July, 2011


Media briefs: Newspaper sales audit change … Aussie editor freed …

Front page of the Day … ABC announces “milestone” changes to auditing rules for newspaper sales … Australian media boss Ross Dunkley free after conviction in Burma …

What revolution? Egypt unrest returns

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak may be gone, but things are still tense in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, where 1,000 people have been injured in recent clashes between protesters and security forces.

Facebook to launch “something awesome” next week

King of the kids, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, told a group of journos that Facebook is launching “something awesome” next week. Is it the long awaited iPad app or an app for photo-sharing?

The Tele’s bogus ‘too many tweets’ attack on Barry O’Farrell

This week The Telegraph published a story criticising Barry O’Farrell for tweeting too much. However, engaging with the electorate is always a positive thing and O’Farrell is one of few politicians who uses the platform properly, writes Mr Tiedt.

15 of the best Instagram artists

Indie’ social media platform and iPhone app Instagram is rapidly building in popularity but remains dominated by genuine artists and designers. Mashable presents 15 of the best.

My Cup Of Tea: Get your Aussie on: defining the authenticity of Australian actors

Australian screen production is still a closed shop and Aussie actors are fighting to keep it that way.

No room left for Myspace

Sold for an embarrassing price, the once cool Myspace is now as good as dead. Why did it fail? What went wrong? For starters it used to look pretty bloody ugly, writes Sam Biddle.

The Tree of Life — tantalisingly imperfect

Director Terence Malick’s Palme d’Or winning The Tree of Life conjoins a powerful kitchen sink drama with existential ruminations on life, the universe and everything. It’s a bold and botched experiment, says Luke Buckmaster.

Scoopon’s trademark tyranny

On the grounds of trademark violation, $200 million powerhouse Scoopon has again used bullying tactics against a start-up website. But who in their right mind would give the company sole ownership of “scoop” and “pon”? writes DA & DK on Grouped.

Adventuring in the Solomon Islands: the cloud of doom

What started out as pleasant flight from Honiara quickly became a deeply unsettling experience for Claire Chaffey, whose plane, lilting violently from side to side, started to resemble a coffin with wings.

Influenza vaccination and children: weighing up the evidence

A recent spout of febrile convulsions has led to the suggestion that vaccinating healthy children against influenza generally causes more harm than good. Heath Kelly examines the evidence.

Fake Fielding: my dairies as PM of Family First

As I bow out of public life, Id like to thank everyone who came along with me on this ride, writes @FakeFielding in his candid, revealing and hilarious collection of diary entries.

The changing climate of climate change reportage

News cycles are a strange thing, and not just the 24 hour trivia variety beloved of press gallery journalists. Right across the globe, it seems, there are times when global warming is considered to be news and times when it is not, writes Richard Farmer.