Wilson Warts and All Witch-hunt Draws to Conclusion

[Goodvibes 3,596]

The Caroline Wilson saga appears to be drawing to its ugly conclusion and after a torrid seven month investigation it appears that the Australian Journalists’ Association will treat the Chief Football Writer of ‘The Age’ leniently. Whilst the actual charges have been the subject of wild speculation, it is believed Wilson has been handed a ‘please explain’ from the AJA regarding her failure to, “report and interpret honestly” and her perceived reliance on providing her readers with “distorted emphasis”. Most alarmingly for Wilson was the potential for the AJA to charge her under sub-section 18 of the Code of Ethics that alludes to the importance of “respecting all persons’ right to a fair trial.”

Wilson’s persecution of the Melbourne Football Club throughout 2012 and 2013 was viewed by many as a sensationalist witch hunt. At best, Wilson has abused her lofty position at the once great flagship of Australian Sports journalism, ‘The Age’ by masquerading fanciful, unsubstantiated conjecture as fact. At worst, history will judge her as the chief perpetrator of horrific crimes against the code of journalism ethics in this country. It is understood that Wilson may have to serve a small suspension from her duties at The Age, but disturbingly her face will still be seen on television.

Age Insiders have spoken of a growing discontent amongst staff regarding the policies and procedures The Chief Football Writer has enforced upon her underlings. Wilson conducts many of her ‘informal’ staff meetings around the office water cooler. Sources close to the water cooler have revealed that great pressure was placed on junior and cadet journalists to deliberately sensationalize articles and invent a series of un-named sources in a bid to sell more newspapers and increase their dwindling online readership.

The Wilson saga first reached the headlines when former Age journalist, Andrew Rule jumped ship to crosstown rivals, The Herald Sun. Demonland understands that Rule took exception to the ‘sell newspapers at all costs’ mantra that emanated from the Football Department. “Blind Freddie could see what was going on”, he mused. “Making money was too great a carrot and journalistic standards were an inevitable victim”. Rule feels strongly that the AJA should throw the book at Wilson. “She’s the Chief Football Writer. The buck stops with her. She’s brought sports journalism into disrepute. The AJA needs to make a statement. Wilson must go.”

Wilson sympathizer, Dwayne Russell, predictably defended the once respected journalist. “It’s not Caroline’s fault. She’s purely a product of the industry. Modern footy journalism demands results and Caroline simply manipulated the code to her advantage”.

It’s understood Wilson, who has failed to return Demonland calls, feels victimized by the attention she has received. In a rare interview granted in January, Wilson exclaimed, “Have you seen the fanciful crap Robbo gets away with at the HUN? Have you ever listened to the torrent of [censored] that flows from Greg Denham’s mouth?” Whilst Wilson may be correct when she points the finger at others for their dubious journalistic standards, it is clear that she took the sensationalism to a whole new level.

Greg Hywood, Fairfax Media Chief Executive, has been consistent in his stance that sensationalism in football journalism simply doesn’t exist. “We’re in the news breaking and news reporting business. We don’t just make stuff up and we don’t sensationalize”. Hywood was adamant, however, that if charges of lying, bias or sensationalism were founded, heads would roll.

Respected ‘Sportsnewsfirst’ writer, Kim Hagdorn said it would be a sad day for his industry if Wilson was to be made a scapegoat. “She’s been a massive role-model for me. She’s a maverick. She was the first footy journo to really blur the lines between fact and fiction. Her influence on the next generation of football journos should never be underestimated”.

If as expected, Wilson receives a watered downed punishment, the world of football journalism will be the real losers. An opportunity existed for those who claim to have the best interests of the industry at their heart to make a statement. A line in the sand could have been drawn where the industry said enough is enough but instead a red rag has been waved in the faces of the bulls within every newspaper’s football department. Carte blanche has been given to footy journalists throughout Australia to continue to dine out on a culture of deliberate falsehoods, blatant exaggeration, dubious source-driven innuendo and opinionative drivel.

[Flemo56 389]

Hmmmmm i think ive heard this sorta journalism elsewhere...........i like what you've done (Capt) Goodvibes. Luv'd the capt in Tracks mag

[mauriesy 6,930]

The result of the AJA investigation into Wilson is coming out tomorrow Wednesday Friday Next week March April May 2013

Edited February 18, 2013 by maurie

[Spirit of the Demon 211]

Is that what this was all about?

A journalist with an agenda?

[rpfc 27,693]

Who could forget the codenamed meeting convened to discuss journalism...

[DeeSpencer 23,690]

Your brilliant article led me to check out the latest from sports news first just for a laugh. They didn't fail to disappoint.

On Cale Morton

"Early indications are that the potentially high-flying, loping midfielder and handy forward has tweaked a knee cartilage.

The one-time highly regarded number four pick from the 207 national draft crossed to West Coast through last year’s trade period after Morton managed just 33 games in the past three seasons at the Demons.

Morton will contest for a berth in West Coast’s highly efficient small and crumbing forward battery or even for a spot on a wing.

Morton is also up against the likes of other handy opportunist forwards Josh Hill, who bagged 36 goals from 22 outings last season, Ashton Hams, Brad Dick who is also recovering from significant injury woes as well as Wellingham and Cripps who offer West Coast similar versatile forward and midfield credentials to the former Demon."

No wonder Morton didn't succeed at Melbourne! We never uncovered his potential for high-flying, trialed him as a crumbing or opportunistic forward and he must be really old if he was drafted in the 207 draft.

[BarnDee 287]

The Caroline Wilson saga appears to be drawing to its ugly conclusion and after a torrid seven month investigation it appears that the Australian Journalists’ Association will treat the Chief Football Writer of ‘The Age’ leniently. Whilst the actual charges have been the subject of wild speculation, it is believed Wilson has been handed a ‘please explain’ from the AJA regarding her failure to, “report and interpret honestly” and her perceived reliance on providing her readers with “distorted emphasis”. Most alarmingly for Wilson was the potential for the AJA to charge her under sub-section 18 of the Code of Ethics that alludes to the importance of “respecting all persons’ right to a fair trial.”

Wilson’s persecution of the Melbourne Football Club throughout 2012 and 2013 was viewed by many as a sensationalist witch hunt. At best, Wilson has abused her lofty position at the once great flagship of Australian Sports journalism, ‘The Age’ by masquerading fanciful, unsubstantiated conjecture as fact. At worst, history will judge her as the chief perpetrator of horrific crimes against the code of journalism ethics in this country. It is understood that Wilson may have to serve a small suspension from her duties at The Age, but disturbingly her face will still be seen on television.

Age Insiders have spoken of a growing discontent amongst staff regarding the policies and procedures The Chief Football Writer has enforced upon her underlings. Wilson conducts many of her ‘informal’ staff meetings around the office water cooler. Sources close to the water cooler have revealed that great pressure was placed on junior and cadet journalists to deliberately sensationalize articles and invent a series of un-named sources in a bid to sell more newspapers and increase their dwindling online readership.

The Wilson saga first reached the headlines when former Age journalist, Andrew Rule jumped ship to crosstown rivals, The Herald Sun. Demonland understands that Rule took exception to the ‘sell newspapers at all costs’ mantra that emanated from the Football Department. “Blind Freddie could see what was going on”, he mused. “Making money was too great a carrot and journalistic standards were an inevitable victim”. Rule feels strongly that the AJA should throw the book at Wilson. “She’s the Chief Football Writer. The buck stops with her. She’s brought sports journalism into disrepute. The AJA needs to make a statement. Wilson must go.”

Wilson sympathizer, Dwayne Russell, predictably defended the once respected journalist. “It’s not Caroline’s fault. She’s purely a product of the industry. Modern footy journalism demands results and Caroline simply manipulated the code to her advantage”.

It’s understood Wilson, who has failed to return Demonland calls, feels victimized by the attention she has received. In a rare interview granted in January, Wilson exclaimed, “Have you seen the fanciful crap Robbo gets away with at the HUN? Have you ever listened to the torrent of [censored] that flows from Greg Denham’s mouth?” Whilst Wilson may be correct when she points the finger at others for their dubious journalistic standards, it is clear that she took the sensationalism to a whole new level.

Greg Hywood, Fairfax Media Chief Executive, has been consistent in his stance that sensationalism in football journalism simply doesn’t exist. “We’re in the news breaking and news reporting business. We don’t just make stuff up and we don’t sensationalize”. Hywood was adamant, however, that if charges of lying, bias or sensationalism were founded, heads would roll.

Respected ‘Sportsnewsfirst’ writer, Kim Hagdorn said it would be a sad day for his industry if Wilson was to be made a scapegoat. “She’s been a massive role-model for me. She’s a maverick. She was the first footy journo to really blur the lines between fact and fiction. Her influence on the next generation of football journos should never be underestimated”.

If as expected, Wilson receives a watered downed punishment, the world of football journalism will be the real losers. An opportunity existed for those who claim to have the best interests of the industry at their heart to make a statement. A line in the sand could have been drawn where the industry said enough is enough but instead a red rag has been waved in the faces of the bulls within every newspaper’s football department. Carte blanche has been given to footy journalists throughout Australia to continue to dine out on a culture of deliberate falsehoods, blatant exaggeration, dubious source-driven innuendo and opinionative drivel.

thats gold that is , well done pal

[Biffen 12,567]

What an excellent , balanced, factual article.

Factual enough for me.

Beautifully written GoodVibes.

[Flemo56 389]

Is there any way this could possibly end up on HER desk, that'd b the time to b a fly on the wall, actually i'd luv to be there and deliver it.

[Harrisonrules 273]

A healing article. Its done me a great deal of good to read it.

How about we all copy it and post it to her by snail mail

[Robot Devil 1,895]

A healing article. Its done me a great deal of good to read it.

How about we all copy it and post it to her by snail mail

I reckon she'd be having someone open her mail for her anyway. She'd be getting enough of it and would be wary of the contents. Edited February 18, 2013 by Robot Devil

[DeeZee 6,913]

Is that official?

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Is that official?

Do you want me to name names?

[Kiss of Death 708]

"The cooler"! Wonder if there's any supplements in there...

Well played.

[Tatu 416]

Hahaha goodvibes well done..... That was a fun read..... Cheers....

[Johnny Karate 559]

OP was soft. Needed more "pathetic & disgusting" as well as biased amnesia regarding Greg Denham's confession of "doing nothing to uphold journalistic standards because of the rewards on offer."

;-)

[Webber 10,181]

Brilliant!

[monoccular 16,720]

Goodvibes - good post.

But I am a bit concerned about one word in the thread title: I received a "warning" from a zealous moderator who took exception to my use of a word that implies that the said so called leading journalist could herself have been concerned for her own well being were she to have been living in Salem, Massachusetts around the year 1692.

[skills32 229]

This damn zit just won't go away.

Now it claims we are looking to have our fine reduced by 50%.

We haven't been charged yet so how come we are fined already?

Maybe I should pop the thing and get rid of it ......... forever.

[dee-luded 2,958]

This damn zit just won't go away.

Maybe I should pop the thing and get rid of it ......... forever.

a bit of comedy on witches

[dee-luded 2,958]

a bit of comedy on witches

further

this one related to Pinocchio, it seems.

[Bossdog 2,002]

further

this one related to Pinocchio, it seems.

Looks like a photo of my Mother in law.......

[dee-luded 2,958]

Looks like a photo of my Mother in law.......

B)

i don't think I'll say anymore.

[Bossdog 2,002]

B)

i don't think I'll say anymore.

I wish she wouldn't....Just kidding mum....

[dee-luded 2,958]

I wish she wouldn't....Just kidding mum....

Its said that witches love the Yellow pages.