Many ways to make a point

Newspaper editors are meant to focus on writing headlines, but the editor of Western Australia’s only daily newspaper, Paul Armstrong, has actually generated more than his fair share over the past couple of years.

The 37-year-old Mr Armstrong, who has been editor of The West Australian since 2004, has been roundly condemned by Premier Alan Carpenter and Health Minister Jim McGinty, and has attracted enquiries from the Press Council, in some cases resulting in adverse findings against the paper.

Mr Armstrong has brought to The West many of the traits practised by the UK’s tabloid newspapers, which compete fiercely for the most sensational exclusives.

The West doesn’t have a direct competitor but it still doesn’t hold back, usually pushing dramatic interpretations of the news of the day.

It has also adopted a campaigning style, targeting particular issues and people and going after them relentlessly.

The state government does not believe it gets a fair deal and has responded by condemning Mr Armstrong, even calling for WA Newspapers Holdings’ board to sack him, and delivering exclusive stories to The Sunday Times.

The West’s editorial content is driven by a desire to maximise circulation, and in that regard it is battling against a national trend for newspapers to suffer falling sales.

Success on a commercial front does not necessarily equate to success in shaping public opinion, which traditionally has been one of the main functions of newspapers.

Ironically, the ability of The West to shape public opinion has been diminished by the appointment of new talkback hosts on morning radio.

One year ago, 6PR’s Paul Murray (a former editor of The West) and 720s Liam Bartlett (a former host of ABC TV’s The 7.30 Report) were keen rivals who pursued the big stories of the day.

They have both since left radio, to be replaced by Simon Beaumont and Geoff Hutchison respectively.

The new hosts do not have the same public profile as their predecessors and often focus on softer issues, which means that the big stories in The West do not get the same kick-along during the day as once occurred.

Former Australian of the Year and current head of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Fiona Stanley, wins respect and admiration from people in all walks of life.

Her profile means that she attracts attention when she chooses to speak out on public policy issues.

Another Western Australian with a strong national profile is Professor Greg Craven, who is considered one of the most astute commentators on constitutional issues.

In the past year he has moved into a more managerial role at Curtin University but still makes a valuable contribution to public policy debate.

The head of the militant construction union in WA, Kevin Reynolds, and his sidekick Joe McDonald arguably play an even bigger role in shaping public opinion.

They are widely seen as the ugly face of militant unionism, and have been criticised by others in the union movement, and arguably have done more than anyone else to shape the industrial relations debate in WA.