Alan Jones allegations
Alan Jones intends to sue after indecent assault allegations
Broadcaster Alan Jones has vehemently denied allegations he indecently assaulted a number of men throughout his career, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Jones’ lawyers, Mark O’Brien Legal, issued a statement in the hours after a lengthy story went live. “In the short time available since publication we have obtained substantial factual information which contradicts and refutes the alleged pattern of conduct by Mr Jones,” the statement read.
“We have retained Senior Counsel and have instructions to immediately serve a Concerns Notice under Section 12A of the Defamation Act as the first step in the commencement of defamation proceedings.”
See Also: Former 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones denies multiple allegations of indecent assault
Hadley cut ties with Jones over assault claims
Nine Radio’s top broadcaster Ray Hadley said he cut contact with former colleague Alan Jones after being told by one of Jones’s alleged victims that he experienced unwanted sexual advances by the former radio host, report The Australian’s Grace Ellen MacPherson, Sohpie Elsworth, and Liam Mendes.
Bradley Webster – an alias he used – previously worked at 2GB with Jones and confided in Hadley in an “emotional conversation” about claims of unwanted sexual advances by Jones.
“I sat silently as he went through the allegations documented in today’s story, uninterrupted only by his tears as he tried to compose himself,” Hadley told listeners as he revealed a conversation he had with Webster some time ago.
Alan Jones’ powerful friends, including two PMs, stay quiet after indecent assault claims
For decades, broadcaster Alan Jones has stepped up to the microphone to fearlessly defend his friends under fire. Yesterday, with Jones accused of serious indecent assaults on four young men, those powerful friends, including two former prime ministers, remained silent, reports News Corp’s Matthew Benns.
The Daily Telegraph approached his public supporters, including former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, stud owner John Messara and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, who all declined to publicly support him.
There was one notable exception.
Former prime minister John Howard said: “As you know, Alan Jones is a good friend of mine. I have no knowledge of the matters canvassed in the Sydney Morning Herald.”
Business of Media
$400,000 for hurt and distress: Higgins’ government deal released
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins agreed not to bring multiple legal claims against the federal government related to her alleged sexual assault in parliament in exchange for more than $2.3 million, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Details of Higgins’ secret deal to settle were made public on Thursday in the high-profile defamation case brought by her alleged rapist, Bruce Lehrmann.
A “deed of settlement and release” between the Commonwealth and Higgins was tendered in a Federal Court, revealing how much she was paid and under what terms. She agreed she would not bring multiple legal claims against the government, former prime minister Scott Morrison, and former ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash.
Spotify CFO cashes in shares after value surges on news of job cuts
One of Spotify’s top executives cashed in more than US$9m in shares as the value of the world’s biggest music streaming service surged after it announced it was laying off almost a fifth of its workforce to cut costs, reports The Guardian’s Mark Sweney.
Paul Vogel, Spotify’s chief financial officer, moved to sell the US$9.4m worth of stock on Tuesday, a day after investors sent the company’s share price soaring in response to reports that the cuts would help it sustain profitability amid slowing economic growth.
Vogel was not the only one to cash in on the jump. Spotify’s share price rose by as much as 8% on the day of the announcement and has remained elevated since. Two other senior executives have cashed in more than US$1.6m in shares, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tucker Carlson’s new media company moves toward launch
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s new media company has begun building its base of paying subscribers as it moves toward launch, its chief executive told Reuters, reports Reuters’ Helen Coster.
“We’ve opened our site for membership pre-sales,” said Neil Patel, co-founder and chief executive of the new venture. “Once we are comfortable that all of the systems are running well, launch and brand release will follow.”
Patel said those paying subscribers will have access to members-only content and behind-the-scenes footage. He declined to comment on the pricing.
UK accuses Meta of empowering child sexual abusers with encryption roll-out
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has been accused by the UK government of empowering child sexual abusers after the tech firm began rolling out automatic encryption of all messages on its Facebook and Messenger platforms, reports The Guardian’s Dan Milmo.
The home secretary, James Cleverly, described the move as a “significant step back” for child safety after Meta said it would introduce end-to-end encryption on the apps. The move means that only the sender and receiver of messages on the platforms will be able to access their content.
News Brands
Washington Post journalists launch 24-hour strike in first stoppage since 1975
Journalists at the Washington Post said they would stage a 24-hour strike on Thursday to protest against staff cuts and what they call management’s failure to bargain in good faith in contract talks that have stretched on for 18 months, reports Reuters.
The planned one-day walkout would mark the first general work stoppage at the Post since the bitter, 20-week strike of 1975-76, when Katharine Graham was publisher, according to union officials.
Television
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright to stand trial on charge related to fatal helicopter crash
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has been committed to stand trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, reports the ABC’s Melissa Mackay.
The charge is related to alleged events following a helicopter crash which killed his friend and television co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson in 2022.
Wright, 44, was not present at the time of the crash and has strenuously denied all allegations.