The corporate owned media and government-controlled media form the mainstream outlet for news and opinion that hits our screens, travels through the airwaves and stains the nation’s newspapers with news print. They are brutally efficient in delivering a curated version of reality that bears little resemblance to what is happening on the streets, in our state capitals or around the world. They merely act as a propaganda machine morphing truth with untruth, morality with immorality and hope with cynicism. This melding of truth with deception has helped to create an eye wash that blurs the vision of a public eager to consume headlines and digest soundbites that are sprayed across the legacy media.

The mainstream media has become astute in dressing up injustice, inequality, racism and conflict as normal and acceptable as long as ‘our side’ does it. Conversely, it is hyper-critical when the ‘other side’ is merely suspected of a possible transgression. The past few months have presented huge challenges for political spin doctors and mainstream media hacks as ‘our side’ persistently escalates conflict by providing finances and increasing arms supplies to nations that are engaged in conflict or actively engaged in genocide. Currently, the hypocrisy pill is growing too big and too bitter for the public to swallow, as public protests grow louder, and innocent civilians are murdered whilst helping women and children in desperate need. Any attempt to swallow the mainstream media’s massive dose of deceit and double standards is likely to leave the public throwing up the utter garbage that is being served up as news and informed opinion. Yet, why do so many people continue to lap up the bulldust?

The role of the mainstream media is not so much to have the public believe all the stories it churns out 24/7. By pumping out a constant stream of propaganda, the mainstream media helps to administer a huge dose of untruth with the view that the public will swallow a large proportion of a world view that supports the status quo. This approach ensures the public’s attention is ushered from one crisis to the next, from one celebrity scandal to the next. So profuse are the issues, opinions and scandals that the public is left exasperated, bewildered and trapped within the echo chamber designed and directed by the same old people guided by the same old think tanks and industry groups that fund the same old major political parties. This same old process keeps the same old status quo firmly in place. Unfortunately, the mainstream media’s sophisticated echo chamber is very effective in keeping the public busy, distracted and very stressed to the point that the consumption of mainstream media headlines and soundbites serve as a convenient substitute for investigative journalism and well researched news and opinion.

As our world wrestles with multiple crises, the mainstream media has been required to drastically increase its daily dose of steroids to its propaganda machine in a desperate attempt to dupe the public into believing the dross that poses as news and opinion. So blatant is the hypocrisy, double standards and deception that stain the blood-soaked podiums where politicians step down from after delivering speech after speech in an attempt to normalise military escalation, war and genocide. Meanwhile, the mainstream media does its bit by downplaying our nation’s part in arms deals and smothering the voices of whistle blowers.

Six months have passed in which the systematic destruction of Gaza along with its inhabitants continues unchecked. Repeated calls for a ceasefire resolution in the UN have repeatedly been stymied by our nation’s great partner and fervent supporter of democracy and freedom for all nations great and small, the USA, with the full support of its key western allies. Meanwhile, crimes against humanity continue to be perpetrated daily by a settler colonial regime that actively practices apartheid. As the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) exercises unrestrained terror against Palestinian civilians, the mainstream media regularly sanitises the news for public consumption. It glosses over the depravity exercised by the IDF, ignores senior Israeli ministers’ calls to wipe out Palestinians and continues the ridiculous tactic of prefacing each report and interview with the events of 7th October 2023, despite the fact that Palestinian’s have been waging an armed struggle against the illegal occupation since 1948.

The heinous murder of innocent aid workers including Australian Zomi Frankcom by the IDF is proving difficult for the mainstream media to skim over due to her Australian nationality. Regardless, the major political parties have been working hard to politicise the issue, and have it buried under an investigation that will surely take a good deal of time so that the attention of the Australian public can be guided elsewhere. Meanwhile, the LNP is working overtime to deflect the outrage aimed at Israel by spewing out divisive rhetoric that is sure to provide the mainstream media with ample headlines and opinion pieces to refocus the public’s gaze.

The killing of Zomi Frankcom highlights how the mainstream media has been forced to focus on the tragic death of an individual, whilst it has been comfortable downplaying the intentional targeting and killing of scores of aid workers, UN staff, medical staff and journalists by the IDF. Meanwhile, the mainstream media continues to describe the devastating situation in Gaza as a ‘war,’ that was triggered off on 7th October 2023. Describing the situation as a war is a myth perpetuated by the mainstream media. This myth is based on another myth that tensions spilled over on 7th October 2023, ignoring the fact that Palestinians have been locked in a battle to free themselves from the colonial-settler regime since 1948. Another myth promulgated by the mainstream media is that there is parity between the opposing sides. Yet, Palestine does not have an army, it does not have an air force, nor does it have a navy. Israel is a nuclear armed state with one of the region’s most sophisticated and well-equipped defence forces that is generously funded by the USA. In 2022, the USA channelled $US 3.3 billion to Israel in aid, which has been topped up by additional packages in 2023 and further support on top of its annual packages is currently under consideration this year.

Despite the gravity of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handing down of its finding that Israel has intent to commit genocide, the mainstream media played its role by under-reporting this very significant international event. Following the ICJ’s finding, the western mainstream media went out of its way to bury this critical piece of news. Meanwhile, the death and destruction continues in Gaza despite the ICJ’s ruling to halt the slaughter of civilians.

The double standards championed by the mainstream media is breathtaking. When comparing the invasion of Ukraine by Russia over two years ago with Israel’s systematic bludgeoning of Gaza for the past six months, it is clear how stark the difference is in terms of the physical destruction, civilian deaths and the mainstream media’s treatment of Russia and Israel. It goes without saying that all wars are abhorrent, and each civilian casualty is one too many. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight the qualitative violence that is being meted out to Palestinians, which is on a wholly different level than what is being levelled against Ukrainians. The casualty figures and the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza bare no comparison between to those in Ukraine. Following the Russian invasion in February 2022, the western mainstream media worked itself up into a frenzy over each civilian death in Ukraine. Yet, the toll suffered by the Palestinian’s since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood six months ago has edged passed 34,000 deaths, dwarfing those suffered by the Ukrainians in the same period. Unlike the war in Ukraine, the vast majority of casualties in Gaza have been women and children. Despite the facts on the ground, the western mainstream media has glossed over the sheer scale of death and destruction in Gaza suffered at the hands of the IDF. The UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal described the IDF’s campaign as domicide, in which over 60% of all housing in Gaza has been levelled, some areas over 80% in the north. The devastation has brought about comparisons with the Allied bombing of Dresden in WW2. Yet, the mainstream media continues to work itself up into a lather over each and every casualty suffered by the Ukrainians whilst brushing aside thousands killed in Gaza. The mainstream media has labelled Vladimir Putin as a mad dictator and Russia a rogue nation. As a consequence, western nations have imposed scores of sanctions against Russia, banning trade through to sports players at international events. During this time, the mainstream media has egged on anti-Russian sentiment calling for a ban on Russian cultural figures and events. Meanwhile, an active genocide is underway against the Palestinian people and its business as usual with Israel. Trade and relations continue over the bodies of dead Palestinian civilians. The Israeli settler colonial regime is yet to be dubbed a rogue nation despite the daily war crimes that are reported and summarily ignored by western democracies who pontificate over the rights of small nations. The gravity of an active genocide has not ruffled a feather on the back of the mainstream media. It’s treatment of the Israeli settler colonial regime run by a government filled with fanatics does not raise an eyebrow. The mainstream media does not call for sanctions against Israel. The Israeli ambassador has not been questioned over his government’s horrendous crimes, there are no calls to ban Israeli athletes, nor are politicians wearing Palestinian flag stick-pins to show solidarity for a people being exterminated on a daily basis. So why did the mainstream media throw its support behind Ukraine and not the Palestinian cause? Is the mainstream media exercising an international hierarchy of humanity?

For decades, Gaza’s airport has gone unused due to sustained bombing by the IDF. For years, its single power station suffered continual attacks by the IDF ensuring power generation is less than 50% prior to the 7th October 2022. Gaza’s water filtration is periodically wrecked by the IDF constraining the flow of clean water to the people in Gaza. Meanwhile, key airports continue to operate in Ukraine, allowing President Zelensky to jet out of the country and receive international leaders in Kyiv. The railways continue to operate in Ukraine and key infrastructure is spared the 2000 pound bombs supplied by the United States that regularly flatten homes, schools, the university and hospitals in Gaza.

The Australian mainstream media has gone out of its way to avoid reporting on our nation’s support for the settler colonial regime in Israel. Despite the live streamed genocide that is unravelling before our eyes, our government is at the very back end of the community of nations. Australia remains amongst the few nations still contemplating whether to recognise a Palestinian nation. Instead of imposing sanctions on Israel and severing military ties with the IDF, the ALP has announced that it will contemplate recognising a Palestinian nation if Hamas is not included in the picture. This request is akin to demanding that the late Nelson Mandella denounce his own party, the ANC, to halt its armed struggle against the apartheid regime that formerly ruled South Africa. How morally bankrupted is the Australian federal government? The decision on who represents the Palestinian people is a decision for the Palestinian people themselves. It is only they who genuinely have their interests at heart. The Australian government has no right to deliver caveats on the Palestinian people’s right to seek recognition as a sovereign state. Regrettably, Australia lies with a minority of nations who do not recognise the Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the mainstream media have shuddered at the mere suggestion that the federal government may recognise a Palestinian state (despite the proposition being dead-in-the-water due to its absurd prerequisites).

The Australian mainstream media have neglected to report on the Defence Department’s refusal of a Freedom of Information request (FOI) seeking details of an arms deal with Israel. The FOI request by Green’s Senator, David Shoebridge was rejected after the Defence Department noted that disclosure of the arms deal “could reasonably be expected to damage the international relations of the Commonwealth.” This begs the question: what exactly is it that we are doing with Israel to potentially damage Australia’s international reputation? Furthermore, how is it that a foreign government has veto power over an Australian government department to disclose documents to the Australian public? In true fashion, the mainstream media has avoided this highly embarrassing issue, and redirected the public’s gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, Australia continues to make parts for the F-35 jet and supply our allies including the IDF who operate the same jets to bomb the people and infrastructure of Gaza. Where is the media outrage? Clearly, the mainstream media is telling us we are not seeing what we are seeing. It is telling us to go on doing business with a settler colonial regime that is perpetrating war crimes, laying the foundations to a famine and rolling out a genocide.

Regardless of how one looks at the situation in Gaza, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) is systematically destroying Palestinian infrastructure, its history and its people on a daily basis. Schools are bombed, cemeteries are excavated and desecrated, hospitals are levelled and scores of civilians are being wiped out by 2000 pound bombs supplied by the USA. Yet, the mainstream media remains mute about the scale of destruction. It sanitises the sheer barbarity of the daily carnage and actively assists to normalise genocide by a settler colonial regime that is on ‘our side.’ The systematic destruction of Gaza by the IDF has no comparison with the assault by the Russian military on Ukraine. Yet, the mainstream media amplifies Russian attacks in Ukraine, whilst it remains tone deaf to the genocide in Gaza.

The recent Iranian retaliation against Israel following the illegal bombing of the Iranian embassy in Syria further highlights the skewed portrayal of events in the Middle East. The retaliatory drone and missile attack against Israel was met by support from the USA, Britain, France, and Jordan. These nations found it imperative to focus their military might to support Israel against Iran’s retaliatory strike. Yet, such nations do not see it fit to dedicate their power to shield Palestinian civilians from an active genocide. Again, the mainstream media has failed to inform the public of the daily hypocrisy and double standards that so-called ‘democratic’ nations exercise.

The circumstances surrounding the blockade of the Red Sea by Ansarullah (Houthis) has raised little interest in our mainstream media. The selective reporting of ‘Houthi missile attacks’ and drone strikes on ‘civilian’ ships masks the reasoning and rationale for the blockade of ships passing through the Red Sea to supply Israel. The mainstream media’s headlines have omitted the fact that Ansarullah have committed their efforts to support the Palestinian struggle by halting ships suspected of supplying the Israeli settler colonial regime.

Yemen is one of the poorest nations in the region and has suffered a decade of war at the hands of some of the richest nations in the world. Backed by the US and Britain, Saudi Arabia waged a war on Yemen causing up to 377,000 casualties and up to 85,000 children dying of starvation over the decade. Hence, the Yemenis are familiar with prejudice and aggression by nations much more powerful than itself. While the mainstream media criticise the Houthi’s blockade of ships who happen to be registered to Israel’s richest family or suspected of aiding the IDF, the mainstream media has remained relatively silent about the US supplying the IDF with armaments used to level Gaza on a daily basis.

In the light of the blockade in the Red Sea, the world’s largest superpower supported by the UK eagerly bypassed diplomatic channels and the use of dialogue and promptly resorted to conducting several waves of missile strikes and bombings on one of the regions poorest nations who is standing up for the world’s most persecuted people. For its part, the western mainstream media remained silent on the west’s immediate use of ruthless force. It overlooked the aftermath of missile strikes and bombings against Yemen and ignored the civilian death toll. It merely focused attention on the spectacle of brute force unleashed by the USA and Britain.

The demonstration of double standards are clear. The mainstream media regularly broadcasts speeches by US government officials talking up the rights of sovereignty for small nations, while it downplays the constant supply of arms from democratic nations to the IDF who are systematically exterminating a vulnerable population.

Under any other circumstances, this century’s biggest act of industrial and environmental sabotage would have brought the full force of nations together to hunt down and bring the perpetrator/s to justice. The sheer size and scope of the damage inflicted on one of the world’s most impressive engineering feats, and the devastating impact following the sabotage on European nations receiving cheap gas to power industry, heat homes and secure economic prosperity somehow disappeared from the mainstream media’s headlines. Following the four blasts that brought the supply of gas to Europe to a rapid halt, the mainstream media have worked tirelessly to obfuscate the act of sabotage. The questionable investigation conducted into the act of sabotage by three nations (Sweden, Denmark and Germany) which excluded the main party impacted by the act of sabotage (Russia), effectively delivered a finding that an act of sabotage had occurred. By stating the obvious that the NordStream 1 and NordStream 2 gas pipelines had been subject to sabotage, the investigation has effectively been shut down. Since then, the mainstream media has helped to bury the world’s largest act of industrial and environmental espionage under a sea of deception, deflection and misrepresentation. Prior to the act of sabotage, statements by US President Biden pledging to halt NordStream, and the former US Deputy State Department’s Victoria Nuland to halt the pipelines have been ignored. The Twitter X post by Polish Foreign Minister congratulating the US on the destruction were completely ignored and have since ‘disappeared.’ Meanwhile, US Foreign Secretary Blinken heralded the sabotage as an ‘opportunity.’ Again, the mainstream media massaged the story, moulded public opinion and omitted key facts from the headlines. As the investigation was promptly wrapped up, the mainstream media has greatly assisted by inducing the public with collective amnesia, thereby forgetting this century’s largest act of sabotage.

The obfuscation and selective reporting surrounding the co-founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange has been disturbing to say the least. Australian journalist, Julian Assange has been held without charge in the UK’s high security Bellmarsh prison usually reserved for terrorists, serial killers, rapists and paedophiles. Despite his exposure of US war crimes, the mainstream media has endeavoured to bury the Assange case. Regardless of the serious implications the Assange case has on the freedom of journalism, and the ability of journalists and whistleblowers to call out governments for war crimes, the mainstream media has worked hard to avoid placing the spotlight on the Assange case. It has virtually ignored the fact that war crimes were reported and neglected to challenge the legal basis for his incarceration and the attempt to have him extradited to the US for the crime of conducting journalism.

On the heels of Assange’s appeal in the UK in March, the mainstream media immediately swung into action by saturating media outlets with the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Although any death is to be respected, the mainstream media immediately eulogised Navalny as a fighter for freedom and democracy. For years, Navalny was falsely presented as the main opposition in Russia, despite his very small following. Navalny’s political past as a far-right politician and his openly racist views were conveniently airbrushed out of the mainstream narrative. As the Assange appeal was generating news, the mainstream media amplified the death of the Navalny, and heralded him a great supporter of freedom and democracy, drowning out the gravity of the Assange case.

The examples provided above merely highlight a handful of key issues that have been massaged by the mainstream media operated by the billionaire-owned corporate media outlets and the government-controlled media. Such examples merely highlight how the mainstream media regularly engages in hypocrisy, exercises double standards and deceit to manipulate the social and political agenda. Our news media are effective propaganda services, acting to manage our views and opinions in an effort to keep the public turning the cogs of the neoliberal order.

Through poor reporting, biased opinions and the omission of facts, the mainstream media presents the public with a skewed version of reality that fits the narrative promoted by the political and corporate elite. Through hypocrisy, double standards and deceit, the mainstream media is able to spread cynicism, inflict bewilderment and at best generate disinterest and passivity amongst the public. By discouraging thought and clear thinking through a skewed media apparatus, the corporate owned media and government-controlled media discourages the public from getting involved in planning and decision making. Through this strategy, this mainstream media assists in maintain the status quo.

With the legacy media is in decline, and people obtaining news beyond the parameters of the “fossil media,” alternative news sources are seeping into the public consciousness. Pivotal events along with major issues are becoming too large and too visible for the mainstream media to skew and cover up. Industrial sabotage, the silencing of whistle blowers and genocide are proving too difficult to supress and pass off as normal events.

As alternative news sources grow and become more accessible, there remains hope. Ultimately, the burden of social, political, and economic change inevitably lies with the public. Therefore, as citizens we need to actively seek out the truth, discuss vital issues in public and participate in building alternative systems of power. It is everyone’s responsibility to challenge corporate interests by breaking away from the dominant neoliberal ideology and unchaining ourselves from corporate culture. It's time to create as many cracks in the mainstream narrative. We need to call out the daily stream of propaganda and reject the lies that the mainstream media peddles as fact. By seeking truth and understanding reality can we better prioritise community needs, call for justice, demand equality and bring about ethical relations between communities at home and abroad.

It’s time to act, join PIBCI today.

Website Editor

Autumn edition 2024