A week after the worst peacetime disaster in Australia’s history - the massive bushfires that claimed more than 200 lives - “Time Magazine”published a cover story on the healing power of faith. The devastating bushfires were consigned to a page where the photo size exceeded the column inches of the story. Grief contracted to one-third of a page.

Later in the issue was a two page expose on the US Defence Secretary’s strategy for re-building the American military. And a riveting story on healing through prayer.

To me it is contemptuous that “Time” would claim to publish a local edition then forego covering that nation’s most pressing news. This is the fall-out from cut-backs last year. In November 2008 “Time” shuttered offices around the world - via teleconference! “The Daily Telegraph” reported on the news (25 November 2008):

Time Australiaeditor Steve Waterson told The Daily Telegraph Online he and the Sydney bureau’s nine staff were told of the closure last night on a conference call from the US.

“They told the journalists they are are going and that our edition is closing down,” Mr Waterson said.

So in their grand effort to bolster the bottom-line “Time” has decided to forego any local reporting and provides Australian subscribers a US-centric view of the news. But it seems the Septics now fail to provide Loo-worthy reading. Perhaps there’s another use for “Time” while we’re in the dunny?