Headlines and other mythologies
Tuesday 11 September 2012 1:31 AM
Oh for Pete’s sake! It’s time to sack a few sub-editors and redraft some headlines.
First the SMH publishes a headline with a grossly inaccurate and misleading paraphrase of a statement by ACL’s Jim Wallace. (And then the Prime Minister and other pollies react to that.)
Now the ABC radio news reports that Peter Jensen (on Q&A) has ‘backed’ it.
Anyone who listened to Q&A would have heard the Archbishop say that Jim has been quoted out of context. What he did then proceed to address was Wallace’s actual point – that there are real health concerns affecting the lives of practicing gays.
Just to compound the editorial mediocrity, the same ABC news grab effectively places the phrase ‘political correctness’ on the lips of Peter Jensen in his call (same Q&A discussion) for respectful public dialogue. He didn’t use that phrase or any similar slogan. He chose his words much more carefully.
Heaven save us all from this 24/7 news cycle where the headline has become story!