What exactly is the truth? Is it reality, sincerity, integrity? Is it accuracy and honesty? How can we tell the difference between the truth and lies? Why does the media have the power to decide for us what is true?
As Oscar Wilde once said 'The truth is rarely pure and never simple'. This statement sums up the difficulties of telling the truth, and this is furthermore shown in Rob Sitch et al's Frontline, Lies by Michael Leunig and the poem Nothing to Report by May Herschel Clarke.
The television show Frontline follows the day to day running of a current affairs show. It shows both on and off air aspects of what people involved with television go though on a daily basis. Mike Moore (Rob Sitch) plays the naive host of the show, who seems to think the whole world revolves around him. An example of this is when Emma sarcastically thanks him for helping with a story and he says 'That's ok'.
Mike Mills (REM)
Mike
Mike Harding on Touch 25Brian is the executive manager of the show and he ultimately decides what is shown on the show and what isn't. Brooke is another reporter who uses deception and manipulation to present the truth. Emma does work behind the scenes and often she should be credited, but the reporters need their ego maintained so she is never recognised for her hard work. Marty is another reporter who has been in the business for a long time, and although he knows about Frontline presenting the 'incorrect truth', he does nothing to stop them.
Like all current affairs shows, the team at Frontline are concerned with gaining ratings every night, rather than telling the real truth to people. One example of this is during the episode 'Add sex and stir' where Brooke interviews a woman...