For those not in Sydney, Mike Carlton is a Sydney media figure, having worked as a former TV journalist, radio presenter and colomnist for the Sydney Morning Herald. His beliefs are bog standard left-leaning intelligensia (except for his love of the Navy). On religious matters, he’s somewhere between an agnostic and an atheist, who is most tolerant of a type of Christianity is one that’s highly formal in terms of litergy, but highly liberal in theology. This is direct opposite of what’s found in most Sydney Anglican churches, so it’s no surprise that he’s used his column to mock and attack the beliefs and churchmanship of Sydney Anglicans, and the Jensens in particular, on a regular basis.
Recently the owners of the SMH, Fairfax Media, announced a round of retrenchments, aiming to cut 500 jobs from the back office and editorial staff, as well as some journalists. The journalists have reacted by going on strike, and to show his solidarity with them Mike Carlton refused to submit his regular Saturday column. Fairfax management have responded by sacking Carlton, on the grounds that he’s an independent contractor who’s broken his contractual obligations, not an employee of Fairfax.
I find myself torn in response to this news - I respect Carlton’s stance on the issue, but find myself rejoicing that such an active opponent of the gospel has been silenced. Am I wrong to do so?
You’ve made my day. I was an avid listener of Mike Carlton in the mid-70’s when he was the funniest guy on Sydney radio on 2GB. However, after he returned from a few years in the UK, he was a totally different and sour guy. ( What did they do to him there ? ) It has been a rare venture for me to read his weekly column in recent years ( and I read the Herald 7 days a week ) - and every time I wondered why I bothered.
This news has brought a smile to my face. They obviously have been waiting for him to break his contract in order to see the back of him.
I wonder if Fairfax saw an opportunity with the industrial action to offload a tired old dud.
In the early eighties Carlton was fresh and witty, particularly on his 2GB radio show. In the last few years his stuff is stale and predictable and repetitive. He comes across as a northern beaches lefty but you get the impression that even he does not believe his own rhetoric. Rather like Phillip Adams in a way.
He sounds a weary and cynical man who has a series of pet hates that he flogs to death in his radio show and in his collumn. John Howard, Alexander Downer, Archbishop Jensen all regularly and tediously get sprays for no better reason than he just doesn’t like them.
And his hatred of Alan Jones borders on obsessional. There is a lot not to like about Jones but poor old Mike sounds like he is jealous of his ratings success on breakfast radio, something he has only had when he has grabbed onto the coat tails of other like Jones and John Laws.
Having said that I wouldn’t think his anti Jensen, anti Gospel stuff is something to rejoice about now that he is gone (if he really is gone). His anti Christianity tirades were hardly incisive and if anything provoked healthy discussion. His silly St Jensen’s newsletter smacked of a tenth-rate “Private Eye” rip-off. Carlton was always mimicking others and was not very original himself.
As they say, Imitation is the sincerest form of flatulence.
leave me scratching my head and asking you locals for clarification. Is this the same sort of thing as UK’s “champagne socialist”, i.e. living it up (on luxury beach resorts?) while professing to champion the poor ‘n’ needy?
I tell you there’s no way such types would care to holiday on OUR northern beaches, particularly anywhere near Dounreay nuclear power station!
The northern beaches are the best beaches in Sydney (though no doubt some misguided person will try to tout the virtues of Bondi or Cronulla - pleeease!). And yes, a “northern beaches leftie” would be the equivalent of a “champagne socialist”. While you’re waiting for heaven, come and visit sometime!
Which reminds me of one of Mark Driscoll’s observations: perhaps one of the reasons people in Sydney don’t respond to the gospel is because we have such a good life here already . . .
Actually Roger I agree with you in that I respect Carlton’s response. It was ethical and the Fairfax response may well be close to stupid, but time will tell.
I don’t follow his stuff much, I rarely read the Herald or any other paper for that matter. I’m mostly a consumer of radio national and various online sites for news.
As I am also a tired and left leaning type I ca probably be cool with his stuff. Didn’t know he attacked the Jensens. I get perplexed by this at times. I don’t always agree with the Jensens but I get astonished at the way they have become an easy target pariah set.
And there I was thinking the northern beaches were on the north coast of Australia! Duh.
I don’t feel at all deprived - in fact I think beaches are hugely overrated. What, when even with suncream you can’t stay in the sun more than 10 mins. without burn? No doubt this to your ears is utter heresy ;)
Re. visiting, my wife’s expecting our second child so I think it’ll have to wait! Besides, she’s all to well aware of all the poisonous creatures over there (how many, roughly, would you say?) and add in a touch of arachnophobia and she’d need some persuading! What, you even have a TREE that can kill you to touch it? (Sounds like Day of the Triffids) Think again before comparing Oz to Eden ;)
The Northern Beaches lefty remark was probably a bit of a cheap shot from me anyway. Mike, I think lived on the North Shore (Lindfield Lefty!) until he remarried and moved to the lovely Northern Beaches. In Sydney they are more likely known as Balmain Socialists or something like that.
Which begs the question; is there a place where we can say all the right wingers come from? That is apart from that place in WA where all those (far right) National Action brochures used to come from in the 1980s. The Hills District?
You could say Owen, that Mike was ethical in not crossing a picket line, but what hat is he wearing? What is he when he is on 2UE (also owned by Fairfax). If he is a journalist what is he doing spruiking Cofee, Motor Cars, phone companies and finacial companies? Where does his journalistic ethics come in there?
If he is a journalist what is he doing spruiking Cofee, Motor Cars, phone companies and finacial companies? Where does his journalistic ethics come in there?
I’ve had a ‘bad’ day - a funeral for a 14 month child with cancer - followed by bumping into an acquantaince. I innocently asked him “Have you taken your wife to see ‘Mamma Mia’ ? “ - and he replied “No, actually we’re getting a divorce -just waiting for the papers to come through - BUT we’re still going to the same church.” !!!@!!!
Now I have to read that there is something wrong about “spruiking coffee” - and I no longer care what Mike Carlton has to say.
Be careful what you wish for - if the replacement of drivel from Carlton is drivel from Miranda Devine, I’m not sure there’s much to rejoice about.
Given the way Fairfax seems to be headed, it will probably be replaced with ‘Hot Celeb Goss!’ pretty soon in any case.
All in all it’s pretty sad to see Fairfax make ~$400 mil profit, and then cut 550 jobs, not sure there’s much to rejoice about there either, unless you’re a Fairfax shareholder I guess :P
All in all it’s pretty sad to see Fairfax make ~$400 mil profit, and then cut 550 jobs, not sure there’s much to rejoice about there either, unless you’re a Fairfax shareholder I guess :P
Hi Luke,
If you have a look at a Fairfax share price graph over several years you can decide whether there is anything for shareholders “to rejoice about there”.
Grace & peace,
Terry
We rejoiced when my wife’s mother took up young Warwick’s offer of $18.50 per share for shares purchased at 50 cents and then gave the money to her two daughters.
The opinions expressed in this forum belong to the individual posting the message and may not represent the view of the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church. Click here to read the Posting Policy.
Everyone is welcome on our forums, but please keep comments on-topic and civil. Any flaming or general nastiness will be deleted. No unsolicited advertising is allowed. All comments, suggestions, bug reports, etc. related to the forums should be directed to Robert Moller. Click here to read our complete Posting Policy.
Get the latest Sydney stories, Culture and Indepth on your mobile device. Visit sydang.mobi
