Week 12: The Greens & Coalition speak in harmony?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/refugee-plan-imminent-20101016-16odt.html

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1384327/Asylum-seekers-could-be-released

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/16/3040170.htm

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/latest/8144550/libs-greens-at-one-on-kids-in-detention/

4 articles: The Age, Yahoo7, SBS & ABC


Several articles covered Immigration Minister Chris Bowen’s expected imminent announcement of what has been touted as a “major policy shift”: a plan to release children and families from detention while their asylum claims are being processed.

The Age’s article is short and merely delivers a summary of the issue. It is purely straight news, featuring comment from both Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison.

The absence of any supplementary material such as photos or even links to related content is a major deficit. A “Join the conversation” feature - revealing the number of other readers simultaneously viewing - lends a participatory feel, however there was no comments section. Maybe a wise decision: when scanning for articles on the topic I came upon a Yahoo7 (AAP) article and the numerous comments submitted there were truly cringe-worthy (eg.: “Whats next? Roll the red carpet out onto the beach for them?”). I get the impression that reader comments, while not necessarily representative of the views of the news service, can potentially taint by association!

SBS features an AAP article which offers a more enhanced online experience than The Age. The headline is enthralling: “Libs, Greens at one on kids in detention” (“at one”? These two parties are usually diametrically “at odds”!). A photo of detainees peering through razor wire provides a relevant visual reference, and links to related content provide further depth.

The article includes quotes from both Hanson-Young and Morrison, including the memorable last line where Morrison lauds the Coalition’s efforts for removing children from detention in 2005. (I personally didn’t appreciate his big-noting: the Howard years were notorious for their inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.)

Ultimately - and as you’ve come to expect from me - I ended up at ABC. At 800 words their report is lengthier, but this is an issue that deserves the more comprehensive treatment which ABC afforded it. Quotes by Hanson-Young highlighted aspects of asylum seeker education and employment which are still to be worked out.

Comment by a Professor of Public Law along with a photo of detainees, radio excerpts and related articles make for a multifaceted spread.

I believe ABC presents best overall, however SBS’ succinct delivery and multimedia also result in an engaging online read.

(As an aside: I did take exception to the Professor in the ABC report using the term “boat people”, although I understand the context. The casual use of this term in the media & public domain is worrying. I would have preferred to see her say “asylum seekers who arrive on boats”, simply because this rhetoric is now becoming entrenched and I believe it is distorting.)