Julia Morris and Madja Subanzki go on Cyclist Hate Fest on 10's Good News Week

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Permalink Reply by Bert Olio on September 29, 2009 at 11:59am

Channel Ten's complaint form

I suggest that readers download, complete and fax channel 10's complaint form. The form can be downloaded from http://ten.com.au/media/0610_COMPLAINT_FORM_(website)_1.doc and should be faxed to 02 9650 1111 (NSW),
03 92751011 (VIC), 07 3369 3786 (QLD) , 08 8225 1011 (SA) or 08 9344 8076 (WA).

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Permalink Reply by Angus Kingston on September 29, 2009 at 1:13pm

I will start my response by saying I already HATE GNW.. I don't understand why it keeps going.

A few weeks ago the Herald Sun in Melbourne had an article called 'It's all downhill for the lycra losers'.

In response Wade from Cycling Tips blog wrote this excellent piece.

A couple of weeks later he wrote this piece called 'Hats off to Wendy'

A couple weeks ago you might remember this post where Herald Sun columnist Wendy Hargreaves rubbed many thousands of cyclists the wrong way. Well on Friday Wendy took me up on the challenge of stepping into our shoes for a morning and went for a ride with a few of us.

To my surprise Wendy was lovely. She was nothing like the dragon reporter that many of us might have expected. I give her full credit for the amount of courage it would have taken her to wake up with the sparrows and come into this with an open mind. Especially meeting up with 4 unknown cyclists who she knew nothing about with her 30kg commuter bike completely out of her comfort zone. And you know what? I’m quite sure that she genuinely enjoyed it. We certainly did. For a total newbie with 2 kids and a full time job, she did remarkably well. Good on her! We’ve already talked about going out again next Friday…

Her follow up article called 'Killer hills grind out a few regrets' in the Herald Sun.
Her article is

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Permalink Reply by Bert Olio on September 29, 2009 at 7:23pm

I think someone having a go at guys wearing lycra is a bit different than arguing that cyclists should be run off the road. Magda Szubanski chipped in with the "open the door" chorus and mimed swinging a door our into traffic.

Both Julia Morris and Magda Szubanski are 'faces' of the weight-loss industry and both claim to be veteran broadcasters, so one would hope a lot better from either of them. Seriously, if Kyle Sandalands can be taken off air for an off-taste joke, what is the appropriate response to the advocating of violence?

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Steele on September 30, 2009 at 9:51pm

There is also a facebook group dedicated to getting a bit back at the jenny craig & environment embassador
: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=163306051741 - some great tips here

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Permalink Reply by Angus Kingston on October 1, 2009 at 11:03am

Subject: Magda

AN APOLOGY AT LAST:

Magda Szubanski said she was "so sorry that the skit on bikers has caused offence".

"We all make mistakes and the point is that hopefully we learn from them. Clearly my joke was stupid and insensitive but perhaps it has brought to light that there are frustrations amongst cyclists and motorists."

"Hopefully some good will come of this and it will help promote useful dialogue between the two groups," she said.

"As a gesture of solidarity I have offered to participate in the National Ride to Work Day on October 14. Apologies again ... and, yes, I will be wearing lycra."

Taken from an article in The Age. The full article can be viewed here:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/magdas-anticyclist-rant-sparks-ch...

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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on October 14, 2009 at 9:20pm

Couple of emails.
"On 2 Oct 2009, at 7:43 PM,

> Hello i understand Magda is an ambassador for Enviroweek. I would like to make a complaint on the grounds of discrimination about her anti cyclist rant.
>
> http://ten.com.au/video-player.htm?channel=GNW+CUTV&clipId=1427...
>
> Society has apparently evolved so we aren't allowed to joke about the colour of peoples skin or their sexual orientation and Its definitely inappropriate to joke about people that are too overweight to jog to the bus stop or ride a bike around the block.
>
> But when Vulnerable road users take to the road its ok to joke about putting their safety and lives at risk? I think not.
>
> Magda of all people needs to make a public apology about discriminating against a minority group of people who do the right thing by leaving their motor vehicles at home and putting their own safety at risk instead of others.
>
> Yearly Australia wide Motor Vehicles are the major cause of...
> - 600,000 reported road crashes
> - 200,000 reported injuries
> - 2,000 serious injuries requiring long-term care and treatment
> - 1,700 people killed in road crashes.
>
> The safety of vulnerable road users is not something people should be joking about. Especially on national television.
>
> I also sincerely hope that you are targeting people that abuse the privilige of driving a motor vehicle on your quest for a successful Enviroweek.
>
> Good luck and thank you."

The reply

"Dear ...

Thanks for taking the time to write to us. Like you we were more than a little cranky with Magda's antics earlier this week. She made a blue and now realises what a shocker she had and has apologised accordingly below.

Magda responds...

Magda responds...I have been reading your blogs and I have to say it has really made me stop and think. I was so very saddened to hear of the terrible accidents and injuries that some people have suffered when riding and I feel deeply and truly sorry to think that my comments might have added to their pain. To you especially I apologize unreservedly. When I made those comments I was not thinking that drivers actually target cyclists deliberately. You may think this naive of me but that is the truth.

If you wish to decide that my apology is a cynical exercise that is your choice. Believe me I am certainly not doing this for the publicity. After the last few weeks of controversy I absolutely would be very happy not to be anywhere near the limelight!

My offer to participate in the bike ride is a genuine effort to make amends and also because I feel a public apology is warranted given the public nature of my comments. I also hope this will provide an opportunity and a forum for you guys to make your views known.

The way I expressed myself was appalling and thoughtless. And I sincerely apologize.

The mix of cars, trucks, bikes and pedestrians is a difficult and volatile one. Clearly there is a great need for education and discussion. And I feel like an idiot for adding stupidity rather than reason to a debate where the stakes are so high. I hope my efforts can make up for that.

And please let me make it clear: I do not and never would ever seriously suggest hurting a cyclist. And I will be more careful with my comments in future.

All the best

Magda "

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Permalink Reply by heather on November 10, 2009 at 2:48pm

On Sunday 8 November, ABC broadcast the ‘Andrew Ollie Media Lecture’. This year’s speaker was Julian from The Chasers. He coined the term ‘media outrage-athon’ in which he included Magda Szubanski outraging cyclists. Below is a letter that I sent to Network Ten.

Re Good News Week and Anti-Cyclist Guests

On 13 October I wrote to Network Ten complaining of the anti-cyclist sentiments expressed by guest Magda Szubanski on Good News Week on 28 September. Among other cyclist criticisms, two ‘comedians’ suggested that drivers hit cyclists. I emailed my letter to 18 cyclists.

On 15 October 2009 I received a response. Network Ten has missed the point. “In our experience, viewers recognise that the format and tone of the program, and this segment in particular, are clearly comical and that the comments made during the program are not malicious but are made in the context of a humorous and satirical program.”

…There are enough idiots on the roads, without ‘comedians’ encouraging more.

My letter did include “I have been hit three times by negligent drivers and left with permanent back injuries, which impacts on my life. More distressing is that negligent drivers killed three of my cycling friends. It is no laughing matter. Magda, please encourage road safety, rather than literally or physically knocking cyclists.”

I have ‘no sense of humour’ when it comes to inciting people to hit, injure, maim or kill cyclists. I am not the only one – search the web. The response of Channel 10 does not encourage me to return to watching Good News Week.

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