News Brands
Prince Harry’s court win over Murdoch
Prince Harry has reached a settlement in his privacy case against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN), with the publisher issuing a “full apology” as part of the agreement.
The Duke of Sussex accused NGN of using private investigators and unlawful methods to spy on his private life, with senior executives allegedly covering up the activities, reports news.com.au.
In a court statement, NGN admitted to “serious intrusion” by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, acknowledging incidents of unlawful activity carried out by private investigators. The publisher also apologised for the distress caused by its coverage, including its impact on Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.
ABC chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor exits amid restructure and controversy
Chris Oliver-Taylor, one of the ABC’s top executives, is departing the broadcaster following a reshuffle that reduced his responsibilities. His exit comes as ABC managing director David Anderson also prepares to leave, with both expected to step aside before incoming managing director Hugh Marks takes the reins.
Hired in 2023 with a broad remit, Oliver-Taylor saw his role scaled back in late 2024 when the broadcaster spun its audio assets into a separate division under Ben Latimer.
As reported by Calum Jaspan in The Sydney Morning Herald, Oliver-Taylor was also central to the controversial sacking of fill-in broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf in December 2023, following her social media comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Social
Elon Musk takes a swipe at Trump’s $798b AI initiative
It seems the bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump may be souring, with Musk today casting doubt on Trump’s $798 billion AI initiative, claiming its backers, including SoftBank, lack the funds. “They don’t actually have the money,” he posted on X.
Trump hailed the project as a milestone for AI innovation, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calling it “the most important project of this era.”
As reported by Tom Minear and Emily Macdonald in The Daily Telegraph,Trump has touted the initiative as a landmark moment for AI innovation, calling it “a resounding declaration of confidence in America’s potential.”
Television
More drama for Nine as tennis star Ben Shelton takes aim at broadcasters
Rising American star Ben Shelton has joined the chorus of criticism against Australian Open broadcasters, following Novak Djokovic’s recent clash with Channel Nine and reporter Tony Jones.
As Chris de Silva reports on the ABC, Shelton expressed frustration at what he called disrespectful comments from on-court interviewers. “I’ve been shocked by how players have been treated by broadcasters this week,” he said.
Shelton also highlighted previous interviews involving other players, calling them “embarrassing and disrespectful,” further fuelling the ongoing debate about media conduct at the tournament.
Joe Aston on why traditional media is changing
Joe Aston is set to rejoin The Australian Financial Review as a monthly columnist while gearing up to launch his new publishing and podcasting venture, Rampart, on February 10.
In an interview with Crikey’s Daanyal Saeed, Aston got candid on why he decided to try his hand at podcasting.
The Chairman’s Lounge author highlighted the growing trend of high-profile journalists leaving legacy outlets for independent ventures, a movement well-established in the US but still finding its footing in Australia.
Film
Australian acting legend Nicholas Eadie dies at 67
Veteran Australian actor Nicholas Eadie, celebrated for his roles in Cop Shop and Underbelly, has passed away at the age of 67.
As reported by Jimmy Briggs in the Daily Mail, Eadie, a National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) graduate, was found at his Sydney home on Wednesday. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
His final performance was in the 2011 TV movie Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away, marking the end of a career that left a lasting impact on the Australian entertainment industry.
Pictured: Prince Harry