Fairfax Radio Network

A selection of feedback Neil Mitchell received for his Ben Cousins editorial:

Radio station 6PR replayed some comments made by you re Ben Cousins today.  I was absolutely appalled by your apparent lack of knowledge of the facts.  This young man has a family and to hear you saying that he could be dead was absolutely devastating for them.  I really believe you should be banned from the radio and intend to take this matter further with the appropriate authorities.  You are an absolute disgrace to your profession.

You are a disgrace and should be ashamed at yourself for the lies that you broadcast, how can you sleep at night knowing that you are distroying a human life, the Melbourne mongrel media will not be happy until you have completely destroyed Ben Cousins, even take him to the brink of death. Just because he was clever enough to get away from the media you all had to make up lies. I hope that somehow Ben and his family are able to make you all pay one day. You are not fit to be in the public media. They say karma will get you and oh boy your day will come, I really hope big time.Take a look at your Victorian AFL Teams, Didak who was involved with a murderer, Hawthorn players in rehab, and all the other players who have tested positive, all brushed under the carpert didn't hear you squealing then, why not crusify them or are you too scared what Eddie and his boys might do to you. Just because the West Coast have taken it up to you scum Victorians you think you can destroy a great club, you wont. Ben only crime is that he came out publicly and hurt himself and his club, maybe the Victorians need a bit of guts what you lack, easy to sit behind your microphone and open your big fat mouth and let out a lot of wind. Leave Ben Cousins alone and get on with real broadcasting not your fantacies.

Neil micthell is a discrace telling people ben cuisins could be dead.....who does he think he is it seems the more times he wins rateings the bigger his head gets...no wounder ben  carnt get well with the pr**ks like mitchell hounding him every day .....what a sad world we are becoming when ferial faced boof heads like niel mitchell think they are runnung the world ...with his program experts.

In light of Bryan Cousin's statement later yesterday, how stupid was your opening comment on Thursday morning  that Ben Cousins was missing and therefore could be dead or dying? Come on Neil. I thought you were way above the ambulance chasers of our media world.
Don't truly professional journalists properly check their sources rather than relying on the sms messages of so-called 'friends of Cousins'  or unsubstantiated sightings in New York?
Brad Hardie, who should know better than most, put you back in your box in the most professional, calm and balanced manner yesterday and yet you still weren't prepared to acknowledge that you may have been just a tad over-eager for a 'headline' (can't take the newspaper editor out of the jounalist?) For a moment yesterday, I thought the rabid and ruthless Hutchie had returned to AW.
Have been a listener and admirer for a long time, except when you  become too sanctimonious, (and persist in pronouncing the Alfred Hospital as the 'Elfred') and when you hit easy targets like footballers. I'm a Melbourne supporter, about 6 years older than you and now spend many of my waking hours in retirement working towards ENCOURAGING our kids into becoming part of an active sporting club. If we were geared more towards team activities for our children, maybe our society would grow more tolerant and aware of what each can give, and what we can achieve together instead of the predominant  'me first' attitude which is enveloping our youth and our culture at a frightening rate. I also happen to be a retired teacher/principal of some 37 years, so I feel I have some experience upon which to draw .
Cheers Neil and congrats on your well-deserved gong and your elevation to the media Hall of Fame.
Just reckon you might've jumped on a really easy band wagon this time around. Leave the poor arrogant-looking buggar alone and let him deal with his problem in his own way. After all, Costello's 'smirk' annoys us all but it may not necessarily accurately reflect some sort of inner arrogance.