SPRING ST, VIC. — When the Victorian State election writs are issued by the State Governor and the Victorian Parliament is dismissed to ‘caretaker’ mode, we have some rules for Victorian state politicians.
Journalists must provide, in a democracy, especially during elections, equal and fair coverage. For example, if one side of politics gets 500 words published, then the other side must also have 500 words published. The same applies to journalism ethics for radio and television.
If one side of the political spectrum, during an election, gets two minutes on air, then one must provide that ‘equal’ (two minutes) of air time to the other side.
As VicNews has made clear in the past, we accept those rules, with exceptions.
Many Victorian state politicians, of all sides and stripes – blue tie, red tie, green tie, teal tie etc – have been afforded many opportunities to respond to “requests for comment.”
Any Victorian state politician, or candidate, who has ever failed to respond to our requests for comment – ever – will not be granted their “equal time” and will be completely ignored.
We are happy to publish the words of politicians who engage with indpendent journalists outside of election cycles. You can not ignore us, refuse to respond to several requests for comment for almost four years, then demand we give you equal time. That’s how you end up with Donald Trump as US President.
VicNews has always provided “rights of reply” to all politicians in power, local, state and federal for many years.
Those politicians who refuse to answer, with even so much as a “no comment” reply, VicNews strikes them off the register.
After all, if these politicians didn’t need me, nor wish to respond to, my questions, unilt the election writs are issued, then VicNews is just wasting its time with yesterday’s heroes.
All politicians, state and federal, and local councillors who fail to respond to enquiries get struck off the ‘right of reply’ register and will not have their equal time granted.
We will soon publish a list, backed with evidence, of the politicians and councillors who do engage with independent journalists outside the MSM and those who do not.
Politicians who do not engage with, nor respond to requests for comment, from bona fide, qualified, independent journalists will be ignored. Quid pro quo.
