The problem of 'balance' when reporting news

The problem of 'balance' when reporting news

Is quality reporting achieved by simply giving all sides an equal coverage - a flat-earther gets as much coverage as one who claims the world is round - or does it need to be more critical in the analysis of claims, and weight different claims accordingly?  For a discussion on what is a very current issue in an environment of increasing mis/disinformation, please read Cassandra Parkinson's article, The ABC and the Voice referendum.  Cassandra is the current National President of the ABC Friends.

Further to this issue of 'balance', Alan Sunderland (former ABC Editorial Director and now on the ABC Alumni Board) has written an article, It's time to kill the myth of balance.  Well worth a read.