Stop work attracts unprecedented media interest
The teachers’ stop work on Wednesday attracted unprecedented media attention. Starting with the morning television appearances by Federation President Maurie Mulheron and Deputy President Gary Zadkovich on all free to air breakfast shows, teachers took their message to the government and the public. Radio and TV interviews began the day before the stop work and are still continuing.
The Town Hall meeting was covered by the major metropolitan media including newspapers, TV and radio. Regional meetings also attracted widespread coverage.
As always, the quality and political spin of the coverage varied but there was a significant amount of serious commentary correctly identifying the concerns of teachers.
Social media is playing an increasing role in the public discussion with comments, questions and answers on Twitter and Facebook providing an alternative to the information provided by the traditional media. Members attending the stop work meetings posted their comments as the meeting were taking place.
The Federation is using all forms of media to covey the concerns of the teaching profession about the O’Farrell Government’s attacks on public education. These include paid advertising on TV and radio, the web, social media, news releases and appearances on popular television broadcasts.
