Back in 2005 the facts of the Schapelle Corby case were laid bare for
the public to see. She was denied a fair trial, and her human and
legal rights were cast aside. She was sentenced to an unprecedented 20
years in an Indonesian prison cell.

Quite naturally, there was uproar in her own country. All this, and
more, was visible to the public.

The refusal by the police and judiciary to test the drugs for origin,
which could have cleared her instantly, was open information. The
refusal to fingerprint or DNA test, was known by all. The record of
the show trial judge, of never having acquitted anyone in over 500
drugs cases, was exposed. The burning of the evidence to prevent it
being subsequently used to free her was shown starkly in photographs
and images.

The cat was out of the bag. The truth was there to be seen.

BURYING THE TRUTH
Unfortunately, truth alone is not enough. The Australian government
was apparently transfixed, wringing its hands and claiming impotence.
The Australian media? Surely they would rally round, campaign, and
help an Australian citizen in grave need?

No. Large sections of the media adopted a far more sinister approach,
choosing to pick at her like vultures on a dead carcass. This went way
beyond the vulgar but expected cheque book journalism the world is
familiar with. A process of smear and innuendo was initiated. Muck was
thrown at the Corby family from all directions. This went on and on,
week after week, month after month, year after year.

However ridiculous the stories, however unsubstantiated, however
untrustworthy (or paid!) the sources, throw enough muck and some will
stick. Schapelle Corby will eventually be seen as guilty by
association. Over a period of time, people will forget the very facts
they have actually seen with their own eyes.

This is precisely what has happened.

Some of the worst excesses in Australian journalistic history have
been evident with this case. Stories have been fabricated, and legally
shown to have been fabricated. Opinion has been presented as fact, and
real facts have been buried. The Australian public have slowly but
surely had a false reality pulled over their eyes, to blind them from
what they had seen for themselves.

As Schapelle Corby lies in a squalid cell suffering from serious
clinical depression and related conditions, her family have been in
turmoil. Such is the serious impact this has had upon her, even Civil
Liberties Australia (CLA) have taken an interest, openly accusing
their own media of undermining her.

RECENT CHALLENGES
Only recently have a small number of people started to respond to this
unprecedented abuse. Malicious unfounded stories, for example, are
starting to be challenged by individuals, not only from Australia, but
also overseas.

The most recent challenge relates to ABC's Lateline report "Corby's
dad linked to drug trade" in which it blatantly reported these
"allegations" as fact. Of course, this happens regularly, and is
merely a footnote within the overall media onslaught. However, in
response to a formal complaint by a concerned viewer, ABC was forced
to apologize:
"Lateline apologises for a story aired last month with evidence
suggesting that Schapelle Corby's father, the Late Michael Corby
Senior was involved in the drug trade."

THE REAL ISSUES
But what about all those countless other breaches, by so many media
organs, over the years? How can they possibly retract the serious
damage these have done to Schapelle Corby and her life?

Are ABC and the networks now going to focus on the REAL issues? The
show trial? The breaching of Schapelle Corby's legal and human rights?
Her conditions? Are they actually going to initiate the campaign they
should have launched 4 years ago, to free her?

Or are they going to continue to smear, to increase the pain of
someone suffering so badly already, without even a cursory nod to
ethics or morality?

Those responsible should be spending some serious time hoping that
karma is a false concept. The rest of us, however, should be hoping
that the Australian media belatedly recognizes its responsibilities to
report fairly, accurately and ethically. Someone's life does actually
depend upon it.

Sources:
http://www.schapelle.net/blog/2008/09/abc-admit-schapelle-corby-smears.html
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2356903.htm