Business of Media
Facebook-owner Meta releases first human rights report
Facebook-owner Meta released its first annual human rights report on Thursday, following years of accusations that it turned a blind eye to online abuses that fueled real-world violence in places like India and Myanmar, reports Reuters’ Katie Paul.
The report, which covers due diligence performed in 2020 and 2021, includes a summary of a controversial human rights impact assessment of India that Meta commissioned law firm Foley Hoag to conduct.
In its summary, Meta said the law firm had “noted the potential for Meta’s platforms to be connected to salient human rights risks caused by third parties,” including “advocacy of hatred that incites hostility, discrimination, or violence.”
News media job moves: New publisher for The Times and editor of Guardian US
Press Gazette reports a summary of the latest moves and personnel changes in senior UK media jobs.
Editor in chief of The Intercept Betsy Reed has joined The Guardian as US editor.
She is a former executive editor of The Nation and will succeed John Mulholland, editor since April 2017, who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down.
Chris Longcroft has been appointed to the role of EVP Publisher at The Times at Sunday Times. He had been covering the roles on an interim basis since March.
The move means he will step down from his role as News UK’s chief financial officer.
Critics say it’s Australia’s most extraordinary media ban. So, is the blacklisted NT Independent legitimate?
For more than two years, the Northern Territory government has blacklisted an online news site, banning it from press conferences and government communications, reports ABC’s Steve Vivian.
The Darwin-based publication, under the masthead NT Independent, found itself out of favour in April 2020, when the government sensationally moved the location of a media event to avoid its journalists.
So, on what grounds can a government blacklist a news site? And what does that mean for press freedom in Australia?
Agencies
BCM Group adds Hog’s Breath Café to client roster
BCM Group has added the Hog’s Breath Cafe chain of restaurants to its client roster.
After an extensive pitch process, the integrated creative and marketing services agency will lead all marketing for the group with an aim to drive brand rejuvenation and business growth across the national, restaurant chain.
The company plans to extend its current number of 38 restaurants over the next 12 months.
BCM Group partner and managing director Phil McDonald said: “It’s a huge vote of confidence by Hog’s Breath to be appointed as their outsourced marketing team.
“Our full-service, creative and media model means we can step in and add real value from day one. On top of that it is also a wonderful opportunity to help rejuvenate a classic Aussie brand with some fresh, new creative thinking.”
News Brands
BBC News and BBC World presenters among 70 staff facing sack
Presenters on the BBC News channel and BBC World are set to be sacked as part of a raft of 70 job cuts in the UK in a plan to create a single more digitally focused rolling news service, reports The Guardian’s Mark Sweney.
The corporation, which suggested the proposal to merge its UK and international news channels in May, said that the new-look channel will launch next April and be called BBC News.
UK viewers will no longer be provided with a domestic rolling news service, losing programmes such as Dateline London after 25 years, and the new channel will feature a mix of international content as well as “new flagship programmes built around high-profile journalists”.
Radio
Greyhound integrity commission pings parliament over leaks
NSW upper house member Robert Borsak has copped a reprimand from the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission after confidential information was leaked to radio host Ray Hadley, reports News Corp’s David Ross.
In a letter sent on Tuesday to Borsak – a member of the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers party who is chairman of the Select Committee on the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission – acting GWIC chief commissioner Chris Wheeler expressed concerns that information from the committee’s in-camera hearings was leaked on Monday.
On Monday’s program on 2GB, Hadley told listeners he had been leaked information about GWIC, noting a serious matter was raised in in-camera hearings which was “so serious, it’s been referred straight to the ICAC by the committee”.
“The best I can do is tell you it relates to highly preferential corrupt treatment of a favoured participant,” he said.
Neil Mitchell and Eddie McGuire in another frosty on-air moment
Neil Mitchell and Eddie McGuire have attempted to break the ice during their first radio chat since their now infamous heated spat on air last month, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
The outspoken pair traded barbs in a war of words three weeks ago over Collingwood bad boy Jordan De Goey.
Mitchell returned from a break with the pair’s first “ideas factory” segment on 3AW on Thursday morning showing there was still plenty of lingering tension.
“It’s good to be here by the way, I’m glad you haven’t banned me or anything like that,’’ McGuire said after Mitchell introduced him as ‘Eddie McGuire from Millionaire Hot Seat on Channel Nine’.
“Why do you keep saying that in your intros to me Neil, why do you do that, so condescending this morning. Mate, you invited me to come onto the show, I’m happy to do so but don’t do it like that. Let’s be friends and talk about good ideas OK.”
Entertainment
Prince Andrew’s bombshell BBC interview to become a movie called ‘Scoop’
The story of how the BBC obtained the bombshell interview with Prince Andrew about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is to become a film called Scoop, and Hugh Grant is one of the unconfirmed names on wish list to portray the disgraced royal, reports Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye.
Acclaimed Your Honor screenwriter Peter Moffat is writing the Scoop screenplay for The Lighthouse Film & Television, a production company launched two years ago by Hilary Salmon, Radford Neville, and Nick Betts, along with British indie Voltage TV.
The news is likely to be greeted with little amusement from Andrew’s mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and other members of the Royal Family. Buckingham Palace had hoped that, when it came to the errant royal, the less seen and heard the better.
Television
Kath & Kim house is finally demolished
A derelict block of land is all that remains of the famed Fountain Lakes house that was once home to Kath & Kim, reports TV Tonight.
The home was recently demolished in its entirety by Dig Dig Construction in 4 Lagoon Place, Patterson Lakes.
The good room, the backyard for wine time and the kitchen with the dodgy door are no more.
The series, still popular in reruns, streaming and YouTube, including with British fans, recently marked its 20th anniversary.