Reporting

There has never been a time when NGOs have had greater influence over our society, especially on environmental issues. A committed campaign can change the policies of governments, major companies and consumers.

Over the past few years, we have seen NGO pressure applied successfully in a whole range of industries: from oil companies and car production at one end, to retailers and fast moving consumer goods at the other. No CEO or marketing director wants to be at the receiving end of an environmental group attack, for the damage it may do to a company’s brand or reputation.

The world needs NGOs to continue their responsible and constructive campaigning, even at a time of global economic crisis. Over the last three decades, they have been the major flag carriers for the environment, often when it was considered a highly unfashionable and minority issue.

Continue reading "Balancing benevolence with the bottom line" »

One steamy night in February 1974, I went with friends to hear the great blues guitarist B.B. King in concert at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

All went well until, an hour or so in, King collapsed on stage and had to be carried off. I left the Hordern in search of a phone box.

The first one was broken. Finding one that worked, I stuffed some money in, rang one of the copy-takers at ABC News and dictated five lines of copy.

Continue reading "A journalist kicking it old school on Twitter" »