Lili's completely disillusioned thought of the day

So, it turns out that plenty of media people knew (some from first-hand experience) that Rolf Harris is a sex offender (yes, groping strangers of any age without consent is sexual assault), but they all chose to not report this to their readers, listeners or viewers. Maybe these media people didn't think of themselves as journalists, or maybe they decided that the possible personal costs of speaking out was greater than their loyalty to journalistic principles. Maybe some had no idea what journalistic principles are.  Either way, the Harris scandal and the other disgusting sex scandals involving male celebrities serve as a massive warning to us all about the mass media and journalists. These people make a living based on the idea that they serve the public interest and will expose the truth without fear or favour. We now know for sure this is crap. 

Does anyone out there besides me remember the interview story that Australian 60 Minutes did on Jimmy Savile? It must have been recorded before October 2011 because that is when Savile died. Clearly the reporter wanted quite desperately to ask Savile about some serious thing, but in the end Savile admitted nothing of any importance and the only question posed on camera was something to the effect of "Is Jimmy Savile too eccentric?" I wondered what the point of the whole thing was. I only know by hindsight. 

I was so pissed-off to notice that in Rolf Harris's mugshot he has far fewer worry-lines on his forehead than I do, despite the fact that he is a generation older than me. I hope he catches up fast.