ABC | Crikey

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Media briefs: Aussie Colbert? … coffee gold …Tele sees double …

Do we need a local version of The Daily Show or The Colbert Report? That and other media tidbits.

MATTHEW KNOTT | ECONOMY| 2 UNLOCK?

Broadcasting and arts: boost for ABC, SBS and Conversation

Crikey examines how media and culture organisations fared in this year’s budget. The ABC and SBS are smiling — and the ghost of Simon Crean lives on.

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Tips and rumours

From the Crikey grapevine, the latest tips and rumours … Holmes for fact-checking role? There’s plenty of talk in the halls of the ABC about who’ll be the face (and voice) of the ABC’s new fact-checking unit. Unlike other fact-check operations, Aunty’s will have a strong broadcast presence with a presenter popping up across TV, radio […]

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Tips and rumours

Travellers left in lurch as Melbourne company shuts up shop? … we fact-check whether the ABC is a Left “monoculture” … credit cards cut up at Nine …

CATHY ALEXANDER | FEDERAL| 9

Partly cloudy with a chance of … banks? Ads start on govt website

Here’s a first: there’s paid advertising appearing on a federal government website (the Bureau of Meteorology). Does this pose a problem — and who might be next?

MATTHEW KNOTT | FEDERAL| 5

Media giants unite to blow the whistle on source protection

News Limited, Fairfax and other big media companies say the government’s proposed whistleblower laws need major changes. It’s brought them together to fight for whistleblower protection.

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Media briefs: News Corp settles … Daily erection … UK TV hit …

Rupert Murdoch has got a pesky lawsuit off his back. And all the latest media news.

GLENN DYER | COMPANIES|

The BBC-Foxtel deal is dud for Aussie viewers

The real losers in the new Foxtel-BBC deal will be the ABC — and by extension, the Australian TV-watching public.

MATTHEW KNOTT | JOURNALISM|

ABC host: I quit the journos’ union because of Assange embrace

Is Julian Assange a journalist? ABC radio host Steve Austin says no. He’s so passionate about the issue he quit the journalists’ union.

MATTHEW KNOTT | EUROPE|

This is Moscow calling: not any more as ABC scraps Russia desk

Change is afoot in the ABC’s network of foreign bureaux: Moscow is out and a second Middle-East position is on the way.

GLENN DYER |

Glenn Dyer’s TV ratings: check out The Checkout

The big hit of last night was new consumer affairs program The Checkout, on Thursdays at 8pm on ABC1.

Tips and rumours

Nervous times at the ABC? … Crikey banned from Rupert’s ball … Tassie council sees the light on Easter …

Tips and rumours

From the Crikey grapevine, the latest tips and rumours … ABC fracas settled? Recently Crikey bought you an anonymous claim that a senior male ABC figure had whistled at a female staff member and said “down girl”. ABC management was alerted to the claim internally, and we’re now hearing the two people have had a coffee and […]

FEDERAL|

Australia Network, a political football, really does kick goals

Since its inception Australia Network has been beset by numerous internal and external problems — and the worst could be yet to come, writes Lowy Intstitute research fellow Annmaree O’Keeffe

BERNARD KEANE | COMPANIES|

Conroy to cement ABC control of foreign broadcasting

The controversial Australia Network service will be permanently linked to the ABC via legislation under Stephen Conroy’s media reform proposals. News Corp might not like that …

Media briefs: Peacock plumped … Bolt v Insiders … Berg’s Tea …

ABC stars line up to plump Peacock. A bevy of ABC luminaries including Kerry O’Brien, Leigh Sales and Tony Jones has endorsed current affairs journalist Matt Peacock for the coveted position of ABC staff-elected director. According to Peacock — whose reporting on James Hardie Industries formed the basis for last year’s miniseries Devil’s Dust — he has secured the backing […]

Tips and rumours

Which ABC radio figure whistled, yelled “down girl”? … Twiggy helicopters in for lunch … Sydney ferry antics …

STILGHERRIAN | ONLINE|

ABC hack attack: online security is getting worse

Hacking is getting easier, and any criminal with a cause — or even without one — can now bring down companies’ websites and access users’ personal information. The latest victim is the ABC.

RICHARD FARMER |

Richard Farmer’s chunky bits: ABC easily wins the Leadership Beat-Up Award

No contest for today’s Chunky Bits Daily Leadership Beat-Up Award. The ABC won hands down for hanging continuing speculation about a Kevin Rudd challenge on this bit of internet nonsense.

So much media bias

Crikey readers have their say.

MATTHEW KNOTT | TV & RADIO|

ABC boss fires back over The Oz‘s out-of-date claims

Did The Australian misrepresent ABC audience data? Managing director Mark Scott certainly thinks so — and told staff so in a missive yesterday. The data shows Scott is right.

Media briefs: ABC breaks news … enhanced Obama … ICAC ‘crook’ …

Remember how in June of last year, News Ltd boss Kim Williams bagged the ABC for not being a newsbreaker? Plus other media news of the day.

BERNARD KEANE | FEDERAL|

Mythbusting on Abbott and the media, but who asked the questions?

Tony Abbott receives as much media scrutiny as the Prime Minister — it’s where he gets it from that is different. A Crikey investigation reveals some interesting findings.

MEDIA|

Media briefs: US mag data … sport’s black day … Guardian sorry …

Following months of negotiation, The Guardian has issued an apology over sensational stories about corruption in the Mexican media. And other media tidbits.