Leo snubs the media

[Mr_Juicy]

Leo Barry has snubbed a channel seven reporter by telling them he would not answer any questions asked because of the latest drug handling incident. Good on him

[Sanecow]

Birds. Feather. Flock.

[Legs Akimbo]

The action is being taken by players to punish Channel 7 for publishing details of (stolen) confidential player medical records. It has nothing to do with alleged or actual drug use.

[BurgandiLove]

Cool I wonder how each club would feel if they, ch 7, decided to put a black bar across the clubs sponsors when they say switch to a shot of Malthouse with the clubs sponsors all over the coaches box.

And why has it turned into a an issue of players confidentiality when the bigger issue at hand is the amount of players who are dabbling in illegal activities? I guess detraction is the AFL bosses best trait. I mean we are all delusional about the majority of afl issues - right?

I wonder how Dale Lewis must feel atm after he was publicly ridiculed a few years back when he said 70% of players are dabbling in drugs.

[Captain]

I wonder how Dale Lewis must feel atm after he was publicly ridiculed a few years back when he said 70% of players are dabbling in drugs.

Exactly - he deserves a public apology.

[Ruda Wakening]

Cool I wonder how each club would feel if they, ch 7, decided to put a black bar across the clubs sponsors when they say switch to a shot of Malthouse with the clubs sponsors all over the coaches box.

In Collingwood's case there wouldn't be a black bar big enough.

[hammo]

Cool I wonder how each club would feel if they, ch 7, decided to put a black bar across the clubs sponsors when they say switch to a shot of Malthouse with the clubs sponsors all over the coaches box.

Most coaches would probably prefer less shots of them in the box anyway

[Legs Akimbo]

And why has it turned into a an issue of players confidentiality when the bigger issue at hand is the amount of players who are dabbling in illegal activities? I guess detraction is the AFL bosses best trait. I mean we are all delusional about the majority of afl issues - right?
---------------------------
Rampant drug use in the AFL is a serious issue for the whole community and I think the AFL's three strikes policy is inept. However, players are following the rules as they stand. They have been detected and are receiving counseling within the system, flawed as it is.

A television network BUYING personal STOLEN medical case notes and BROADCASTING them is completely @@@@@@. The reporter involved is a gutter crawling low life turd deserving of scorn, ridicule and opprobrium.

Worth reading is the comment on Crikey.com which explains the journalistic creedo on public interest and how far it stretches in such cases (not very far). For Channel 7's legal dept. to endorse such an act is mind boggling.

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-and-Arts/20070828-Tha-AFL-drug-scandal-No-public-interest-and-no-ethics.html

[Damien]

I wouldn't support a boycott of any network for this reason, I think, rightly or wrongly, again gives the perception that the AFL support drug users and have no intention of ever doing anything serious about it.

Thing is, 7 will probably get record ratings now anyway for the Friday Night footy!! just to see how awkward it gets out on the ground after the game etc.

I know a few players including Riccuito are signed to the network, so that will make things interesting.

[Sanecow]

Worth reading is the comment on Crikey.com which explains the journalistic creedo on public interest and how far it stretches in such cases (not very far). For Channel 7's legal dept. to endorse such an act is mind boggling.

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-and-A...no-ethics.html

On what we know at the moment, there is no public interest at all in the publication of this material, and Channel Seven has not argued so far that there is. Perhaps an argument will emerge when the matter comes before the Victorian Supreme Court again, probably on Thursday.

I think it's a no-brainer that it is in the public interest for the names of AFL drug users to be released?!

[Legs Akimbo]

"Medical records are about as private as it gets, except for intimate personal correspondence. It follows that the publishing of them must serve an equivalently strong public interest."

It's all about relativities. I think you are confusing 'titillation' with 'interest'.

[Sanecow]

I think you are confusing 'titillation' with 'interest'.

Uh, no. It's a fairly easy chain to follow that Australian tax dollars go to the AFL; AFL funds go to clubs; Club funds go to players. Public interest.

the Fair Trading Act which provides that: “A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or is likely to mislead or deceive”

The Australian public is spending millions of dollars supporting AFL clubs. Not divulging that some of your club's players are on drugs is IMO "conduct that is misleading".

[swantastic]

The stuff wasnt stolen,it was found so in my book fair game.

[hammo]

The stuff wasnt stolen,it was found so in my book fair game.

The courts will ultimately determine if it was "found" or stolen. Peronally I don't believe such confidential material would be left in a gutter.

As for the issue itself, I believe Channel 7's behaviour to be reprehensible.

While no-one condones players taking recreational drugs, in the event they are receiving medical help for their problem from a doctor, those patient files should remain confidential. It is not in the public interest to release that material and any ethical journalist would have returned the files without broadcasting the details.

[Sanecow]

The details weren't broadcast though?!