Radio show whips up 'furries in schools' panic | Media Watch

Key Concepts

• Defamation case: Ben Roberts-Smith vs. Nine media group
• War crimes allegations against Ben Roberts-Smith
• Privileged legal material and ethical breaches
• "Furry" panic in schools: Debunked claims
• Moral panic and media sensationalism
• NRL expansion in AFL territory: Kerry Stokes and Seven West Media
• Conflict of interest and media bias

Ben Roberts-Smith Defamation Case: Appeal Dismissed

• Main Point: Ben Roberts-Smith's appeal against the defamation case brought by Nine media group was dismissed, resulting in further costs for Roberts-Smith.
• Background: Nick McKenzie published allegations seven years ago that Roberts-Smith killed or was complicit in the killing of four prisoners in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith sued for defamation but lost two years ago.
• Court Ruling: The full court of the federal court unanimously found that the evidence was "sufficiently cogent" to support the findings that Roberts-Smith murdered four Afghan men. The full judgment will be released after government vetting for security concerns.
• Conspiracy Allegation: Roberts-Smith alleged a conspiracy involving Nick McKenzie exploiting improper access to his legally privileged material.
• Evidence: The central evidence was an 85-second snippet of a phone call between McKenzie and "Person 17," a witness, where McKenzie said he had sources briefing him on Roberts-Smith's legal strategies. McKenzie also said, "I shouldn't tell you I've just breached my ethics and doing that like this is where like this is leadership position now."
• Court's Assessment: The court dismissed the conspiracy allegations, finding the recording ambiguous and unreliable. They noted the snippet was decontextualized, and the full conversation was unknown.
• McKenzie's Credibility: The court found McKenzie to be a witness of credit, suggesting his words on the tape indicated an incentive to exaggerate to reassure the witness and gain her trust.
• Recording Origin: The court accepted that Person 17 made the recording and communicated it to at least one other person, but did not determine who sent it to Roberts-Smith's lawyers.
• Media Coverage: Articles in The West Australian failed to acknowledge the paper's proprietor, Kerry Stokes, had a pecuniary interest in the case, having helped fund Roberts-Smith's defense.
• Secret Deal Allegation: Roberts-Smith claimed Nine agreed to a secret deal with Person 17, paying her $700,000 to prevent her from giving direct evidence of McKenzie's use of privileged material.
• Roberts-Smith's Response: Roberts-Smith pledged to take his case to the High Court.
• Significance: The court's decision is a vindication for whistleblowers and investigative reporting.

"Furry" Panic in Schools: Debunked Claims

• Main Point: Lucy Zelich and Clinton Maynard on 2GB radio promoted unverified claims about "furries" in schools, which were later debunked.
• Allegations: Zelich claimed that in a Catholic school in the Hills district, children were identifying as animals, with one student barking like a dog and being treated as normal. She also claimed litter boxes were placed in classrooms.
• Lack of Investigation: Zelich admitted to not thoroughly investigating the claims.
• Maynard's Involvement: Clinton Maynard amplified the claims, stating there were "a billion hits" on social media and "hundreds and hundreds of comments" about furries.
• Dubious Callers: Talkback callers made unverified claims of furries on the rampage.
• Government Whistleblower Claim: Maynard claimed a girlfriend of a proofreader for the education department said it was policy that teachers couldn't say anything if a child came to school as an animal.
• Fact-Checking: Maynard eventually contacted the education department, which contradicted the claims.
• Denials: The minister's office, the Catholic schools body, and the Independent Schools Association all rejected Maynard's allegations.
• 2GB's Defense: 2GB defended its journalism by stating the segment aired in response to listener and social media correspondence and that the claims were unverified.
• Analysis: The segment was characterized as a clumsy attempt to stir moral panic and bait outrage to drive up listeners.

NRL Expansion and Kerry Stokes's Reaction

• Main Point: The West Australian newspaper and its owner Kerry Stokes reacted strongly to the NRL's expansion into Perth, especially after a Seven West Media executive became the CEO of the new Perth Bears team.
• Background: The West Australian criticized the WA government's financial support for the Perth Bears.
• Anthony Degley's Appointment: Anthony Degley, a senior executive at Seven West Media, was appointed CEO of the Perth Bears.
• Stokes's Reaction: Kerry Stokes was reportedly "livid" and saw Degley's departure as a "sign of treachery."
• Media Coverage: The Daily Telegraph had fun at Stokes's expense, while The Sydney Morning Herald reported Seven's share price climbed 6.5% on news of Degley's exit.
• Prior Involvement: Degley had previously visited Las Vegas with NRL chairman Peter Valandis and reportedly persuaded Stokes to sign off on a new NRL show on Seven.
• West Australian's Coverage: The West Australian downplayed Degley's departure, promoting Ray Cucker to lead 7's national news team instead.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The Media Watch segment highlights several critical issues within the Australian media landscape. The Ben Roberts-Smith case underscores the importance of investigative journalism and the challenges of defamation law. The "furry" panic demonstrates how easily misinformation can spread and the responsibility of media outlets to verify claims. Finally, the NRL expansion story reveals the complex relationships between media ownership, sports, and business interests, and the potential for bias and conflict of interest. The segment emphasizes the need for media literacy and critical evaluation of information.