Journalism
ABC clash over Erin Patterson images sparks editorial privacy debate
A fiery internal stoush has erupted at the ABC over whether to run “unflattering” images of convicted mushroom killer Erin Patterson, taken as she arrived at court back in May.
As Steve Jackson and James Madden write in The Australian despite legal restrictions lifting after Patterson was found guilty of triple murder on Monday, the ABC’s editorial policy manager Mark Maley ordered the wire photos be shelved, citing concern for her “privacy” and “distress.”
The photos, captured by AFP’s Martin Keep, show Patterson visibly emotional inside a prison van outside the Latrobe Valley courthouse.
Crikey dissects the media’s Erin Patterson frenzy
As soon as Patterson was found guilty of murdering three members of her family, the media machine roared to life.
The verdict dropped at 2.15pm; by 2.16, podcasts were rolling, cameras flashing and headlines multiplying. It was a moment tailor-made for 24/7 coverage, and Crikey’s Charlie Lewis has taken note of just how wild that coverage got.
Legal
Alan Jones legal team questions police phone search in assault case
Alan Jones‘ lawyer has raised red flags over how police accessed the former broadcaster’s phone, telling the court he holds “grave concerns” about the search process.
As Clare Sibthorpe reports The Sydney Morning Herald, the comments came as Jones fights 35 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching, laid across several court dates since his arrest last November.
The 84-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which span nearly two decades and involve 11 men, including one who was 17 at the time.
Former iSentia exec arrested amid tax evasion probe
David Liu, the former Asia chief executive of media monitoring firm iSentia, was arrested in Thailand in June over alleged corporate tax evasion.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, Thai authorities accuse Liu of evading up to 5.2 million baht, roughly $246,000, linked to inaccurate tax filings in 2015.
Liu has denied any wrongdoing.
Streaming
Spotify exec says Aussie streaming quotas could backfire globally
Spotify’s Sulinna Ong has weighed in on Labor’s proposed local content quotas, and she’s not singing its praises.
As John Buckley writes in Capital Brief, the platform’s global head of editorial says mandating Aussie music in streaming algorithms might sound patriotic but could end up hurting the very artists it’s meant to support.
Ong warned that if every country adopted similar rules, it could trigger a digital version of protectionism, where local content struggles to travel.
Advertising
Adobe showcases AI agents that build campaigns on the fly
Adobe is making a big local push for its new generation of AI-powered marketing agents, giving Aussie marketers a first look at what it’s calling a game-changer.
According to Chris Griffith in The Australian, these agents can now analyse company data, strategise campaigns, generate content (yes, even branded video), and offer real-time optimisation, without waiting for the data team to get back to you in a fortnight.
Television
Seven mixes up tribute image in farewell to Tigers stalwart Ian Wilson
Seven fumbled a key moment during its tribute to former Richmond president Ian Wilson, accidentally airing a photo of the wrong man during Monday’s The Agenda Setters.
As Ed Carruthers writes in The Daily Mail Australia, while honouring Wilson, father of veteran journo Caroline Wilson and a Tigers legend in his own right, the network mistakenly showed a photo of ex-player Bill Barrot.
The image, apparently lifted from an Age article showing Wilson’s children and Barrot with the 1969 premiership cup, was later corrected on replays via the Channel 7 app. Still, the mix-up didn’t go unnoticed.
Vale
Gogglebox favourite Emmie Milligan remembered with love
The Gogglebox family is mourning the loss of Emmie Milligan, who has died aged 96. Viewers came to know and adore Emmie for her sharp wit, warmth and no-nonsense take on telly during her time on the show from 2016 to 2023.
As David Knox writes in TV Tonight, she stepped away after a dementia diagnosis but remained a beloved figure long after her final episode.
Tributes have poured in across social media, led by her granddaughter and co-star Isabelle Silbery, who called Emmie “the oldest woman on TV” and so much more.