The media have taken a beating over the last few weeks from certain circles in relation to, according to the Prime Minister, their "pack-like" behaviour. There is little doubt that the media from time-to-time misjudge events or apparent "evidence" and chase a story beyond that which might be considered reasonable.
There is much less doubt though, that without a persistent and free media, the Hollingworth story, the children overboard saga and a plethora of other scandals would not have seen light of day.
The Howard Government is demonstrably not an honest Government, certainly as far as its accountability to its constituency is concerned. When political dishonesty, self-serving morality, ultra-conservatism and a profound and heightened political opportunism are combined in the one individual, systems and the good of all are inevitably compromised.
The media is effectively the only force available to combat this insipid and democracy-decaying disease.
May the media never loses is desire to smell out "the rat", or as has been often said, may the force be with the fourth estate.