Page 3 girl returns

I've often taken aim at the Cairns Post.

I don't have a bone to pick with them, however as they are the primary print media outlet that services our region, fair criticism is fair.

I also do so in the spirit of fun and presenting another view. My view.

I don't want to see the end of a newspaper like the Post, regardless of what it writes or the angles it follows. Like a TV channel, we don't have to like everything on it. We can also change the channel or simply turn it off. We all have that choice. Whilst the Cairns Post may think it truly attempts to represent our local community and it's views, it doesn't. Nor can it when big business and political and corporate pressure are higher up the pecking order.

However, don't despair. It's not the only view of life in the far north. It's merely one version.

We need independent observers, and this Blog is merely one view. I dare say many discuss and react to what other media present us as "news". That's healthy and we should question what is dished out to us.

A few months ago I questioned the validity of a three-quarter page story about a penthouse owner trying to flog off his pad. Turns out it was merely a large real estate advertisement, presented in the guise of journalism.

I've also highlighted a number of times where the Cairns Post retains the time-honoured tradition of printing a Page 3 Girl. Take a look at this one. It wasn't a page 3, but a front page!

The Sun, famous in the UK for this tradition now brazenly dedicate a whole site to their Page 3 titties. Good on them I say. At least they're being up front about it.

So today's Weekend Post has the return of the Page 3 girl. This time she's telling us all about the woes of getting skin cancer, whilst wearing not much at all.

Good for her. I think an excess of clothes up here is damm right silly. I've blogged before about this, and it's still amazes me that this City Council, and everyone across the State, has failed to introduce a ByLaw to make any beach in Queensland legal clothing optional. We're the only State with such prudish leanings.

You may think I'd a prude when I highlight titty pix in the Cairns Post. No sir ree! I just wish they would be more upfront about it. That's all. It's presented as a credible journalistic endeavour, when it's just an excuse to throw in some soft porn under the guise of a story.

Cairns Post Editor, Mark Alexander hauled me up on these views a while ago. This is what he had to say...

• Dear Michael,
  
  I read with interested your reaction to Page 1 of The Cairns Post on Wednesday, particularly in light of comments you made several days earlier in your blog titled Latte With Locco.
  Just to remind you, you wrote:
  
  ~ You know there's something nice about a small town like ours when you're sitting on the Nard, in maximum perving position at 5:33 in the evening . .
  
  Shame on The Cairns Post?
  
  Surely your comments are demeaning to all the female backpackers and tourists from across the world who use our Esplanade?
  
  And I can see the tabloid heading now:
  
  BLOGGER ADMITS: I'M A DIRTY PERV
  
  Anyhow, thanks for reproducing our front page for all to see. And I look forward to continuing to monitor your blog.
  
  Regards,
  Mark
  
  MARK ALEXANDER
  Editor, The Cairns Post
  www.news.com.au/cairnspost 22-24 Abbott Street, CAIRNS QLD 4870

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So there you have it. Another day in the life of our local print media.

Unlike questioning our City Council and the Mayor, the Cairns Post and it's editor have been very fair to allow us the democratic right to free speech and fair criticism of it's work.

And for the record, Samanta is a double D.