The Channel 7 (Australia) news department must make money for their corporate bosses hand over fist. Otherwise, how else do they survive?
Remember when their former current affairs host, Naomi Robson (now retired), was the laughing stock of the country because members of her crew (allegedly) released a tape of her swearing and calling their audience “dumb”? (link)
Then there was the Channel 7 news story about how lax airport security is in Australia which featured a reporter walking onto a plane supposedly carrying box cutters in her handbag. When her day in court came around (because this is illegal) Channel 7’s defense was “YOU CAN’T PROVE SHE TOOK THE KNIFE ON THE PLANE”, suggesting that perhaps they just pretended and it was a post-production trick. (link)
And today there is the story that reporter Nicholas Boot at Today Tonight has been ‘suspended’ after chaining an old woman in a nursing home to a cupboard to fake a story.
Of course, faking stories isn’t new to Today Tonight. Older viewers might remember when Dave “Sluggo” Richardson made a highly misleading report on Christopher Skase. Richardson was suspended from duty for a month. This episode was fictionalized in the ‘One Rule for One’ episode of Frontline, where Martin di Stasio is suspended for a month for doing exactly the same thing. Of course, in Marty’s case, being ‘suspended’ means a month’s paid vacation. He turns up to work and just sits around reading the paper and drinking beer. He’s actually rewarded by the producer because of the ratings they scored for the fictional show.
Anyone know where Boot is today?
Wow, Great minds think alike! I said the same thing (sort of) in the comments of that story (seems they have cleaned it up???). I also went on to say I think TT and ACA think Frontline is a training video!
You can find a video on the age site of the story (I am sure it will be on YouTube within a day or so): http://media.fairfax.com.au/?sy=age&category=Breaking%20News&rid=25926
The Age have vote on if “Boot should get the boot”. Personally, I voted no. Boot is just doing what he is told, boot the whole show if you ask me and do Frontline reruns.
Molly
FYI
Mr Boot, or Nikko to his mates, is now chief speech writer for our old mate Sol over at Sensis.
FB…. you are joking… right? I ask because I could almost believe it.
Some of Nikko’s new slogans for Telstra………
“Lets see you leave us after we chain you up”
“Sensis Search Shits On Google”
“Dont let the others rip you off…….that’s our job”
“Use Yellow…… our piss is the best”
“The Internet ?????? yes, that belongs to us too”
It seams that all the so called carrier minded Egos will do or say anything to gain what they wan’t.
This world today is now puting the $Dollar first and opening the window to dispose of all the hard work that made Australia Beautiful. What a Turn-off!
I just listened to the playback of the tape with Naomi Robson’s foul mouth, another Turn-off!
I couldn’t work out the reason why Naomi Robson never lasted very long on Dancing With The Stars, now I know why!