Business of Media
Roberts-Smith accused of ‘adapting’ story as evidence comes forward
Former special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been accused of changing his evidence of the alleged murder of an Afghan man with a prosthetic leg after realising it doesn’t suit his version of events, where he claims the man was an insurgent fighter killed in a lawful engagement, AFR‘s Max Mason.
Roberts-Smith resumed his cross-examination by Nine’s barrister Nicholas Owens, SC, late on Tuesday after an adjournment earlier in the day to wait on the result of a COVID-19 test. The result came back negative.
Owens took Roberts-Smith back through evidence he gave about moving a body after an engagement at an Afghan compound known as Whiskey 108.
Elite soldiers modelled a drinking vessel on slain Afghan’s prosthetic leg
A glass drinking vessel modelled on the prosthetic leg of a slain Afghan was given to Australian special forces soldiers following the man’s alleged execution by war hero Ben Roberts-Smith, a court has heard, reports News Corp’s Kieran Gair.
On the 10th day of the defamation case, the court heard Australian special forces soldiers were given a glass replica of the prosthetic leg. “Everyone in the squadron was given one,” Roberts-Smith said.
In April, photos of Australian soldiers drinking from a prosthetic leg – allegedly taken from a slain Afghan – at an unauthorised bar at Australia’s military base in Afghanistan were broadcast on 60 Minutes and published in the Nine newspapers. On Monday, Roberts-Smith conceded he had “cheered on” soldiers who had drunk from the prosthetic leg but denied drinking from it himself.
News Brands
‘True gentleman’ veteran weatherman Mike Bailey dead at 71
Retired journalist and weatherman Mike Bailey has been remembered as a “true gentleman” and generous friend and mentor after he died on Sunday aged 71 after a recent illness, reports News Corp’s Rhiannon Down.
The veteran broadcaster who primarily worked at the ABC across a five-decade media career, which included a significant stint at Channel 7, passed away “peacefully surrounded by his family”, according to a tribute from NRL club Wests Tigers where Bailey served as director and chair.
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe paid tribute to the family man and esteemed weather presenter, describing him as a “gentleman”.
Audio problems plague Nine News
Nine News Sydney fell victim to more technical problems last night with recurring audio problems, reports TV Tonight.
Peter Overton was frustrated first by a lack of audio for news items, in two stories, before sports presenter Cameron Williams later fell silent.
“Welcome back, we do thank you for your patience,” Williams later said, with Overton adding, “While we’re going well, I’m going to keep moving” as he returned to an earlier story.
Television
Sam Armytage claims Natalie Barr always wanted her Sunrise job
Samantha Armytage has claimed that her Sunrise replacement Natalie Barr wanted her job for a long time before she quit the Channel 7 breakfast show in March, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The former TV presenter took to Twitter on Monday to respond to Barr, who recently admitted they were never friends in a candid interview.
“Look.. I’m out. Nat’s wanted the job, forever.. & she’s finally got it,” Armytage tweeted. “She just needs to get on & enjoy it – & forget about me..(even though I’m unforgettable.) #peaceout.”
It comes after Barr recently told The Australian Women’s Weekly that she and Armytage did not have much in common outside of work.
Entertainment
Oscars: Elections Turn Film Academy Board Majority-Female for First Time
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 54-person board of governors will look considerably different when it next meets in July, the result of this year’s Academy board elections that took place over the past month, reports The Hollywood Reporter‘s Scott Feinberg.
For the first time in the organization’s 94-year history, the majority of the board will be female (that figured ticked up from 26 to 31). And the number of underrepresented racial/ethnic communities is up 25 percent (from 12 to 15).
One-third of the board’s non-appointed seats — there are three governors-at-large who are named by the president to focus on issues related to diversity — come up for a vote every three years. Of this year’s 17, only four will continue to be held for the next three years by the people who held them for the last three years: Susanne Bier (directors), Jennifer Todd (producers), Tom Duffield (production design) and Bonnie Arnold (short films/feature animation) all sought and won re-election.
Sport
Ben Ikin set to leave NRL 360 for top job at Broncos
NRL 360 co-host Ben Ikin is set to leave the show for a senior role at his former club, the Brisbane Broncos, reports Fox Sports.
Ikin, who has hosted the show alongside friend and colleague Paul Kent for the past 10 NRL seasons, has been appointed Head of Football at the struggling Broncos.
The proud Queenslander played 55 games of his 150-game career for the Broncos and 17 games for the Maroons.
Ikin said he welcomed the opportunity to help his battling former club in its darkest hour.