Dear Newspapers

Here is my open letter to the mainstream media publications - the so-called (or once proclaimed) "News" bearers of our country.

Dear <Daily Tele / The Australian / SMH / etc, etc>

I'm just wondering why we constantly have to be subjected to slanted, cherry-picked 'opinion pieces' by your journos under your masthead?

I want facts. News. If your journos want their opinions out there instead of gathering facts for their next story, send them to Wordpress or Blogspot, just like this. Here. Like I, an ordinary citizen, have done.

Why? Your publication is a NEWSpaper. News. N. E. W. S. News. Remember News?

Opinion pieces have overtaken your publication's ability to provide quality coverage of anything, most of all politics. And you don't even give your readers the right to respond to your numerous opinions! You just put your slanted views out there for the world to see as if its fact - cos it's under a News masthead.

One more thing... about your colleagues on TV (which is often you, as well). Stop interviewing each other to spout more of your opinions. You are not the News! (I'm especially talking to you Sky News Australia) Reminder - You are meant to report the News, not BE the News.

I can't take you seriously anymore. I'm going to have to break up with you.

Don't contact me anymore. No more emails, don't tweet me, and please stay away from my Google and Safari. You are ineffective in providing the service you promised me. It's over.


Goodbye

Kind Regards,
Rachel
QLD

Eye on Coal Seam Gas Industry

David vs CSG Goliath

Well it's a hot button topic, and getting hotter all the time. I've posted on the CSG industry before, here and here. It's certainly shaping up as a David versus the international mining Goliath, and the state Governments, certainly those in New South Wales and Queensland, seem to be on the side of Goliath.

I just thought I would do another quick blog and post links to some pertinent articles I have come across, for those wanting to keep an eye on the state of the industry. This first one, in particular, is a big worry. Residents living in the Tara residential estate west of Toowoomba in QLD have reported nosebleeds, chronic headaches, nausea and rashes. One resident claims he can even set his dam on fire. All since CSG activities began in the area.

The community claims residents have been lied to about the effects of CSG mining, so this is one to definitely keep a close eye on. I will add to the list as I come across more stories.

• Residents of TARA, QLD claim nosebleeds, chronic headaches due to water contamination of CSG mining 

http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/protesters-want-qld-minister-to-drink-csg-water/

• NSW Labor opposition claims a secretive new Liberal National Party policy weakens CSG mining controls

http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/labor-secret-nsw-policy-weakens-csg-controls/

• The Coalition says it will 'get around' a new law to force the federal government to take responsibility for coal seam gas, giving power for environmental assessments to the states to speed up the approval process and boost the CSG industry.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/30/coalition-coal-seam-gas-law