Journalism
Sydney University newspaper ‘uninvites’ journalist to event
News.com.au political editor Samantha Maiden has revealed she was uninvited from speaking at a Sydney University student journalism conference, months after being asked to attend by Honi Soit.
As Maiden herself writes, the invite, extended back in March, came via a warmly worded note from a student journalist.
Fast forward to this week, and that invitation has apparently been rescinded by what Maiden cheekily dubbed the “politburo” in charge.
Media outlets warned over their ‘mushroom trial’ reporting
A few high-profile outlets have found themselves in hot water over their coverage of the Erin Patterson mushroom trial, with Crikey, Channel 10 and influencer Constance Hall all slapped on the wrist for crossing legal lines.
As James Madden and Steve Jackson report in The Australian, the trio has since made quiet edits or pulled content altogether after being warned about breaching court suppression orders or venturing into contempt territory.
It’s a sharp reminder that when it comes to ongoing court cases, the rules of suppression and sub judice apply to everyone… no matter how big the platform.
News Corp-NRL standoff flares over drug survey drama
Things got frosty in Brisbane last week, with senior News Corp editors and execs quietly snubbing NRL hospitality at the State of Origin opener.
The boycott followed a fiery clash between the media giant and Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V’landys, who’s fuming over a recent News Corp series titled The Deal Makers.
As Michael Chammas writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, the investigative series, based on feedback from 50 player agents, included a stat that 62 per cent of respondents believe drug use is an issue among players.
Media freeze melts after Australia House cricket fumble
What was meant to be a breezy champagne soirée with the Aussie men’s cricket team in London turned into a diplomatic own goal, with the Australian government scrambling to explain a sudden media blackout.
As Jacquelin Magnay writes in The Australian, local Aussie journos were initially told they could only attend “in a personal capacity,” thanks to a supposed exclusive media deal with the BBC.
That exclusivity, it turns out, came as news to Cricket Australia.
Legal
ABC faces legal heat over Play School producer’s contract
The ABC is headed for the Federal Court, with a Play School producer accusing the national broadcaster of breaching the Fair Work Act by stringing together multiple fixed-term contracts.
According to Calum Jaspan in The Sydney Morning Herald, the case, brought by the MEAA on behalf of digital producer Tom Scott, shines a spotlight on one of the broadcaster’s longest-running HR sore spots.
While Play School has been a staple since 1966, insiders say job security behind the scenes is anything but stable.
Television
Sky News and Network 10 race clock on regional TV deal
Sky News Australia and Network 10 are still hammering out terms on a regional broadcast deal that’s set to lapse later this month, with the clock ticking after 10 inherited the agreement earlier this year through its acquisition of key regional licences.
According to John Buckley in Capital Brief, originally signed in 2021 with Southern Cross Austereo and WIN, the deal gave Sky News free-to-air reach across regional Australia.
But with 10 now holding those licences, both parties are in deep talks over whether a new arrangement makes strategic sense.
The Project nears its final credits as Ten preps replacement
After years of speculation and sliding ratings, it looks like The Project is finally heading for the exit, at least according to Kyle Laidlaw in TV Blackbox.
Industry whispers suggest the curtain will fall within months, with Ten already developing a new current affairs-style show to take over the timeslot.
While Ten hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, insiders say the new program is being readied for a July or August debut.
Retail
Anchorage weighs financial lifeline for struggling David Jones
Anchorage Capital Partners is weighing its options as David Jones stares down the barrel of mounting losses and a tough retail climate.
The department store’s latest financials reveal a $74.4 million hit in the year to June 2023, raising fresh questions about its long-term viability under Anchorage’s ownership.
But according to Carrie LaFrenz and Jemima Whyte in the Australian Financial Review, despite a short-lived profit bump post-acquisition, recent filings warn of a potential cash shortfall, temporarily patched by a $190 million debt deal struck in October.
Shein shifts Australian ops to Singapore amid tax scrutiny
Shein has quietly restructured its Australian arm, shifting control of its local marketplace to a new Singapore-based entity called Wonderflow Support.
As Carrie LaFrenz reports in the Australian Financial Review, the move, part of a broader internal shake-up, has sparked fresh speculation over whether the fast fashion juggernaut is eyeing tax advantages.
From April 30, Wonderflow became the official operator of Shein’s Aussie site and app, taking over responsibility for third-party sellers and transactions.
Hermès sales soar as luxury shoppers shrug off the squeeze
While most retailers are sweating through the cost-of-living crunch, Hermès is gliding along like it’s still 2019.
The French luxury powerhouse just posted Australian sales of $578.1 million for 2024, up a hefty 21 per cent year-on-year, with profits holding steady at $104.5 million, even after swallowing an extra $95 million in business costs.
As Eli Greenblat writes in The Australian, the cult of the “purchase history” lives on, with loyal fans lining up to spend big in the hopes of unlocking a quota bag down the line.
Technology
Apple App Store hits $2 trillion milestone
Apple’s App Store is not just thriving, it’s absolutely booming, with developer billings and sales topping a jaw-dropping $2 trillion in 2023, according to a new report released ahead of next week’s World Wide Developer Conference.
As Jared Lynch writes in The Australian, the analysis, led by Boston University’s Audrey Fradkin and the Analysis Group’s Jessica Burley, found that physical goods and services made up the lion’s share, driven largely by the unstoppable rise of platforms like Uber Eats.
Digital goods pulled in $131 billion, while in-app ad revenue chipped in another $150 billion.