Crikey

Guardian journo returns for Oz media job. The Australian is shaking up the ranks of its editors, with new leaders for the business and media pages. And it has lured former Australian hack Stephen Brook back from London to rejoin the paper. Brook will become editor of the well-read Monday Media section, with current media editor Geoff Elliott to oversee the daily business pages.

Brook was on the same beat in London, reporting on media matters for The Guardian and its respected online companion MediaGuardian.co.uk (he was deputy editor of the site at one point). He’ll head up media coverage from The Australian’s Sydney offices, where he first cut his teeth for the paper as a reporter. Elliott had foreign reporting experience too when he took up the post in late 2009, returning from Washington DC as one of the paper’s US correspondents.

Elliott — who has gone to war for the paper with Twits, the ABC and others while editing Media  — will take control of all business coverage, editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell confirmed to Crikey today. The position of deputy editor (business) was held by Brett Clegg, but the former Australian Financial Review chief’s meteoric rise through News Limited continued last month when he was put in charge of commercial operations for The Oz. — Jason Whittaker

The emotion of earthquake-hit NZ. How tough is it as a journalist to report on the death and destruction in Christchurch? Just watch this uncomfortable live cross last night from John Taylor on the 7.30 Report…

Murdoch close to deal for BSkyB bite: reports

“News Corp is close to an agreement with UK regulators over a remedy for concerns about its £13.2bn ($21.3bn) bid for satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting, according to people familiar with the process.” — Financial Times

‘Modern Fairfax’ more than newsprint: Hywood

“Greg Hywood says it will take time for the market to accept that the “modern Fairfax” is more than The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Hywood, appointed chief executive on a permanent basis earlier this month, yesterday delivered his first profit result as the newspaper, digital and radio group’s chief.” — The Australian

Why Fleet Street turned feral on British government

“I know, I know, it’s the job of the media in a free country to hold the government to account on behalf of its citizens. But Fleet Street usually prefers an easy target like: ‘Brits Stranded in Libyan Hell’ over anything much more taxing.” — The Guardian

Indigenous footy show goes prime-time on ABC

“ABC will air AFL football show Marngrook Footy Show which has aired for four years on Melbourne’s Channel 31, and on NITV. The show began as a radio show in 1997 due to the lack of indigenous football commentators, before joining on National Indigenous Television in 2007.” — TV Tonight

News Corp kicks off Myspace sale process

“News Corp has kicked off the process to explore the sale or spin-off of its troubled social entertainment site, Myspace, a person familiar with the talks said on Thursday.” — Reuters