Journalists are powerful. They have access to the media with the ability to shape the public's perception of events, people, policies. The public don't have that. Instead the public relies on the media to demonstrate accuracy, fairness & balance #auspol #media

If they fail to demonstrate those qualities, the public can lose trust in the media as a whole. This is especially problematic during a pandemic & restrictions on people's lives. People need reliable information at a time of fear when emotions are raw #auspol #media

The abuse that individual journalists are subjected to is wrong & for women in particular is vile. It has no place in any society or on any platform. Criticism, on the other hand, is entirely legitimate so long as it is relevant & not abusive. #auspol #media

To see journalists defending each other, denigrating legitimate criticism & justifying their actions in long twitter threads is to understand how they consider themselves a different class. Above criticism because of their power #auspol #media

The reaction of many to the media's questioning of Andrews at his press conferences this week demonstrated that Andrews was able to speak above the heads of the press & reach a wide audience in a way that resonated with them #auspol #media

The way Andrews resonated with the public reminded me of Gillard's misogyny speech. She spoke over the heads of the press to the public who felt all the sexist slights she had suffered which were never called out by the media. Instead they criticised her for it #auspol #media

Journalists will claim their questions are about accountability. To whom? Is their job to serve their owners, the public, their profession? Obviously not the public whom some of them clearly hold in contempt. I'd like to know: who are they accountable to? #auspol #media

Ultimately the public will make its own judgement on politicians & on the media. Some of us, as listeners, as viewers, as readers, won't forget the contempt displayed towards us #auspol #media