This was the introduction to an item on the ABC Radio National's Breakfast program this morning:
"Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to a 'fair go' have regularly given as examples of a healthy Australian democracy.
But to us, the media consumers, this freedom is delivered with a big dose of 'spin', where a lot of what we hear has been massaged by consultants or political advisers. This includes the use of quirky, clever catch-phrases, like 'pro-choice', or 'ethnic cleansing' for often very complex, moral issues.
Steven Poole, journalist with London's Guardian newspaper, has given this use of language a name; 'unspeak'. He says this is language used as a weapon, and he sees a sinister side to its use.
Steven Poole is the author of Unspeak and is the keynote speaker at next week's Sydney Writers' Festival. He joins us now from his home in Paris."
Click on the link here to get to the ABC web site in order to hear the interview. Interesting and thought-provoking.
"Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to a 'fair go' have regularly given as examples of a healthy Australian democracy.
But to us, the media consumers, this freedom is delivered with a big dose of 'spin', where a lot of what we hear has been massaged by consultants or political advisers. This includes the use of quirky, clever catch-phrases, like 'pro-choice', or 'ethnic cleansing' for often very complex, moral issues.
Steven Poole, journalist with London's Guardian newspaper, has given this use of language a name; 'unspeak'. He says this is language used as a weapon, and he sees a sinister side to its use.
Steven Poole is the author of Unspeak and is the keynote speaker at next week's Sydney Writers' Festival. He joins us now from his home in Paris."
Click on the link here to get to the ABC web site in order to hear the interview. Interesting and thought-provoking.
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