Getting the real Qantas story to mainstream media
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Getting the real Qantas story to mainstream media
Well, we all know the wonderful work Ben Sandilands is doing - this goes without saying.
And given the limited airtime they receive, Steve P and Woodward have really said some great things in the mainstream media - but unfortunately with very little exposure.
What has been alluded to in other topics, and which deserves a topic of its own, is the fact that the public really aren't getting the full story and the inflight PAs (which only represent the pilots' cause, not the engineers etc) have run out of steam. Unfortunately there are only two things the mainstream media are interested in these days - sensationalising breaking news (like coverage of the NZ earthquake or 9/11), or sponsored coporate advertising.
As much as Ben Sandilands and our union heads are doing everything they can, the fact remains that the mainstream media are essentially in bed with QF and will protect their corporate interests and agreements over all else. Having so called "experts" like Geoffrey Thomas with their snouts in the trough also doesn't help.
I'm calling anyone who wants their job to stay in Australia rather than with QantAsia to help get the plight of our flagship carrier into the headlines - not into offshoring.
We can all post up Sandiland's articles to Facebook, but the impact is restricted to generally small circles.
[email protected]
This is where we should start. I haven't sent anything yet, just hoping to start the ball rolling.
Send whatever you like.
Here are some suggestions:
Send a video link to Wirth's freudian slip (grounding, oops retiring).
Send a link to Sandiland's pages.
Send a video link from Joyce cutting 1000 jobs, and then a link to Joyce saying no jobs will be lost.
But remember - MediaWatch isn't just free advertising, and they won't just run a story because we pound them with our side of the story.
However - they WILL run a story if they can see evidence of poor/false/financially swayed journalism.
For example, with Wirth's "grouding oops retiring" slip, did channel 7 edit that out?
Or for example, Geoffrey Thomas, so called "aviation expert", always taking the management line because he works for channel 7.
Or for example, the recent Bangkok engine failure - and the failure of the mainstream media to report the issue has a known fix which can't be completed quickly because of offshoring engine maintenance.
Or for example, media playing footage of Joyce threatening to lay off workers conducting PROTECTED industrial action and not questioning the legality of this.
Let's get MediaWatch the angle they need to show QF's manipulation of the media and the one-sided story the public are getting.
And given the limited airtime they receive, Steve P and Woodward have really said some great things in the mainstream media - but unfortunately with very little exposure.
What has been alluded to in other topics, and which deserves a topic of its own, is the fact that the public really aren't getting the full story and the inflight PAs (which only represent the pilots' cause, not the engineers etc) have run out of steam. Unfortunately there are only two things the mainstream media are interested in these days - sensationalising breaking news (like coverage of the NZ earthquake or 9/11), or sponsored coporate advertising.
As much as Ben Sandilands and our union heads are doing everything they can, the fact remains that the mainstream media are essentially in bed with QF and will protect their corporate interests and agreements over all else. Having so called "experts" like Geoffrey Thomas with their snouts in the trough also doesn't help.
I'm calling anyone who wants their job to stay in Australia rather than with QantAsia to help get the plight of our flagship carrier into the headlines - not into offshoring.
We can all post up Sandiland's articles to Facebook, but the impact is restricted to generally small circles.
[email protected]
This is where we should start. I haven't sent anything yet, just hoping to start the ball rolling.
Send whatever you like.
Here are some suggestions:
Send a video link to Wirth's freudian slip (grounding, oops retiring).
Send a link to Sandiland's pages.
Send a video link from Joyce cutting 1000 jobs, and then a link to Joyce saying no jobs will be lost.
But remember - MediaWatch isn't just free advertising, and they won't just run a story because we pound them with our side of the story.
However - they WILL run a story if they can see evidence of poor/false/financially swayed journalism.
For example, with Wirth's "grouding oops retiring" slip, did channel 7 edit that out?
Or for example, Geoffrey Thomas, so called "aviation expert", always taking the management line because he works for channel 7.
Or for example, the recent Bangkok engine failure - and the failure of the mainstream media to report the issue has a known fix which can't be completed quickly because of offshoring engine maintenance.
Or for example, media playing footage of Joyce threatening to lay off workers conducting PROTECTED industrial action and not questioning the legality of this.
Let's get MediaWatch the angle they need to show QF's manipulation of the media and the one-sided story the public are getting.
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Why do you think the public aren't getting the full story?
Media companies are corporate institutions that are hired by other corporate instituitions to sell the public goods and/or manipulate public opinion.
Journalists are the lackeys who know where their bread is buttered.They will write whatever their editors tell them. The editor will get his instructions from the media owner. The media owner will create the agenda according to what will produce the greatest control and or profit for himself or his corporation.Government, corporate and mass media is dependant on mass media ability to manipulate the truth.These scum are all in it together.The truth will never see the light of day . Not on commercial media nor ABC which is dependant almost entirely on the governments funding. These institutions are part of the problem not part of the solution. So stop dreaming that the media are interested in the truth. It simply doesn't serve their purpose.Forget it.Sandilands has very little readership . He is prepared to tell part of the bigger picture because I am guessing at his stage in life he isn't beholden to the corporate world for his living . He is a lone wolf in the wilderness. If you want to make a statement and attempt to change things get out to the next occupy Wall street rally.
Media companies are corporate institutions that are hired by other corporate instituitions to sell the public goods and/or manipulate public opinion.
Journalists are the lackeys who know where their bread is buttered.They will write whatever their editors tell them. The editor will get his instructions from the media owner. The media owner will create the agenda according to what will produce the greatest control and or profit for himself or his corporation.Government, corporate and mass media is dependant on mass media ability to manipulate the truth.These scum are all in it together.The truth will never see the light of day . Not on commercial media nor ABC which is dependant almost entirely on the governments funding. These institutions are part of the problem not part of the solution. So stop dreaming that the media are interested in the truth. It simply doesn't serve their purpose.Forget it.Sandilands has very little readership . He is prepared to tell part of the bigger picture because I am guessing at his stage in life he isn't beholden to the corporate world for his living . He is a lone wolf in the wilderness. If you want to make a statement and attempt to change things get out to the next occupy Wall street rally.
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Gruen Planet (ABC TV) with 'The Pitch', 'Kwantas: The Flying wallaby', had another good shot at QANTAS offshoring, last night.
Thankyou Auntie.
Thankyou Auntie.
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My advice would be to start using social and on-line media far more than you do, because most share traders and for that matter anyone under around 40 is getting their news on a continually updated basis on a smart phone or a tablet.
Bill Sweetman on defence on Aviation Week is read far more than he is in the hard copy magazine if the claims that group makes for its on-line and print outlets are taken as correct. I think sites like Crikey and Business Spectator where Sandilands gets hosted have more clout in investment circles and public administration that a newspaper written one afternoon and not delivered until the next day.
The advice to circulate links to stories you think are important by Twitter or Facebook is spot on. There was an interview about using social media on ABC TV last night or maybe two days ago. I think this is a fight that has to be fought with the latest media weapons, not in the dying traditional media of newspapers.
Bill Sweetman on defence on Aviation Week is read far more than he is in the hard copy magazine if the claims that group makes for its on-line and print outlets are taken as correct. I think sites like Crikey and Business Spectator where Sandilands gets hosted have more clout in investment circles and public administration that a newspaper written one afternoon and not delivered until the next day.
The advice to circulate links to stories you think are important by Twitter or Facebook is spot on. There was an interview about using social media on ABC TV last night or maybe two days ago. I think this is a fight that has to be fought with the latest media weapons, not in the dying traditional media of newspapers.
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Im just want the correct story run when SP costs many engineers their jobs
We'd all be out of work now if Dixon got his way in 2007.
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Steve there is no need to respond to VBPCGUY. He is actually a bag chucker from Melbourne, not even an engineer. What his beef is with you we have no idea? What is ironic is that if Joyce is successful at destroying QF along with wages and conditions, that might make Virgin the sole operating airline with a higher cost base per employee. What woul happen to Virgin staff like VBPCGUY? Well to start with it would be cheaper to have one of the third party contractors contracted to provide all the ramp handling at mainline ports, so VBPCGUY may find himself on less money and wearing a different color uniform but doing the same job. Junior, those living in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. You haven't been with Virgin since it's inception so you don't know exactly how unloyal and ruthless they too can be. Don't think for a moment that Borghetti will sit by and allow a role reversal where his operating costs are greater than his competitors.
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Honesty in media reporting
Slippery Pete
The story that has gained enormous traction across most media is that Qantas has been the innocent victim of a hostile union who has mounted a hopelessly misguided IR campaign against a company that is trying to manage a crucial period of change. The media are reporting that unions are writing hostile threats to Qantas managers, damaging the brand, deliberately encouraging the public to avoid using the brand and telling outright lies in a bid to apply commercial pressure instead of doing the right thing and negotiating across a table like a logical union should.
Funny thing is................. that is actually the truth so dont blame the media!
The story that has gained enormous traction across most media is that Qantas has been the innocent victim of a hostile union who has mounted a hopelessly misguided IR campaign against a company that is trying to manage a crucial period of change. The media are reporting that unions are writing hostile threats to Qantas managers, damaging the brand, deliberately encouraging the public to avoid using the brand and telling outright lies in a bid to apply commercial pressure instead of doing the right thing and negotiating across a table like a logical union should.
Funny thing is................. that is actually the truth so dont blame the media!
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As a professional in main stream media I have to tell you your views are and I'm sorry to be blunt, utter BS.
We of course monitor this site but some of you make it hard when a lot of what is written is vitriolic and referring to media people as "scumbags" that are in the pockets of (insert name of right wing organisation here) doesn't help!
'Mainstream media' is just that, mainstream. If you know, you're not getting airtime, did you ever consider that your cause is maybe quite boring to the mainstream and not really newsworthy?
The Union movement have been fighting and negotiating with big business since Jesus was a boy, people in the main tend to tune out and rate it as boring.
Now I'm not saying I agree with the way Qantas is handling things, I think it's actually pretty ordinary, but my opinion doesn't matter, at the end of the day we have to sell papers and to do that you have to be mainstream.
On a parting note, most media people are left leaning, we don't have meetings with big brother to decide what to write to 'influence' the masses, lol. The ABC on the other hand...
We of course monitor this site but some of you make it hard when a lot of what is written is vitriolic and referring to media people as "scumbags" that are in the pockets of (insert name of right wing organisation here) doesn't help!
'Mainstream media' is just that, mainstream. If you know, you're not getting airtime, did you ever consider that your cause is maybe quite boring to the mainstream and not really newsworthy?
The Union movement have been fighting and negotiating with big business since Jesus was a boy, people in the main tend to tune out and rate it as boring.
Now I'm not saying I agree with the way Qantas is handling things, I think it's actually pretty ordinary, but my opinion doesn't matter, at the end of the day we have to sell papers and to do that you have to be mainstream.
On a parting note, most media people are left leaning, we don't have meetings with big brother to decide what to write to 'influence' the masses, lol. The ABC on the other hand...
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On a parting note, most media people are left leaning, we don't have meetings with big brother to decide what to write to 'influence' the masses
As for meetings with Big Brother, my little reporter friend you may not swig Grange with big buiness but your bosses sure as sh#t do. If they are paid enough, threatened enough (removal of advertising revenue) they bow down and bend over. And you know it.
Oh yes, poor Rupert is innocent also?
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Jonny ST, you are probably right about mainstream, selling papers and boring (or most people's low threshold of boredom).
But what about the loss of 35 thousand jobs at the stroke of a pen? Do you remember the ****storm in the aftermath of Ansett's demise? Nothing boring there but a lot of people with no income and subsequent loss of family and loss of life in some cases. Or is that just fodder for next week's headlines?
How about seeking out the other side of the story? For a union (ALAEA) formed in the early '60s that has never been in the least bit militant to suddenly find itself the vanguard of industrial relations in this country must surely warrant a few questions as to why. Care to take up the challenge JST?
But what about the loss of 35 thousand jobs at the stroke of a pen? Do you remember the ****storm in the aftermath of Ansett's demise? Nothing boring there but a lot of people with no income and subsequent loss of family and loss of life in some cases. Or is that just fodder for next week's headlines?
How about seeking out the other side of the story? For a union (ALAEA) formed in the early '60s that has never been in the least bit militant to suddenly find itself the vanguard of industrial relations in this country must surely warrant a few questions as to why. Care to take up the challenge JST?
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I'll be straight with you, Unions are necessary, but the mainstream opinion right now (that could change) is that the Unions are 'holding Qantas to ransom'. And most people don't really care and just want to get home or go to work without disruption.
Opinion could easily be skewed the other way too, or could have been. Personal threats of violence etc to Qantas management along with tactical strikes designed to cause the most disruption is not helping win the PR war.
I'm sorry, but most people (you would have to agree) want both groups to stop acting like children and sort it out.
It could be argued that you are both hell bent on mutual assured destruction. Now thats newsworthy!
NB. Please refrain from your patronising tone it you decide to respond to this. It is not clever and just makes you appear to be a bit of a bully. I'm sure that's not the case is it?
Opinion could easily be skewed the other way too, or could have been. Personal threats of violence etc to Qantas management along with tactical strikes designed to cause the most disruption is not helping win the PR war.
I'm sorry, but most people (you would have to agree) want both groups to stop acting like children and sort it out.
It could be argued that you are both hell bent on mutual assured destruction. Now thats newsworthy!
NB. Please refrain from your patronising tone it you decide to respond to this. It is not clever and just makes you appear to be a bit of a bully. I'm sure that's not the case is it?
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Mister Hitler just beat me to it.The enormous amount of inside information available here on PPrune by the very well connected posters should provide you with all you need for an incredible expose of the fight for the future of the aviation industry in Australia.No need to take sides. The story is in the battle. Write it.Then get it published.Good luck.
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I guess JST will be coming back in his next post, stating the accuracy of media reporting is an unassailable fact. Thus we have headlines that cry;
"Passengers screeming in fear as Jet falls"...
"Engine explosion in Qantas jet" (when the true engine-out failure was totally unrelated to an explosion)...
"Hosties were 'shaking' as hydraulic fault causes Qantas plane return to Darwin" (never seen a hostie shake yet, they are pretty much all well-trained, and uber-cool)...
A hydraulic failure was reported as a cargo door that had burst open...
I might add that this only refers to aviation reporting - the incidence of erroneous, just plain misleading, or badly written and misspelt articles is never-ending.
Naturally, I won't even go into the greatest tool in the media's box of tricks... the error of omission.
If you don't want a newsworthy item that goes against the management guidelines to get any exposure, you just ensure it ends up in the round file (or more correctly, the "delete" button in todays electronic world)...
"Passengers screeming in fear as Jet falls"...
"Engine explosion in Qantas jet" (when the true engine-out failure was totally unrelated to an explosion)...
"Hosties were 'shaking' as hydraulic fault causes Qantas plane return to Darwin" (never seen a hostie shake yet, they are pretty much all well-trained, and uber-cool)...
A hydraulic failure was reported as a cargo door that had burst open...
I might add that this only refers to aviation reporting - the incidence of erroneous, just plain misleading, or badly written and misspelt articles is never-ending.
Naturally, I won't even go into the greatest tool in the media's box of tricks... the error of omission.
If you don't want a newsworthy item that goes against the management guidelines to get any exposure, you just ensure it ends up in the round file (or more correctly, the "delete" button in todays electronic world)...
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JST, the "smoking gun" behind Qantas intent to deliberately destroy the international brand intent its right here - Qantas variation requests International Air Services Commission [.pdf] courtesy of skybed on another thread.
You should read it in conjunction with the Qantas Sales Act, section 7
Right there is the bones your investigative piece, all factually documented. The "opinion in the media that the unions are trying to destroy Qantas" is debunked by this documentary evidence. Why is this blatant breach of the law ignored? Will this bit of "boring" news ever see light in the MSM?
You should read it in conjunction with the Qantas Sales Act, section 7
Originally Posted by Qantas Sales Act 1992
change of its company name to a name that does not include
the expression “Qantas”; and
prohibit Qantas from conducting scheduled international air
transport passenger services under a name other than:
(i) its company name; or
(ii) a registered business name that includes the expression
“Qantas”; and
require that the head office of Qantas always be located in
Australia; and
require that of the facilities, taken in aggregate, which are
used by Qantas in the provision of scheduled international
air transport services (for example, facilities for the
maintenance and housing of aircraft, catering, flight
operations, training and administration), the facilities located
in Australia, when compared with those located in any other
country, must represent the principal operational centre for
Qantas; and
the expression “Qantas”; and
prohibit Qantas from conducting scheduled international air
transport passenger services under a name other than:
(i) its company name; or
(ii) a registered business name that includes the expression
“Qantas”; and
require that the head office of Qantas always be located in
Australia; and
require that of the facilities, taken in aggregate, which are
used by Qantas in the provision of scheduled international
air transport services (for example, facilities for the
maintenance and housing of aircraft, catering, flight
operations, training and administration), the facilities located
in Australia, when compared with those located in any other
country, must represent the principal operational centre for
Qantas; and
Right there is the bones your investigative piece, all factually documented. The "opinion in the media that the unions are trying to destroy Qantas" is debunked by this documentary evidence. Why is this blatant breach of the law ignored? Will this bit of "boring" news ever see light in the MSM?
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I'm confused. The alaea has been attempting to negotiate for an agreement for over a year. The previous eba took almost 2 years. Who is it that is failing to negotiate? It's certainly not the alaea. I strongly suggest any honest reporters out there do some real research. Many of us including myself would happily give an insiders view.
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JST
Thank you for posting. I find the usual comments made on this board commenting on how inept the media are when reporting most aviation incidents quite tedious as well.
HOWEVER with regard to the current IR dispute all areas of the media are grossly lacking in any form of journalism. There is a huge story unfolding and the media seems intent on only regurgitating what is fed to them by management. If any journalist in any area of the media took the time to investigate any of the claims made on this board alone you may find yourself with the story of your life.
What we as a group are most disappointed about is the lack of balanced reporting, Why doesn't a journalist pick up the phone talk to Steve Purvinas or Captain Woodward at AIPA. Listen to what they have to say. Don't take it on face value but investigate and write a story that informs the public. Is that not journalism???
I am absolutely convinced that if a reporter took the time to dig into this dispute and report his or her findings I think the public would quickly side with Qantas staff.
JST pick up the ball and run with it I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.
Thank you for posting. I find the usual comments made on this board commenting on how inept the media are when reporting most aviation incidents quite tedious as well.
HOWEVER with regard to the current IR dispute all areas of the media are grossly lacking in any form of journalism. There is a huge story unfolding and the media seems intent on only regurgitating what is fed to them by management. If any journalist in any area of the media took the time to investigate any of the claims made on this board alone you may find yourself with the story of your life.
What we as a group are most disappointed about is the lack of balanced reporting, Why doesn't a journalist pick up the phone talk to Steve Purvinas or Captain Woodward at AIPA. Listen to what they have to say. Don't take it on face value but investigate and write a story that informs the public. Is that not journalism???
I am absolutely convinced that if a reporter took the time to dig into this dispute and report his or her findings I think the public would quickly side with Qantas staff.
JST pick up the ball and run with it I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.
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If we are going to preach the safety message how about some strong analytics to support the case. Surely an organisation such as the ALAEA can undertake an analysis of major incidents such as hull write offs where maintenance error is a leading contributor. This would be an irrefutable platform to go forward with and demonstrate the value of a Qantas LAME to the public.
Having absolutely no basis other than gut feel, I would suggest that the number of incidents is relatively small and would have significantly declined over the past decade, particularly if the statistic was made relative to the number of flights operated. I would put this down to the amazing redundency capabilities of modern aircraft rather than anything else.
ALAEA Fed Sec, I challenge you to commision such a piece of work and I will be very very happy for you to prove me wrong. Maybe the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation could perform this as an independant thrid party.
Having absolutely no basis other than gut feel, I would suggest that the number of incidents is relatively small and would have significantly declined over the past decade, particularly if the statistic was made relative to the number of flights operated. I would put this down to the amazing redundency capabilities of modern aircraft rather than anything else.
ALAEA Fed Sec, I challenge you to commision such a piece of work and I will be very very happy for you to prove me wrong. Maybe the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation could perform this as an independant thrid party.