The reason for digging up the old footage was that it had been suppressed for 3 months: Otherwise he would have played it 3 months ago. I wasn't watching channel 7 prior to the bulletin on which it was broadcast so I have no idea how it was advertised. The promo isn't in any way the responsibility of the journalist. His intent was to provide the Australian people with a piece of footage which showed the conduct of the alternative PM on his tour of Afghanistan,which they could use or discard in forming their judgements of him. It had a bit of added political currency because in recent times Abbott had denigrated Gillard's "Wooden" reaction to deaths in the flood crisis, and because prior to his trip to Afghanistan he'd attacked the government regarding the death of this soldier on the basis of providing insufficient protective equipment. That was dispelled by the US military guy prior to Abbott's controversial remark. Importantly, Riley provided Abbott with notice that he was airing the footage and gave him 2&1/2 hours to prepare his position regarding the footage. A sober prudent and impartial piece of journalism.
