- May 6, 2009
- 10,291
- 24,316
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
So I was thinking about how horrible the standard of journalism in the AFL and how it is ripe for disruption...
The problem being of course, is the AFL tightly controls access to information and players/coaches by only allowing 'AFL Accredited' journos and outlets access.
Which then of course means the AFL can threaten to kick anyone out of the tent who doesn't play nice- hence why we get stuck with buffoons like Damian barrett and the like reporting their shallow, gutter crawling news and 'scoops'.
Nothing too critical or deep really ever gets reported- it's a very closed shop full of dopes stating the bleeding obvious.
This control over the AFL media effectively results in tangible restriction on a fundamental right to freedom of press.
Which in my view would be fine if the AFL was a regular 'for profit' business... but they aren't right?
My layman understanding is that the AFL take advantage of an old, obscure law from the 50's or something where they are tax exempt and a 'not for profit' organisation.
Which while dubious, is clearly legal.
But my thinking is- surely the Australian public are entitled to expect the fundamental right to free press be observed by the league?
Given the public effectively pay the league ~30% of its billions of dollars (in lost tax intake)?
The problem being of course, is the AFL tightly controls access to information and players/coaches by only allowing 'AFL Accredited' journos and outlets access.
Which then of course means the AFL can threaten to kick anyone out of the tent who doesn't play nice- hence why we get stuck with buffoons like Damian barrett and the like reporting their shallow, gutter crawling news and 'scoops'.
Nothing too critical or deep really ever gets reported- it's a very closed shop full of dopes stating the bleeding obvious.
This control over the AFL media effectively results in tangible restriction on a fundamental right to freedom of press.
Which in my view would be fine if the AFL was a regular 'for profit' business... but they aren't right?
My layman understanding is that the AFL take advantage of an old, obscure law from the 50's or something where they are tax exempt and a 'not for profit' organisation.
Which while dubious, is clearly legal.
But my thinking is- surely the Australian public are entitled to expect the fundamental right to free press be observed by the league?
Given the public effectively pay the league ~30% of its billions of dollars (in lost tax intake)?