by Chris Masters
There’s been a lot of mud flung at this book whose subject is the notorious shock jock and flinger of mud himself, Alan Jones. Four Corners journalist and Walkley Award winner Chris Masters paints Jones as a complex personality who inspires admiration, vitriol, envy and sometimes, surprisingly, sympathy. While Jones is presented as using his enormous Sydney audience as a basis for hectoring government to the benefit of his mates wherever he can, he is also presented as the victim of the sexually repressed and economically unfair circumstances he grew up in. His rise to the top, first as a teacher, then as a forensically minded rugby coach and finally as a sharp-tongued commentator certainly wasn’t easy but then, by playing favourites throughout his various careers, Jones’ generosity and opinions have often been disingenuous and erratic. As revealed by the scathing “Cash For Comment” affair, his duplicity towards his audience seems to go unnoticed by them, while the major political parties try to live with him as best they can, by pandering to his ego (the Federal Government even set up a “Minister for Alan Jones” within the Prime Minister’s office) or, if currently out of favour, by trying to ignore him while he ignores or blasts them on air. “Jonestown” is a study in journalism, ethics and public life in Australia, and an intriguing portrait of what appears to be a highly driven but lonely, secretive and conflicted man. (Dirrk)
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Posted Tuesday 29 September, 2009. Updated Tuesday 29 September, 2009.
