WA Today ‘journalist’ Brendan Foster could find himself in hot water for his careless published gaffe about Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich.
Foster, who should retire at the end of this season after a forgettable career with WA Today, was listening to 6PR, when some idiot made a baseless allegation of racism against the Dockers legend. Rather than give the matter any independent thought, Foster ‘stole’ the misapprehended point for his own article without considering that turning a comment about a suburb into a story about race speaks only to the inherent racism of the author, and says nothing about the decorated former skipper other than perhaps he’s funnier than people have given him credit for.
WA Today Editor David Baker was asleep at his desk at the time, and so the story was published.
Foster may have been trying to be "controversial", but his reference to race in a joke about one of Perth’s crime hotspots is bound to come under close scrutiny - after the gaffe was spotted by anyone with a half-working brain.
The Australian Press Council President David Weisbrot - talking about racism in journalism - emphasised the role journalists had in fighting racism.
"It's important that all journalists acknowledge the influential role they play in the community and harness this united power to encourage positive behaviour," Weisbrot said.
"Hopefully by watching the Don’t Be an Idiot and Publish Racist Stuff videos at every newsroom meeting will remind journos that there is absolutely no room for racism in our profession."
Foster has achieved absolutely nothing in his career, and his risible piece will do nothing but cement his reputation as a dud journalist.
Foster is a Freo local with a love for the Eagles. If ever there was a reason to question someone’s judgment, that would probably be it.
