Radio
Hamish Macdonald set to wake up Sydney: Aunty hints at big morning move
Hamish Macdonald is reportedly set to take over as the Sydney Mornings host on the ABC, following the axing of Sarah Macdonald.
Macdonald is known for his varied and impressive journalistic experience, having worked as a foreign correspondent covering major events such as the uprisings in Hong Kong and Egypt, the nuclear disaster in Japan, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. He’s also a regular presenter on The Project.
As reported by Daanyal Saeed at Crikey, Aunty has yet to confirm or deny the rumours, teasing only that an “announcement was imminent.”
Social
Meta’s fact-check future: No immediate plans to pull plug, says Aussie minister
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says Meta has no “immediate plan” to abandon its fact-checking program in Australia.
The minister spoke with ABC RN about the tech giant’s decision to scrap its program, a move that has prompted widespread criticism.
During the discussion with host Kylie Morris, Minister Rowland said, “We have been advised by Meta Australia that there’s no immediate plan to end the third-party fact-checking program in Australia, including prior to a federal election.”
Movies
Bridget Down Under: Renée Zellweger brings the diary (and big-name stars)
Almost a decade after Bridget Jones last graced our screens, Oscar winner Renée Zellweger is bringing her back – and taking her Down Under.
As Jonathan Moran writes in The Daily Telegraph, Zellweger will walk the red carpet in Sydney to celebrate the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
She’s also bringing a few big-name co-stars along for the trip.
News Brands
Former Washington Post columnist fires parting shot at owner Jeff Bezos
It’s the kind of exit interview disgruntled employees can only dream of – but The Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin made it a reality.
The decision comes just days after it was revealed that the third-largest masthead in the United States had fired around 4% of its workforce.
Rubin, 62, resigned from the Jeff Bezos-owned publication on Monday, and in her final act, she delivered a pointed parting shot at its billionaire owner.
Television
Variety makes a comeback: Aussie viewers crave late-night laughs and TV risks.
Do we really need another variety show? Apparently, yes…
Despite Australian television’s woeful track record with variety shows (Let Loose Live, anyone?), it turns out that’s exactly what the viewing public is hungry for.
TV Tonight crunched the numbers for its annual awards, revealing that its readers wanted to see programs like a late-night or variety show added to regular programming.
The publication’s David Knox also highlighted other surprising findings from the awards, including a call for Australian television to “take more risks.”
Sport
Face-off at the gates: Tennis Australia’s new tech sparks privacy debate
The new privacy clause, which visitors had to agree to before being allowed access, will be used to “enhance security and patron safety”.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Gemma Grant reports it’s not the only facial technology making its debut – a different opt-in software was also introduced to facilitate “express entry” at all gates.
US-based company Wicket is providing the technology, but says it is up to Tennis Australia to protect the fans’ privacy.