Will Glasgow’s report from Beijing in the Weekend Australian of 24/25 August is cause for celebration. Since the last Australian journalist left China four years ago, reports on this most important neighbour and on matters of concern to both countries have been either second-hand or coming from non-Australian sources. Although it is ironic that the Continue reading »
Media
Carol Vorderman's Alternative Mactaggart lecture on how snobbery turned people off TV
I read the daily Pearls and Irritations email without fail. I read the daily Pearls and Irritations email without fail and usually find various pieces I want to read. Its speciality is comments on current policy debates from former senior public servants, who write with insight and much more candour than they did in former Continue reading »
We need a no-holds-barred attack on corporate power to meet global threats. Humanity cannot — now — avoid troubled and turbulent times. Extreme events will powerfully influence the course ahead, the shape of things to come after the turmoil. They could help or hinder: provide the moral force for urgent action, or preoccupy us with Continue reading »
Ordinary New Zealanders and Australians have little idea about the momentous changes coming our way. For a couple of centuries we have been outposts of a Western empire that is losing its dominance of the region. Instead of having open national discussions about how our countries should respond to the rise of China, India and Continue reading »
Fakes, deep fakes, disinformation, lies and rumours pollute the internet, the legacy media and conversations. Some of these are not new, but their power is growing. Now we have a new contender, so-called artificial intelligence, interfering in our human experience. Continue reading »
Having just read journalist John Lyons’ book Balcony Over Jerusalem, I’m acutely aware of the ways in which the pro-Israeli Lobby in Australia exerts its influence on the media here to disparage journalists and their work and to even try to have them removed from their positions, if this lobby deems there is adverse critique Continue reading »
The health implications of media policy are wide-ranging but not usually front of mind in national debate, whether for governments, communities or even the health sector. However, the Albanese Government’s argument that gambling advertising is needed to sustain free-to-air broadcasters, while deeply problematic, is also an opportunity to acknowledge and address the unhealthy state of media Continue reading »
Low rating news and opinion channel, Sky News Australia, has anointed alleged racist, Peter Dutton, as the white man to lead Australia. ”Enough of this Albanese chap,” said Sky News’ only reporter to be found guilty of breaching the racial... Read More ›
Dan Wootton, Beverley Turner, David Vance have posted the disclaimer which legal experts have said offers no protection from the law