Ten programs with a million or more viewers, with Nine winning easily thanks to Top Gear pushing up the audience for the Winter Olympics.
February, 2010
Media briefs: BBC’s killer confession, plagiarism at the NY Times, those endless digi repeats
Veteran BBC broadcaster’s on-air confession: I killed my partner in an act of assisted suicide. Plus, NYT gets in trouble for plagiarism, the endless reruns on digital and other media land news.
The furphies fly in the Great Free TV Handout Debate
There’s plenty of nonsense circulating about the Government’s half-billion dollar handout to the television networks. And not all of it from the Government.
Abbott’s Muslim comment shows the need for a Human Rights Act
Yesterday, Tony Abbott commented about keeping Muslims out of the country. It’s proof that we need a Human Rights Act to protect our democracy from personal bias, writes Mark Blumer.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: The popular redhead is back
Three different leaders in the three traditional media, Peter Garrett way ahead on radio, Tony Abbott’s sluggos still more palatable for telly while Kevin Rudd is left with that boring one with all the words and the occasional complex issue and stuff. Plus, Pauline is back!
What would real community concern mean for a pokie club?
Over recent years, the AFL has wholeheartedly embraced gambling as a revenue stream, mindful perhaps of the massive funds generated by the NRL club-based gambling empires, writes Charles Livingstone.
This day in Crikey: Thursday February 17, 2009
Thursday 17th February, 2009: Marysville minute by minute: an eyewitness to disaster, by Arwen Summers
Happy birthday from … ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel
Today’s Crikey testimonial comes from ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel: “Crikey was at the vanguard of that change in Australia, and has successfully maintained its relevance and irreverence.”
Julian Morrow: Crikey defied the odds (I might even subscribe)
Crikey is the Barnaby Joyce of Australian journalism, now aiming — under Eric Beecher — to be its Tony Abbott. Thankfully, no one aspires to be the Kevin Rudd of Australian journalism, writes Julian Morrow.
Abortion, Queensland and a law unchanged since 1861
One woman’s story of travelling interstate to abort a child with a severe abnormality highlights Queensland’s antiquated abortion laws. Dr Caroline de Costa explains.
We’re not out of the woods … yet
With the stimulus packages fading, it’s not at all clear that the economy is going to spring back to normal growth. Good luck framing the next budget.
Bolt to buddy up with Price in Melbourne radio wars
Melbourne is on the verge of a fresh round of radio wars, as Australia’s most popular newspaper columnist Andrew Bolt looks set to announce a prominent on-air role with a Steve Price-helmed 3MP.
Guy Rundle: Bombs explode, the economy implodes
Guy Rundle is on the spot in the wake of a bombing at J.P.Morgan’s Athens office — the moment EU finance ministers set new deadlines to resurrect the Greek economy.
Daily Proposition: Watch the gay version of Pretty Woman
Think Pretty Woman — but even gayer. That’s the basic premise of The Little Dog Laughed, the Tony-nominated play loudly stomping the boards in Brisbane for the Queensland Theatre Company. It’s terrific fun.
Video of the Day: Australia goes disco
Following yesterday’s retro flashback of New Zealand, today we bring you a disco celebration of our own Wide Brown Land. Apparently, this funky number was recorded by a studio band called “Good News”, and was a big club hit in ‘79.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: our Haiti embarrassment
Kevin Rudd sent half a dozen RAAF air traffic controllers to help out at Haiti. Pity they are still in Miami in the US … um … training. And Today Tonight’s host hates a story, but no one cares.
Crikey Says: Citizen Kane, the reader, says it well
We hate to write more about the Mike Rann/Michelle Chantelois scandal, because adulterous politicians are one thing. But lying politicians are another.
Maybe we’re not out of the woods, Rundle on Athens bomb blast, abortion in Qld 
Why is Fairfax granting anonymity for a Labor Party beat-up?
“Senior Labor Party figures” have been peddling unsubstantiated claims about Greens leader Nick McKim’s political future, says Bob Burton. Why is the Mercury granting them anonymity for such an obvious beat-up?
Join in the hunt for dodgy tobacco marketing
Researchers from the University of Sydney are exploring how the tobacco industry is exploiting Facebook, Youtube and Twitter to promote its products. Help them in their hunt for social media smoking shame.
Inside Google’s Buzz “Code Red”
A look behind-the-scenes of how Google swung into action when the privacy problems with its new social networking tool, Buzz, were exposed.
The film reviewer who lost his jaw but not his ability to criticise
A fascinating examination of influential film critic for the Chicago-Sun Times Roger Ebert who lost his jaw — and his ability to speak or eat — to thyroid cancer. Now he communicates via post-it notes.
