Spin doctoring 101; Wolf Creek 2; Cyberkids

EPISODE AIRING: NOVEMBER 18-21, 2011

click above link to download episode 

This week, the show begins to count down for the finale of 2011 on THE FOURTH ESTATE! But still jam-packing it all in before then, including:

PR AND SPIN DOCTORING - THE ASSETS BEHIND THE CAMPAIGNING: KATE AUBUSSON

An in-depth look at just how crucial the spin is on the campaign trail in the US, as the Republican party awaits..

WOLF CREEK 2 ALREADY MET WITH HOWLS OF DISDAIN: MIG CALDWELL


The complex diversity that the Australian landscape offers is often borrowed from by creative artists: allowing the environment to set the scene. None truer than the hit 2003 film, WOLF CREEK, which GREG MCLEAN based around true murders of recent history - so what good - asks SONYA HARTNETT, author and critic for a new analysis of WOLF CREEK by CURRENCY PRESS - will a sequel (due to shoot early next year) do?


CHILDREN AND MEDIA CONSUMPTION: DYLAN BARBER

While TV remains the dominant media platform, experts have raised concern for children using new technologies that their parents might not understand or control. GLEN CULPIT, Vice-president of the AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND THE MEDIA, is concerned about the current state of play in the children’s market

An exclusive media watch; dangerous liaisons; Drum Media's 21st

EPISODE AIRING 23-26 SEPTEMBER, 2011

The new media inquiry that has been confirmed has had the Australian media literally all a twitter: we get the perspective from commentator and Media Watch frontman, JONATHAN HOLMES.

Plus, we engage in some dangerous liaisons ahead of a new Sydney conference rumoured to be headlining JULIAN ASSANGE as opening act...

...and break out the champers in celebration of the marking of street press, DRUM MEDIA's 21st birthday

LOOKING INTO THE GOVERNMENT AGENDA BEHIND INQUIRY - NATHAN COATES

The new media inquiry, announced by Senator STEPHEN CONROY, will focus on print, including online, and investigate existing and possible methods of regulation, including the Press Council. 

So what do these Government investigations mean and how could they impact on the notion of a "free press"?

DANGEROUS IDEAS GET FESTIVE - DYLAN BARBER

THE FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS IDEAS, presented by Sydney Opera House and St. James Ethics  Centre to run from October 1, the plans to headline discussion forums as "Hypocrisy rhymes with democracy" are certainly unique.

And the Centre's Executive Director, DR. SIMON LONGSTAFF offered his perspective as to what makes an idea "dangerous".

DRUM MEDIA TURNS 21 - ANNIE WYLIE

21 is an important birthday for most, and this certainly remains the case with Street Press Australia's Drum Media.

The magazine started in September 1990 and since then has played an integral role in supporting the local music scene and upcoming bands. All whilst remaining free!

Bob Brown; Screen Australia; Jon-Jon Goulian

Episode airing 2nd-5th September

This week the team speaks with BOB BROWN; SCREEN AUSTRALIA and new hot thing in literature...

click above and below to download show file or stories

Bob Brown in conversation with NATHAN COATES

Nathan Coates interviews the Greens leader over the calling for a Parliamentary inquiry into the Australian media but there is lack of agreement on how to support print media diversity leaving the print media market in question

Is it curtains for Australian TV? DYLAN BARBER  

Answering to problems facing television regulation that stem from its dated Broadcasting Services Act, 1992, Communications Minister STEPHEN CONROY has launched an online convergence review.

And recent publications indicate that since 2008, foreign content has increased by 154 per cent while Australian content has grown by only 59 per cent, according to a new report by Screen Australia.   

Literally avoiding mid-life crisis - MIG CALDWELL

Newest "It" boy considered the hottest in new author talent within all the right circles, JON-JON GOULIAN had his memoirs published, The Man in the Grey Flannel Skirt, off the back of a pitch and a need to fend off an existential crisis with the dawning of his 40th birthday.

Contempt and social media; News Stand; Bookshops; TINA: This Is Not Acceptable

Episode airing 19-22 August

download episode above, or  story files below

 

Could 140 characters unravel centuries of black letter law?

MADONNA KING eloquently phrased this potential threat that social media poses during the ongoing hearing into the disappearance of Queenslander DANIEL MORCOMBE.
This week, Team Fourth Estate looks into contempt of court violations published on social media sites; NEWS STAND: the new initiative developed in the wake of NEWS OF THE WORLD phone hacking revelations; the advent of NATIONAL BOOKSHOP DAY and the revival of globally recognised fringe festival, THIS IS NOT ART.


#1: Think before you tweet - DYLAN BARBER

Online users are being warned that posts on social media sites now have the same responsibility as the mass media, as DYLAN BARBER pursued further: speaking to MARK PEARSON: Journalism professor at Bond University and blogger about all things media law

#2: National Bookshop Day - ANNIE WYLIE

Garden parties; outdoor readings; book busking: these colourful events were planned to mark the celebration of all things literary on NATIONAL BOOKSHOP DAY: Saturday the 20^th of August to coincide with National Book Week.

#3- New online media lobbyist - NATHAN COATES

With all that is left from the phone-hacking scandal, most prominently is the questioning of media ownership and ethical practices in journalism.

Enter NEWSSTAND: a new online initiative pioneered to promote discussion and lobby Parliament into launching a full Parliamentary inquiry.

#4: This Is Not Acceptable - MIG CALDWELL

From a piece of grafitti: THIS IS NOT ART - or TINA - is now an annual fringe festival that draws people from far and wide over five days to engage in and display innovations within the arts and cultural fringe.

It's even been internationally recognised listed by Lonely Planet as the No.1 thing to do in all of Australia and the Pacific, but the festival was under serious threat of disappearing from the cultural calendar altogether; GARETH HART: co-director of CRACK THEATRE in Melbourne, started a crowd funding project, with great success.

Trust in Me(dia); Because you're worth it; Indiehub

EPISODE 24: 29 JULY - 1 AUGUST

(click link above to download full episode)

In light of this whole News of the World scandal, how much would you say that public perceptions of the media has changed? A recent survey showed the ABC out on top alongside SBS with poor scoring at the News Ltd end of the scale, as DYLAN BARBER discovered upon speaking to Crikey columnist, Bernard Keane, where they debate over notions of trust in relation to the media, particularly within Keane's own realm of online opinion columnist.

And, because, apparently, you're worth it the UK Advertising Standards body has ruled against airing commercials produced by cosmetic giant, L'oreal and featuring the celebrity faces of Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington (pictured below), due to a misleading amount of retouching applied. Should Australia adopt similar rigid standards in advertising? ANNIE WYLIE investigates.

Plus, LOUISE BROOKS explore the latest renewal of hope in the ongoing battle between retailers and online sellers, with the founding of a new initiative for independent retailers, INDIEBOUND, another missile launched against its enemy, in an ongoing David (Jones) and Goliath battle.

DOWNLOAD STORIES (Right-click and "save as" on links below)

• Media Trust: Dylan Barber
• Advertising and airbrushing: Annie Wylie
• Indiebound: Louise Brooks

Play School's mid-life crisis; Murdoch's minions and not sold on government ads...

SHOW AIRING: 22-25 JULY (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

This week, we delve further into the News of the World in the aftermath of Murdoch's public disgrace, PROF. ALAN KNIGHT, takes on the hard issues: from accountability to the reportage of the scandal as offered up by Murdoch's own, Australian newspaper.

He also confronts CAROLINE OVERINGTON over her op-ed pieces as NATHAN COATES reports.

Image courtesy of the ABC

PLAY SCHOOL hits middle age, with the popular ABC local production celebrating its 45th anniversary, and so ANNIE WYLIE spoke to DARCE CASSIDY: a spokesperson for FRIENDS OF THE ABC weighs in on the quality of Aunty and local TV and in-house production under its current head of TV, KIM DALTON.

And, should tax-payers cough up for the new ad campaign about carbon tax? TIM ROXBURGH reports on the responses from political opposition.

DOWNLOAD STORY FILES

(RIGHT-CLICK AND SAVE AS ON LINKS BELOW)

• NEWS OF THE WORLD: PART 1 - NATHAN COATES
• NEWS OF THE WORLD: PART 2 - NATHAN COATES
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY PLAYSCHOOL - ANNIE WYLIE
• GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING - TIM ROXBURGH

Publishing plays rough; musician meltdown mania; local talent further afield?; NOTW and Australian industry regulation

Show airtime: July 15-18, 2011

CALLS TO ABOLISH THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS COUNCIL 

As the News of the World phone hacking scandal deepens, NATHAN COATES spoke about whether the role of our AUSTRALIAN PRESS COUNCIL needs to have more impact on media accountability, or as is suggested by PETER FARRIS, QC, abolishing it altogether.


PENGUINS ROUGHING IT FOR PUBLISHING INDUSTRY
MIG CALDWELL played around with the short story performance group, PENGUINS PLAY ROUGH, on the debut of the released of their selected published short stories, available in hard copy and on the hard drive... 


SAVE SPACES FOR AUSSIE FACES
Will current laws allow for local acting talent to be scoped out further afield? It has been revealed that Foreign Performer Guidelines could be amended to allow for the hiring of international talent to fill the roles on local TV productions funded by taxpayers.
The ‘Save Spaces for Aussie Faces’ campaign is petitioning against such changes as SIMON WHIPP, Director of Actors Equity, explained to JESS WINGARD.


MUSIC PERFORMANCE ANXIETY A SERIOUS CONDITION
And is it a case of nerves, or something more serious? MIG CALDWELL spoke to Professor of Psychology and Music Director of Australian Centre for Applied Research in Music Performance, DIANNA KENNY: the founder of a new study, suggesting the existence of musician performance anxiety is all too real...

No Glee for Books; No talk about crime against journos; No God and No need to bring headphones!

17-20 JUNE, 2011 - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD EPISODE


This week, on THE FOURTH ESTATE, we peruse over the future for bookshops; the vulnerability of journalists; atheism and good, old-fashioned quality radio features...


- NO GLEE FOR BOOK SALES? KATE BURRASTON:
Gleebooks co-owner weighs in on the debate surrounding the future of Australian book retailers in light of news that some 500 staff across the country were cut from Angus and Robertson chains.


- GIVING A VOICE TO THE UNSPOKEN - LEANNE TORPEY
Committee to Protect Journalists has released a report "The silencing crime: sexual violence and journalists".  offer up some rather confronting statistics that are left unreported that is the number of journalists that fall victim to sex crimes whilst on the beat.


- ATHEISTS APPEAL TO AUSTRALIANS TO APPEASE GOD VIA AD CAMPAIGNING - NATHAN COATES
We explore the god-given right to advertise atheism, as is the current billboard campaign advocating the right to declare your belief system (or lack thereof) on the Census.


- DON'T BE LEFT "IN THE DARK" FOR GOOD RADIO - MIG CALDWELL, MIKE WILLIAMS & TONY BARRELL
Light is shed about "In the Dark": a communal project in audio appreciation that draws from an old-school appreciation of radio as evocative story-teller.

Sub-eds=sub zero at Fairfax; Osama bin Laden: The Brand; Nationally aware of privacy? A world vision on-air

MAY 6-9, 2011

Right-click and save as to download any of the individual stories below or above for the whole episode file...
This week, we have a bit of a chuckle over the crucial reportage mistake that came out of the thousands of reports that proceeded the killing of Osama bin Laden...on a more serious note, we looked at:

Sub-editors reach sub-zero at Fairfax: Mig Caldwell 

Newly appointed CEO of the extensive Fairfax Media group is not making any friends with the announcement to cut sub-editorial positions within the newspapers, outsourcing to AAP subsidiary, Pagemasters

National Privacy Awareness Week: Ellie Schneider 

passed relatively unceremoniously and yet this is one of the landmark periods where privacy and maintaining it - particularly online - is of concern to almost all Australians, so how much protection can be assured?

Osama bin Laden: The Brand Nathan Coates

In the wake of the US slaying of al Qaeda leader, bin Laden, may in turn evoke an almost mythological status that will grant his status of legend, or martyr, but maybe not...

World Vision Radio: Shant Fabricatorian

One of the more esteemed media broadcasts, the radio station, founded around the charity, is in peril of being pulled off the air due to funding problems.

Lifeline needed for Murdoch but is being offered as online support..Greenpeace says it peace; Defence Force vulnerable towards social media

EPISODE AIRING APRIL 15-18, 2011 

From the armed forces to Greenpeace, the public sphere is nicely well-rounded...

download story files below on headings

#1: NEWS OF THE WORLD HACKER SCANDAL - SHANT FABRICATORIAN

Shant Fabricatorian offers up the scoop on the News Corporation tabloid, News of the World, amidst the controversy that arose after revealing the paper's employees were hacking into the phone accounts of public figures. He spoke to- amongst others - former NOTW editor, JAMES ANSLOW.

#2: DEFENCE FORCE SUPERPOKE - NATHAN COATES

In light of the public airing of Defense Force dirty laundry online, there have been concerns surrounding the use of social media and the policies, or lack thereof, put in place regulating one of the most tightly controlled regimes. But, as Nathan Coates proposed, if the US have a set of practices in place, why can't Australia?

#3: GIVE (GREEN)PEACE A CHANCE - JOHN GIBB

It must be a hard task, but international environmental lobbyist, GREENPEACE, generally stand out in producing clever and insightful campaigns that manage to incorporate parody of popular culture phenomena as well as driving home a serious message.

However, the latest campaign efforts from GREENPEACE AUSTRALIA, attacking one of the major four banks on their coal trading policies, has been met with a mixed response. click here

So, under the creative direction of witty advertising agencies, such as Chaser writer, Charles Firth, even Greenpeace can make a statement without preaching

But while the Wiggles parody is genuinely funny, the recent attack on ANZbank has been criticised for being - above all else - lame.

So, what do you think, is it fair to target one of the major four banks when they all are as bad as each other? You be the judge...

#4: OFFERING A LIFELINE, ONLINE - ELLIE SCHNEIDER

And finally, LIFELINE, is trialling an online format of its telephone counselling services, designed to appeal to the younger, tech-savvier generation as well as addressing the growing problem of teen suicide rates. Ellie Schneider looked at some of the surrounding issues that may arise...