'I'm gonna die with that': John Laws' iconic 7.30 moment | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Alan Jones's Controversy: The central theme revolves around public criticism and sponsor withdrawal from Alan Jones, a prominent broadcaster.
• "Cash for Comment" Allegations: A past scandal involving John Laws and his sponsors, used as a point of comparison.
• Sponsor Loyalty and Commercial Realities: The discussion explores the temporary nature of sponsor boycotts in commercial broadcasting.
• Hypocrisy and Public Figures: The concept of hypocrisy is applied to Alan Jones, with a past quote from John Laws highlighted.
• Media Performance and Public Perception: The role of a broadcaster as a "performer" and how public figures are perceived.

Alan Jones Controversy and Public Reaction

The discussion centers on the recent controversy surrounding Alan Jones, with the interviewer suggesting that Jones is facing increased scrutiny due to having "a lot of enemies who are milking this opportunity for payback." The interviewee, John Laws, expresses uncertainty about Jones's personal relationships ("I don't know about Allan's friends, nor do I know about Allen's enemies") and dismisses the relevance of other critics like Germaine Greer ("who cares what Jermaine Greer says anyway?"). Laws acknowledges that "people have" and "I'm sure they are" milking the opportunity to criticize Jones.

Comparison to "Cash for Comment" Allegations

John Laws draws a parallel to his own past experience with the "alleged cash for comment garbage." He states, "I'm going to die with that, even though all I was accused of was being excessively loyal to my uh to my sponsors. And I'm rather proud of that." This comparison is made to illustrate how public figures can face intense criticism, even for actions they perceive differently. The interviewer challenges this by suggesting that many would dispute Laws's characterization of the "cash for comment" as "garbage," to which Laws responds, "I don't care."

Sponsor Withdrawal and Commercial Radio Dynamics

The conversation addresses the fact that a number of Mr. Jones's sponsors have deserted him. Drawing on his "extensive experience in commercial radio," Laws predicts that this will be a "fleeting thing" and that sponsors will return "when the heat dies down." His reasoning is that Alan Jones is a "very, very competent broadcaster" with "a lot of listeners" who "accept what he says." Consequently, Laws believes Jones has "a lot of people who would buy the products that that he would endorse." He asserts, "Of course they'll come back. I mean, it's a commercial world." When asked how long this might take, Laws states, "I don't know. It doesn't matter to me."

Shifting Perspectives on Alan Jones

The interviewer points out that John Laws has made "very uncomplimentary" remarks about Alan Jones in the past, specifically recalling a statement on the "Enough Rope" program where Laws said, "if hypocrisy were an Olympic event, Mr. Jones would be a gold medal winner." The interviewer questions why Laws is being "quite moderate" in his current comments, suggesting surprise given their past. Laws responds by asking if the interviewer wants him to "get angry" and states, "I'm a performer. You tell me what you want me to do." He confirms that his view on Alan Jones remains consistent: "Yeah, I yes I still I still believe that Allan is uh uh is very good at hypocrisy very."

Underlying Reasons for Moderation

The interviewer probes further, asking if Laws's current understanding in this matter stems from a feeling of "you know but for the grace of God there go I." Laws explicitly denies this, stating, "No no no I don't think that at all."

Conclusion of the Interview

The interview concludes with John Laws thanking the interviewer for his time and confirming that he "did enjoy it" and "loved every minute."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Broadcaster: A person or organization that transmits programs on radio or television.
• Sponsors: Companies or individuals who provide financial support for a program or event in return for advertising.
• "Cash for Comment": A scandal where radio presenters were alleged to have promoted products or services in exchange for payment without disclosing the commercial arrangement.
• Hypocrisy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.
• Commercial Radio: Radio broadcasting that is funded by advertising.
• Performer: An individual who entertains an audience, often in a theatrical or broadcast context.