JOURNALISTS – AUSTRALIA

Spy laws: New A-G concedes ground

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Original article by Simon Benson, Nicola Berkovic
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 8-Feb-18

The Federal Government has responded to the media industry’s concerns about its proposed foreign interference laws by agreeing to some safeguards for journalists. Attorney-General Christian Porter has advised that journalists who receive classified information will only face criminal prosecution under certain circumstances, such as if reporting on the information could potentially affect public safety or pose a threat to national security. However, commonwealth officers who leak confidential information will not receive any such exemption.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, ASHURST AUSTRALIA

New spy laws to hinder legitimate work of media

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Original article by Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 6-Feb-18

Attorney-General Christian Porter has conceded that some changes to proposed foreign interference laws may be needed to alleviate the concerns of the media industry. Robert Todd of law firm Ashurst has warned that the laws as presently drafted could potentially make a wide range of persons criminally liable for dealing with confidential information. He says the proposed laws provide very limited protection for journalists, while there would be almost no protection for other people, including social media users.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, ASHURST AUSTRALIA, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Spy law imperils journalists, ex-judge warns

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Original article by Nicola Berkovic
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 2-Feb-18

Transparency International Australia chairman and former Supreme Court of New South Wales judge Anthony Whealy has warned about the potential effects of the Federal Government’s proposed foreign interference laws. He says the new secrecy laws could be used to prosecute journalists if they receive classified ­information. Whealy has called for the Government to provide an exemption for journalists if they are acting in the public interest. The media industry has expressed similar concerns about the proposed laws.

CORPORATES
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE LIMITED

Walkley for compelling Bowraville podcast

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 5-Dec-16

The annual Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism were presented on 2 December 2016. News Corp Australia journalists won eight Walkleys in total, including one for the series of podcasts by Dan Box of "The Australian" on the Bowraville murders in New South Wales. The Gold Walkley was awarded to freelance photographer Andrew Quilty, while the achievements of the late sports columnist and broadcaster Rebecca Wilson were recognised with the Walkley Award for journalistic leadership.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, WALKLEY FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM, THE GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, PARRAMATTA EELS, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL (NEW SOUTH WALES)

Fairfax journalists face investigation over strike

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Original article by Nick Toscano
The Age – Page: 24 : 5-May-16

The Fair Work Ombudsman has ordered Fairfax Media to provide it with the personal details of about 600 journalists who staged unprotected industrial action in mid-March 2016. The strike was prompted by Fairfax’s latest proposed round of redundancies. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is also subject to the compulsory order, and could a fine of up to $A54,000. Journalists could each be liable for fines of up to $A10,800 for unlawful industrial action.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Nightly show as Bolt gets bolder

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 23 : 21-Mar-16

Newspaper columnist, blogger and TV presenter Andrew Bolt will move from the Ten Network to pay-TV channel Sky News. "The Bolt Report" will be broadcast five nights a week on Sky News from May 2016, after previously airing on Sunday mornings on Ten. The new version of the program will be produced by Australian News Channel, which owns Sky News. Bolt will continue to write newspaper columns for New Corp and appear on Steve Price’s nightly show on Macquarie Media radio stations.

CORPORATES
SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, 2GB, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Greste warns against media curbs

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 4 : 11-Dec-15

Australian journalist Peter Greste was presented with the Human Rights Medal by Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs on 10 December 2015. Greste used his speech to express concern about the potential impact of the Federal Government’s national security laws on free speech and freedom of the press.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AL JAZEERA

Gary Morgan – Business confidence surveys and selective reporting by the Australian media

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Nov-15

It is impossible to stop "organisations" conducting "questionable" polls – sometimes ill-conceived and too often completely self-serving or even mischievous polls. However, it is a disgrace when Australia’s national news services "selectively report" only such polls. Australia’s media has a critical role to play in keeping the Australian people informed. Australia’s major media is concentrated and controlled by too few – probably soon to be fewer! This makes the ethics of journalists and media owners even more important. Good governance dictates journalists must be briefed to report all facts honestly – not report "selectively" to support their own opinion.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED