Hugh Riminton calls out Karl Stefanovic over his journalistic principles
Karl Stefanovic has come under fire for lacking journalistic principles by endorsing a Great Barrier Reef charity on Sunday.
The 43-year-old Today show host tweeted his support for The Great Barrier Reef Foundation over the weekend, writing: “The @GBRFoundation deserves and will use every cent in its arsenal to save the reef. I’ve no doubt their research into reef DNA and conservation is the key. Let’s give them supporting space to prove it.”
But social media users were quick to point out that Karl’s plug failed to mention that the GBR foundation was a sponsor for the Today show's We Love Australia trip last year.
Journalist Hugh Riminton also took to Twitter to remind Karl about his journalistic responsibilities.
“Dear Karl, might it have been appropriate to mention that @GBRFoundation has been a TODAY show event sponsor? There is some strength in old principles,” he wrote directly to Karl.
Quick to respond, Karl wrote: “Dear Hugh. There is some strength in old journalistic principles as well. To my knowledge no foundation funds have ever been used in a Today Show OB. Thanks for checking. Long live the reef.”
Dear Karl, might it have been appropriate to mention that @GBRFoundation has been a TODAY show event sponsor? There is some strength in old principles. https://t.co/a7NxPZQgQU
— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) August 4, 2018
Despite several people pointing out that Karl was incorrect in his statement that the foundation had not been a Today show sponsor, Karl sought to shut down the conversating, tweeting: “I come from Cairns. The Great Barrier Reef is home for millions of fish, turtles and wildlife; it’s one of the great natural wonders of the world.
“Millions rely on it for tourism. Politics should have no place in its waters. God we need to save it. We are running out of time.”