2DayFM?

[FenceFurniture]

So what your saying is if Media want's to continue to make money all governments and the countries laws do not apply to them.

Eh? Nah mate, not even close to saying that.

I'm simply saying that Jacintha was responsible for the extreme over-reaction that she took, nobody else is.

I had already refuted "I guess what your saying is that media are allowed to do anything they like regardless of the outcome", which is a different way of saying the same thing isn't it?

I dunno, maybe we are at cross-purposes or something here. The only thing I've said about the media is that they love to beat up something until hysteria sets in because it sells papers. IMO, the vast majority of the commercial media will go to any depths of crap to make money. Whether or not they are digging at something factual, worthwhile, or indeed in the public interest is completely irrelevant to them. They just want viewers/listeners/readers so they can make money from advertising. They do not care how they get them.

The worst examples of the media that I despise are
the British tabloids (generally)
Shock Jocks
A Current Affair
Today Tonight
Anything to do with Murdoch
Anything to do with Fairfax
Most things to do with Packer (although I admire their philanthropy, and I supported the World Series Cricket revolution).
and anybody else that screams "our Thorpy" or "we did this for you" or "your newspaper" like we owe them something. It's almost emotional blackmail on a grand scale. Tribal mentality. Bush - "if you're not with us then your against us (and we'll take that as licence to kill you if you disagree)"

How about this then? What if Alan Jones had topped himself (now there's a thought..........Alan? Are you a member? Someone send him a PM.) after it was revealed that he had referred to Gillard's father dying of shame? Would there have been a public outcry at the journalist who recorded it? I think not! I know it's a bit different, I'm trying to illustrate the point.

[MICKYG]

I believe that the word "yobbo's" would be appropriate for this particular pair.

Not very nice in any ones language.

Regards Mike

[A Duke]

I think you all need a Bex and a cup of tea.

[artme]

I think you all need a Bex and a cup of tea.

Wot!? And ruin my liver!!

[jack620]

Tell me Jack, would you have topped yourself over this?

Highly unlikely FF. But then I've never been subjected to worldwide ridicule, so I can't be sure. If I suffered from depression I certainly might have. Therein lies the problem with pranking people you've never met. You have no idea what their mental state is.

[FenceFurniture]

Therein lies the problem with pranking people you've never met. You have no idea what their mental state is.

Yeah, well that's reasonably fair enough, although I'd have to say that if their state of mind was that fragile, then if not this, it would be something else in the near future that would push them over the edge (and that wouldn't normally push someone over the edge).

At the end of the day, all Jacintha did was pass the call onto somebody else, who actually committed the breach of privacy. If the second nurse had said "naff off you dopey imposters" we'd never have heard of any of them again. And I'd say that they still would have broadcast the (in this case) failed prank.

[AlexS]

Even if you discount the fact that the nurse committed suicide, there was never any doubt that whoever involved at the hospital would get, at the very least, a good bollocking. Even if the juvenile presenters didn't think about this, or think about the ethics of obtaining and broadcasting confidential medical details, the stunt was, according to the station, run past their lawyers beforehand. IMHO, as serial offenders, it's time this station lost its broadcast licence.

How poorly trained and downrigh bloody stupid were both of the staff involved?

The job of nursing staff is to nurse, not respond to puerile twerps ringing them at some ridiculous hour of the morning. I suppose you'd criticise the broadcasters for being poorly trained in nursing?

[Jonzjob]

There have been some very interesting replies here.

Before anyone thinks it I am not trying to knock the Aussie media at all. They are basically all the same and will do anything they think will plush their numbers up. A while back the clown Jonathan Ross was barred from the BBC after several stupid incidents, but he has always been a clown anyway. Have a look at this for an exaple.

Jonathan Ross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Russel Brand is just as bad! Idiots both!

The hospital have stated that there wasn't any action taken against Jacintha or anyone else. I would think that there is a proceedure for this kind of thing but at 5 in the morning it would be so very easy to make mistakes. I worked shifts in the R.A.F. for 12 years on large transport aircraft and I know just how it feels at that time.

The hospital has been used by the Royal family for a fair old while now and there will be proceedures for just about everything, but for some idiot to phone up doing even a bad impersonation of the Queen? A bit like a micro wave manufacturer not putting in the instructions about not drying your dog in it really?

[Grumpy John]

These two morons and the likes of Kyle Sandilands, Alan Jones, Yumi Stynes, et al are the reason I don't listen to the radio any more. I have over 17,000 songs on my Ipod and play that on random through my car stereo. I'm no doubt missing out on hearing some good new music (although I doubt it ), but, as FF states so eloquently, I am in control over my anger, and I choose not to get angry. As far as the media in general go I don't watch the news (on any channel), don't watch any current affair shows and rarely read newspapers. Am I ignorant and uninformed? Probably, but the media will put their own spin on a story to get the best ratings, not to give you the truth, don't think for a moment these journo's are doing their job for a noble cause.

[Grumpy John]

They were bad in 1974, and they aren't any better now.

That night when on stage, the Chairman of the Board let fly. In a prickly monologue, he described journalists as “bums”, and as for “the broads who work for the press”: “hookers” worth “a buck and a half” at best.

Frank Sinatra, July 1974.

[jimbur]

What do they put down on their CVs when applying for jobs on the station? Hobbies - ringing doorbells and running away?

[Wongo]

Would you have topped yourself over this?

I wouldn’t but it is very easy for me to say. Almost too easy. But maybe it is not so easy for a naive, trusting, loving, wife and mother from India, knowing the whole world knows about it. She must be feeling terribly embarrassed or even shameful. With no one to talk to in her little hospital apartment.....

Anxiety and depression lead people to do irrational things, and you better believe it. It is why they are wrapping the 2 DJs in cotton wool.

Anyway, I feel sorry for her, her 2 kids and her family.

[artme]

As we learn more about this episode several things are becoming clear.

This stuff was recorded and the vetted by people further along the
chain of command. Where does responsibility at the station therefore lie?

It may well be that Australian laws have been broken in pulling this prank.

How much training is given and by whom, to both the hospital staff with regard to
protocols, and to the radio station with regard to the law and ethics?

[artme]

Good rant GJ!

My view is that you miss a lot by not listening to Alan Jones.

[Wongo]

Is AJ still on air? I thought he is now a Catholic priest.