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Issue No. 218 | 30 April 2004 |
End of the Casual Affair
Interview: Terror Australis Unions: Graeme Beard's Second Dig Industrial: The Hell of Troy Organising: Miners Strike Gold Economics: The Accepted Wisdom History: Vicious Old Lady International: Out of Sight, Out of Mind Review: War Unfogged Poetry: TAFE
Static Hits Digital Revolution
Postcard The Soapbox The Locker Room Politics
Organ�s Manslaughter Pics
Labor Council of NSW |
Tool Shed FOX TOOL
***** Sam Chisholm, finds himself in the digital Tool Shed this week after a spectacular week of riding roughshod over his fellow Australians. Chisholm is a director of Telstra as well as being chair of Alan Jones employer, Macquarie Radio Network. No doubt Macquarie carry fearless coverage of Telstra despite the many hats crazy Sam likes to wear. Chisholm's commitment to freedom of expression was illustrated when his company ran off to court in an attempt to silence the ABC's Media Watch, who were making some interesting allegations about how business was done at Macquarie flagship, 2GB. On top of his comfortable sits at Telstra and Macquarie, Chissy is also the chair of Foxtel, so the old coot doesn't mind spreading himself a bit thin. Foxtel, of course, are famous for the digital revolution that isn't, and their effort to pay their installation subcontractors peanuts to do the pay-TV operator's dirty work. Their latest no-brainer is to refuse to talk to the subcontractors union and instead try the DIY approach and get their subscribers to install their new digital set up themselves, or better still try and pay couriers $30 to install it. Maybe Sam has been watching too many of those flaky TV home renovation shows. Sam joined his Foxtel CEO Kim Williams, Nepotee Lachlan Murdoch and Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski at the launch of the digital "revolution" at Foxtel, where no mention was made of the months many ordinary punters will have to wait before they can connect. Just what a loser Sam is was revealed a few weeks back when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame (Yes, we all had a laugh too) - no doubt for services to mediocrity. He took the opportunity to continue his lifetime of crawling by thanking the two social diseases, Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch. Chisholm has a great social conscience. He was on the board of Farmhand, the charity set up by Rupert Murdoch so that ordinary people could help sell the remaining public stake in Telstra. Chisholm obviously opposed Telstra's bizarre move to buy Fairfax, but was that because he believed the telco shouldn't be in the media? Or was it because he wanted to keep the reputable news provider on the market for his mates Kerry or Rupert, so that they could run it into the ground instead? He obviously has no problems with our largest telco being heavily involved in the media - being more than happy for it to jump into bed with pay television. Besides, no doubt Telstra's close relationship with the media saves it from close scrutiny. A handy thing if you're trying to use the Howard government's Not Nailed Down Act to pinch Telstra from the Australian public, against their wishes. Yes, it appears the man who brought us the high quality garbage that is the Nine Network is more than happy to use his role to continue the evisceration of what remains of public debate in this country. After all, why does the big end of town need an informed Australian public? How about another gameshow instead Sam? Sam Chisholm! Come on down! You're our Tool Of The Week!
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