Journalism
Former Nine boss in discount row
Ex-Nine News director Amanda Paterson has stirred fresh chatter after scoring a $2000 discount at Carla Zampatti in Brisbane, months after leaving the network.
As Steve Jackson writes in The Australian, the half-price perk is typically reserved for Nine’s on-air talent, yet Paterson, who hasn’t appeared on screen in decades, accepted it during a $4000 shopping trip.
It follows her high-profile exit from Nine last year and a settled dismissal claim earlier this year, adding another twist to her post-network story.
UTS clashes with ABC over course suspension
UTS has slammed ABC News for “false and misleading” reporting on its decision to halt enrolments for over 100 courses from 2026, rejecting any link to staff cuts.
According to Jennifer Shahin in Sky News Australia, the pause applies only to new students, with current cohorts unaffected. UTS says the move is temporary pending a review and consultation process.
Programs across business, law, health, IT and more are impacted, affecting both local and international applicants.
AI
Government delays AI copyright move
Capital Brief’s John Buckley writes that the Albanese government has pushed back any decision on copyright reform for AI, despite the Productivity Commission’s call for a lighter regime. Ministers have confirmed no changes are planned this year.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Industry Minister Tim Ayres are all keeping clear of the proposal, leaving tech firms lobbying since 2023 empty-handed for now.
With media and rights holders fiercely opposed, Labor appears happy to let the fight simmer until later in the year.
Radio
Adam Ferrier thinks radio is advertising’s next frontier
Thinkerbell co-founder and consumer psychologist Adam Ferrier has told Mediaweek he believes brands are missing a huge opportunity by not investing more in audio advertising.
Ferrier’s comments come off the back of a bold new campaign, created by the brains at Thinkerbell, designed to showcase the power of audio.
The ad, crafted in partnership with CRA, MassiveMusic and Glue Society, uses soundwaves to extinguish a flame, a metaphor for radio’s impact.
Companies
CBS News faces uncertainty
CBS News staff are bracing for possible layoffs as parent company Paramount Skydance moves to slash $2 billion in costs. Concerns also hang over the struggling CBS Evening News, which has yet to find its footing with viewers.
Skydance president Jeff Shell has flagged the cuts will be detailed by November, part of efforts to counter falling ad and distribution revenue as audiences shift to streaming.
According Brian Steinberg in Variety, with no comment from CBS executives, journalists inside the newsroom are left waiting to see how deep the changes will run.
Television
Hugh Marks puts content first at ABC
ABC boss Hugh Marks has set a clear agenda since taking over in March: invest more in ambitious, high-impact content across screen, audio and news.
As David Knox reports in TV Tonight, he’s freed up an extra $25–30 million for programming, insisting the focus should be on quality and impact, not just filling schedules.
Marks, formerly CEO of Nine, says broadcast remains core but iview is equally important as audiences shift platforms.
Vale
Terence Stamp dies aged 87
Acclaimed British actor Terence Stamp, famed for roles in Superman and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has died aged 87. His family confirmed his passing on Sunday.
As William Schomberg writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, Stamp’s career spanned six decades, from arthouse classics like Pasolini’s Theorem to Oscar recognition and cult Hollywood fame.
Born in London’s East End in 1938, he leaves behind a legacy of iconic performances and a body of work that continues to inspire.