The journalists’ union has advocated the establishment of a “one-stop shop” for complaints against news organisations, covering broadcast, print and online media.
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.
JB Fairfax, flick go the shares, while masthead editors in power struggle
The internal machinations at Fairfax and News Limited surely tell us that we live in an age where the newspaper business is increasingly devoid of sentiment.
Williams, sans boys’ club machismo, breaks News Ltd mould
Kim Williams’ elevation will bring some changes, and alter key dynamics in Australia’s largest newspaper publisher.
Simons: Disney defends Press Council on day two of inquiry
The likelihood of a strong move to discourage abusive online comments threads in mainstream media outlets emerged at the media inquiry today, with inquiry head Ray Finkelstein and Australian Press Council Chair Julian Disney agreeing they were damaging to democracy and freedom of speech.
Media inquiry: ‘marketplace of ideas’ not working that well
The public hearings of the federal government’s media inquiry got under way this morning with a distinctly anti-statutory regulation tinge.
Mega Aunty failure: Media Watch break ill-timed given media inquiry
The end of the Media Watch season in particular is close to a scandal, a mega public broadcaster fail.
At Fairfax, Times are changing; Baker to ramp up news coverage
Fairfax Media is planning to expand its online National Times opinion site into news coverage, just as News Limited’s The Australian moves its best content behind an online paywall.
Simons: Dear (Media) Diary, you are just so predictable …
The swipe at me in The Australian’s Diary column this morning is so predictable one wonders if it is even worth a response, writes Margaret Simons.
Simons: to tweet or not to tweet from court…
During the course of yesterday I became aware that The Australian’s Melbourne bureau chief, Chip Le Grand, was applying to the court for an audio recording of the first day’s hearing.
Artz case: Vic police ‘dumbfounded’ by level of info AFP gave to The Oz
Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police had a sharp disagreement about the extent of confidential briefings given to The Australian newspaper in order to persuade it to hold off publication of its scoop in a joint anti terrorism operation.
When The Oz muscles the AFP, that’s a story
It is impossible to separate the extraordinary behaviour of News Limited editor Paul Whittaker, revealed in the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday without also considering the context of media power in Australia.
The Oz editor bargained over lives in AFP raid
Former editor of The Australian, Paul Whittaker, bargained with police over how many lives would be lost if the newspaper published its scoop on the anti-terrorism operation before raids took place.
Crikey wins right to publish ‘embarrassing’ docs on The Oz editor
Crikey has won — for the moment — its bid to prevent the suppression of how The Australian obtained a confidential briefing from the AFP over the Operation Neath raid.
Protecting sources … when is a journalist not a journalist?
Just who is and isn’t a journalist is yet to be tested in court. One day, surely, it will be and that will be very interesting indeed. Is bad journalism, such as Andrew Bolt’s recent litigated inaccuracies, still journalism. Is good blogging journalism? Interesting questions.
Media soft-pedals approach to murky world of disclosure
I think in this saga the Herald Sun has been more clueless than culpable — although sometimes deep cluelessness can itself be culpable.
OPI report: secret deals and media manipulation
A report released this week reveals a trail of misinformation, secret deals and media manipulation by a ministerial adviser that in part provoked the resignation of Victorian Police Commissioner Simon Overland.
Troubled SBS needs $50m government handout in a hurry
You can call it a “tight budgetary situation”, or you can call it a crisis. Either way, the rumble is that SBS is in real trouble.
Paywalls (now with bonus holes) and the future of journalism at News
There are smart people at News Limited. Some of them seem to have been given, if not their heads, then at least some slack in the reins.
AFP: details of dealing with The Oz a ‘national security issue’
The Australian Federal Police has claimed that release of details of its dealings with The Australian might endanger national security and undermine “mutual trust and co-operation” between the force and media organisations.
News Ltd, AFP join forces to suppress Simon Artz conversation
The Australian government solicitor and the AFP are co-operating with News Limited in an attempt to suppress the contents of a key conversation between Paul Whittaker and police commissioner Tony Negus.
Just what is in the affidavit that the AFP don’t want you to see?
The Australian Federal Police is attempting to suppress details of its dealings with The Australian over the controversial Cameron Stewart scoop concerning the 2009 anti terrorism Operation Neath.
Bolt decision: ‘Irresponsible journalism illegal’? Think again
Making “irresponsible” journalism illegal? You don’t have to like Andrew Bolt to find that notion worrying, but dressing up this week’s decision as a major assault on freedom of speech is putting it far too high.
Simons: what the News Ltd rebranding exercise tells us
Leaving aside all the marketing gobbledygook, the significant things come under four headings in News Ltd’s rebranding document.
Seven, Ten breached code of practice requirements
It has taken 18 months, and one of those involved was sacked long ago, but today we finally get the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s pronouncement on the conduct of channels Seven and Ten last year.
The Oz bows out of Manne debate
This Wednesday The Australian’s Paul Kelly and academic Robert Manne were due to debate at Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre. But now one side of the battle is not going to show.
