Antinuclear

Australia’s public liars being exposed

IPA falsifiers fear fact checking fad  Independent Australia   19 November, 2012  Serial deceivers, the Institute of Public Affairs, appear decidedly nervous about the prospect of fact checking coming to Australia, reports Alan Austin.

WATCHING the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) become appalled at the threat of fact checking coming to Australia has been one of this year’s more entertaining media experiences. Writing on The Drum online last week, IPA research fellow and (according to his bio on The Drum*) editor of the IPA Review, Chris Berg claimed fact checking – that is, ensuring what is written is actually true – is

‘…appealing in principle. It is disappointing – even futile – in practice.’

Well, of course it is ― to the IPA. Its Review almost rivals The Australian for distortions and falsehoods. Almost. Its writers almost match Andrew Bolt for fabrications. Well, no, not really………

Even pro-Republican Fox News called Romney and Ryan out on their multiple fabrications.

Steve Benen’s influential website meticulously documented Romney’s porkies throughout the 2012 presidential campaign. He ended up with a total of 917 by election day ― a tally that would make even Australia’s “Lying Rodent” blush.

Most commentators assess this to have been a factor in the huge win for President Obama. How significant it was, of course, impossible to measure.

More urgently for Australia’s IPA, recent focus on the lies of their pal, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, has coincided with a dramatic fall in his approval rate to new record lows. Just coincidence? Again, hard to be certain. But the IPA is nervous……

Fact checkers are required primarily for calling out lies — deliberate statements of falsehood, made knowingly by politicians, the media and public commentators.

Australia, the USA and Britain today are rife with fabricators.

Journalists lie about public figures, about climate change and about Aboriginal people.

The IPA routinely fabricates and distorts in its advocacy on behalf of its undisclosed clients on tobacco marketing, internet privacy, climate change, controls over shonky charities and many other matters.

These are profound challenges facing Australia, the USA and Britain. Fact checkers can help us deal with them.  http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/business/media-2/ipa-falsifiers-fear-fact-checking-fad/

November 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, media, secrets and lies