#I was too young to understand Kevin Rudd's policies
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Okay, I don't usually do this but I stopped reading halfway through the replies by around the third or so post. I need to really make something clear here; totalitarianism thrives off of division, presumed power struggles between marginalised groups and the fear that the lesser evil is all that prevents you from being next. Historically, we have seen this in many different dictatorships and regimes. Many analysts, writers and political advocates have warned of this in their works; 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games are a few fictional examples of using real world events as inspiration for heir dystopian systems. Every regime in these stories all use this exact method; fear to suppress resistance and hope for something better than he status quo. This needs to be considered before any of the above is even touched; are you acting out of fear?
It's okay to be afraid, I know that sounds contradictory to what I just said but it's important we understand that. It's valid, because this is scary, totalitarian regimes are terrifying. But that doesn't mean we should act out o that fear, because it's exactly that which these types of governments use to suppress their people and prevent potential uprisings. So, where does that leave us?
I'm Australian, but even I would be effected if Trump were elected. Even so, the problem is that I only say that because it's "worse" than what I have right now, which is still a fascist, oppressive government that has been controlled for literal years by a fascist totalitarian rogue state that switches our prime minister's when they don't align with the US's interests. While Biden has been in power, Australia has passed anti gay, anti trans, anti disability, anti indigenous laws and the labour government still acts as if it wants me and people like me dead. I'm not helped by anyone voting Trump out by choosing Harris because the "lesser evil" is exactly what ensures the next "Trump" will get in and ensures the system itself functions as intended; through fear. I don't want Trump in, but it will be a continuation of something much deeper and sinister to allow this system to use our fear of Trump to ensure even more fascists can take power. That is just the reality of totalitarianism and how the US has evidently functioned as one for generations, no matter if you do decide to vote Harris out of fear and you feel that this was the best you could do, that fear and it's very purposeful usage cannot be denied.
So, what do we do? "Well all we can do is vote so we can't let them take that power away by not voting!" You're right about not letting them take out right to vote! But, no, voting isn't all you can do. And especially in a situation where you're denied the right to vote (which is literally what the US does both in its own elections and it's interference in other elections) I think that should be remembered. The right to vote and choose who runs a country is something that needs to be protected; which is why we ought to have an actual democracy and not this fascist system that pretends there's a presidential race when there's just a magical chairs game with the same group of fascists. They'll be back, no matter how much we vote them out. If not now, the next and the next and the next will ensure that only those we fear take a seat while a lesser evil takes the other. What we need to do is remember we're people, and so are they.
They're not so powerful as to enforce a police state when police strike after being overworked (as seen in Australia currently with protests, it's causing us to burn out their enforcement and physical ability to stop us), or throw their military at its own citizens when the military burn their uniforms (as seen in the US) and leave. They can't enforce power when the people that make up that power refuse to comply anymore. Yes, the government is powerful, but don't forget that they are only human and this is a system that relies on the compliance of other people; including each and every one of us. You and the people around you rallying together are powerful too, refuse to comply and cripple the power at these people's disposal. Make a command meaningless by that command falling on ears that refuse to listen anymore.
Sure, you can vote Harris, or not vote, whatever. She'll be voted out next election for a fascist so as much as you say you did your part, you only did for a term, and then we'll vote in another Harris to stop that fascist and wonder why nothing every changes. The US empire is a totalitarian regime that doesn't genuinely allow democratic voting and will reinstate whoever they like by next election, Trump will run again and we'll cry about the lesser evil again and we'll wonder why the US is so dystopian despite voting in the "right" person and why the policies only get worse and worse. It didn't happen overnight, it's always been like this. Trump is the result of something deeper, not a sudden new shift from something good or normal. Trump came from a place that creates Trumps, so no he is not the last. There'll be more and worst, and you'll wonder why your vote didn't prevent it all over again.
If you're truly scared Trump? Turn that fear into anger and and turn that anger into hope; take to the streets and organise, think about what YOU can do, not what a representative could do if you vote for them enough times. Talk to your local activists and local civil rights groups, refuse to comply, refuse to serve in the military and refuse everything you can refuse until the US regime falls. Resist, because votes don't matter in the eyes of a government that can easily switch out whoever is voted in when they go against the system (and yes that has happened here in Australia and in many other countries too, so maybe think about if that happens to your governments too and how much value your votes really have in a system that can dismiss and deny that right). You as an individual can do SO SO MUCH! You don't just only have a say when you write a name on paper, you can do so much more so don't sell yourself short. Gather together, remember the strength we have in numbers and the power we all have as people.
TLDR: Remember who the real enemy is.
If Trump wins they'll let Israel destroy Gaza's entire Healthcare system including American-built hospitals & burn patients alive in their beds, that's already happening? Well if Trump wins they'll let Israel send their soldiers who've killed in Gaza to study at American universities and brag about their war crimes to the students who's families they've killed. That's already happening? Well if Trump wins he'll send American soldiers, missile interception systems, and naval task forces to stop anyone on earth from attempting to enforce the responsibility-to-protect under the genocide convention that the US was a signatory to. That's already happening? Well if Trump is elected he'll hurt ME.
#I was too young to understand Kevin Rudd's policies#but the fact a centrist liberal (right wing party in aus) candidate can be switched out by the us is terrifying#there IS no hope in this system because voting for the good choice means havung that vote taken and abother put in#that's not a fucking democracy and that's not a lesser evil to settle for#our right to vote has been attacked for decades and y'all are talking about the value of voting when it's erased when you choose#and yes Hunger Games quote but it's so freakin relevant rn#REMEMBER WHO THE REAL FUCKING ENEMY IS
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Alone Amongst the Gum Trees Part 3 - It Was Murdoch All Along
NOTE - this article has been migrated to Medium. As of 2021, A Taswegian Abroad will be closed down, and all of my writing will be published on my Medium profile.
“For some time, Australia’s democracy has been slowly sliding into disrepair. The nation’s major policy challenges go unaddressed, our economic future is uncertain and political corruption is becoming normalised. We can’t understand the current predicament of our democracy without recognising the central role of Murdoch’s national media monopoly.
There is no longer a level playing field in Australian politics. We won’t see another progressive government in Canberra until we deal with this cancer in our democracy.”
- Kevin Rudd - THE CASE FOR COURAGE
Foreword
I started this as a brain dump on July 25th, 2016 just before I flew back to Australia for 4 weeks. I decided to wait to finish it as an “Alone Amongst the Gum Trees” piece after the 2016 US election as it would have directly impacted the outcome.
That was the plan, anyway. I forgot entirely that I had written this draft for almost 5 years. The next thing you know: it’s early 2021, I’m married, have a dog, a car, and my first child is due in August.
My last political opinion piece was from April 11, 2016: a piece on how Bernie Sanders was being treated in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.
So what happened from mid-2016 to early 2021? I didn’t jump back down the political commentary rabbit hole. No more rants on Tumblr blogs. No angry posts on Facebook. The odd spicy tweet about the current election happening between my old home (Australia), my new home (Canada) and the messed up cousin next door (United States). I instead chose to divert my love of writing to sports (see https://thefiftyfooty.com/), technology, and music.
From a political standpoint I chose to mostly stop talking, and to listen. Now don’t become misconstrued: I did not ignore it. I was very active over the Provincial and Federal Canadian elections of 2015 and 2019, I followed the unprecedented US political climate very closely given our proximity to the United States (and learned a lot in the process), and I voted in the most recent 2019 Australian election (my third from Toronto since leaving in 2012).
If I take a step back - I still need to be self-critical: I was defeated and I surrendered to the tidal-wave of the far-right. I was watching the US tear itself in two over race, alternative facts, and radical ideology. I was watching the UK go down a similar path with Brexit and Boris Johnson. I was watching my beloved homeland of Australia continue to confusingly elect damaging conservative governments despite the polls, trends, movements and more indicating it was time for a change.
As I matured into my late 20′s and now early 30′s (*gulp*) I was asking myself: was this how it was going to be? Did the western world just decide “we’re done with progressive views, let stick it in reverse for a bit and see how we go”? If that was true, then why did Canada buck this trend with Trudeau in 2015 & 2019? Why was New Zealand thriving under Arden after 2017 and 2020?
I went to a dark place on this.
But then something amazing happened. Enter former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talking about wanting a royal commission into Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp empire who control 70% of print media in Australia.
Did he say 70% of all print media in Australia?
I STRONGLY recommend taking 15 minutes to watch this video. It will do a much better job of painting the scene than I ever could. If not, you can still read on through.
youtube
After doing some looking into this: all I can say is that I didn’t have to dig very far to have my fire reignited. All I can think about now is this #MurdochRoyalCommission
My world view has changed, and what I am about to write next will explain a few things that I hope will change yours too.
This is not a left vs right piece. This is not a blame, shame, or complain piece either. I won’t curse or abuse, because this is a self reflection, a cry of encouragement, and a call to action to all who live in and want to protect the political integrity of democracy around the world.
I am here to explain my thought patterns with the goal of having at least one more person under the thumb of Murdoch’s “beast” realise just what’s going on, and to encourage that person to make more informed decisions knowing the facts.
The Path to En-frightened-ment
February 2014 was the last time I updated the long-form political arm of my blog. Back then as a young man exposed to his first bout of political and social disappointment after the 2013 Australian election - I felt the need to get it all out and I did in a little more linguistically brash Part 2 of “Alone Amongst the Gum Trees”.
I was in an interesting position then. I was a 23 year old finding his place in the world - personally, politically, spiritually, environmentally. I was mostly deciding whether or not I was done with Toronto and it if was time to stay home permanently after spending 3 months back in Australia.
I chose no. I left. I came back to Toronto and the rest is history.
Then one day a couple of years later I got us flights back to Australia for a visit. After nearly 3 years avoiding it (mostly because of my post-election distaste for Australian ignorance), it was time to bite the bullet and go home for a bit.
In 2014 I mentioned:
...let’s talk about Australia, how things changed, how it looked from outside the huge wall that the government apparently has built around the country now, and how it looks from a bloke who literally can not wait to leave again.
I had been anxious about that trip for a while. Not because I hadn’t seen everyone for so long or because it was my wife’s (then girlfriend who became my fiance on that trip) first time visiting, it was because Australia had a chance to move away from the “ignorance, inequality, narrow-minded idiocy, and over-conservatism” I mentioned in 2014.
But we didn’t. Turnbull won the 2016 election. I was so angry at the Australian people. I was so scared of that ignorant, greedy, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, narrow minded, privileged, climate denying creature that seems to be slowly devouring the planet.
From that point in time, all I could think about was some sort of big right-wing populist shift happening across the globe. Outside of the obvious ones: Trump in the USA, Johnson in the UK and Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison in Australia, there were a few more extreme cases: Putin in Russia, Marine Le Pen in France, Viktor Orban in Hungary. Then there’s Cambodia, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt etc who saw this as a huge advantage as well. It may not be the end of a progressive vision of the world but it definitely seemed like the beginning of a big switch.
One thing I learned during my political writing hiatus while serving my self-induced “exile” to Canada is that this country was one of the few blips in this trend. Why did Canada choose to elect Justin Trudeau in 2015, a left wing liberal, after 9 years of Harper’s conservative government? Was it simply because Canadians were good and fair people? Did they just fundamentally understand that you need both conservative and progressive governments to advance society? Perhaps they do, and Canadians are most definitely good and fair people regardless of election results. I am even set to become a Canadian citizen myself (and a dual-citizen overall) in 2021.
So where is this all coming from? Why are the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom on a continued path to segregation, protectionism, populism and division while Canada and New Zealand show basically zero of these tendencies?
The News Corp cancer that is Rupert Murdoch’s media empire is the deciding factor.
So What Does Kevin Rudd Have To Do With It?
Mr. Rudd has been living in the USA for the last 5 years and is firmly spearheading the charge in that Rupert Murdoch’s media behemoth “News Corp” has been unlawfully influencing Australian opinion and undermining elections in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for close to 3 decades (more predominantly in the last 8 years).
Before you read any further I have to be transparent about my opinions of Kevin Rudd. I accredit his “Kevin 07″ campaign as the catalyst for my interest in politics, my decision to study economics at university, and my ongoing support for progressive policies in every federal and state election since 2007. His work has played a big part in shaping me into the person I am today.
Despite my positive position on Mr. Rudd, I am also disappointed he did not action this during his time as prime minister. However, I am “all in” when it comes to what he is standing for, and that is:
Eradicating monopolies in all forms (be it political, business, journalism, etc)
Improving media literacy to encourage fair and unbiased journalism
Avoiding the pitfalls of Murdoch's divisive influence on the USA happening to Australia
There’s a few key factoids to his claims of mass-media bias:
70% of print media in Australia is owned by ONE MAN: Rupert Murdoch (100% owned in Queensland)
Print media influences the national conversation on a daily basis
Rupert Murdoch owns the biggest YouTube channel in Australia (news.com.au)
The line between fact-based and opinion-based reporting continues to blur, resembling that of CNN (Democrats) and Fox (Republican) extreme partisanship in the USA
All of Murdoch’s papers have backed the Liberal/National party in all 19 out of the last 19 federal and state elections
The ABC is breaching the Australian Broadcasting Act of 1983 by not standing up to Murdoch media purely out of fear
Politicians are not standing up out of fear of character assassination
Whether or not Murdoch is backing left or right, Labor or Liberal, the question still remains:
Do you think it is healthy for a FOREIGN PRIVATE ENTITY to own a monopoly level of influence on a sovereign country’s political system for that private entity to use for their own personal gain through targeted media attacks and character assassinations?
Watch This Space...
There are utter mountains of evidence to accompany these claims, and to make sure you can digest what I am trying to say, I recommend that you sink your teeth into the following videos to validate and truly comprehend the size of the tumour we are dealing with:
Feb 20, 2020 - 1h - Friendlyjordies informal interview with Kevin Rudd
This is right before the Covid outbreak in March, which delayed Mr. Rudd’s ability to move for a formal commission into media bias
Provides excellent insight into the ABC’s lack of action, the opportunism of the Green party, and the complete absence of unbiased reporting in Australia
Feb 18, 2021 - 1h 30m - Kevin Rudd Officially Requesting Royal Commission to Australian Senate
The first 20-30 minutes provide Mr. Rudd’s summary of the situation
The remainder of the video consists of questions from both Labor and Liberal senators about Mr. Rudd’s claims
Mar 1, 2021 - 2m - Kevin Rudd speaks to Sunrise about the Murdoch monopoly
Mr. Rudd went on a national flagship morning show to discuss his concerns regarding News Corp
LISTEN to the questions being asked of him: completely disregarding his valid points and dismissing him as “sour grapes”
Channel 7 is not News Corp, so why try to discredit Mr. Rudd? Fear of being targeted by News Corp
Mar 9, 2021 - 1h - National Press Club: The Case for Courage
Mr. Rudd stands up in front of The National Press Club of Australia to promote the four big challenges facing Australia in his upcoming book “The Case for Courage”
He takes questions from journalists from both Murdoch and non-Murdoch media outlets
As I start to conclude this piece, for action to happen, an independent royal commission is required to get to the facts. Mr. Rudd already gathered over 500,000 signatures that were recently sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison asking for the royal commission to take place, but this is not enough.
Even former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a friend of Rupert Murdoch and political opposite to Mr. Rudd, signed the petition and said the following:
Mr Turnbull, a former Liberal prime minister, said the Murdoch media used to be a group of traditional right-leaning outlets but has now become "a vehicle of propaganda."
He told ABC television's Insiders program on Sunday that Australian democracy was suffering for allowing the "crazy, bitter partisanship" of social media to creep into the mainstream.
"We have to work out what price we're paying, as a society, for the hyper-partisanship of the media," Mr Turnbull said.
"Look at the United States and the terrible, divided state of affairs that they're in, exacerbated, as Kevin was saying, by Fox News and other right-wing media."
I recently sent a (somewhat long) letter to Mr. Rudd expressing my concern for the state of Australia’s media landscape, with it culminating in the following questions:
I am deeply moved and inspired by your bravery to take on "the beast" as you so aptly name it, and I want to boldly ask: how can I help? How can I get involved?
I am yet to hear back from Mr. Rudd himself - but I think if you’ve gotten this far, you know what I am about to say next.
I want to help, learn more, or get involved.
That’s amazing. We’re not asking for money, just action. Here’s some ways you can help is stop the rot:
SUBSCRIBE TO and FOLLOW direct updates from Kevin Rudd:
Website / Newsletters
https://newsroyalcommission.com/
https://kevinrudd.com/
Social media alongside the #MurdochRoyalCommission hashtag on all platforms:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Boycott News Corp media sites, publications, and channels
I’ve linked a list of all assets by News Corp above
This includes steering clear of ALL mediums of news owned by these publications and outlets including the respective:
Social media channels and pages
Television and radio news channels
Print and online newspapers and articles
SHARE and spread the word of this cancer affecting our democracy
Talk TO your friends and family (not AT them) and LISTEN to their views - people are not dumb: this will make sense if given time to digest
WATCH the videos posted above as a start, alongside a few more recommendations:
This interview between Friendly Jordies and former Labor Leader Bill Shorten from earlier in March 2021
I learned more about Bill Shorten in the last 20 minutes of this interview than I did in his entire run as opposition leader.
This just goes to show you how utterly mistreated he was by Murdoch media
For a laugh - every episode of Kevin Rudd: PM from Rove McManus’ late night show
I want Australia to remain a safe, secure, and lucky country to raise my family in someday. I care about this very much and plan to ramp up my content around this until we are free from the Murdoch beast and its lies.
Thank you so much for reading, as always, I am happy to discuss.
List of Murdoch (News Corp) Owned Outlets [Expanded Below]
Television
Foxtel (65%)
Australian News Channel
Fox Sports Australia
Streamotion
Fox Sports News
Fox Cricket
Fox Footy
Fox League
Kayo Sports
Binge
Sky News Australia
Sky News Weather
Sky News Extra
Sky After Dark
Australia Channel (News Streaming channel)
Sky News New Zealand
Sky News on WIN
Internet
Punters.com.au — Australian horse racing and bookmaker affiliate.
SuperCoach
Australia Best Recipes
hipages
odds.com.au
Mogo
One Big Switch
Knewz, a news aggregator
Realestate.com.au
Advertising, Branding & Tech
Global
Storyful
News UK
bridge studio
wireless Group
wireless studios
urban media
First Radio
Switchdigital
TIBUS
ZESTY
News Corp Australia
SUDDENLY - Content Agency
Medium Rare Content Agency
HT&E (Here, There & Everywhere)
News Xtend
Radio
News UK & Ireland
wireless Group
talkSPORT
talkSPORT 2
talkRADIO
Virgin Radio
FM104
Q102
96FM
c103
Live 95FM
LMFM
U105
Scottish Sun 80s
Scottish Sun Hits
Scottish Sun Greatest Hits
Times Radio
Magazines and Inserts (digital and print)
News Corp Australia
Big League
body+soul
Broncos
Business Daily
delicious
Escape
Foxtel
GQ Australia
Hit
Kidspot
Mansion Australia
Motoring
Sportsman
Super Food Ideas
taste.com.au
The Deal
The Weekend Australian Magazine
Vogue Australia
Vogue Living
Whimn
Wish
News & Magazines (digital and print)
News UK
The Sun
The Times
The Sunday Times
Press Association (part owned, News UK is one of 26 shareholders)
The TLS (Times Literary Supplement)
News Corp Australia
The Australian including weekly insert magazine The Deal and monthly insert magazine (wish)
The Weekend Australian
Australian Associated Press
news.com.au
New South Wales
The Daily Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph including insert magazine sundaymagazine
Victoria
Herald Sun
Sunday Herald Sun including insert magazine sundaymagazine
Lions Raw
Samizdat
Queensland
The Courier-Mail including weekly insert magazine QWeekend
The Sunday Mail
Brisbane News
South Australia
The Advertiser including the monthly insert The Adelaide magazine
Sunday Mail
Tasmania
The Mercury
The Sunday Tasmanian
Northern Territory
Northern Territory News
Sunday Territorian
Community suburban newspapers
Cumberland/Courier (NSW) newspapers
Blacktown Advocate
Canterbury-Bankstown Express
Central
Central Coast Express Advocate
Fairfield Advance
Hills Shire Times
Hornsby and Upper North Shore Advocate
Inner West Courier
Liverpool Leader
Macarthur Chronicle
Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard
NINETOFIVE
North Shore Times
Northern District Times
NORTHSIDE
Parramatta Advertiser
Penrith Press
Rouse Hill Times
Southern Courier
The Manly Daily
The Mosman Daily
Village Voice Balmain
Wentworth Courier
Leader (Vic) newspapers
Bayside Leader
Berwick/Pakenham Cardinia Leader
Brimbank Leader
Caulfield Glen Eira/Port Philip Leader
Cranbourne Leader
Dandenong/Springvale Dandenong Leader
Diamond Valley Leader
Frankston Standard/Hastings Leader
Free Press Leader
Heidelberg Leader
Hobsons Bay Leader
Hume Leader
Knox Leader
Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
Manningham Leader
Maribyrnong Leader
Maroondah Leader
Melbourne Leader
Melton/Moorabool Leader
Moonee Valley Leader
Moorabbin Kingston/Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader
Mordialloc Chelsea Leader
Moreland Leader
Mornington Peninsula Leader
Northcote Leader
Preston Leader
Progress Leader
Stonnington Leader
Sunbury/Macedon Ranges Leader
Waverley/Oakleigh Monash Leader
Whitehorse Leader
Whittlesea Leader
Wyndham Leader
Quest (QLD) newspapers
Albert & Logan News (Fri)
Albert & Logan News (Wed)
Caboolture Shire Herald
Caloundra Journal
City News
City North News
City South News
Ipswich News
Logan West Leader
Maroochy Journal
North-West News
Northern Times
Northside Chronicle
Pine Rivers Press/North Lakes Times
Redcliffe and Bayside Herald
South-East Advertiser
South-West News/Springfield News
Southern Star
The Noosa Journal
weekender
Westside News
Wynnum Herald
Weekender Essential Sunshine Coast
Messenger (SA) newspapers
Adelaide Matters
City Messenger
City North Messenger
East Torrens Messenger
Eastern Courier Messenger
Guardian Messenger
Hills & Valley Messenger
Leader Messenger
News Review Messenger
Portside Messenger
Southern Times Messenger
Weekly Times Messenger
Community (WA) newspapers
(50.1%) (Formerly)
Advocate
Canning Times
Comment News
Eastern Reporter
Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette
Guardian Express
Hills-Avon Valley Gazette
Joondalup-Wanneroo Times
Mandurah Coastal / Pinjarra Murray Times
Melville Times
Midland-Kalamunda Reporter
North Coast Times
Southern Gazette
Stirling Times
Weekend-Kwinana Courier
Weekender
Western Suburbs Weekly
Sun (NT) newspapers
Darwin Sun
Litchfield Sun
Palmerston Sun
Regional and rural newspapers
New South Wales
Tweed Sun
Tweed Daily News
Victoria
Echo
Geelong Advertiser
GeelongNEWS
The Weekly Times
Queensland
Bowen Independent
Burdekin Advocate
Cairns Sun
Gold Coast Bulletin
Gold Coast Sun
Herbert River Express
Home Hill Observer
Innisfail Advocate
Northern Miner
Port Douglas & Mossman Gazette
Tablelander – Atherton
Tablelands Advertiser
The Cairns Post
The Noosa News
The Sunshine Coast Daily
Townsville Bulletin
Toowoomba Chronicle
Townsville Sun
weekender
Daily Mercury (Mackay)
Tasmania
Derwent Valley Gazette
Tasmanian Country
Northern Territory
Centralian Advocate
International
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (63%)
United States
New York Post
Wall Street Journal
realtor.com
Move (80%)
Dow Jones & Company
Consumer Media Group
The Wall Street Journal – the leading US financial newspaper
Wall Street Journal Europe closed
The Wall Street Journal Asia closed
Barron's – weekly financial markets magazine
Marketwatch – financial news and information website
Financial News
Heat Street - news and opinion website
Mansion Global - global luxury property website
Enterprise Media Group
Dow Jones Newswires – global, real-time news and information provider.
Factiva – provides business news and information together with content delivery tools and services.
Dow Jones Indexes – stock market indexes and indicators, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (10% ownership)
Dow Jones Financial Information Services – produces databases, electronic media, newsletters, conferences, directories, and other information services on specialised markets and industry sectors.
Betten Financial News – leading Dutch language financial and economic news service.
Strategic Alliances
STOXX (33%) – joint venture with Deutsche Boerse and SWG Group for the development and distribution of Dow Jones STOXX indices.
Wireless Group
Talksport
TalkRadio
Books
HarperCollins
4th Estate
Collins
Ecco Press
Harlequin Enterprises
Harper Perennial
Harper Voyager
Kappa Books
Modern Publishing
Unisystems Inc.
Zondervan Publishing
Christian publishing company taken over by HarperCollins in 1988
Inspirio – religious gift production
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Politics and Civic Cultures
In the lead up to election time, it’s pretty hard to avoid those persuasive and aggressive political ads that seem to pop up right in the middle of your favourite new cooking show. Footage of politicians visiting schools, kissing babies in hospitals (okay that might be too cliché) and everything else seem to be in your face all the time. As a politician, one must relate to a broad spectrum of citizens, who in many circumstances show low trust in them, weak or no interest in politics and low levels of electoral participation (Manning et. al 2017). This disengagement with politicians is prominent for young people and politicians are increasingly trying new ways to gauge and rally support from the Gen Y’s.
Politicians these days repeatedly try to present themselves as authentic and relatable people in order to connect with voters (Manning et. al 2017). In a recent biography of the former British prime minister titled: David Cameron: Call Me Dave, the former leader portrays feelings of casualness and informality in an effort to cultivate a less formal and relatable image of himself, detailing private details about his home and family life. (Ashcroft and Oakshott 2015). The sharing of private life and even humility has become a way of gaining legitimacy for politicians and bridging the divide (Manning et. al 2007). Take Kevin Rudd for example; his social media presence around the 2013 election was a lot more down to earth and open compared to Tony Abbott. An approach fostering self-ridicule and humour left Australians feeling like he was ‘one of them’ in particular posting a selfie on Instagram of himself cutting his face whilst shaving.
Social media has the power to facilitate exchange, accountability and promote political engagement for people (not just young) but also for those who don’t understand politics entirely and could feel excluded from this type of conversation (Keane 2002). If Kevin Rudd cut his face shaving then that doesn’t make him perfect right? He’s just a normal guy, trying to do normal things and through posts like this can reach an audience who he may never have related to before.
In a study by Manning et. al 2017 findings revealed that young people desire a more genuine and accessible voice from politicians, but still held the view that politicians needed to be professional and worthy of respect. So is there a risk of being too intimate and over sharing on social media? How much is too much and what is acceptable conduct for politicians on social media? Was posting a picture of a shaving mishap maybe too much to see and entirely irrelevant to the big issues in politics? These questions pose a difficult scenario to politicians and make it hard to find the right balance as they may seem out of touch with the youth of today if they aren’t using social media platforms. Decreasing participation in this age group means that the role of social media has become more important than ever.
Ashcroft, M and Oakeshott, I 2015, ‘Call me Dave: The Unauthorised Biography of David Cameron, London, Biteback Publications.
Keane, J 2002 ‘Whatever Happened to Democracy’, Institute for Public Policy Research, London IPPR Manning, N, Penfold-Mounce, R, Loader, B Vromen, A & Xenos, M 2017 ‘Politicians, Celebrities and Social Media: A case of informalisation?’ Journal of Youth Studies, vol.20, no. 2, pp.127-144.
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