Media ownership is a notoriously difficult issue — both for politicians and the press. Bernard Keane explains why governments today face challenges their predecessors didn’t have to deal with.
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MEDIA DIVERSITY
Brave News World: whose voice will still be heard?
So many new voices, so little real journalism — a breeding ground for corruption and failed politics. Gideon Haigh asks who will prevail, in the final chapter of his investigative special for Crikey on the future of the media.
READ MOREACP sell off: a blow to Aussie pride, but there’s an upside
If the Hamburg-based media conglomerate Bauer Media buys Australian Consolidated Press’s magazine stable there will be howls of protest — but the move would have an upside too.
READ MOREPoliticians should focus on post-diversity challenges in media
Attempts to regulate media diversity miss the point that there may be little diversity left to regulate.
READ MOREIdiot’s Guide to Convergence Review: media ownership and diversity
The current model of media ownership regulation has failed to protect our media diversity — but will the Convergence Review’s proposal work better?
READ MORECheerleaders, warriors and a public interest test: who would you trust?
The crisis around UK minister Jeremy Hunt illustrates the problems of a media public interest test.
READ MOREConvergence Review: diversity and a public interest test
Using a public interest test to manage media diversity is problematic — but it’s a popular option.
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News Ltd strengthens the case for media inquiry
News Ltd’s assault on the Prime Minister has strengthened the case for a media inquiry, but what are the chances of an effective inquiry?
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Beecher: logical for government to fund media diversity
There is no democratic or economic rationale to support suggestions that News Limited should be forced to divest any of its Australian newspapers.
READ MOREPoliticians are too scared to push for more media diversity
The problem for any inquiry into media diversity is politicians won’t act to retrieve what we’ve lost.
READ MOREThe rules of the game for media regulation
It pays to be careful when it comes to regulating the media. Here are some tips for the recent entrants in the game of “Regulate the Press”.
READ MOREJournalism as public good vs. commercial enterprise
Should journalism be regarded as a basic public utility? It is a question particularly pertinent for Australia, which ranks 41st in terms of media diversity, writes Mr Denmore.
READ MOREThe impact of CEO Lachlan on media diversity? None, really
Lachlan Murdoch now runs Ten, owns half a radio network, and sits on the News Corp board, but has so far faced only one media diversity obstacle.
READ MOREReviewing diversity in a converging media
If you were starting from scratch in regulating media ownership, what would you count as influential?
READ MOREOur fast-vanishing national media diversity
We’re now down to six national sources of commercial media, courtesy of the Murdoch-Packer deal at Ten. And our media ownership laws say nothing about it.
READ MOREMacCormack: Nup, I still can’t see the need for a public interest test
I’ve read yesterday’s piece by Julian Thomas on a public interest test for media mergers several times and, dullard that I am, I can’t work out why his arguments in any way justify such a policy, writes David MacCormack.
READ MOREUnscrambled eggs on Labor’s face as cross media laws remain
“We wouldn’t be able to unscramble this egg” declared the new Communications Minister Stephen Conroy yesterday, seemingly giving up on the task of re-regulating the ownership of Australia’s commercial media in the wake of the Howard Government’s radical reforms. Sorry Minister that is not good enough, writes Andrew Dodd.
READ MORELaws against concentrated media ownership hurt, rather than help
The Australian reports today that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun its inquiry into Fairfax’s acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting’s TV and radio assets.
READ MOREACCC’s first media diversity test
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is shaping up for what could be a test of whether competition law can be used to protect diversity of news and information.
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