NUcomms

Conroy flags super-regulator for media

Katharine Murphy,September 15, 2011

Stephen Conroy, Greg Hywood and John Hartigan.

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy has floated the idea that a single regulator with stronger powers could police the media, while launching an independent inquiry to examine ways of enhancing diversity.

Senator Conroy questioned the effectiveness of the current system of self-regulation by Australia's newspapers and yesterday flagged a shift to ''one converged regulator in the future'' - buying himself a fight with newspaper publishers concerned about press freedom.

Greg Hywood, chief executive of Fairfax Media, which owns The Age, said independent journalism flourished with less, not more, regulation. ''Fairfax Media will be an active participant in the inquiry, championing the importance of independent journalism - the likes of which are best able to flourish in a less-regulated environment,'' he said.

News Ltd also promised active participation in the inquiry but was unimpressed. ''Any substantive inquiry into the media should cover all media and all media equally, particularly if it intends to investigate the need for a new overarching regulatory system,'' chairman and chief executive John Hartigan said.

He said the probe started life as a ''witch-hunt by the Greens''.

The five-month inquiry will be independent of government and outside Parliament, conducted by retired judge Ray Finkelstein and journalism academic Matthew Ricketson.

It will focus on the print media and online publications - not television. The politically sensitive question of media ownership is outside the terms of reference, leading to a renewed blast yesterday from outspoken Labor backbencher John Murphy, who told Parliament the new inquiry was ''emasculated'' before it began.

The inquiry will consider current codes of practice, the impact of technological change on standards, commercial pressures plaguing ''traditional media organisations in quality journalism'' and how to enhance media diversity.

It will look at ways of substantially strengthening the Australian Press Council and ensuring the media abide by their codes of practice.

Despite concerns expressed by its members yesterday, the Press Council welcomed the inquiry. Chairman Julian Disney said the council would require extra resources from the

government to do its job and, potentially, ''statutory teeth'' to encourage all media players, including bloggers, to join.

But Professor Disney said the council operated best as an ''independent council'' - not a statutory authority like the broadcast regulator.

Whether the Commonwealth had constitutional power to regulate newspapers used to be a matter of doubt, but constitutional law expert George Williams said this was no longer the case. The High Court's ruling in the WorkChoices case confirmed that Canberra had broad-ranging regulatory powers over corporations.

If the Gillard government wanted to create a single quasi-government regulator that would police and sanction the print media as well as television and radio it could do it, he said. It was no longer a legal question but ''a matter of political will''.

Senator Conroy said he would not pre-judge any recommendation by the inquiry, but a super-regulator ''could be an outcome''.

''I think it's a really legitimate area of debate and I'm going to be interested in what the broader community think about that,'' he said.

The inquiry was initiated and pursued by the Greens in the wake of Britain's phone hacking scandal. The Gillard government rejected a parliamentary probe and sought to limit the terms of reference. The inquiry also comes against the backdrop of tensions between the government and News Ltd.

The Coalition opposes the probe. In the Senate, Liberal Ian Macdonald likened Senator Conroy to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels but withdrew the remark.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said the inquiry was a waste of money and resources.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/conroy-flags-superregulator-for-media-20110914-1k9qk.html#ixzz1XyOFuHEU

'Nazi' slur during Question Time

• September 14, 2011 - 5:28PM

Name calling ... Stephen Conroy, compared to Goebbels by Ian Macdonald

• Katharine Murphy: inquiry has its hands full
• Speaker's clean-up parliament campaign

A senator has withdrawn a comment comparing Communications Minister Stephen Conroy with Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in a fiery question time in the Senate.

"Goebbels would be proud of you minister," Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald yelled.

Senator Conroy said he had not heard the interjection.

Senator Chris Evans said it was the second time that opposition members had likened government ministers to Nazis in the past few days.

"I don't think it's appropriate," he said.

Senator Macdonald later withdraw the comment, made on the day Senator Conroy announced details of an independent media inquiry.

Senator Conroy defended his right to point out perceived "bias" in News Ltd newspapers.

He told question time that Sydney's Daily Telegraph, owned by Rupert Murdoch, had a "democratic right to be biased."

"I have a democratic right to point out their bias," he added.

"We need media that is independent, diverse and capable of putting the public interest above the interests of media owners."

Former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein, assisted by former journalist and now Canberra academic Matthew Ricketson, will head the inquiry into Australia's print and online media.

The inquiry, which will report to the government in February 2012, will have no coercive powers nor have the ability to demand evidence.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said the inquiry underlined how the government had been held to ransom by the Australian Greens.

"[The inquiry will be held] for no reason other than [Greens leader] Bob Brown demanded it," he told reporters in Canberra today.

Mr Turnbull said the government's convergence review could have included the inquiry's terms of reference.

"This inquiry is a waste of money. It is a waste of resources," he said.

"This is just a political stunt by a government that is bitter about being criticised by the media, in particular by News Ltd."

Australians should be suspicious of more regulation of the media, he said.

"You cannot have a democracy, even a democracy as lively as Australia, without a free media," Mr Turnbull said, adding it was just as important as parliament.

Meanwhile, the Australian Press Council has backed the inquiry.

"The press council commenced last year a sustained program of reform to strengthen its effectiveness," said APC chairman Julian Disney.

"It will advise the inquiry about the progress made so far and the further improvements which are under way.

"It will identify other steps which are needed to achieve the level of performance which the council believes is necessary and the community is entitled to expect."

Currently, the electronic media is regulated by a statutory body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the print media is covered by the APC.

Professor Disney said the council was looking at the ways its investigates and mediates complaints about media practice, and the effectiveness of sanctions imposed by the council.

But Professor Disney warned improvements weren't achievable without substantial increases in the council's financial and staff resources.

"This includes support from non-media sources, including governments," he added.

The inquiry will consider ways of substantially strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the APC, including in relation to online publications, and with particular reference to the handling of complaints.

It will also investigate the effectiveness of the current media codes of practice in Australia, in light of technological change.

smh.com.au and AAP

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/senator-aims-nazi-slur-at-minister-during-question-time-20110914-1k967.html#ixzz1XuXLmAw1

Media Inquiry: Media Release 14 Sept 2011

Government announces Independent Media Inquiry

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced an independent inquiry into the Australian media.

"A healthy and robust media is essential to the democratic process," Senator Conroy said.

"The Australian Government believes it is incumbent upon government to ensure regulatory processes and industry structures are sufficiently strong to support the continuation of a healthy and independent media that is able to fulfil its essential democratic purpose, and to operate in the public interest."

Announcing the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, Senator Conroy acknowledged the pressures brought about by the advent of digital technologies and the 24 hour news cycle were threatening the traditional business models that support the essential role of the media in our democratic society.

Senator Conroy noted that this is a worldwide phenomenon, and one the Australian Government is already addressing through its Convergence Review.

"The Convergence Review is taking a broad and considered approach to a range of regulatory issues across the broadcasting, telecommunications and radio-communications sectors," Senator Conroy said.

"The Media Inquiry I am announcing today will focus on print media regulation, including online publications, and the operation of the Press Council.

"The Government believes a separate and distinct examination of the pressures facing newspapers and their newsrooms, including online publications, will enhance our consideration of the policy and regulatory settings Australia needs to ensure that the news media continues to serve the public interest in the digital age," Senator Conroy said.

The Inquiry will be conducted independently of Government, led by Former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Ray Finkelstein QC, with the assistance of Dr Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Journalism at Canberra University and a former practising journalist.

"The Government is delighted that these eminently qualified Australians have agreed to undertake this important task on behalf of the Australian people," Senator Conroy said.

The Inquiry will provide its findings to the Convergence Review early next year, and the Government will take a considered approach to the recommendations of both.

Terms of Reference

An independent panel will be appointed to inquire into and report on the following issues, while noting that media regulation is currently being considered by the Convergence Review:

a) The effectiveness of the current media codes of practice in Australia, particularly in light of technological change that is leading to the migration of print media to digital and online platforms;

b) The impact of this technological change on the business model that has supported the investment by traditional media organisations in quality journalism and the production of news, and how such activities can be supported, and diversity enhanced, in the changed media environment;

c) Ways of substantially strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the Australian Press Council, including in relation to on-line publications, and with particular reference to the handling of complaints;

d) Any related issues pertaining to the ability of the media to operate according to regulations and codes of practice, and in the public interest.

The panel will be required to provide a report to Government by 28 February 2012, while working with the Convergence Review committee to ensure that findings are able to be incorporated into the ultimate report of the Convergence Review by end March 2012.

Date: 14 September 2011
Contact: Lyall Johnson 0408 258 457

Finkelstein media inquiry

Former judge to head up media inquiry

SMH view September 14, 2011 - 1:53PM

Ray Finkelstein.

A former Federal Court judge will head up an independent inquiry into Australia's print and online media.

Ray Finkelstein will be assisted by former journalist, and now Canberra academic, Matthew Ricketson.

The inquiry will have no coercive powers or have the ability to demand evidence, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.

The inquiry will investigate the effectiveness of the current media codes of practice in Australia, particularly in light of technological change.

It also will look at the impact of technological change on the business model that has supported the investment by traditional media organisations in quality journalism and the production of news.

The inquiry will also look at ways of substantially strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the Australian Press Council, in relation to on-line publications, and with particular reference to the handling of complaints.

The inquiry will consider ways of substantially strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the Australian Press Council, including in relation to online publications, and with particular reference to the handling of complaints.

It will also investigate the effectiveness of the current media codes of practice in Australia, in light of technological change.

Also under examination will be the impact of technological change on the business model that has supported the investment by traditional media organisations in quality journalism and news production.

‘‘A healthy and robust media is essential to the democratic process,’’ Senator Conroy told reporters in Canberra today.

He acknowledged the traditional media and how it is funded were under pressure by new digital technologies and the 24-hour news cycle.

The inquiry will be conducted independently of the government as it was ‘‘imperative in a free society’’, he said.

Senator Conroy said the advent of digital technologies and the 24-hour news cycle was a worldwide phenomenon, and one the government already was addressing through its convergence review.

That review was taking a broad approach to a range of regulatory issues across the broadcasting, telecommunications and radio-communications sectors, he said.

The government believed a separate examination of the pressures facing newspapers and their newsrooms, including online publications, was needed and would help form policy and regulatory settings for the media, Senator Conroy said.

The independent panel will have to provide a report to the government by February 28, 2012.

The convergence review committee will have to ensure the panel findings are incorporated in their final report due by the end of March 2012.

AAP Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/former-judge-to-head-up-media-inquiry-20110914-1k8v2.html#ixzz1XuH2KR1L

The Perfect Language

IF you are studying communication at UoN your attention has probably not  been drawn to the September/October 2011 edition of the Columbia Journalism Review.

It should have been, so NUcomms enables you to read Dave Marash's story from the CJR  here

Marash's story begins:

For the first time in history, mankind is degveloping a universal language: video.

As Marash points out, video distills the four ways in which people exchange information: speech, print, sound and pictures.

Read on, and enjoy imagining what you can do with the ultimate (for now) tool.

Campbell's outing: public has a right to know the truth

·         Mark Day 

·         From:The Australian 

·         May 24, 2010 12:00AM 

 

PART of the DNA of journalism and journalists is to tell it all - to publish and be damned; to tell the truth and let the cards fall where they may. So the first instinct of any reporter or editor unearthing a good yarn is to shout it from the rooftops.

There have been rules, though. Trawling through the trash bins of people in public life may reveal many scraps of interesting information, but the question to be asked before rushing into print or broadcasting has been: is it in the public interest?

Until recently, I'd say the story of former NSW transport minister David Campbell's gay secret life would have fallen at that hurdle. But I think the times are changing and with them the rules and conventions of publicly dealing with personal issues. The increasingly open nature of public debate - the product of easily accessible and vigorous online commentary - is eroding the walls around ancient no-go zones.

There was a time when homosexuality was the love that dared not speak its name. It was libellous to infer that even mincing, perfumed performers such as Liberace might be gay. Gay men stayed firmly in their closets and those in public life often found themselves open to blackmail.

Related Coverage

·         Seven's Raschke follows Meakin's lead The Australian, 5 hours ago

·         Fergie sting beyond the bounds The Australian, 1 day ago

·         Scandal in the scandalCourier Mail, 25 May 2010

·         A day for gay MPs Daily Telegraph, 23 May 2010

·         Policy mistakes matter more The Australian, 23 May 2010

But by today's standards, an individual's sexual preference is considered to be of no consequence. The most frequent response is: "So what?" Even after being outed, as in the case of Chris Masters' book on Alan Jones, the public repercussions were imperceptible: Jones continues to command an imperious share of Sydney's radio breakfast listening.

I don't know if the "so what?" response was applied to the Campbell case before publication, but clearly he didn't apply it to himself. He chose to resign before the Seven story hit the airwaves, apologising to his wife, family, colleagues and the community "for letting them down". He clearly considered he had no choice - a judgment at odds with the next day's online polls, which strongly indicated a public view that the report should not have been broadcast, and that Campbell had no reason to resign.

If he had decided to tough it out and argue - quite legitimately - that the use of his government car was perfectly legal and acceptable and that his sexual choices were his own business which in no way affected his job as transport minister, the public debate on this story would have centred on Seven's actions, rather than Campbell's.

But he didn't. News of Campbell's resignation swamped the manner of its making.

Reporting on the sexual antics of politicians has always been a grey area and deciding whether to publish or not a difficult call. There are many ways of looking at the Campbell saga and others before him, but ultimately there is no simple answer. As individuals and as consumers of news, we can weigh the pros and cons in a disinterested manner and come down on one side or the other.

An editor charged with making the decision to publish or withhold is not disinterested. That's where the DNA comes in; he or she will have a natural urge to want to publish because that's the business we're in - shining a spotlight on public figures. This is especially so with our elected representatives. It is the media's role, self-imposed, but nevertheless genuine, to watch and hold them to the high standards they swear to uphold, to highlight hypocrisy, cant or inconsistencies.

So it is not surprising that Peter Meakin, the head of news and current affairs at Seven, should have opted to publish. It is in Seven's interest to be seen as a fearless news breaker. Meakin has been around a long time. He is in favour of telling the public what he knows, rather than keeping secrets. He has form when it comes to reporting on the peccadilloes of pollies, as SA Premier Mike Rann will attest. It was Seven's Sunday Night that ran a barmaid's claims of sexual liaisons in Rann's parliamentary office shortly before the recent SA election. (Rann sued and was given an apology, which did not say the sex claims were wrong.)

Meakin's inclination to find reasons to publish is widely shared among journalists and editors. If the editor of the Sunday Times in Perth asked whether WA's then-treasurer Troy Buswell had a public case to answer for sleeping with a female Greens MP, his blaring front page headlines came down in the affirmative.

But others, particularly in the Canberra press gallery, have been loath to dig into politicians' personal lives even when acts of infidelity are taking place under their noses, so to speak. Former Parramatta MP Ross Cameron was a frequent overnight visitor to the house his mistress shared with a reporter. Ultimately he confessed his indiscretions, but not because his activity was reported.

Meakin's justification for outing Campbell is that his secret gay life was "at odds with his persona". Forget any suggestion that he fiddled with his car entitlements. That was merely a smokescreen.

Meakin added that Campbell had previously been minister for police, which was, he said, a sensitive portfolio. That is true and you could imagine Campbell being in all sorts of conflicted difficulties if he were being blackmailed because of his nocturnal activities. But there is no evidence of that.

Meakin also says Campbell presented a public image of being a happily married family man - a loving father and husband - while he was "acting otherwise". In politics especially, hypocrisy is a serious offence.

There's another element here: according to an unsourced line in The Daily Telegraph's report on the saga, "it was known inside cabinet that Mr Campbell had been visiting bath houses and gay bars for years (and) there had been concerns inside the cabinet about his secret life becoming public".

All this goes to the question of whether politicians should be treated differently to the rest of us.

Broadly, I'd say by today's standards the answer is yes. When politicians stand for election they say, in effect, "Here I am; this is what I stand for; these are my values - vote for me."

Therefore, if the truth is revealed to be something other than the intended projection, and if that truth is known to the highest echelons of those who govern us, but is kept secret from us, then the public is entitled to know it, too.

[email protected]

Seven's rising star Raschke follows Meakin's lead

·         Lara Sinclair 

·         From:The Australian 

·         June 08, 2010 11:37AM

KERRY Stokes's Seven Network was embarrassed by the appearance yesterday of a second senior news executive -- Brisbane news director and rising star Rob Raschke --in a Brisbane court on a drink driving charge.

Mr Raschke had been widely touted as the network's next national news director amid speculation that its veteran news chief Peter Meakin -- a repeat drink-driving offender who narrowly avoided jail time after his last conviction -- is set to be sidelined.

He appeared in the Roma St Magistrate's court in Brisbane charged with being "over the general but under the high limit''.

He was stopped by a random breath testing unit on May 23 in Milton Road in the Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower.

"I made a mistake and I'm very remorseful about my actions,'' he said outside the court yesterday morning.
Channel Seven Brisbane managing director Max Walters said Mr Raschke would plead guilty.

Related Coverage

·         Boozy Raschke follows master Meakin Adelaide Now, 16 hours ago

·         Public has right to know the truth The Australian,23 May 2010

·         Meakin vows to soldier onThe Australian, 4 Apr 2010

·         Storm over weathergirl's shaggy do Herald Sun, 31 Mar 2010

·         Seven on a high at Walkleys The Australian,29 Nov 2009

"Rob is mortified by what's happened,'' he said. "Rob is highly regarded by the network and we are satisfied this is an isolated instance, which won't be repeated.''

Seven chairman Kerry Stokes is believed to be unhappy with falling ratings for Seven News, particularly in Sydney where Nine's Peter Overton has narrowed the gap to Seven's bulletin, read by Chris Bath, to just 6000 viewers.

He is also said to be upset with decisions to run controversial stories about South Australian Premier Mike Rann's alleged relationship with a married woman -- Mr Rann denied being more than just friends -- and former NSW Transport Minister David Campbell's visit to a gay sex club.

Mr Meakin, who has been convicted on drink-driving charges three times, successfully appealed against a sentence of 14 months' weekend detention in December 2007 and was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service. He was disqualified from driving for eight years.

Mr Raschke, who is understood to have told colleagues he would move to Sydney to run Seven News next year, was expected to be chosen to replace Mr Meakin ahead of Sydney news director Chris Willis, Sunday Night executive producer Mark Llewellyn and morning television boss Adam Boland.

Seven corporate affairs chief Simon Francis said late yesterday speculation Mr Meakin would be sidelined and replaced by Mr Raschke was not correct.

Mr Raschke's case was adjourned until June 25, when he is expected to apply for a modified licence to enable him to drive for work purposes

PR degrees earn accreditation from PRIA

Sydney (March 15 2010) - Thirty public relations course offerings from institutions of higher learning across Australia have earned accreditation from the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA). 

Since its inception in 1949, the PRIA has been working successfully to establish community recognition of the public relations profession and its achievements. Members are required to uphold high professional standards and to operate by a Code of Ethics. 

In the last six months, the following degrees achieved PRIA accreditation after a process of review by a panel of experts:

• Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Business and Master of Arts (Organisational Communication), at Charles Sturt University;
• Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations), Deakin University;
• Bachelor of Communication, Graduate Diploma of Communication and Master of Professional Communications (Public Relations), Edith Cowan University;
• Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Arts at Monash University;
• Bachelor of Mass Communication in Public Relations and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations, Murdoch University;
• Bachelor of Business (Public Relations) and Master of Business (Public Relations) at Queensland University of Technology;
• Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), RMIT University;
• Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), Bachelor of Business (Public Relations) and Bachelor of Social Science (Public Relations) at Swinburne University of Technology;
• Bachelor of Public Relations, University of Canberra;
• Bachelor of Public Relations and Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations), University of South Australia;
• Bachelor of Public Relations and Bachelor of Corporate and Public Affairs, University of the Sunshine Coast ;
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Graduate Diploma in Communication Management and Master of Arts in Communication Management, University of Technology, Sydney;
• Bachelor of Communication Studies and Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) University of Western Sydney ;
• Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations) and Master of Communication (Public Relations), Victoria University.

The PRIA conducts a rigorous academic accreditation program to make sure degrees which prepare practitioners for a vocation in the public relations and communication profession are of a high standard. The program ensures that the assembled body of knowledge held by the profession is passed on to future generations of practitioners through a properly constituted, controlled and industry-supported education system.

"PRIA commends the faculty, deans, directors, and administrative staffs of each institution for their exemplary work in helping their schools earn the highest honour in business school accreditation," said Jon Bisset, chief executive officer of PRIA. "We are delighted to welcome the newly accredited universities, and send our congratulations to those that have maintained their accreditation."

Accreditation extends for a period of five years, whereby the accreditation process starts again to ensure content is up to date and relevant for the industry.

Contact:
Julian Kenny
Education Officer
Public Relations Institute of Australia
02 9331 3346

Radio dickheads survive

2Day's contentious breakfast team, Kyle and Jackie O, lost 1.1 points for a 10.0 per cent share.

Austereo chairman Peter Harvie said the network had witnessed no loss in revenue or listeners after Kyle Sandilands' repeated faux pas and suspensions last year.

Read more from The Australian 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/triple-m-off-rock-bottom/story-e6frg6nf-1225834521075 

The disappointing reality is that enough people are willing to listen to this rubbish to keep these on-air  reptiles in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

ABC's Mark Scott at Melbourne Press Club

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/contentmakers/files/2010/02/MPC-Speech.pdf