AP omits key part of Rupert Murdoch speech on 11/16/08 critical of media

AP's version of Murdoch's speech is accepted around the world while it omits a key part of the text as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Key because it speaks to a scandalous global problem for readers--the entity whom newspapers allegedly care about. That is institutionalized bias, Murdoch addresses it significantly, and the AP apparently decides to censor his remarks.

• AP's sanitized version of Murdoch's speech on 11/16/08

• The Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s summary of Murdoch's speech on 11/16/08 (abc.net)

From the Australian Broadcasting report not present in AP report:

• "He says some newspapers have become too focussed on winning awards, or
• pushing their own agendas, at the expense of circulatiion....

• Mr Murdoch says the desire for awards among journalists has become a fetish.

• He says papers are running stories reflecting their own interests and for fellow journalists rather than what is relevant to readers' lives, while some editors commission stories where
• the sole purpose is the quest for a prize.

• "When I started out in the business anyone who dared parade a prize for excellence would have been hooted out of the newsroom for taking himself too seriously," he said.

"But today the desire for awards has become a fetish. Papers may be losing money, losing circulation, and laying off people left and right, but they will have a wall full of awards - prisoners of the past rather than enthusiasts for the future.""

• Who made the decision to leave out information critical of the news media? Will that person be exposed and fired? (sm)

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