Are there any circumstances under which journalists should reveal their sources? The instinct in the profession is “no”.
Articles by Margaret Simons 
About Margaret Simons
Margaret Simons is a freelance journalist and author, and convenor of the journalism program at Swinburne University of Technology. She is also Chair of the Foundation for Public Interest Journalism.
New Kid on the Block: Journalist Complaints? Get it off your chest
Journalist Complaints, launched just weeks ago, is an example of citizens taking the monitoring of the media into their own hands, in the absence of an effective regulator.
It’s a big if, but Gina Rinehart could set Fairfax agenda
There never has been, and is never likely to be, a rule that says someone who owns a company is not entitled to run it as she sees fit, within the limits of the law.
Business Spectator, Eureka Report for sale: the leaked profit figures
Leaked information from the information memorandum issued as part of the Business Spectator and Eureka Report sale process reveals profitability has gone backwards.
New Kid on The Block: the enthusiasm of The Enthusiast
The story of bright indy publication The Enthusiast is sobering for those who embrace the possibilities of new media.
Helen Liu v The Age: could management end up in the clink?
One of the most important media law cases of recent decades will be decided tomorrow when Justice Lucy McCallum of the New South Wales Supreme Court hands finally hands down judgement in the case of businesswoman Helen Liu against The Age.
News Ltd moves: Williams’ ‘strong response’ to protect Whittaker
The material concerning Paul Whittaker came to me from a person who would normally be referred to as an impeccable source.
Whittaker in the firing line at News Limited
The editor of The Daily Telegraph, the controversial Paul Whittaker, is in the firing line at News Limited as the new CEO, Kim Williams, introduces a top-to-toe renovation.
News settles phone-hacking payouts, but story still has legs
Any hope that paying out big money will help end the trouble is surely misplaced.
Kiwi pointers on how to define news media, beef up regulation
The New Zealand Law Commission recently released an issues paper that elegantly deals with the very same issues the Finkelstein inquiry is considering in Australia, including how to define “news media” in the internet age, and what a beefed up regulation system might look like.
Mark Latham’s Tele complaint to the Press Council
Today Crikey reproduces Mark Latham’s complaint to the Press COuncil.
Complaints to Press Council double — so will it beef up?
Those who are inclined to write off the Press Council might be given pause by the fact that the number of complaints it receives has doubled since October.
MEAA responds to Immigration’s detention centre blackout
There has been a dust-up in the past few months about an attempt by the Department of Immigration to force media organisations to give bureaucrats the right to edit their reports in return for access to detention centres.
Sandalgate: and the most gratuitous media reference is …
Today Crikey bestows an old pair of sandals as an award for the most gratuitous media reference to personal appearance.
The 2011 Crikeys: the best in Australian media
Newspapers hemorrhage readers, broadcast media faces radical change, governments are probing ethics and ownership, yet good (and bad) journalism shines through. We present the Crikeys for Australian media …
Crikey Award sandals for most gratuitous reference to personal appearance
The Australian’s Miranda Devine caused a dust-up of outrage on Twitter when she scolded Margaret Simons for her choice of footwear. Now the sandals will be awarded to the most gratuitous reference to personal appearance in the media.
New Kid on the Block: Review throws Spaniard in the works
Given the doom and gloom surrounding most discussion of print media, some might find it surprising that there is a flurry of hard-copy start-ups in Australia at present.
The Age raid: just who is the victim and what is the crime?
There are several significant things about this week’s police raid of The Age headquarters. First, it demonstrates one of the several weaknesses in shield laws.
Simons: the paywall at The Fin and what defines a revolution
People like to talk about first mover advantages, but sometimes being first can be a disadvantage. As in, brave experiment and at best partial success.
New Kid on the Block: The Wall … or the walled wide web
One Australian new media start-up is using sophisticated software to trawl tweets, and from that constructs a media outlet more or less automatically, featuring the things we are all talking about. Meet The Wall.
Australia Network-ABC headaches have only just begun
How will the Australia Network fit with the ABC charter, and in particular the public broadcaster’s independence from the government of the day?
Simons: my unredacted submission to the media inquiry
The submission, with many others, was posted to the inquiry’s website, but the section on the Ozleaks case was redacted by me at the request of inquiry staff, due to matters being before the courts.
New kid on the block: Wendy Harmer talks all things Hoopla
The Hoopla is the brain child of well-known comedian and journalist Wendy Harmer and marketer Jane Waterhouse. Founded in July this year, the site is already enjoying modest success.
Journalism, Fairfax’s ‘rivers of gold’ and an inconvenient truth
Journalism is at the heart of Fairfax Media’s plans for the future, CEO Greg Hywood proclaims, and he deserves credit for doing so.
Walkley Awards decide Julian Assange is a journalist
The awarding of WikiLeaks with the prize for contribution to journalism in last night’s Walkey awards raises once again the questions of what is a journalist and what is journalism?
