The Matthew Johns Sex Scandal

The Matthew Johns group sex scandal was covered by a vast range of mediums over the course of a two week period. The revealing interview on the culture of group sex within rugby league was initiated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and aired on their 'Four Corners' television program. What ensured was a desperate competition between rival mediums for the public's attention. In looking at just two of the mediums, the television and the newspaper, it is clear that many journalists will go as far as possible to sell a story, regardless of whose life it destroys. Johns' career is over and his marriage in a precarious position, whilst the victim identified as 'Clare' on the ABC, has gone into hiding from the media. The reasons for Johns' sacking as a television personality and assistant-coach of rugby league team Melbourne were mainly political. It was a message for equality to be shown to women and the media's role in having the public turn against him cannot be underestimated. The television and newspapers, two of the most popular sources of information and entertainment, were the biggest culprits in Johns' unceremonious fall from grace.