The history of the ABC reveals battles lost and won around censorship, concessions made in times of crisis and independence compromised or overturned.
In the Press Council’s annual report, his last as chair, Julian Disney has made clear his views on News Corp’s conduct and its hostility to the Press Council.
AAP/Lukas Coch
It is difficult to work out Tony Abbott’s strategy in his attacks on the ABC and Q&A. It appears to have been astonishingly cack-handed for a number of reasons.
The entry into the market of new media and new players hasn’t altered the value of local content for people in regional and rural Australia.
Wikipedia/Bidgee
Under wraps with my annual winter cold much of this week, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on the Q&A/Zaky Mallah affair. I’ve read the angry columns and editorials, heard politicians declare their…
Zaky Mallah argued that the government’s policies play into the hands of ‘recruitment propaganda’ designed to appeal to alienated young Muslims.
ABC TV
In all the politicking and government attacks on the ABC for giving a platform to former terror suspect Zaky Mallah, the free speech debate has become confused.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence’s ‘Given the Chance’ program enables asylum seekers and refugees to demonstrate their skills and loyalty as employees.
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Seeking asylum from persecution is a right and people who do so are not “illegals” under the law. Yet refugees are portrayed in negative and threatening terms in Australia, while positive stories are ignored.
Material in a new media law textbook was manually redacted with a black felt pen after it inadvertently breached a suppression order.
Mark Pearson
Our journalists come in for a lot of stick, what with accusations of political bias from politicians, intrusions on privacy from celebrities, or ‘dumbing down’ of the culture in general. But Peter Greste’s…
Malcolm Turnbull reportedly wants to abolish Australia’s cross-media ownership and ‘reach’ rules in a mooted reform package.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Malcolm Fraser’s relationship with the Australian media waxed and waned, from enthusiasm, pragmatism and caution to something, in the end, approaching mutual respect and perhaps even affection.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott caused controversy earlier this week when he said that living in remote Indigenous communities was a ‘lifestyle choice’.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
The furore over Tony Abbott’s ‘lifestyle choices’ comments both sidelines and highlights the lack of real discussion on Indigenous policy in Australia.
Today FM faces enforcement action by ACMA after a long-running legal challenge to the media regulator’s powers ended in defeat for the broadcaster.
AAP/Warren Clarke
After a High Court win over Today FM, ACMA is likely to be able to deal more swiftly with this kind of case – and with less risk of incurring large legal bills.
Gillian Triggs has been subjected to sustained attacks from government MPs and The Australian newspaper in recent times.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The attacks on Gillian Triggs are the latest in a series of campaigns The Australian has waged against those in public life with whom it disagrees or against whom it has a grievance.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier this week linked the Liberals’ leadership crisis to “bullying” by journalists covering Australian politics. He was not suggesting, I don’t think, that the…
Julian Disney is preparing to depart as chairman of the Australian Press Council after five years in the role.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Julian Disney, the outgoing chair of the Australian Press Council, made a singularly powerful argument in his valedictory speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday: that freedom of the press is strengthened…
There are ways for the media to cover stories such as the Sydney siege without committing gross ethical violations.
AAP/Joel Carrett
AUST gets wake-call with Sydney terror. Only Daily Telegraph caught the bloody outcome at 2.00 am. Congrats.— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) December 15, 2014 In one brutally insensitive tweet, Rupert…
Taking the politics out of it, what should the ABC be doing with its reduced budget?
AAP/Joel Carrett
In the recent ABC funding debate, many have questioned what the public broadcaster is for. What should its role be in Australia’s contemporary media landscape? Some argue that the ABC is a market-failure…
Leading Australian media organisations launched a ‘Right to Know’ campaign in 2007, citing the erosion of free speech by more than 500 laws and regulations. It’s been downhill since then.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
I am reluctant to give more ammunition to Pacific leaders who regard Australia as some kind of exemplar in media freedom – in this case a bad example. On the other hand, truths have to be told: in Australia…