The ABC (The Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and Melbourne's Age come together in a stock PC send-up of Sarah Palin. It was meant to be funny, of course

Perchance last week I caught part of a radio interview with Paul Ramadge, The Age's new Editor-in-Chief. The interview was about how it was his turn to try to improve the performance of that sherry-tippling great aunt of Australia's media. On this point I suggest he start with getting rid of all those responsible for the stagnating PC mentality of a newspaper whose most efficient use would be to line the bottom of the garbage bin - which is where my copy of Thursday's Age goes after I extract the Green guide.

Coincidentally - and ironcially - the part of the interview that I caught was about the Green Guide, The Age's weekly television guide packed with information and comment on television, computers, internet and allied matters. Most of the extensive information in these categories is politically neutral so the opportunity for the usual PC bias is minimised enormously. Even the pieces on television programs are mostly readable, although I can never get past a few paragraphs of Marieke Hardy's pieces. She manages to inject an off-putting degree of superior PC scoffing in the cutesy naughty manner favoured by a number of twenty-something female reporters.

Ramadge said the Green Guide was one of the most popular sections of the weekly editions. His aim was to make it even better with an improved format and fresh new writers. It's a risky enterprise trying to improve something that's already popular. But I get off the point. I was curious to see how much improved was the only section of The Age I read regularly. Because I have been somewhat preoccupied with the outrageous treatment Sarah Palin is getting from the media, a piece by new Green Guide writer Michael Lallo caught my eye. It was a write-up of an interview with Chris Taylor, one of the big-mouthed stars of "The Chasers", one of the ABC's most popular television programs. The program is a satire full of undergraduate pranks and humour. Here are the opening paragraphs:

The Chaser's Chris Tayor is lost for words when asked to name his favourite Sarah Palin moment of the 2008 US presidential race

"Where do I begin?" he says. "I think the fact that she's a former beauty queen is pretty good. Is this where America is getting its politicians from now? They've already plundered Hollywood, so now they're scouring Miss World pageants for their future leaders.

And I think this sets a beautiful precedent for Australia. I'd love to see Jennifer Hawkins or Erin McNaught run for the Lodge. Maybe there's a future prime minister lurking somewhere in those swimsuits."

It's this kind of incisive analysis that Taylor and Craig Reucassel serve up each afternoon on Triple J's The Race Race.

Incisive? Analysis? Don't make me laugh. This is not even undergraduate dopiness. The level of attempted wit would disgrace a sixth-grader. For a start Taylor and Lallo seemed oblivious to the fact that ninety percent of Hollywood stars who tread the political stage share their PC mentality and political fantasies - and at an even lower level. Don't they watch television? The PC-class simply cannot get over Ronald Reagan's success and the respect he enjoys.

But the really pathetic part of Taylor's witless comment is the constantly regurgitated lie that Sarah Palin was picked as John McCain's running mate because she won a local beauty contest. Yes, well, let's say anything about Sarah Palin except what is actually the case. That's The Age for you - serving up a dish to satisfy its shallow unthinking PC constituency.

There is more incisive political analysis in Jennifer Hawkin's stroll down the catwalk than in Taylor's witlessness and Lallo's report.

Paul Ramadge's turn may be short if he thinks this is an improvement.