Articles by Sophie Black


Ask the economists: tomorrow’s RBA announcement

We asked the economists for their punt on the RBA’s interest rate announcement tomorrow, just ahead of the race that stops a nation. They say that the numbers will just keep going up…

Wankley Awards: Deceptive pink bits

This week we’re giving the Wankley to products that pinkefy themselves with all sorts of glowing promises about their commitment to breast cancer research. Too bad the donations cost less than the feel good advertising it brings them.

A tour of Indonesia’s detention centres

First hand experiences of Indonesia’s detention centres, where asylum seekers are treated like animals, beating are frequent, and there’s no access to medical care, education, or adequate food.

Meet Alex and Brindha: a media savvy bunch of boat people

The latest onset of asylum seekers isn’t Rudd’s Tampa, because this time the people aren’t out of sight and out of mind of the media. Will it make the public care?

Meghan McCain: why are people so unkind?

An interesting little Twitter fight is brewing after Meghan “daughter of John now Daily Beast columnist” McCain ‘innocently’ posted a twitpic of herself after tweeting about her “spontaneous night in”…

My ‘Oh Shit’ Moment: Crikey readers tell

We asked Crikey readers if they’ve ever experienced an “Oh Shit” moment on climate change. You know, when suddenly all the science becomes clear and the future seems quite scary.

Wankley Awards: Daryl Somers

Daryl Somers wins this week’s coveted Wankley Award, for not letting a bit of blackface controversy get in the way of crowing about Hey Hey It’s Wednesday’s stellar ratings.

Former sub-editors battle The Age for back pay

Past and present subs at The Age have launched legal action after learning that they have been underpaid for the last ten years. That’s a pretty major mistake.

The world, and Peter Ford, does a Wilkins over Charlie’s Angel “suicide”

Like Jeff Goldblum before her, reports of Charlie’s Angels star Jaclyn Smith’s death have been greatly exaggerated. On Twitter. Then mindlessly regurgitated by Australian entertainment reporters.

Crikey Clarifier: Penny Wong’s climate change ‘compromise’

As the do-or-die climate change meeting in Copenhagen looms, Penny Wong and Kevin Rudd marched to New York today with their new plan to bring developing countries to the table. But how would it work?

Wankley Awards: The media on Dennis Ferguson

The media fell over themselves this week to cover the case of convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson, with any serious reporting drowned out by talking heads across the nation echoing the same phrase over and over: “as a parent …”

Walker’s departure sends Fairfax shares up

Fairfax shares rose 4.2% this morning off the back of the story in The Financial Review reporting that Chairman Ron Walker will step down in August next year.

Former detainees tell: how it feels to have $260k debt slashed

Crikey asked some refugees what the passage of the detention debt abolition bill means to them.

“Hi, I don’t usually reply, but …” Women weigh in to Crikey

Last week we asked, why don’t women read Crikey? We’ve had a truckload of responses, and at the heart of this is a discussion about, well, the nature of discussion.

Crikey seeks women: for conversation, companionship and fun times

Crikey wants to pull more chicks: tell us how.

Wankley Awards: And the Wankley goes to … ACA and The Hun

It’s an embarrassment of riches down here at the Department of Wankley Deliberation this morning.

Wankley Awards: Vile Kyle and tacky Jackie

And the Wankley goes to … do we even need to write it? Everyone involved in green lighting the idea of strapping a child to a lie detector to interrogate her about her sexual experiences, live on air.

Calling Tehran: Protestors await call to take to the streets again

As reports surface of Mousavi’s renewed calls to protest, Sophie Black touched base with the anonymous Iranian refugee who speaks to his brother in Tehran on a regular basis.

Kyle and Jackie O’s live lie detector test goes very wrong

A 14-year-old girl disclosed live on air this morning that she was raped at the age of 12, during 2Day FM’s Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show.

No fairy floss, no show, for NT kids under income management

Thousands of Aboriginal Territorians, half of whose income is controlled through income quarantining and management, won’t be able to access money through their Basic Cards to get into the Royal Darwin Show this week.

The pain of childbirth is ‘valuable’. So suck it up

So the pain that comes from pushing something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a lemon is “valuable.” Say what? asks Sophie Black.

Crikey Clarifier: Crikey Clarifier: phone tapping

Following the News of the World phone-tapping controversy in the UK, Crikey questioned Private Investigator Warren Mallard on just how common phone tapping is, and how it’s done.

Eyewitness risks his life to tell Tehran’s stories

Crikey has been put in touch with an Iranian refugee who now has permanent residency in Australia. One of his brothers lives and works in Tehran, staying in touch with phone calls.

Private contractor Serco to run detention centres

Today, UK services company Serco’s Australian subsidiary, Serco Australia, begins to phase in its control over seven detention centres.

Kevin Rudd — commercial TV everyman and regular Twit

Following Kevin Rudd on Twitter is compelling and cringey all at the same time.