http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/newspapers/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/News-of-the-World-scandal-doesnt-make-us-all-hacks/ I was going to start this with a deliberately understated introduction along the lines of: This is not journalism’s finest hour. But then I remembered that the whole News of the World scandal was in fact unearthed by journalists. And then I couldn’t work out how to start. Journalists are prone to navel gazing; the unkind would say that’s because of an over-inflated sense of our own importance. The kind would say it’s because we are aware of the inherent privilege and responsibility of what we do. But you can’t deny the NOTW catastrophe is an incredibly significant story, so no wonder the non-News Ltd press are wallowing in it – gleefully, in many instances. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/News-of-the-World-scandal-doesnt-make-us-all-hacks/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/News-of-the-World-scandal-doesnt-make-us-all-hacks/#item6278 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journlalism-and-objectivity-reality-or-ruse/ As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journlalism-and-objectivity-reality-or-ruse/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journlalism-and-objectivity-reality-or-ruse/#item5594 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-politics-of-fear-and-why-we-love-it/ Much is made of the depressing and irrational intrusion of the “Politics of Fear”.  We all lament how our political parties are prone to distorting statistics, leaving out facts, stigmatizing minorities, corrupting words, oversimplifying situations and events or just plain making stuff up.  We criticize the media for their willingness to spread the “politics of fear” throughout the population and most of all we just hate the fact that it seems to work. Given its ever-increasing influence it’s worth pondering why. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-politics-of-fear-and-why-we-love-it/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-politics-of-fear-and-why-we-love-it/#item4144 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/editorial-content-should-not-be-up-for-sale/ This column is proudly brought to you by BMW. Or Mercedes Benz. Or Holden (if I’m desperate). Advertising and editorial – traditionally uneasy bedfellows – are having uninhibited sex at the moment. Instead of protesting, we media sluts have joined the orgy, legs in the air like frozen chooks (from Steggles, of course – Steggles for quality). How long before we see newspaper stories headlined, “Tony Abbott surges ahead in the polls” (sponsored by Nutri-Grain – Iron Man Food). feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/editorial-content-should-not-be-up-for-sale/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/editorial-content-should-not-be-up-for-sale/#item3265 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journalists-in-lycra-tights-say-it-isnt-so/ Three new books about groundbreaking figures in Australian journalism - a proprietor, an editor and a reporter – provide some interesting insights into the contemporary media landscape. The three men are: Rupert Murdoch, who needs no introduction, Graham Perkin, revered ‘60s and ‘70s editor of The Age after whom we name one of our highest journalism awards, and Alan Reid, guru of the Canberra press gallery from the late ‘50s to early ‘70s. The three books are reviewed in the June issue of The Australian Literary Review today. Les Carlyon, no slouch himself, looks at Alan “The Red Fox” Reid: Pressman Par Excellence, by Ross Fitzgerald and Stephen Holt; former Fairfax editor Max Suich tackles Breaking News: The Golden Age of Graham Perkin, by Ben Hills; and Clive Mathieson, a rising star at The Australian, considers his boss’s big deal in War at the Wall Street Journal: How Rupert Murdoch Bought an American Icon, by Sarah Ellison. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journalists-in-lycra-tights-say-it-isnt-so/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/journalists-in-lycra-tights-say-it-isnt-so/#item3207 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/election-front-pages/ If you weren’t aware it’s big day in the UK today. It is general election day, and will see eith Gordon Brown ousted as Prime Minister to be replaced by the first Conservative Prime Minister in 13 years, or see Labour given an unprecedented fourth term in Government. London’s two big tabloids have backed different parties. The Sun, a newspaper who backed Tony Blair 13 years ago, is now firmly behind Conservative David Cameron, the man who has painted himself as Blair’s natural successor. Meanwhile the Daily Mirror has continued their support for the Labour Party, making Cameron’s privileged upbringing the focus of the attack. They make it more explicit in an alternate front page you can see below the fold, which reminds readers he was a member of Oxford’s famous Bullingdon Club (along with London Mayor Boris Johnson) that would go around trashing pubs and writing cheques for the damage.  feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/election-front-pages/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/election-front-pages/#item3017 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unleash-your-inner-history-buff-this-christmas/ It would have been the 1880 equivalent of the confessional interview on A Current Affair. Ned Kelly, interviewed by The Age in Beechworth gaol was, if he was being accurately quoted, surprisingly well-spoken and philosophical about his run-ins with authority. “I do not pretend that I have led a blameless life, or that one fault justifies another,” Kelly said, “but the public in judging a case like mine should remember that the darkest life may have a bright side, and that after the worst has been said against a man, he may, if he is heard, tell a story in his own rough way that will perhaps lead them to mitigate the harshness of their thoughts against him, and find as many excuses for him as he would plead for himself.” The Kelly interview is one of the many nuggets you’ll find in even the most cursory of searches through Trove, an archiving service of the National Library which started this year and last week marked the one millionth newspaper page scanned into its archives. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unleash-your-inner-history-buff-this-christmas/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unleash-your-inner-history-buff-this-christmas/#item2044 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youve-never-paid-for-news-you-never-will/ You say you want a revolution Well, you know we all want to change the world ... You ask me for a contribution Well, you know, we’re doing what we can ... You read news. So you know there’s a revolution going in the news industry, with much untargeted crossfire, rattling of virtual sabres and foaming at the mouth about paid content. Rude words have been said. Like “parasite”. And “money”. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youve-never-paid-for-news-you-never-will/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youve-never-paid-for-news-you-never-will/#item1845 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Extra-extra-pay-for-your-content/ If you could design your own domestic news service, what would it look like? Taking off my News Limited hat and speaking as a general reader, mine would involve a few things - plenty of hard news, mostly politics, stacks of AFL, provocative and entertaining opinion pieces, heaps of food, music and cinema journalism. I’d never read celebrity gossip, clubby or dull business journalism (that is, almost all of it) or another impenetrable word of motoring writing about the latest unaffordable car with a 28 kilowatt, 6.2 litre engine and variable-valve timing control. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Extra-extra-pay-for-your-content/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Extra-extra-pay-for-your-content/#item1067 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/paid-content-not-all-media-dinosaurs-have-small-brains/ For an open, organic, freedom-loving Utopia, there are a great many wannabe digital dictators on the Internet, vomiting forth mandates on how we must behave, speak, and do business. The Ethos of the Web, they call it; they know what is right, what is wrong, what will work, and what will fail. So in May, when Rupert Murdoch tabled the idea of paywalling his newspapers, the Glorious Leaders of Twitterstan took to their keyboards, and registered their disdain with an all-caps “FAIL!” “You can’t charge for content! Information wants to be free! Show your support by donating to my PayPal account!” Every Social Media Expert and Futurist hustling for speaking fees and fat consultancies knows, unequivocally, that newspapers are dinosuars; one edition short of extinction. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/paid-content-not-all-media-dinosaurs-have-small-brains/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/paid-content-not-all-media-dinosaurs-have-small-brains/#item1066 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 As someone who works in PR I read a lot of news. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or online, I’m addicted.  A side effect of my news “habit” is that I tend to examine what the message of the story is.  Who’s reflected positively?  Who’s reflected negatively?  What perception of the subject will the reader walk away with? While websites like this one thrive on opinion, journalism has traditionally strived for objectivity.  However, this is harder than it sounds; particularly when it comes to reporting issues that people hold dear.