September, 2009

Exhibiting something a little faster than its usual glacial pace, the Australian Communications and Media Authority yesterday issued findings against SBS in relation to two broadchasts of the Tamil Language Program on 26 October 2008 and 18 January 2009 respectively. SBS was found to have breached its code of practice in relation to balance and [...]

Yesterday I had a story in the Crikey email on how Fairfax Media/Rural Press looks from the perspective of its country and regional newspapers in New South Wales. I have had a fair bit of response, both on the Crikey site and in my email inbox. Some more stories may result in the next few [...]

Worth a read.

One of the best read items on this blog in recent times has been the post about the Australian Financial Review limiting reporters’ rights to use Twitter and other social networking sites. The AFR, though, is not alone. Read this piece from the Washington Post ombudsman about a new set of guidelines concerning staff use [...]

A nice piece, though I don’t completely agree with it. Have to fry other fish for the rest of today. I may say where and why I disagree later…

As commented on previously, there is a lot sanctimony and posturing on both sides of the pay wall debate. This article by former ABC media production guru turned academic David Howe on New Matilda is a useful corrective, looking at the plans developed by both Google and Microsoft. A key quote: There are certainly precedents [...]

Last night on Lateline Business Stephen Mayne, himself a candidate for the Fairfax Board, declared that former Age and Herald Sun editor Steve Harris was more or less the dream contender. Whether or not he has a chance remains to be seen. There is so much spin coming from all sides that it is difficult to [...]

Further to the previous post about the ABC Boss Mark Scott in the post-imperialist age, take a gander at this job ad for a “Content Director” at 774 ABC Melbourne. The position used to be called “Program Director”. An interesting shift of emphasis, and just one sign of the change at ABC Radio since the [...]

I gather ABC Managing Director Mark Scott has been giving a lot of thought to the AN Smith  lecture, which he is to deliver in Melbourne next month.  Under the title “The Fall of Rome: Media After Empire” he promises an examination, among other things, of  the Murdoch pay-wall decision, and its implications for public [...]

Here is an interesting report on a  survey of users of online news sites.  There is lots of good news for established news sites, professional journalists and the ABC in particular, along with some insights into why people use online news. Queensland University of Technology academics Anna Daniel, Terry Flew and Christina Spurgeon surveyed 524 [...]