Is the media accountable in the AFL?
I listened with interest to SEN radio on Sunday May 31. The discussion started on the Ben Cousin’s affair, but ended up a debate on how accountable the media is now with reporting of the facts. This of course on the back of the Terry Wallace affair and other recent stories.
One major problem that exists now is that media needs stories and there are heaps of AFL media people and really not much with substance to write about. Hey we all have to eat, so I understand the desperation for stories.
But from my perspective I have been privy to many articles that in my opinion were not factual about my circumstances, especially after I settled my termination case with Geeling in good faith with Brian Cook and was satisfied with the outcome. Also I wanted to enjoy watching the exploits of players I had worked with for 7 years and was involved with in 5 finals in 2004 & 2005. Once I had settled I simply had moved on, but these articles written in the media and launched onto the worldwide net were dissapointing and I am in the process of doing something about it .
How does one keep the media accountable?
The problem with litigation is of course the cost and time until resolved. Media outlets are well organized to battle these challenges and simply try and squeeze the common person with time and obvious resources. That is fair enough given they are a business. Legal costs can be astronomical. An individual versus a mega business is always tough. It is stressful and really as worthwhile as it is not worthwhile. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t but gut feel it is the only way to ram the message home.
If one goes and bleats in the media then one can simply get shot down. The “WINNERS ARE GRINNERS” philospohy means people will nearly always side with power and success and not the facts. Success must equal good! If a club is financial and well resourced and has good players and coaches then success seems to follow. Culture? Weird term!
It is so easy to say something now on a website or on the media but so many people are very lazy and do very little research and care not for the havoc they can cause with their slack work. Funny thing is I think that if people get off their backsides and do proper research they can get the facts right.
Once these stories became “fish and chip paper” but now often they appear on the internet for the world to read. That has changed the landscape even more and requires even more accountability.
Opinions are ok and anyone can have any opinion but the facts are different.
But of course the public simply often use sport as a carthasis for normal life, so these “subjective” articles are great to read over a quick coffee. That’s the reality.
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loris bertolacci 
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