Journalism
Former board member urges ABC to rethink its election reporting
Former ABC board member Joe Gersh wants the broadcaster to take a hard look at how it covered the recent federal election.
As James Madden writes in The Australian, Gersh is concerned the ABC risks sounding like “a mouthpiece of government” in the wake of Labor’s sweeping win.
While the ABC already conducts routine election reviews through its Election Coverage Review Committee (ECRC), Gersh says this result was anything but routine, and the response should reflect that.
Radio
Sandon turns up the heat on SCA boardroom shake-up
Sandon Capital is dialling up pressure on Southern Cross Austereo, pushing for a board overhaul at the country’s largest radio network.
According to Angelica Snowden in The Australian, the activist fund, which owns just over 5% of SCA, is unhappy with how things are being run, especially after a surprise move to resume dividend payments.
Over the weekend, SCA chair Heith Mackay-Cruise reportedly worked the phones, locking in support from the company’s four biggest shareholders, who together hold a controlling stake.
Business
Why parents are fleeing the media industry
They might say it takes a Village to raise a child. But what about the parents?
Full disclosure: I’m a working mother in the media. While all industries are tough in their own ways, there is something uniquely gruelling and relentless about the media.
A recent survey from a not-for-profit group, The Village, found that 70% of those surveyed have left or considered leaving the media industry.
Television
ABC cleans up at Screen Producers Awards with a diverse winning streak
The ABC made a splash at the 23rd Screen Producers Australia Awards, with seven of its programs taking home trophies, spanning everything from animation to hard-hitting docs.
As Kyle Laidlaw reports on TV Blackbox, while it was a big night for Bluey, Fisk, After the Party, and Bad Ancestors, but factual programming truly stole the spotlight.
The Assembly, Stuff the British Stole, and Tony Armstrong’s Extra-ordinary Things all earned top honours, with The Assembly also scoring a separate diversity and inclusion nod.
Agencies
WPP’s global media shake-up unlikely to rattle Australia
WPP is reportedly gearing up to rebrand GroupM as WPP Media and streamline its global operations, but insiders say the overhaul won’t rock the boat too much in Australia.
While the international buzz points to job cuts and big shifts, local agency brands like EssenceMediaCom, Wavemaker and Mindshare are expected to stay intact.
As Danielle Long explains in The Australian, the restructure is part of a broader industry shift, as media groups grapple with a sluggish ad market, economic uncertainty, and the pressures of AI-led efficiency.
Legal
Meghan’s DIY bath salt lands her in hot water with $15.7m lawsuit threat
An American woman is threatening to sue Meghan Markle for $15.7 million AUD, claiming a homemade bath salt recipe featured on the Duchess’ Netflix show left her with severe burns.
As Isabella Rayner writes on Sky News Australia, Robin Patrick says the mix caused “catastrophic” injuries to her legs and left her in intense pain.
The bath soak, Meghan’s gift to a friend on With Love, Meghan, included Epsom and Himalayan salts, arnica oil, and lavender oil.
Streaming
Disney quietly pulls content warnings from classics on Aussie screens
Disney has removed cultural sensitivity warnings from classics like Peter Pan and The Jungle Book on Disney+ in Australia, as the company pivots away from its previous progressive stance.
The change comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s pushback against diversity and inclusion programs in the US.
As Jared Lynch writes in The Australian, once hailed for embracing representation, with moves like casting Rachel Zegler in Snow White and reimagining the dwarfs, the entertainment giant now appears to be softening that approach.