In comments defending the integrity of News Limited papers in Australia, News Limited CEO John Hartigan has given a somewhat backhanded credit to radio broadcasters for spreading news beyond the nation’s declining newspaper readership. He said The Australian‘s coverage of national affairs is feeding into “what strident radio broadcasters use as their diet for the day”, which set the tone for the day’s political coverage.

“Because of this somewhat strange link with people like (2GB announcer) Ray Hadley, The Australian then moves beyond a small but important readership and reaches out to all parts of the country. The Prime Minister is clearly unnerved by this.”

We wonder whether 2GB will use this endorsement of their wide reach in future marketing materials, to draw advertisers across from newspapers to radio.

Hartigan was defending his company against calls for an Inqury after the News of the World phone hacking scandal in Britain, that led to the closure of News of the World last weekend.

Greens leader Bob Brown called for an Inquiry this week, and PM Julia Gillard did not rule out the idea. Liberal leader Tony Abbot has said he believes there is no need for an Inquiry, and Hartigan has been quick to assure Australians this week that the culture in this country is very different from the Fleet Street tabloid culture.

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