ABC Radio Jon 'Hector' Faine

When Melbourne ABC presenter Jon Faine 'interviewed' Michael Smith and Mark Baker (Fairfax) he provided the best example I can recall of an obnoxious and outrageous shock jock. "Give it your best shot", "Is that all you've got" he shouted over them as they tried to calmly explain the questions they wanted the PM to answer about the AWU scandal. Fortunately a few people complained and - amazingly - the ABC adjudicators agreed that Jon Faine had grossly overstepped the mark and they apologised for his behaviour.
Being a highly paid sook, used to getting his own way, he chucked a wobbly and would not accept the findings of his employer or apologise.
Michael Smith lost his job over the AWU scandal as Fairfax gave in to bullying from the office of the Prime Minister not to broadcast an interview with Bob Kernohan.
Jon Faine and opinionated ABC presenters using their publicly funded positions to preach their own strongly pro-labor views should start their own media outlet and not rely on their privileged access via public broadcaster. Seeing he will not apologise I hope Jon Faine takes up an offer from Michael Smith for a debate. It would be brilliant radio.

An open letter to Jon Faine and the ABC

Dear Jon,
Thank you for inviting me on to your program on 23 November 2012.
I see that you've rejected the ABC's decision to apologise for the way you ran that interview.   Maybe I have a way forward without further bureacracy.
Jon you believe the PM has done no wrong, I think she's done plenty.
So why don't we have a proper debate in your studio?   Let's not dress it up as news gathering or impartial analysis.   You argue your case and I'll argue mine with an explicit agreement that it's a partisan debate.   Give it a good and fair go, opening statements, a bit of argy bargy and closing summaries, together in the studio where we can see each other.
The ball is in your court Jon, I look forward to hearing from you.
Michael Smith