Anti same sex marriage advocates are complaining the media is biased – and it is. That’s what happens when the choice is truth or hate.
So, apparently the press has a bias towards same sex marriage. If you watched Media Watch or Q&A last night or have listened to the conservative commentators, we are not respecting the views of those opposed to marriage equality or giving them equal voice in the debate.
As Mamamia is part of the media pack, we would like say that this accusation is spot on. Too right we have an intractable bias towards marriage equality. And here is the reason why. Journalists deal in facts and the arguments against are simply not based in truth.
Mostly, they stem from religious conviction. Religion is something you must have faith in and faith is defined as “strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof”. When I last looked, it was not the job of the media to document “spiritual conviction” but instead to compile and deliver verified information.
Other than religious conviction, other anti marriage equality arguments appear to be based on bigotry and homophobia. Pure and simple. Old-fashioned ignorance dressed up as conviction. There is no humanitarian ground for an argument against that doesn’t have a xenophobic basis.
On last night’s ABC Q&A program, we saw what happens when both sides of the debate are discussed openly – ugly accusations, offensive comments and nonsensical arguments. It was an opportunity for those opposed to vent.
Top Comments
Soooo because it's the 'christians' that are involved it's ok to dismiss their opinions (because they don't go around killing or hurting anyone)... but hell forbid if the Muslims start complaining... because then this would totally be Racist!!! lol... double standards much!
Ecclesiastes 7:13
Journalists deal in facts?
That sentiment alone is rubbish.
Journalists often deal in spin. In twisting the truth to make a good story. My profession has been in the newspaper several times this week, reporting on our wages. In the same paper, consecutive days, they reported my annual income as two very different amounts. $20,000 difference in fact, depending on how they want the public to feel about us. $145,000 different to what the very same paper claimed a year ago during an enterprise bargaining period. Facts? Meh.
No one believes the media deals in facts.
I support equality in marriage 100%. But I understand that for a lot of people (not only religious people), that idea is relatively new, and goes against what they thought and believed about marriage all their life. And the sudden change of view (and it has been sudden), in the media and everywhere else, has turned very nastily against those who are taking a bit longer to come around to the idea.