This week we saw a thoroughly illuminating chat between mining magnate Clive Palmer and Lateline host Tony Jones.
Articles by Jason Whittaker 
About Jason Whittaker
Jason Whittaker joined the Crikey crew as deputy editor in February 2010. Previously he spent almost six years editing business publications you’ve never heard of for a division of ACP Magazines out of Brisbane. He used to blog, review theatre and freelance for a bunch of people, too, since the Queensland University of Technology gave him a degree in journalism. He doesn’t like coffee, remarkably.
Email: JWhittaker@crikey.com.au
Skype: jasonawhittaker
Twitter: @thetowncrier
Phone: 03 8623 9900
Essential: Gillard will go, and Labor deserves no economic credit
Most voters believe Julia Gillard will lose the prime ministership within 12 months, with new polling recording more disapproval and predictions of doom for the Labor government.
Essential: both leaders end the year on the nose
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott end the political year as deeply unpopular leaders, losing the faith of even more voters.
Hadley v Flannery: who’s telling the truth?
Ray Hadley blasted Tim Flannery and Crikey over claims the 2GB host arranged a call to his program that sparked a flurry of criticism over his waterfront property. But Flannery is standing by his story.
Flannery: Hadley concocted story on my waterside home
Of all the responses to Robert Manne’s Quarterly Essay on The Australian it is the letter from Tim Flannery published in the latest edition that adds the juiciest grist to the mill.
Miffed Radio National staff must learn to do more with less
Some disgruntled Radio National staff are concerned a controversial schedule realignment for 2012 announced yesterday will see protected specialist programs understaffed.
‘Bali boy’ in grubby TV rights deal: are Nine’s cameras ready to roll?
Has the Nine Network opened its chequebook for the family of the now infamous “Bali boy”? The agent and the network aren’t talking, but network rivals insist it’s been done.
The quality journalism project: early bird Fran Kelly
Her energy levels are “incomparable in journalism”, according to The Australian’s George Megalogenis. But who inspires Radio National’s Fran Kelly? She steps up to the plate for Crikey’s quality journalism series.
The future begins for The Oz on Monday
A paywall will descend on Monday at The Australian, a move News Limited CEO John Hartigan says will “pioneer the way Australians consume media”.
Essential: we’ll cop a carbon tax with compensation
The federal government has failed to sway those opposed to a carbon tax, though more than half of voters are prepared to support it with compensation for lower income households, new polling finds.
Radical changes for Radio National: media, religion and live drive
Radio National will restore specialist programs on religion and the media, and introduce a Breakfast-style live current affairs program for the drive home, as part of radical schedule changes proposed for 2012.
News will investigate contributor spending in Australia
News Limited will examine its books in Australia to look for payments to private investigators or other parties that aren’t “legitimate services”.
Carbon tax last straw for trucking industry demanding answers
A union heavy who helped install Julia Gillard as prime minister now threatens to turn against her not because of her backflip on a carbon tax, but a backdown on supporting mandated rates of pay for truck drivers. It’s an age-old argument.
Radio National’s nip-tuck: managers meet to freshen up network
Key Radio National producers are bunkered down to again delineate between worthy and stodgy programming. After 80 years of broadcasting, management is concerned the station — and its audience — is starting to show its age.
Daily Proposition: something for the Phans
“Ten long years,” the Phantom bemoans, “living a mere facade of life. Ten long years, wasting my time with smoke and noise.” The frustration is palpable. Not of the opera ghoul’s lost love, necessarily, but of the puppet-master of global Phantom Enterprises.
Health: $1.5b for more targeted mental health services
Mental health advocates finally have the big-ticket funding package they’ve long campaigned for, with a co-ordinated $2.2 billion suite of initiatives to support patients and identify those most at risk.
Employment: how will Gillard put Australia to work?
Julia Gillard wants Australians to go back to work, using the budget to tackle a worsening skills shortage through training and apprenticeships.
Budget preview: speculation, sweeteners and ‘tough’ love
It will be a “Labor budget”, the government says, “tough” for some but with sweeteners for families, pensioners and low-paid workers. Crikey prepares the way.
Karl’s ‘tacky’ campaign takes shine off Gold Logie win
Peter Meakin describes Karl Stefanovic as a “mate”. But the rival news boss reckons his shameless and ultimately victorious campaign for a Gold Logie was “tacky”.
Embattled Rann government loses key minister
Embattled South Australian Premier Mike Rann has lost a key frontbencher, with Bernard Finnigan resigning from Cabinet.
Wankley Awards: And the Wankley goes to… Hun heartbreak over grieving swan
Rupert Murdoch, it’s said, believes putting animals on the front page sell more papers. Grieving animals? You can take that to the bank.
Roads, rates, rubbish … foreign policy? Recreating local government
Local government is about more than roads, rates and rubbish. But it’s not about international diplomacy, one Sydney mayor and president of the local government alliance insists. So what good is a new-age council?
Essential: forget the surplus, voters say, and save us from cuts
Most voters would rather the federal government delay its back to black strategy and extend the deficit to stave off service cuts and tax hikes.
Essential: we trust Negus and Oakes, but who’s Andrew Bolt?
Crikey / Jason Whittaker / Monday, 5 September 2011
We trust Laurie Oakes and George Negus to bring us the news. But not Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt, an Essential Research poll found.