Originally Posted by
Webby
I flicked over to TFS last night during a Front Bar commercial break. (I know this sounds like an "I hardly ever eat at McDonald's" statement, but I really do never watch the Footy Show!) I caught Barrett's section and held off thumbing the remote - just out of curiosity to see when he'd mention the word Stringer and to see if he could resist trying to pot his old nemesis, Beveridge...
It took about six seconds!
Barrett actually told us nothing new. It was actually quite enlightening to see what a little grub he is. His formula is to take pieces of what's already out there, add some mayonnaise, and then extrapolate. In turn, shaping his own narrative in order to cultivate a story.
A story which he can then presumably present as new, whilst also serving his own petty little agenda.
In short, he pretty much makes shit up! He'd deny this and feign offence at the accusation. He'd point to the sprinkling of half truths in his stories. Good journalism is about gathering fact and reporting it. It is not about shaping a story with your own personal gut feel and opinion. Barrett needs to decide whether he a reporter or an editorialist. You can't be both!
And his dislike of Beveridge and the WBFC is so transparent that it's embarrassing. I've actually defended Barrett at times in the past, but he's now totally removed any doubt by that he is, in fact, a grubby little hack. It was cringeworthy.
One little aside was that, as a result of him feeling aggrieved that McGure made a captain's call and presented a 'big' story (for which Barrett had apparently done the legwork on a few weeks back), Barrett clearly blindsided Eddie with a question about the Pies interviewing Simon Lethlean for their CEO position. This was, in some ways, amusing - as it caught Eddie on the hop and clearly rattled him.
However at the same time, I couldn't help thinking "geez he'd be an unlikable little prick!"