Rita Panahi: Text ‘scandal’ proves Canberra Press Gallery proudly out of touch

The text “scandal” involving the PM, Gladys Berejiklian and a government minister is just another example of manufactured outrage created by the media for the media.

It’s hard to determine who’s had the worst week, the Prime Minister or the Canberra press gallery.

You know things are grim when top-rating FM radio host Kyle Sandilands displays greater insight and perspective than the bulk of the nation’s political reporters, many of whom have given up any pretence of balance and become full-blown activists.

There’s the shameless barracking when they are supposed to be impartial reporters, and then there’s the manner in which they obsess about trivialities while ignoring substantive issues.

The text message “scandal” involving nasty commentary about the Prime Minister between former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and a government minister is another example of manufactured outrage created by the media for the media.

It’s hard to determine who’s had the worst week, the Prime Minister or the Canberra press gallery. Picture: AAP

On Wednesday, as reporters and commentators continued to fixate on the “scandal”, Sandilands exploded.

“This is the biggest news in Australia, and it’s all over nothing,” he thundered.

“So what if the ex-premier called the Prime Minister a horrible, horrible person? I’ve called everyone here an effing c in text messages. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gladys was just pacifying whatever loser minister she was talking to.”

Now, amongst all the expletives and rage Sandilands made two excellent points.

That the issue is a nothing-burger and that Berejiklian’s comments were probably motivated by a desire to placate the “loser minister”.

Sandilands is friends with Berejiklian and is better placed than most to make that assessment.

But he wasn’t finished there.

“This is not real news. Don’t make up fictitious bulls--- drama over nothing,” he said.

“We don’t have to run around every time some c---sucker from the ABC asks a question.

“I’m angry. This is the way the world has been ruined – by d---heads on the news turning these things into bulls--- moments.”

Kyle Sandilands says journalists are ‘lazy losers’ who hunt in packs. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

He then went on to label journos “lazy losers” who hunt in packs.

The outburst only ended when Sandilands, in the first segment of his top-rating program, stormed out of the studio leaving co-host Jackie O to hold the fort for the remaining three hours and 45 minutes.

On Thursday Sandilands admitted he was somewhat embarrassed by the carry-on but said he was “justified” in getting his back up.

While the language and tone of the commentary was too colourful for a respectful newspaper, the sentiment was 100 per cent right.

We are ill-served by the Canberra Press Gallery, many of whom are proudly out of touch with the mainstream.