“The poor standard of The Canberra Times’ tabloid articles is illustrated by the lack of verification and taking quotes out of context… Canberra needs a daily newspaper that accurately reports, without stooping to the level of the Murdoch tabloids,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

A series of front-page features on a non-issue is simply tabloid attack journalism. It is reasonable to expect more serious reporting in the national capital’s daily newspaper.

The poor standard of The Canberra Times’ tabloid articles, that were picked up by many other news outlets across the country, is illustrated by the lack of verification and taking quotes out of context.

Even more telling was the number of other stories from the ACT, and around the world, that deserved front-page treatment but didn’t get it.

It was poor judgment on the part of Opposition Leader, Mark Parton, to send the “fuck my job is boring, wanna swap” text to anyone. It was probably intended as a joke. On reflection, it is a shame that it is getting harder and harder to crack jokes.

Authors Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson coined the term “getting Murdoched” in their new book Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch’s Media Wields Power and Punishment.

The term refers to “being targeted, intimidated, or publicly attacked through smear campaigns, relentless criticism, or manipulative reporting”.

In this case it appears that Parton was, at least for a relatively short period, “being Timesed”. Unfortunately, “Timesed” doesn’t have the same ring. So, who is the most culpable, the newspaper’s editor or the journalist who covers the Legislative Assembly?

It looked like a spicy story when presented as though the opposition leader would be happy to trade his position for that of a sex worker. Even though prostitution has been legal in the ACT since 1992, it still seems titillating to some.

One troubling aspect is the allegation about it being sent by Parton to a sex worker was never supported by reasonable evidence. And that allegation has never been substantiated since.

The original message was circulated with a statement added making it look like Parton had done so… but with social media, anyone could have adapted the original message to show it as pictured in the media. It may also have been intended as a joke!

Although admitting to the message about being bored during Estimates Committee hearings, Parton denies vigorously that he ever sent it to a sex worker.

On another tack, somehow the poor attempt at a joke has been construed as referring to his entire role as leader of the opposition as boring. This is pretty hard to believe.

It was clear from the start that this misjudgment was never intended to apply to the whole job. The headlines and leading sentences simply lost this context.

It is the case that the Estimates Committee process can be boring at times. It is tough when some participants wait extensive periods for MLAs from other parties to ask their series of questions.

There are not many jobs that do not have elements that are “boring”. It does not mean that the job itself is not meaningful, exciting or fulfilling.

Former Supreme Court justice Ken Crispin, who is the Legislative Assembly’s Standards Complaint Commissioner, determined not to consider the issue. Mr Parton reacted appropriately to this decision because it is not something that ought not be regarded “in the public interest”.

The reaction of the commissioner highlights the tabloid approach of The Canberra Times. A single story on the lack of judgment by the Leader of the Opposition made sense. But on the front-page? The follow up stories, such as getting reactions from other politicians and commentators, were just using Murdoch techniques.

The Canberra Times has the banner “To serve the National City and Through it the Nation”. Exposing a lazy, disinterested MLA would certainly be in the public interest. However, even with personality quirks (don’t we all have them?), it would be pretty hard to paint Parton’s record as opposition leader in this way.

According to Dennis Altman in The Conversation, “ad hominem attacks characterise much of the ideological warfare of the Murdoch press”. He argues that the book Getting Murdoched is “a forensic account of how the Murdoch empire bullies, intimidates and destroys individual citizens and governments”.

In my experience, this has rarely been the case with the local media in the ACT. This sort of tabloid approach really needs to be considered carefully and nipped in the bud. Canberra does need a daily newspaper that accurately reports, without stooping to the level of the Murdoch tabloids.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.

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