Business of Media
10 denies bullying claims by political reporter
Television broadcaster Network 10 has rejected allegations political reporter Tegan George was bullied during her time working in Parliament House, requesting more than 20 claims made to the Federal Court be struck out because they are “embarrassing” and “vague”, reports SMH’s Zoe Samios.
10 has filed its defence with the Federal Court, denying its senior editors including network executive editor Anthony Murdoch, and political editor Peter van Onselen ignored, undermined or humiliated her and alleged that George had taken several text message exchanges out of context.
George launched Federal Court action against her employer in January, arguing the way she was treated – specifically by Murdoch and Dr van Onselen – had damaged her career and had a severe impact on her mental health. She has been on leave since June 7, 2021 after suffering what she claims to be a “personal injury”.
“You are not going to hear about the pandemic on Amazon Prime”
Free to air broadcasters have drawn a line between the news and information they provide to Australians, and that of streaming platforms which are focussed on entertainment, reports TV Tonight.
Speaking yesterday at public hearings on the adequacy of regional news, held by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts.
But they also reiterated concerns around regulation including spectrum fees, anti-siphoning list and the need to be visible on crowded connected TVs. These impact on revenue which in turn affects their ability to produce regional journalism.
“We are firmly committed to Australian content, we spend $1.6 billion every year on Australian content, which is far and away more than any other contributor to the sector. We’re very proud of what we do. We want to keep doing it. We’re investing in new ways of delivering our content to our audiences through BVOD services and the like and we’re seeing growth in the use of those services,” said Free TV Australia CEO Bridget Fair.
Agencies
Paul Brooks joins Coles Media as general manager
Paul Brooks has been appointed to the role of general manager of Coles Media.
Brooks brings more than 25 years of experience to the newly created role.
He will be responsible for delivering a new Coles media operating model, leading the supplier media centre of excellence, and interface that will enable supplier partners to access multichannel media solutions across Coles owned and bought media.
Brookes joins the company after three years as director of sales for Nine Entertainment Company.
He was also ANZ CEO for media agency Carat, chief investment officer at Carat, managing director of Dentsu Aegis Network’s media investment arm Amplifi, and previously chief investment officer at GroupM’s MediaCom.
OUCH! Factor Survey to examine hidden cost of pitching
The OUCH! Factor Survey has opened submissions to Australian agency leaders and marketers to examine pitching experience and calculate the hidden cost of pitching for both sides of the process.
The survey, conducted by New Business Methodology, is currently open and will close on Thursday, 31 March.
This year, the survey is backed by Advertising Council Australia (ACA), Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA), Media Federation of Australia (MFA) and the Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA), which are inviting their members to participate.
Last year, the inaugural OUCH! Factor Survey in 2021 surveyed 91 CEOs, MDs and leaders from creative, media, digital, PR, and integrated agencies, and 26 CMOs and procurement leads.
It found that the average agency spent 175 hours on each pitch, and a cumulative 1,913 hours a year pitching – investing the equivalent of $100,000 in unbilled hours before winning a single pitch. Marketers and procurement invested 125 hours on the average pitch process.
The data investigates the difference between independent agencies and holding companies, agency size and agency discipline (creative, media, PR and comms, digital, full-service, and consultancy/strategy).
Through analysing the opportunity cost associated with pitching, looking at what the time invested in pitching would equate to if it were to be spent on billable activities, the 2021 OUCH! Factor Report found it took the average agency 14 months to reach profitability on clients won in a pitch. For some agency disciplines, this rose as high as 39 months.
The Pistol issues NBN statement retraction
In a statement to Mediaweek, The Pistol has issued a retraction in relation to an NBN story that was published this morning.
A spokesperson said: “The Pistol, (Tiger Pistol Pty Ltd), would like to retract the announcement we made on 1st of March 2022 in relation to having a partnership with NBN. This is not correct and we have no contract with this company. We sincerely apologise for this error.”
News Brands
Nine Network deletes Julie Bishop’s Ukraine comments
The Nine Network has seemingly bowed to the criticism of Twitter trolls who attacked Julie Bishop for her comments on the Today Show, deleting a tweet that seemed to show the former foreign minister downplaying the fight as nothing more than a “conflict between two politcal leaders”, reports News Corp’s James Morrow.
However, Bishop has underlined her strong condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine after her comments were leapt on by social media users from left and right.
A number of social media users called her comments “extraordinary” with one stating: “Ukraine does not ‘believe’ it’s a sovereign state, it IS a sovereign state.”
The comments were made on Tuesday morning.
Guardian Australia columnist and labour market think tank policy director Greg Jericho slammed the comments as ignorant saying: “Julie Bishop on the Today Show essentially saying the Ukraine invasion was basically just a personal battle between Putin and Zelensky. Also included mention that Mr Zelensky “believed” Ukraine was a separate nation.”
On the other side NSW Liberal party figure and former NSW upper house member Peter Phelps tweeted simply, “words fail me”.
Channel 7 reporter Matt Doran returns to TV after mental health struggles
Weekend Sunrise star Matt Doran made a surprise return to television on Tuesday, one month after time off “to focus on his mental health”, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The Channel 7 reporter appeared to be in good spirits as he appeared live from Auchenflower in Brisbane for flood coverage on Sunrise.
Co-host Natalie Barr crossed live to Doran, who interviewed locals about the impact of flooding in inner city Brisbane.
Doran, 38, has been off-air for four weeks after checking into a mental health facility to address “severe depression” following his disastrous Adele interview in November last year.
Insiders say he was “devastated” after the media backlash that ensued and subsequently “sought treatment for an undisclosed issue”.