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

Public radio and Occupy protests; Australian Cartoon Awards; Mummy bloggers

 Episode airing November 4-7, 2011

click to download the episode as a podcast

This week the show looks into the evolution of cartooning; the firing of a journalist after attending an Occupy protest and the marketing potential of the mummy blogger

OCCUPY PROTEST AFFECTS OCCUPATION - NATHAN COATES

New York based journalist, Caitlin Curren, was fired from public radio station WNYC for going to an Occupy Wall Street rally and holding up a placard.

The sign held by Curren included a published quote from journalist, Conor Friedersdorf, who had written about bad bank loans.

GOLD STANLEY AWARDS - ANNIE WYLIE

Cartoons are just fun for kids.

This is something the Australian Cartoonists Association is attempting to dispel in their upcoming Stanley Awards and Conference on November 11. 

Pictured are the entrants that are in the running for one of the bronzed Stanley awards or the sole coveted Gold trophy

MUM'S THE WORD - MIG CALDWELL


The online market has been proving a tough one to crack for all too long now, but it seems major media groups as FAIRFAX and NEWS LIMITED are potentially sitting on a goldmine with the move to tap into the hugely popular mother networking.


Referred to as "Mummy bloggers", stay-at-home mum's who may dabble at keeping a blog about their little bundles of joy are suddenly being approached by the major companies to endorse its product in a posting.

Subscriber Drive 2011: Part 2 - SBS Overhaul; Noozdesk; Magazine Week; political cyberspace

EPISODE AIRING OCTOBER 28-31, 2011

(Click to download episode on the link above)

This week, again, we dabbled in the madness of live broadcasting for Subscriber Drive at 2ser, all of us united in our efforts to raise much-needed funds to ensure the future of independent radio, such as that which is presented on THE FOURTH ESTATE. 

A massive thank you to all who phoned in!

SBS to overhaul news programming - NATHAN COATES

News of the world now about the citizens with online journalism project NOOZDESK - MIG CALDWELL

Publishers Australia initiate a NATIONAL MAGAZINE WEEK - ANNIE WYLIE

The politics of cyberspace - DYLAN BARBER

Bolt guilt; UN internet forum; News Corporation news; live music

Showairing – 30/9/11-3/10/11

The landmark decision handed down by Federal Court judge, MORDY BROMBERG, found controversial opinion writer, ANDREW BOLT, and his employer, The Herald and Weekly Times, guilty of publishing discriminatory material, questioning the validity of fair-skinned Aborigines in 2009.

CRAIG LONGMAN spoke to one of the case’s applicants, DR MARK MCMILAN about his reactions over the proceedings and eventual outcome, which questioned the professionalism of Bolt as a journalist.

MIG CALDWELL touched base with Australia’s only remote hub access to the sixth annual, UNITED NATIONS INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM, in Nairobi, Kenya, via the live stream enabled at Canberra’s Australian National University, which held a coinciding four day conference.

This was thanks to the efforts of MADELINE CARR: a pHd graduate in international relations and the use of the internet at ANU, and she spoke about some of the greater issues the forum addressed and the Australian presence.

JONATHAN HOLMES returns for Part 2 of the 2 part series of interviews from NATHAN COATES. He speaks this time about the decision recently made by Crikey to leak vital info relating to the Australian branch of News Corporated and its impending facelift.

And new research conducted by the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) indicates the live music industry and its impact on the economy shows some surprising results when considering how many venues are closed down due to red tape issues, as NEDA VANOVAC reports.

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.

Universal rights; cyber sexism; Crikey weighs in; industry acting up

EPISODE AIRING: AUGUST 26-29, 2011

This week, we examine the monumental passing of GENERAL COMMENT 31, within the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, as well as online sexism, government intervention within the media and why local actors are unlikely to call Australia home...

download show file above or stories below

FREE SPEECH ONLINE UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED

MIG CALDWELL spoke to Queensland University's NICOLAS CARRAH: a media lecturer who felt compelled to offer an opinion on the passing of GENERAL COMMENT 31 under ARTICLE 19 of the UNITED NATIONS' HUMAN RIGHTS declaration, including a policy for free speech within the online context of publication.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES ONLINE

At a recent conference held for WIKIPEDIA, it was revealed that 90% of its users are male: an increase over the years. This divide creates an imbalance on the site, with more male oriented topics discussed, and a heavily masculine coverage of all information. ANNIE WYLIE investigates.

TAKE SOME INITIATIVE FOR THE MEDIA

According to CRIKEY'S ERIC BEECHER, Government should help fund new media ventures, he says and that Senator Bob Brown and the Greens should stop “posturing about the theory of media diversity and do something about its practice.” as NATHAN COATES found out from speaking with him.

STRUGGLING ACTORS FLY COOP FOR SUCCESS

Local production is at an all-time low and the shift towards reality-based TV series is leaving local actors little choice but to pursue their dreams further afield.

Reporter TRACY ALEXANDER speaks to local actors about the limits to AUSTRALIA’S entertainment industry and whether they can be overcome.

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

Givin' some Shtick, Honduran horrors and heinous Hackers

This week we boasted more global mileage within the space of half an hour, than all the major airlines combined could clock up in a week!

From the Central American nation of Honduras, that is suffering under a military regime that disposes of independent, opposing media - including three community radio stations - 


Mig Caldwell spoke to WARWICK CONE the force behind one of the sole English-speaking reportage programs, LatinRadical broadcast weekly on community broadcaster, NIM-FM, who offers some confronting fatality and abduction rates for journalists in the past 18 moonths within the nation. 

And speaking of the community broadcast sector at large, Mig Caldwell went to find out whether a true sense of religious community an exist within a media group, following news from ACMA that it would not renew broadcasting licence granted to Melbourne community radio station for Jews, LION-FM, and she spoke to community TV show THE SHTICK shown on Melbourne's Channel 31.

Also, Nathan Coates went out and about for personal grievances and professional opinion about the recent bout of hacking attacks, steadily reported to be more and more sophisticated.

Right –click and save as to download the below links: or click here for full episode

-       The 2^nd Anniversary of the infiltration of military coup passes in Honduras – Mig Caldwell

-       Hacktivism or Criminal Activity – Nathan Coates

-       The Shtick on Judaism in Community Media – Mig Caldwell

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.

Rip and Roll for advertising; the hip new online democracy enabler; Indonesian community radio and freebie laptops

3-6 JUNE, 2011

A new safe sex campaign in Queensland (above), rip and roll was removed from bus stops leading to thousands protesting via facebook and twitter within hours, reversing the decision and resurrecting this important public health message

Annie Wylie (pictured right) found that whilst newspapers and television focused on a national vision of the country, radio was focused more on unique communities and their culture.

And does your say ever get spruiked on q and a? meet the brazen young team of volunteers busily wooing fraser whilst attempting to run for a seat in every federal election

Plus the laptop giveaway incentive

Launching community radio into the digital era!

Episode 15: 27-30 May, 2011

We finally achieve a digital presence with select Sydney community broadcasters including, notably, Radio 2ser, being added to the digital spectrum

Radio 2ser staff and volunteers at digital launch

The show marks its debut on the community digital spectrum as declared by Marie Bashir in Sydney’s Darling Harbor, the future of broadcasting is finally here and available to the community sector, as LEANNE TORPEY reports

NATHAN COATES decides to face off in the ring between Bob Brown and media bias or "hate media"

Plus MIG CALDWELL host up an on-air mass group therapy session for victims of telco abuse, and believe me, you’re not alone out there and it's being addressed by the right people ie industry body, ACMA, due to publish findings into the goings-on by telcos to its customers under self regulation.

And KIM TAN speaks to the man responsible for the Colourfest Film Festival: now in its second year as a way of offering up a bit of colour to an arguably bland anglo cinema world

Post-budget blues: the least depressing outlook?

MAY 13-16, 2011: POST-BUDGET WEEK

It was the show that tried to address some post-budget blues, that generally saw Wayne Swan's financial plan received like a lead balloon.

So the show this week did indulge in some obligatory money talk: both in terms of the dated revenue policies enacted back in 1969 which came with the last serious copyright law amendment; seeing commercial radio in the country pay a minimal 1% of revenue allocated to music airplay, as well as the next Big Thing from the bag of tricks belonging to Senator Stephen Conroy.

Plus Annie Wylie meets the latest in grassroots online campaigners:the resulting site started up by a group of socially conscious late teens and early twenties guys, yopinion shouldn't just be dismissed as get up in their pyjamas...

And Ellie Schneider takes us down a nostalgic path for History Week down South Australia way, in a newer and fresher way thanks to ABC radio.

Video Mojo; Citizen journalism conflict; Censorship centre-stage; Citizenship and social media

Episode 11: April 29- May 2

Download any of the stories or episodes of the show, right-click and save the titled hyperlinks

The NT Mojo project: Mig Caldwell:

AKA Northern Territory Mobile Journalists:
A government funded collaboration between IVO BURUM of BURUM MEDIA and the Territory's Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) that saw a handful of locals armed with an iPhone and some basic reportage skills to report on the real issues occurring within their communities.

Armed with nothing but the digital recorders and some recently acquired skills, eleven members from some of the most remote communities in the NT were specially selected to be trained as "Mojos" or mobile journalists.

The citizen journalist and conflict zone reporting: is there enough protection - Nathan Coates:

Nathan Coates spoke to TOM MORTON of the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ) about the recent death of citizen journalist, MOHAMMAD NABBOUS in Libya, and why it didn't make the tally of fatalities as published by the Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ)Citizen journalism is growing in the face of dangerous regimes and may be particularly relevant in Libya where high levels of civilian casualties are being reported

X-Ratings for theatre? Ellie Schneider

There have been calls to implement a classification system within the performing arts world, as the new touring production of BERTOLD BRECHT'S, BAAL, features controversial scenes some have deemed unsuitable for a mainstream audience.

Social media and citizenship - Annie Wylie

A poll conducted by the Australian National University (ANU) aimed to qualify our use of social media such as twitter and facebook and the general values attributed to the Web 2.0 era of online interaction.

Episode 7: April 1-4, 2011

IT'S YOUR ON-AIR GUIDE TO MEDIA SURVIVAL FROM THE MOST INVESTED SOURCE: INDEPENDENT RADIO

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW'S WEEKLY PODCAST - CLICK HERE, 


-downloads as listed below, right-click and "save as" to obtain any of the files from the show, including the whole show download available here

#1: GOOGLE PLAN TO DIGITISE BOOKS PUT ON THE SHELF - MIG CALDWELL
If you could put a value on every book published in the last hundred years, what would you see as a fair settlement?


Well, for search engine giant, Google: currently in negotiations with publishers and author groups the agreed figure was US$125 million to launch the digitised freeflow of information: GoogleBooks...


But this settled amount was overruled by the Supreme Court, citing that further control of information would mean that Google would dictate a large proportion of the world's information flow.


#2: iVote, iFlop..? ELLIE SCHNEIDER

In the dawning of a new State government for New South Wales following the recent election,  looked at the celebrated development introduced for the disabled or absentee voters - "the eVote" - which enabled an online ballot system for individuals to cast their vote without entering a traditional polling booth.


But there has been outcries from media commentators and others that dispute the compromised privacy rights that come from such a voting system.
Not only that, but we look into the argument that it's even possibly, a psychological ploy.

#3: Internet gaming: can it go beyond a pastime as far as becoming an obsession? NINA PACE

Well it's often joked about the obsessive gaming types, but the "Warcraft Widows" who have lost quality within relationships because of the excessive amount of time dedicated to online gaming. But it is a very real and serious habit according to a child psychiatrist - and others that profess to be addictive type gamers - yet it is left unacknowledged in the medical profession

#4: ADBUSTERS DESIGN 101: Design with a cause - Mig Caldwell

Postmodern design theorist and founding father, JONATHAN BARNBROOK, of the UK, most revered for his anti-corporate graphic logos associated with his work at ADBUSTERS recently visited Australia and hosted a design workshop for University of Technology's Visual Communications students. 


The resulting efforts in design-focussed message of political conscience will be exhibited at the public gallery showing over the coming week. But doesn't there lie within these notions of anti-corporate working in design without blatant hypocrisy, as was proposed to two of the exhibitors, final year students, TEGAN HENDEL and ASHLEIGH STEEL.

Design Needs Less Mercenaries and More Guerrillas 

opens on Thursday 7 April from 6-8pm til April 10
at Fraser Studios, 10-14 Kensington St, Chippendale.

Episode 6: March 25-28, 2011

To download story files below, right-click and "save as" on the title hyperlink, CLICK HERE, for access to the show podcast

This week, the show was set to "global roaming" after a week of local media reports echoing that of a schoolyard tussle...from the ABC's shock homophobic tweet running across the Q and A screens recently, to the major networks battling it out for the rights to a quadrangle fight between two schoolboys that ultimately went viral.

So, in an effort to avoid this "Lord of the Flies" media mentality, and leaving NSW State politics to the real diehards, here's what we showcased:

#1: To print or not to print? Shevonne Hunt

A recent decision by German publication, Der Spiegel, to publish some graphic images depicting a "kill squad" posing alongside their dead victims was under fire in terms of the need to publish such horrifying images.

#2: National Public Radio under threat for alleged bias - John Gibb

Like our own ABC, the US public broadcaster, NPR, is in danger of having funds cut, after a very public airing of opinions by NPR's management that were decidedly anti-Tea Party. With an alleged left-wing bias dogging the station for many years, this may be the final straw, if the Republicans have their way.

#3: More calls to legally enforce advertising standards - Ellie Schneider

Closer to home, there have been calls - and subsequent debates - over whether a rating system should be applied to public billboards advertising, following calls to take down an outdoor ad promoting the event, Sexpo. Lobbyists believe that the self-regulatory code of standards is ineffective as it stands and doesn't serve in the interests of community standards

#4: Google not "feeling lucky" in China - Brit-Helen Johansen

Google is claiming that the Chinese government is blocking the Chinese people’s access to the Gmail service, believed to be part of a crackdown by the Chinese regime in response to online calls for a so called “Jasmine Revolution”.

Episode 5: March 18-21

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST

A controversial move in the opinions of some, this week, The Fourth Estate did not cover surrounding issues and speculation emerging in the media every day following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Stay tuned though for the next episode...

right click and save as on links below for story files


#1:Making facebook democracy work: both in theory and practice

Jordanian refugee, SOHAIL DAHDAL, has come a long way since his protesting days over 20 years ago as a student in his hometown. Now, in an effort to further understand, and tap into the powers of democracy harnessed by social networks as twitter and facebook. He is undertaking a doctoral thesis as well as producing online documentaries that attempt to bridge the gap between culture and nationality.

#2:Blowing the whistle on the (amended) law

As promised, this week, the show offered up the perspective of whistleblowers or informants - who, ultimately, put themselves on the line - following the welcomed new amendments to the Evidence Act, as MIG CALDWELL spoke to PROF. BRIAN MARTIN from the University of Wollongong as well as long-suffering whistleblower advocate and VP of the national body.

#3: Social networking to die for

The first of its kind: wrappingup.com is a new website aimed at easing the community towards the final final stages of life, and specifically, how to prepare for death as JOHN GIBB found out from talking to co-founders DELLA CHURCHILL and KELLY CHAPMAN.

#4: Home and hosed off for Aussie music down under:

Although striking gold on the OS side of the music market, local bands get pushed aside by the likes of LADY GAGA when it comes to commercial radio airplay, as ELISE SCOTT discovered recently, speaking to the music editor of the Australian edition of international magazine sensation, Time Out: ANDREW P. STREET

Episode 4: March 11-14

Women don't talkback! Plus: groundbreaking media law amendment passed; KFC's fast bowl and what for the NBN when heading bush?

Click here to download episode; right click and save as on links below to download story files

Another grande week, still giddy from the post-feminist content to emerge from the 100th annual International Women's Day, as well as new revelations, plus old junk and taking the NBN out bush..

#1: New terms for journalism; news media means new terms for whistleblower and shield protection laws - MIG CALDWELL

Finally, The Fourth Estate can celebrate a landmark achievement in media law, with Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam, ensuring the passing of the Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Act, 2010.

The amendment called for a re-defining of both the notion of who a journalist is and in turn, what news media might be, to revive public interest ideals by enabling informants to remain anonymous without seeing a journalist in contempt of court. STILGHERRIAN spoke to Mig Caldwell over the implications.

#2: Women don't talkback - ANNAMARIE REYES

The shock jock appeal has never really left the mindset of radio listeners: such as the current lineup of programming which presents many talkback shows, inviting and encouraging listeners to spar on-air with its presenters.

But there won't be any women claiming this title any time soon, according to seasoned radio broadcasters, ANGELA CATTERNS and JULIE MCCROSSIN, who recall some of their own personal career battles in being a woman on the airwaves.

#3: KFC and Cricket declared too much junk in the trunk - JOHN GIBB

Recently an ongoing investigation has been running to expose the potential harm that comes from celebrities endorsing unhealthy lifestyle habits: such as the longrunning sponsorship deal fast food giant KFC has maintained with Cricket Australia.

The concern being, according to nutritionist, KAYE MEHTA, the impact that this type of commercial arrangement has on the health of children in a time of rapidly rising obesity statistics.

#4: Will the NBN backfire in the bush? CATHERINE ZENGERER

A recent survey conducted amongst 1040 residents in regional and rural Australia has reported that the majority are unwilling to foot the costs in spite of acknowledging the potential the national broadband network had in the bettering of their livelihoods. SIMON VAN WYK, survey director, talks us through some of the confusions felt by our rural dwellers.