Dick Smith Renegs on Journalism Award
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Wanna Be Up There...
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Wiz,
I find your rather strident accusations a little hard to understand. If the journalists involved feel aggrieved they have the unfettered right to publish their material in anyway they see fit. They can also publish their response to the view that their articles provided no new material which could shed light on the issue.
It is not for Dick Smith to argue that his strategy here was legitimate. It is for those who believe they have been used and abused (if there are any who feel this way) to put their side of the story. We can then consider the situation with all evidence available.
From what I can see Dick did nothing more than offer to pay a Journalist to provide information which would uncover a major scandal. As they uncovered nothing new of note (if anything at all) they were not paid. Would you still feel the way you do if Dick opened his own magazine or newspaper and employed a journalist to do the same thing and then fired them for not delivering?
Dick clearly has a significant concern regarding the process involved in the purchase of the SeaSprite. Fair enough. He also has the passion and the resources to seek an appropriate answer beyond the usual beauraucratic press release. Good on him and more power to him.
And like Bushy I am appalled that the RFDS would need to rely on such donations to stay operational. That is a real scandal.
I find your rather strident accusations a little hard to understand. If the journalists involved feel aggrieved they have the unfettered right to publish their material in anyway they see fit. They can also publish their response to the view that their articles provided no new material which could shed light on the issue.
It is not for Dick Smith to argue that his strategy here was legitimate. It is for those who believe they have been used and abused (if there are any who feel this way) to put their side of the story. We can then consider the situation with all evidence available.
From what I can see Dick did nothing more than offer to pay a Journalist to provide information which would uncover a major scandal. As they uncovered nothing new of note (if anything at all) they were not paid. Would you still feel the way you do if Dick opened his own magazine or newspaper and employed a journalist to do the same thing and then fired them for not delivering?
Dick clearly has a significant concern regarding the process involved in the purchase of the SeaSprite. Fair enough. He also has the passion and the resources to seek an appropriate answer beyond the usual beauraucratic press release. Good on him and more power to him.
And like Bushy I am appalled that the RFDS would need to rely on such donations to stay operational. That is a real scandal.
Join Date: Oct 2001
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I just don't get what you are all on about....
At the end of the day, the man gave his money to a good cause. Forget it and move on.................................................
At the end of the day, the man gave his money to a good cause. Forget it and move on.................................................
Join Date: Aug 2007
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So Dick, I was wondering what was the latest on this? Are you able to share the reasons why you chose not to award the prize?
Without mentioning the writers/journos by name, can you give us an outline of where the submissions fell short in your esteemed judges' estimations. I don't suppose any of the judges agreed to have their names published?
Perhaps the articles could or will even be published somewhere?
Without mentioning the writers/journos by name, can you give us an outline of where the submissions fell short in your esteemed judges' estimations. I don't suppose any of the judges agreed to have their names published?
Perhaps the articles could or will even be published somewhere?
Join Date: Jun 2009
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While there seems to be an overwhelming opinion that the issues to do with the scrapping of the SeaSprite have been well and truly reported on and done to death, they are mainly based on the spin that has obviously been agreed to be published, not any real fact that I have read...............anywhere. Snippets of information, not the real issues have ever been released.
The aircraft was/will never be able to perform the contracted role. Serious design omissions and shortcomings to do with the airframe were going to ensure that it would have been extremely limited in it's ability to operate in it's required role. The software issues were basically complete by the time it was scrapped.
Axing it was the best thing they did. It should never have happened; agreed, it should have been canned earlier:agreed, heads should roll: agreed. You will never get all the names of those involved, it was too big and evolved over too many years to "blame" any one person, or a small group of people.
Culture, process, ability to write contracts and the guts to stand up for what is required versus what was deemed to be politically correct should be the main lessons here.
Move on and learn from it...............please.
The aircraft was/will never be able to perform the contracted role. Serious design omissions and shortcomings to do with the airframe were going to ensure that it would have been extremely limited in it's ability to operate in it's required role. The software issues were basically complete by the time it was scrapped.
Axing it was the best thing they did. It should never have happened; agreed, it should have been canned earlier:agreed, heads should roll: agreed. You will never get all the names of those involved, it was too big and evolved over too many years to "blame" any one person, or a small group of people.
Culture, process, ability to write contracts and the guts to stand up for what is required versus what was deemed to be politically correct should be the main lessons here.
Move on and learn from it...............please.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Skating away on the thin ice of a new day.
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owen stanley
Owen, that is the post of the month.lol!!
Talk about calling spade a shovel.
Frankly I dont give a toss who the judges were.If the stories were not up to the criteria so be it.It aint my $$ so who would I be telling you how to spend it?
Good onya for trying to engender some real investigative reporting Dick.
Credit where its due.
And while I'm on patting you on the back I think the offer of help to Bob Brown is very decent of you.
I dont always agree with Sen Brown (or you of course) but I do believe him to be a a decent man with the best interests of the environment at heart.Its your dough mate, do what you think is right and fair.
Talk about calling spade a shovel.
Frankly I dont give a toss who the judges were.If the stories were not up to the criteria so be it.It aint my $$ so who would I be telling you how to spend it?
Good onya for trying to engender some real investigative reporting Dick.
Credit where its due.
And while I'm on patting you on the back I think the offer of help to Bob Brown is very decent of you.
I dont always agree with Sen Brown (or you of course) but I do believe him to be a a decent man with the best interests of the environment at heart.Its your dough mate, do what you think is right and fair.
