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Tensions in the newsroom come to the surface when Bernard Brewster (Jack Thompson) singles out David Meredith (Matt Day) for praise, citing an article that he has written in defiance of instructions from news editor Curtis Condon (Denis Moore). David’s discomfort is increased by Gavin Turley’s (Robert Menzies) backhanded praise.
Curator’s notes
This is one of the few occasions on which we see the veneer slide from the adult Davey’s generally cocksure façade. He is shaken by Condon’s assessment of his worth but the man’s resentment can be put down to class prejudice; while such a thing is not supposed to exist in Australia, Davey of all people is well aware that it does. However, he finds Gavin Turley’s compliments rather more disturbing, tapping in as they do to weaknesses he despises in himself. Yet one wonders how valid Turley’s implied criticism is. Surely a facility for words doesn’t necessarily mean shallow feelings and surely if a journalist has the ability to alert the public to an injustice, he should do so, even if it does bring him fame by default? This clever scene raises questions that are all the more valid today when objective news reports are rare and our media are swamped with 'colour’ pieces and opinion columns.
