Media Roundup: China hits back at Australia, Pell stories removed, Macca’s ad axed, Musk and Zuck under fire, and Lattouf’s legal woes
See the top industry stories trending today.
Publications
The leading media trade publication in Australia.
Get our top stories straight to your inbox daily by signing up to our Newsletter
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.
The ABC and The Monthly have pulled investigative pieces on the late Cardinal George Pell, citing concerns over a pending court case.
As James Madden reports in The Australian, the articles, penned by Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan, were taken offline this week, with The Monthly also recalling its February print edition from newsstands. The mag featured Pell on the cover and included a long-form essay by Milligan.
A statement on The Monthly’s website said the decision was made after learning of an upcoming legal case not previously public, adding that the essay would return once proceedings conclude.
Brands
News Corp posts strong Q2 with 58% profit surge
News Corp has delivered a solid Q2 for FY25, reporting 5% revenue growth to $2.24 billion and a 58% jump in net income to $306 million.
The boost came from Digital Real Estate, Dow Jones, and Book Publishing, with Total Segment EBITDA climbing 20% to $478 million. Strong momentum across key segments kept the media giant firmly in growth mode.
Macca's ad pulled from TV screens over gossip and bullying claims
A McDonald's TV ad has been taken off air after complaints it targeted children and promoted online bullying.
The 15-second spot showed four teens sitting on a bed, scrolling their phones and eating McFlurrys, while a voiceover hyped up the Cadbury Cherry Ripe McFlurry as "best served with a side of goss!"
A complaint to Ad Standards slammed the ad for glorifying gossip and linking it to social media, with one viewer calling it “poor judgment” and saying it "encouraged harmful behaviour."
Tech
China blasts Australia over DeepSeek ban
Beijing has hit back at Australia’s ban on DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, calling it a politicised move that stifles trade and tech cooperation.
The federal government blocked the app from government devices, citing national security risks. But China’s foreign ministry pushed back in a statement, rejecting claims of data collection and accusing Canberra of unfairly targeting Chinese tech.
Under the ban announced on Tuesday, all government agencies - except corporate entities like Australia Post and the ABC - must immediately remove DeepSeek products from their devices.
Top NSW judge warns Musk, Zuckerberg are a threat to social cohesion
NSW Supreme Court Chief Justice Andrew Bell has taken aim at Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, accusing them of using Donald Trump’s presidency to push their own interests at the expense of social stability.
In a speech on Thursday night, Bell singled out Musk, saying his far-right endorsements and "flippant" Nazi references were inflaming antisemitism and threatening the rule of law.
As Maxim Shanahan reports in The Australian Financial Review, also warned that Musk now holds "substantial but unaccountable political power" in the US, thanks to his proximity to Trump and influence through patronage.
Fortinet unveils $75m Sydney HQ and data centre as local expansion surges
Cybersecurity giant Fortinet is making a serious play in Australia, officially opening its $75 million Sydney headquarters and data centre on Friday after tripling its local workforce.
The company has been on a hiring spree, adding 60–70 staff annually over the past three years, growing from 72 to over 260 employees - with 200 now based at its new McMahons Point office.
As Joseph Lam reports in The Australian, Fortinet snapped up the 162 Blues Point Road site for $60 million in 2021 and has since poured $15 million into a 30-rack data centre featuring generators, on-site batteries, and solar panels supplying 9% of the building’s power.
Tesla sales dive as Musk’s political moves spark backlash
Tesla is losing ground in Australia and Europe, with sales tumbling as Elon Musk’s growing political ties and rising competition from China take a toll.
As David Swan reports in The Sydney Morning Herald, the EV giant underperformed rivals across key European markets in January, including the UK, Germany, and France, as public sentiment towards Musk sours.
The billionaire CEO has leaned hard into politics, backing Donald Trump with a $400 million campaign boost and taking on a government cost-cutting role under Trump’s administration. He’s also stirred controversy by endorsing far-right parties in Britain and Germany via his social media platform, X.
Television
ABC boss says Lattouf’s social media contained antisemitic content
Outgoing ABC managing director David Anderson told the Federal Court he believed journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s social media contained antisemitic content, raising concerns about her on-air presence - despite her being instructed not to discuss the Gaza war.
As Max Mason reports in The Australian Financial Review, Anderson said complaints flooded in after Lattouf’s first shift as a Sydney breakfast radio host, which he claimed stemmed from a coordinated WhatsApp campaign.
After reviewing her social media that evening, he found "misleading" content on the Israel-Gaza conflict and what he described as "advocacy for one particular perspective."
More from Mediaweek
The leading media trade publication in Australia.
Get our top stories straight to your inbox daily by signing up to our Newsletter
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.
