First of all, here's what we have for you this week:
- Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
- The Hottest 100, Triple J and the crisis in Australia music— By Osman Faruqi
- The Good Ones: The best journalism, opinion and entertainment for you to enjoy.
On this week's episode of the podcast, we discussed why some sections of the ABC seem addicted to publishing Israeli government messaging when reporting on the horrific, daily massacres at aid sites amid the forced famine facing Gaza.
The same day that episode dropped, the ABC published an analysis piece that took things even further. In a report that was ostensibly about the fact journalists in Gaza, whose work the ABC relied upon, were literally starving the death, the broadcaster's Middle East correspondent still found space to include IDF propaganda.
But what made this so much worse than all the other times the ABC has rebroadcast Israeli government disinformation is that this time the completely unverified material accused some Palestinians of hoarding aid, while the population starved.
The ABC has no evidence for this, beyond IDF claims. Yet it gave those claims prominence in a story about its own reporters physically wasting away because they didn't have access to food.
Let's be clear: Palestinians are not starving because some Gazans may possibly be hoarding aid. They are starving because the Israeli government is starving them. But still, the ABC chose to publish unverified claims from a government committing war crimes against its own colleagues.
We would love to hear any ideas or feedback at all, whether it's about the look and feel of it, what you want to read more about from us or how often you'd like to hear from us.
In today's newsletter, Os has gone in-depth on a topic that we haven't discussed a lot yet here at Lamestream: it's a look at the state of Australian music, the music media, and in particular Triple J, ahead of the station's Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time countdown this Saturday.
Since we launched our coverage has skewed towards politics and international affairs, but we want to do deeper dives into all aspects of media, culture and society. We'd love to know what you think of this one!
Killer Grabs
"Well, it’s not mine, because mine isn’t that size, but we were discussing the length of Hulk Hogan’s.” — Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan, in 2016 court testimony.
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan died today at 71. Some will remember him fondly as the larger-than-life childhood hero who slammed Andre the Giant over his head. Others, will remember his downfall after a tape emerged of a racist tirade where he used the N-word.
We will remember him for one of the biggest media trials of all time, when he sued the website Gawker into oblivion. This exchange from the trial was unforgettable, with Terry Bollea being asked about a radio interview, in which he bragged about packing a whopping 10 inches. Luckily, Bollea came clean and didn't purger himself.
"In this role you will work with a team covering both daily developments and broader topics related to the conflict and humanitarian situation in Gaza" — Internal ABC email asking for expressions of interest for two new jobs.
The ABC has created two new positions, specifically devoted to "Gaza coverage". The jobs start in August and will only run for a month.
It took two years for the broadcaster to finally decide they needed to hire people specifically to cover the biggest humanitarian disaster in the world – for a month. Of course, by "cover" we mean report under strict conditions – including never using the terms "genocide" and "apartheid", because they've been banned by the ABC. Should be a pretty easy gig.
"News is looking for Arabic speakers to help with translations connected to our Gaza coverage. If you or anyone you know can help, please contact."
— Another internal ABC email.
It took two years for the ABC to figure out having someone, anywhere in the ABC or adjacent to anyone in the ABC, who speaks Arabic might be helpful.
Imagine when they figure out that having actual reporters covering the war who can also speak Arabic might be handy.
The Hottest 100, Triple J and the crisis in Australia music
By Osman Faruqi
In the days leading up to the cut-off for voting in Triple J’s Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time last Thursday, there was one sentiment that seemed to be repeated over and over again on my social media feeds.
