Windschuttle joins the ABC board

So historian Keith Windschuttle has wedged himself onto the "non-partisan" ABC board, in what must be one of the most overtly political appointments this government has made during its 10 years in office. Windschuttle joins The Australian's Janet Albrechtsen on the ABC board, and there's little doubt the Prime Minister is looking forward to two of Australia's most divisive conservatives scheming and colluding on ways to wrestle control of the ABC away from the bunch of commies in power at the moment. So, just to re-cap: we have Janet Albrechtsen and Keith Windschuttle on the board of our national broadcaster; former Fairfax numbers man Mark Scott as its new Managing Director; and the decision to take away the staff appointed board appointment.

And with all the Windschuttle outrage flying around over the last few days, The Weekend Australian's taken it upon itself to republish one of Windshuttle's old Quadrant essays, where he laments the sudden popularity of universities teaching a fusion of journalism and media studies; media studies, according to Windschuttle, being the complete "antithesis" of what good journalism should be. And just to make sure Windschuttle was still attached to this view, written in Quadrant back in 1998, The Aus decided to go to Windschuttle:

"I haven't changed my views at all. There are some real ex-journalists teaching but they are swamped by those teaching cultural studies nonsense."

He may have a point, but, like so many prominent conservatives appointed to federal arts bodies and cultural councils by this government, Windschuttle's appointment, his views on universities, journalism and the stolen generation are an overt attempt to win over the culture wars before Howard departs for good.