Grace Tame rattles Australian media over Fierravanti-Wells' exit speech

Grace Tame holds Australian media to account over Fierravanti-Wells’ exit speech

The former Australian of the Year has questioned why the departing senator's takedown of Morrison hasn't been more widely reported.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame got blue-tick Australian journos out in force on Twitter yesterday defending their deadlines when she questioned why outgoing Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells’ explosive exit speech to Parliament wasn’t on the front pages of every paper yesterday morning.

If our nation’s news media industry was balanced, uncorrupted and not collusive, what happened last night would be on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) March 29, 2022

This criticism from the outspoken advocate seemed to get on a lot of media people’s nerves. Journalists from Nine papers, 10 News and Australian Community Media were quick to defensively jump in and let Tame know that they were covering it, it just occurred way past deadline, and that her comments were “not really reasonable”.

it happened well after the print deadlines of most (if not all) editions of most (if not all) newspapers. So that’s not really reasonable.
— James Massola (@jamesmassola) March 29, 2022

Tame later tweeted a correction, saying “it should be the leading story across news outlets nationwide”. But that she “stands by her sentiments”.

So did it make the front pages today? Well… kinda. If you count former prime minister John Howard’s take on the whole thing — leading with it all being about “personal grievances” — as covering the speech as front-page news. Spoiler: a lot of Twitter does not count it.

Tomorrow’s @smh front page pic.twitter.com/LcuVKgZPkt
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) March 30, 2022

So, is it corruption and collusion that kept Fierravanti-Wells’ valedictorian speech off the front pages, or just that Australian media still sits within an archaic system where what is considered “newsworthy” is shaped around a printing press with daily deadlines? Gosh, two great options.

Well, time will tell, as Crikey’s Bernard Keane points out.

It's not "did Fierravanti-Wells' speech make the front page" but will there now be WEEKS of coverage from ALL the media?

There have been 370 pieces on Kitching since her death. Given Fierravanti-Wells' claims have far more substance, there should be hundreds on Morrison.
— Bernard Keane (@BernardKeane) March 30, 2022

Tame’s response to that? “Let’s count them, Bernard.”

Watch this space.

About the Author

Imogen Champagne

Former Audience Editor @ImogenChampagne

Imogen Champagne was formerly audience editor at Crikey. Before joining Crikey she was the engagement editor at The Correspondent in the Netherlands, managed communications and events at the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, and was the digital manager at NGO Sunrise Cambodia.