The same people who mock QAnon believers genuinely think journalists and “the mainstream media” in its entirety are part of an elaborate, single-mission conspiracy that fabricates stories and prints Murdoch-given lines to take out Dan Andrews 1/

Do Murdoch outlets broadly favour Liberal govs? Totally! Does HUN sometimes bully Dan? Yes!

But conspiratorial distrust in every journalist & every news story completely nullifies the GENUINE instances of bad-faith reporting or powerbroker interference! It’s not all the same! 2/

And the frenzied denouncement of every story that’s critical of Victoria’s COVID response as deliberately fabricated or politically motivated massively damages any chance of actual government accountability right now, and undermines public trust in the press into the future. 3/

You know who wants you to think the press are liars, right? Politicians who plan to lie to you!

You know who popularised the idea and term “fake news”, right?

4/

It’s actually incumbent on politically-engaged, news-following people to counter the forced conspiracies that undermine trust in journalists, and to demand strong, relentless media that pressure-tests every single claim from every politician (even if they’re you’re fave!) 5/

When I see bad practice journalism or incorrect info in stories I contact the journo and paper, I call it out publicly, I write the the press council.

I don’t just accept that shit, shrug my shoulders and say “the mainstream media are all liars and stooges!”

6/

A strong, trusted, free press is existentially important to a functioning democracy.

Spreading the conspiracy that it’s all “Murdoch’s fake news” and “Costello’s fake news” and “ABC right-wing bias” actively erodes public trust and does nothing to make the press better.

7/

I’ve got a column drafted on this that maybe I’ll get around to finishing this week (and publishing ~*in the media*~)

In the meantime, flagging that I’m not going to engage in replies to this thread bc I got stuff to do (ur obvs welcome to reply, it’s a free website )