How Rupert Murdoch is influencing Australia's bushfire debate (Forbes India)
Murdoch's standard-bearing national newspaper, The Australian, has repeatedly argued that this year's fires are no worse than those of the past
Forbes India
BY DAMIEN CAVE
7 min read
January 11, 2020
... narrative that’s been promoted for months by conservative Australian media outlets, especially the influential newspapers and television stations owned by Rupert Murdoch...His standard-bearing national newspaper, The Australian, has also repeatedly argued that this year’s fires are no worse than those of the past — not true, scientists say, noting that 12 million acres have burned so far, with 2019 alone scorching more of New South Wales than the previous 15 years combined.
And on Wednesday, Murdoch’s News Corp., the largest media company in Australia, was found to be part of another wave of misinformation. An independent study found online bots and trolls exaggerating the role of arson in the fires, at the same time that an article in The Australian making similar assertions became the most popular offering on the newspaper’s website.
It’s all part of what critics see as a relentless effort led by the powerful media outlet to do what it has also done in the United States and Britain — shift blame to the left, protect conservative leaders and divert attention from climate change.
“It’s really reckless and extremely harmful,” said Joëlle Gergis, an award-winning climate scientist at the Australian National University. “It’s insidious because it grows. Once you plant those seeds of doubt, it stops an important conversation from taking place.”
More here
http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/how-rupert-murdoch-is-influencing-australias-bushfire-debate/57055/1
= new reply since forum marked as read
Many geologists now argue that our planet is now in the Anthropocene Period, marked by the major changes to biota on land and sea caused by human impact. Considering what is happening with greenhouse gasses and just how long it will take to ameliorate the damage done, I propose that the first epoch of the Anthropocene Period ought to be remembered as the Murdochian Epoch.
In response to many of the good-hearted folks objectIng to my suggestion, I would argue that sometimes the evil some people do ought to be remembered.
Things didn't have to be this way. Things could have been a lot better. Thanks for nothing, Rupert.
