News Corp’s policy on the separation of news and comment contradicts a core Press Council principle

Abstract

There is a conflict between the general principle of the Australian Press Council concerning the separation of news from comment and the editorial policy of News Corporation (News Corp) which allows its journalists to mix the two so that readers might see what the newspaper’s view is on the matter being reported. This article argues that this policy is a crucial part of the machinery that enables the Murdoch press to prosecute feuds, intimidate politicians and engage in hyper-partisan campaigning without regard for truth or consequences. It further argues that the Press Council is compromised in dealing with it by its reliance on News Corp as the single biggest provider of its funding. The argument is reinforced by the Council’s incapacity to answer straightforward questions about how it accommodates the conflict between its principle and News Corp’s policy.