A question’s been raised over channel 9 journalists in Australia appearing in an ad endorsing the Covid jab 

The question is whether it is the place of media to champion the vaccine. 

One of the arguments against journalists doing this is that media should maintain the appearance of being unbiased or neutral, and that that should extend to coverage of the Covid vaccine given the level of concern a chunk of the population has – even in our country – about getting the jab. 

This is obviously completely bollocks.

Of course media should champion the vaccine if they want to, and frankly they can say the opposite if that’s what they believe as well.

The idea that any member of the media is unbiased in any area is a fallacy.

You only have to look at the way the media cover contentious issue: the choice of the words they use, how they frame the story, who they cast as the hero or the villain, and whether they even cover the story at all.  All of that speaks of their own biases and world views. 

And frankly, there is a general media bias towards supporting the vaccine.  So why pretend it isn’t there? It is.  Let’s just be honest about it. 

Secondly, if you’re in the media and you believe the vaccine is the smart move, I’m all for you endorsing it.

Because frankly, that is our fastest way back to normality. It is literally the difference between our borders being open and them staying shut longer.

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The faster we get that jab into arms up and down this country, the faster we’ll be reconnecting with the world.

So actually, I think it’s the responsible thing to do for anyone to endorse the jab, media or not. 

Good on Channel 9.  I fully endorse what they’re saying.  Get the jab.