Apparently people get drunk on the public lawns at the Melbourne Cup. Who knew? There is no news in this, just a ritualised annual tabloid photo-gallery parade of shame, vulnerability and intrusion. But try telling that to the Hun.
Columns / Wankley Awards
Getting your stolen Safran knickers in a twist
Blackface! A crucifixion! Masturbation! This week’s coveted Wankley award goes to the outrage surrounding John Safran’s new show Race Relations before it had even aired. Storm in a teacup, anyone?
And The Wankley goes to … a cracker story by AAP
This week’s coveted Wankley Award goes to AAP, for a searing investigation into Kevin Rudd’s afternoon tea, which involved a cappuccino and some carefully eaten pastries.
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.
China bullies its way to a perfect national day
Event planners and government spinners take note: here’s the Chinese government’s top 10 tips on how to pull together a major media event free of any negative coverage, writes Crikey intern Melanie Mahony.
The AFL Footy Show’s drunken hypocrisy
The Footy Show’s grand final edition made sure they got the best of both worlds: they aired Brendan Fevola’s slurry Brownlow vox-pops in front of their family audience… right after throwing him under a bus.
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 …”
Daily Tele’s hermaphrodite
exclusive
The Daily Tele has broken a whopping world exclusive today: South African runner Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite… maybe someone should tell her?
James “independent media” Murdoch
James Murdoch this week launched an attack on the BBC, announcing that it’s essential for the “future of independent digital journalism that a fair price can be charged for news to people who value it”. So, no free news allowed.
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.
“Wonderful koala” reporting
This week’s coveted Wankley Award goes to the “national mourning” for Sam the koala — a furry symbol of hope, survival and the way the Aussie media never let the facts get in the way of a ripping feel good yarn.
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.
And the Wankley goes to … a badly cooked story
The Wankley this week goes to the itchy trigger fingers of the Daily Telegraph website editors, who were so eager to get the scoop on the MasterChef finale, they ran the story early and with the wrong winner.
Woman’s Day, Today Tonight and The Advertiser
A triple-header for this week’s least coveted prize in Australian media.
AdelaideNow on Bec Hewitt’s boobs
AdelaideNow provide more “original, exclusive, highly relevant” News content with their expose on Bec Hewitt’s post-baby chesticles.
Richard Wilkins’ Goldblum gaffe
Do’s and Don’ts for Richard Wilkins: don’t repeat everything you read on Twitter. At least, not on live television, writes Sophie Black.
Woman’s Day saves and severs a marriage
Woman’s Day splashes with a story on Lisa Curry’s wedding split… then runs an ad for 30 Plus that Curry credits for “saving her marriage…”
Gordon Ramsay, overcooked
Gordon Ramsay wins this week’s coveted Wankley.
Chris Mitchell’s climate change award
Most editors would beg an oil and energy lobby group to take their trophy back. Not Chris Mitchell.
The Daily Tele swallows a fake Picasso
The Daily Tele reported last week that a young Sydney woman took her online Picasso to an “antiques roadshow” in Dee Why and it was verified as authentic. If only they’d got a second opinion…
Deceptive toddlers and fabricated bogans
Viral marketing, vested interests and self promotion tricked up as news, nothing new to see here folks… But here’s a Wankley anyhow.
Outstanding achievements in PR
This week’s Wankley goes to some truly magnificent achievements in PR.
This week’s gong goes to …. Golden Tonsils
An old friend reappeared from the wilderness last night…
And the Wankley goes to… Quadrant
This week’s coveted golden statuette goes to Quadrant for the their thoughtful contribution to The Monthly saga.
