Anti-Jones crusaders claim victory, pulling plug on campaign

The organisers of the ‘Sack Alan Jones’ social media campaign have terminated the petition on Change.org, as well as the corresponding Facebook page which amassed over 21,000 likes. The organisers, Nic Lochner and Vinay Orekondy, seem to be claiming victory over the broadcaster, claiming that his influence has been completely diminished.

Stripped of his influence, his capacity to damage the Australian community has been severely limited, and will simply fade over time.

Continuing, the pair said that they had also revealed Jones to have little political influence, who only preaches to a relatively small number of long-converted listeners.

Emphasising the role of consumer demand and community outrage in how radio stations select their content, they said: Thanks to your efforts, [Jones’] image of invincibility has been completely broken. You have forcefully demonstrated that Australia rejects his methods, and in no way can hebe seen as the voice of the majority.”

In Lochner and Orekondy’s opinion, advertising from big businesses will only be lured back to Jones’ program if they are convinced that he can fit into the views of ‘modern Australia’. They see this as another aspect of the movement’s victory.

On why they have finished their campaign now, as opposed to continuing with the hope that Jones will eventually be sacked, the pair invoked one of ‘Australia’s fundemental values’ – freedom of speech:

“Freedom of speech has its limits – there are laws against certain types of public speech (racial vilification, hate speech, incitement, etc.), laws which Alan Jones has repeatedly broken in the past.

“However, those are not the ONLY things Alan Jones talks about. It is one thing to hold him to account for commentary which is harmful to the community; it is quite another for us to silence him from making any kind of commentary whatsoever.”

The organisers’ full statement can be read here 

Meanwhile, the station is engaging in its own online activities, asking listeners their opinions on 2GB presenters in an email survey.