THE FOURTH ESTATE:

The Bug has heard that Chris Jones, editor of The Courier-Mail, is having trouble deciding what punishment he should hand out to staff specialist writer Peter Gleeson for plagiarism uncovered in a major report he wrote for last Saturday’s edition.

We sat down with Jones to find out exactly what possible dilemma he could be facing over what the paper admits is an open and shut case by Gleeson, who is also a SkyNews identity, of the worst crime a journalist can commit – using someone else’s words.

The Bug: You have already issued a statement (above) condemning Gleeson’s plagiarism in his 12-page wraparound, Power and Palaszczuk: How Queensland really operates (below), pointing out that News Corporation’s own code of conduct regards plagiarism as theft. So why would any newspaper in the News Corp stable have any doubts as to the action it should take in this matter, especially one such as yours with a proven and proud commitment to the basic tenets of fair, balanced and professional journalism at all times.

Jones: Hmmm.

The Bug: And especially when it comes to political issues generally and during election campaigns in particular, given that you are the latest in a line of Courier-Mail editors who have proudly displayed a commendable commitment to giving all sides of politics a fair and reasonable hearing so that readers can make reasonable and valued judgements.

Jones: Hmmm.

The Bug: And that your determination as a metropolitan daily newspaper editor to do all those things consistently and professionally is even more important given your paper’s monopoly position in the Brisbane metropolitan print-media marketplace and the power it wields as a result of that monopoly.

Jones: Hmmm.

The Bug: And it’s why you and your predecessors have always ensured the paper’s editorial stance is restricted to one clearly marked editorial on election eve or on the voting day itself and have always been fiercely determined to avoid almost daily faux-editorial attacks courtesy of 300 point splashes attacking Labor governments or oppositions, the sort of nonsense the red tops in the United Kingdom get up to.

Jones: Hmmm.

The Bug: And for all those reasons we’ve given above you would clearly have overseen Gleeson’s recent project to ensure it didn’t come across as a basic hatchet job on a Labor government half-way thought its third term, hence the diligence you would have shown in shepherding Gleeson through this project to ensure Palaszczuk and her ministers had plenty of space to rebut the opinions of the numerous unnamed sources Gleeson used to….

Jones: You’re taking the mickey, aren’t you?

The Bug: Hmmm.,,hmm.

Jones: You think this building is full of brown-nosing, rightwing arseholes doing Rupert Murdoch’s bidding? And that they’re all shitscared for their jobs if they don’t write things the right way?

The Bug: Hmmm.

Jones: And that most of the journalists employed here as a result of that share Murdoch’s unwavering belief that only the Liberal and National parties can manage economies well even though any reasonable study of Australian politics since federation would beg to differ?

The Bug: Hmmm.

Jones: And that I’m going to have difficulty punishing Gleeson because he epitomises the goddamn awful LNP public relations shitsheets The Courier-Mail and its sister Sunday Mail have sadly become; two faux newspapers with not a jot of interest in journalistic ethics or professional behaviour?

The Bug: Hmmm.

Jones: And it’s why you cunts keep calling this building the LNP’s Bowen Hills branch?

The Bug: Hmmm.

Jones: You see, here’s the trouble. Gleeson really is a very good writer with a sharp, incisive political mind and I suppose he could be forgiven for one silly lapse in judgement? It was only a handful of pars of something Josh Bavas wrote.

The Bug: And his heart is in the right place.

Jones: Exactly!

The Bug: Thanks for your time today.

Jones: My pleasure. Any time. I hope our chat has cleared things up.