Telegraph Brogden Allegations Dismissed as Trash

Though this made front page news on the Sydney Morning Herald this week - as indeed it should have - Media Watch's revelations that significant sections of the Daily Telegraph article that inspired John Brogden to attempt to take his own life was fabricated and a large part of the remainder came solely from Liberal Party sources and could not be backed up has made a surprisingly small impact on the blogosphere.

Contrary to the erroneous beliefs of some - such as Matt Price, who perpetuated the misconception on this week's Insiders - Brogden was not only aware of the contents of the article prior to the attempt, but had just been asked to comment on them, reportedly in a pretty aggressive fashion.

The question now is - where to from here? It seems perfectly within Brogden's rights to sue the Daily Telegraph for defamation or libel. This would be no open-and-shut case. Brogden would be far from willing to see his private life combed over by lawyers. However, pinching a journalist on the bum is one thing - being accused of asking two journalists for a threesome only to have those two journalists deny not only the claim but disavow the `quotes' apparently given on their behalf to the Telegraph is quite another.

We all know that certain journalists - not only for the Telegraph - are unashamed mouthpieces for the Liberal party. But when an entire newspaper becomes the mouthpiece for one side of a NSW Liberal Party factional war ... (and why am I saying this so often lately?) you really have to start worrying for democracy.