated in a series of articles addressing the 'drug war'.
The NT News edition of September 30, 2002 is led by a piece called 'Dope users fight for rights'. There is no mention of NAP, nor of any "dope users fight(ing) for rights". The lead story is about a 'dope user' (her identity is concealed) who has... "...a clean record..." "...is employed..." "...rarely drinks and does not use any other drugs." "...regularly participates in sport with a Darwin club." "(this courageous marijuana activist consumes) ...about $25 worth of cannabis (just over 2 grams) over a week." (and)"...smokes cannabis in the privacy of her own bedroom." "(Ms X, states,) I never take it out of the house and I'm not hurting anybody by doing it." "(Believes Police are targeting the wrong people by going after 'pot smokers' instead of those involved in hard drugs) ..."They (Police) should be focusing their time on young children being introduced to the hardcore drug of ecstasy that is known to kill".
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Complaint to Australian Press Council NAP will be submitting this article to the Australian Press Council (APC) as part of a complaint against the NT News. We allege that the NT News have censored NAP members on the basis of their political opinion, in order to push an obviously concocted (and therefore distorted) view of drug use and drug users in Darwin. The opinion pieces by NT Attorney General, Peter Toyne (Labor) and CLP Opposition Leader, Denis Burke, as well as the Editorial and sundry other drug related items that appeared in the September 30, 2002 issue of the NT News, demonstrate the extent of the NT News' campaign to dishonestly influence public opinion. |
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Extracts -- Statement of Principles (APC) Source "First, the freedom of the press to publish is the freedom of the people to be informed. This is the justification for upholding press freedom as an essential feature of a democratic society. This freedom, won in centuries of struggle against political and commercial interests, includes the right of a newspaper to publish what it reasonably considers to be news, without fear or favour, and the right to comment fairly upon it." "Second, the freedom of the press is important more because of the obligation it entails towards the people than because of the rights it gives to the press. Freedom of the press carries with it an equivalent responsibility to the public. Liberty does not mean licence(sic). Thus, in dealing with complaints, the Council will give first and dominant consideration to what it perceives to be in the public interest..." "...in considering complaints, the Council will have regard for these general principles." "1. Newspapers and magazines ("publications") should not publish what they know or could reasonably be expected to know is false, or fail to take reasonable steps to check the accuracy of what they report...." "...3. Readers of publications are entitled to have news and comment presented to them honestly and fairly, and with respect for the privacy and sensibilities of individuals." "4. News obtained by dishonest or unfair means, or the publication of which would involve a breach of confidence, should not be published unless there is an over-riding(sic) public interest." "5. A publication is justified in strongly advocating its own views on controversial topics provided that it treats its readers fairly by
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Ethics in journalism - (Could we have some here?)
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