http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/reclai...-1227573792111
AN investigation aiming to expose and challenge the views of anti-Islam group Reclaim Australia has backfired for Channel Seven.
An interview with the political group's founders, who describe themselves as "patriotic Australians", aired on the network's Sunday Night program to a divided audience.
Sadly some of their organisers are just clowns who are frightened of being known as a racist group, so they have to race around hob-nobbing with nig -nogs. No point wearing the flag on the outside if it isn't worn on the inside!
While some criticised the program for publicising the group's "racist" views, a significant portion of the audience indicated they agreed with the controversial protesters.
Asking whether audience members thought Reclaim Australia represented Australian values, an online poll saw the majority of viewers vote yes while the story aired.
At one point, the vote sat at 78 — 22 in favour of Reclaim Australia, and has since evened out to 41 — 59.
Members of the provocative group celebrated the publicity opportunity, claiming the later numbers had been "fiddled with" and thanked the network for a boost in followers.
"The early results were the honest and true ones. It became clear it was going to be an onslaught in our favour," one commenter wrote on Facebook.
"Don't worry! It's a win. Great media exposure, page numbers are up!"
Reporter Alex Cullen who was embedded with Reclaim Australia leaders during a recent rally described the influence of the group's Facebook page, which now boasts more than 48,000 likes since Seven's story aired, as "downright scary".
Anticipating criticism for giving the controversial group airtime, Cullen had already prepared a justification for airing the story.
"A lot of people ask me, 'why are you giving these people airtime?' It's a fair question and one I have thought long and hard about. I have to then ask, why not?," he wrote.
"These are real people with a serious story to tell as are those who are standing up to oppose them. Their actions concern a lot of people, from the Prime Minister down. So, do they warrant our attention? Their motivations, views and aspirations should be questioned and that's exactly what we're doing."
Many viewers took to social media criticising the program for promoting "bigoted" views, while others claimed to have been converted after viewing.
AN investigation aiming to expose and challenge the views of anti-Islam group Reclaim Australia has backfired for Channel Seven.
An interview with the political group's founders, who describe themselves as "patriotic Australians", aired on the network's Sunday Night program to a divided audience.
Sadly some of their organisers are just clowns who are frightened of being known as a racist group, so they have to race around hob-nobbing with nig -nogs. No point wearing the flag on the outside if it isn't worn on the inside!
While some criticised the program for publicising the group's "racist" views, a significant portion of the audience indicated they agreed with the controversial protesters.
Asking whether audience members thought Reclaim Australia represented Australian values, an online poll saw the majority of viewers vote yes while the story aired.
At one point, the vote sat at 78 — 22 in favour of Reclaim Australia, and has since evened out to 41 — 59.
Members of the provocative group celebrated the publicity opportunity, claiming the later numbers had been "fiddled with" and thanked the network for a boost in followers.
"The early results were the honest and true ones. It became clear it was going to be an onslaught in our favour," one commenter wrote on Facebook.
"Don't worry! It's a win. Great media exposure, page numbers are up!"
Reporter Alex Cullen who was embedded with Reclaim Australia leaders during a recent rally described the influence of the group's Facebook page, which now boasts more than 48,000 likes since Seven's story aired, as "downright scary".
Anticipating criticism for giving the controversial group airtime, Cullen had already prepared a justification for airing the story.
"A lot of people ask me, 'why are you giving these people airtime?' It's a fair question and one I have thought long and hard about. I have to then ask, why not?," he wrote.
"These are real people with a serious story to tell as are those who are standing up to oppose them. Their actions concern a lot of people, from the Prime Minister down. So, do they warrant our attention? Their motivations, views and aspirations should be questioned and that's exactly what we're doing."
Many viewers took to social media criticising the program for promoting "bigoted" views, while others claimed to have been converted after viewing.
Send Mail
