"It's not dark yet, but it's getting there . . ." - Bob Dylan.
Following the (sadly predictable) news this morning that Howard's mob of liars had bulldozed their despicable laws through the Senate, using the "gag" on at least two occasions, even worse news came to light with the announcement by
Margo Kingston she was retiring from journalism and, consequently, was closing her on-line Webdiary. There'll be so much time, later, to toss "verbal" grenades at the ideals of Howard, Costello, Ruddock, etc, but right now I feel the need to express my appreciation for the dogged, gutsy, intelligent, honest, insightful and outspoken journalist who took the Australian internet community by storm five years ago and began her Webdiary within the bounds of
The Sydney Morning Herald.
For twenty years Margo has been at the forefront of observing and commenting on the comings and goings of Federal Parliament and the behaviour of those who worm their ways to political power. She has also managed to gather around her, friends and colleages alike, those who believe in true, accountable political democracy. That her foresight was squandered by the print media barons was clearly highlighted by the SMH's abandoning of her services on the net just months before the world's "biggest" owner of media outlets admitted his errors and began fumbling around to buy out myspace.com just so he could have some eventual outlet in the ether. Of course I'm referring to Australia's best-known expatriate, Rupert Murdoch. Her previous employers, the wigs at the SMH are still looking for the light switch and would have to be number one candidates for the wooden spoon of the Australian publishing scene.
Since her demise at the SMH, Margo has endeavoured to uphold her high standards of independent journalism by gathering around her some of the country's smartest political observers and writers and has selflessly taken on the task of running a fully independent (and open) Webdiary. It has been essential reading in order stay informed and to understanding the views of a wide range of contributors who not only combed the media and overseas outlets for news and articles of interest to the democratic political processes, but it also gave much-needed space to the underlying illness of Australia's so-called democracy.
Hopefully her loyal staffers (she paid a couple of full-time journos from her own pocket and accepted the part-time efforts of others) will be able to continue the valuable (no! - essential) work where Margo sadly leaves off. Without knowing the entire duck's bum of what took place in Margo's mind to exit the work she has been so passionate about for twenty-odd years, I believe she has indicated the pressures have finally taken their toll and she needs to reconsider the road she will travel in the future. In that, I wish her well. In health I can only offer my strength in return for all the goodness she has filtered through my mind over the years with her honest words and tireless optimism. In her future, may she return refreshed and re-created in order to assist others who have yet to take hold of the (often) heavy beacon she carried on behalf of integrity in journalism.
So long, cobber! Thanks for all the words and energetic wisdom.
