Wednesday, March 10, 2010

"Uncritical group-think" - ABC chair criticises climate change coverage

COMMENT: Perhaps MAURICE NEWMAN has been reading ABC NEWS WATCH?
ABC chair criticises climate change coverage
MAURICE NEWMAN: "The media hasn't been good at picking these things up and it's really been the question of what is conventional wisdom and consensus rather than listening perhaps to other points of view that may be sceptical. "
MAURICE NEWMAN: My view on any of these topics is to keep an open mind and I still have an open mind on climate change, I have an open mind on a whole range of issues because I think that to have a closed mind leaves you in a position where if you take a strong stance you are likely to be wrong-footed.
And I've just made the point that I've been around long enough to know that consensus and conventional wisdom doesn't always serve you well and that unless you leave some room for an alternative point of view you are likely to go down a wrong track. 

MAURICE NEWMAN: I think that there are points of view supporting what you've just said, there are other points of view which will discount that and they come from also eminent positions; these are not cranks. Many of the people who have a different point of view on the climate science are respectable and credentialed scientists themselves.  So as I said, I'm not a scientist and I'm like anybody else in the public I have to listen to all points of view and then make judgements when we're asked to vote on particular policies.


Then again maybe not.


MAURICE NEWMAN: "I think the ABC has probably been more balanced than most in the mainstream media. I think that we've listened to the words of sceptics as well as those who are scientists in the field."


 I wonder how long Maurice will now remain in his job? Six months? Any bets?


More from Jo Nova HERE 

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