Holmes at conference: ‘don’t talk crap’

His simple answer?

"Don't talk crap"

Holmes said that he believes the lines are being blurred between factual radio shows and personality-driven, opinion based, shows. In his view the trends show that listeners prefer opinion style programs. 

Over to Holmes:

It's impossible as presenters to check all facts, but we must as broadcasters use reasonable efforts to report the truth.

He said: "It's almost impossible for today's highly paid radio upstarts, to be kept under control".

So how do stations avoid getting on media watch?

The best way to avoid being on the show is to go on the air after you make a factual error and correct it. If you make an effort to apologise for getting the facts wrong, you won't make it onto media watch.

If you do find yourself on the show, how do you avoid the damage that can follow?

• If you are guilty, write a response
• Keep it brief
• Don't put quotable quotes, don't fuel the fire
• All media questioning should be done by management, not individual announcers/producers
• As a station, have media watch policies in place, so all staff knows where to direct all queries,

Panel member Stuart Thomas, from Network Ten, suggested that the ABC's Media watch is nothing more than a gotcha type show, almost like funniest home videos.

And if people want a real, refreshing disection of the media, they should listen to Andrew Bolts new Media Watch Radio Segment; "yes, the same name, and it airs at 9pm Mondays, just before the ABC program."

Jonathan's somewhat terse response?

"The day Andrew Bolt does a story about 2GB and how they get it wrong often, then I'll tune in, and it will be very interesting".

Thomas had some advice for the audience: "Just remember, you don't have to respond to media watches request for comments. Media Watch is a program, not a regulator".