Business of Media
Last resort: Facebook is taking a big risk if it rebrands itself
Facebook may be preparing a fresh coat of paint for itself. A report in technology news site The Verge, citing a source with direct knowledge, says that the company is planning to change its name next week to reflect its new focus on building the metaverse — a new digital network for connecting to others through augmented reality and virtual reality, whose future success is by no means a given, reports SMH’s Parmy Olson and Ben Schott.
Facebook has not commented on the story, but if it’s true, it would be the kind of pivot that public relations managers dream about, deflecting attention away from a series of damning exposes about human harm caused on the social media network. Rebranding after a series of missteps or bad press can be a Hail Mary attempt to change public perceptions.
You do this as a last resort. Cigarette-maker Philip Morris Companies rebranded as Altria Group in 2003 and private military company Blackwater USA renamed itself as Xe Services and then Academi Training Centre. Both firms engaged in unhealthy things, and both attempted to use anodyne names to shift attention from their darker pasts.
Honeymoon over for Lisa Wilkinson’s pay gripe with Karl Stefanovic
It wasn’t meant to be like this. Former Today host Lisa Wilkinson, who has positioned herself as the poster girl for pay parity, now faces a tough battle to control her tightly scripted public narrative amid claims that she commanded double the salary of her on-air breakfast show co-host Karl Stefanovic from at least 2007 to 2011, reports News Corp’s James Madden and Sophie Elsworth.
That revelation, published by news.com.au’s political editor Samantha Maiden on Tuesday, appears to have taken the wind out of one of the central themes of Wilkinson’s autobiography — that is, that the TV host felt cheated and humiliated when she discovered in late 2015 that the tables had turned, and Stefanovic was by then earning more than twice what she was pocketing.
Other recollections in her book also have been challenged by the emergence of a video of the pair’s final appearance together on air. Wilkinson writes in her book that she was especially upset by Stefanovic’s treatment of her on her last day at Nine in October 2017 when she claims he treated her with “uncaring disregard’’ and barely spoke to her when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Leaked video of the day in question suggests Wilkinson’s recollections were way off the mark.
Instagram displays ad offering fake Covid vaccine certificates in Australia
Instagram has displayed an ad promoting fake vaccination certificates in Australia at a time when New South Wales and Victoria are emerging from Covid lockdowns and requiring people to present proof of vaccination, reports Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade.
Vaccination status can be proven at venues in the two states over the next few months using a printed certificate from the Australian Immunisation Register, a digital certificate on a person’s phone, or a record added to QR code check-in apps.
The ad, a screenshot of which was provided to Guardian Australia by someone who had seen it on Instagram, offered fake digital vaccine certificates that can be loaded into a phone’s digital wallet via the Medicare Express app or myGov account.
News Brands
Pru Goward AFR column on ‘underclass’ condemned as disturbing and abusive
An article by the former New South Wales Liberal minister Pru Goward which portrayed lower socio-economic Australians as dysfunctional and lazy “proles” has been condemned as disturbing, abusive and inaccurate by anti-poverty advocates, reports Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade.
The opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review by the former NSW families minister argues there is an “underclass” of Australians who are “appalling” housekeepers and neglectful parents and “almost entirely lacking [in] discipline”.
“Government agencies view them with alarm as huge cost centres; they are over-represented in their use of government crisis services and are always the last to give up smoking, get their shots and eat two servings of vegetables a day,” Goward wrote in Wednesday’s AFR.
The chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service, Cassandra Goldie, said everyone at her organisation was “deeply disturbed by the contempt shown for people on low incomes in this piece”.
Entertainment
2021 ARIA nominations: Full list
Amy Shark’s reckoning with her ghosts and Genesis Owusu’s explosive genre-bending commentary on racism and depression in Australia lead the nominations for the 2021 ARIA Awards, reports News Corp’s Kathy McCabe.
While it was one of the toughest years on record for our pop industry, the great music kept coming and this year’s nominations roll call is an eclectic field of legends and rookies.
Publishing
Grant Denyer slams New Idea for suggesting he’s having an affair
Grant Denyer has hit out at New Idea for splashing its front page with images of him and his Dancing With The Stars partner, 22-year-old Lily Cornish, claiming he’s been “caught out” by his wife of ten years Chezzi Denyer, reports News Corp’s Bella Fowler.
The story has since been removed by the publication online, but the couple posted details of the article to their Instagram Stories, which included captions such as “shock new pics” and “Chezzi’s heartbreak”.
In the images, Denyer, 44, is seen with his hand on the 22-year-old dancer’s thigh, and smiling with her as they walk down the street.
“What the actual hell is this front page crap New Idea,” Denyer wrote with the laughing emoji, launching into a rant against the magazine.
Podcasts
Sam Newman patches up podcast feud with Rod Law
Sam Newman and Don Scott have buried the hatchet with their disgruntled colleague Rod Law and hope to welcome him back to the You Cannot be Serious podcast next week, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
Law helped produce the popular show but decided to step away after disagreeing with Newman’s decision to have ex AFL player Nick Stevens as a guest.
“We had a bit of a lover’s tiff,’’ Newman said.
“I get on very well with Rod but Rod got his nose out of joint about a choice of interview subject and I made light of that which he took exception to.
“We’ve patched it up and offered him the peace pipe. Hopefully he’ll be back in town and we can coax him back in the studio.”
Daniel Johns on the dark side of fame and why Silverchair is really over forever
Daniel Johns has emphatically closed the door on reuniting Silverchair – the band which catapulted him to global fame – in a new podcast, reports News Corp’s Kathy McCabe.
“I wouldn’t even get Silverchair back together for a million dollars with a gun to me head,” Johns said, in the new podcast, Who Is Daniel Johns?.
See More: Podcast Week: Howie Games expands, Shandee’s Story, Daniel Johns + more
In the first episode, which launched on Spotify on Wednesday, Johns reveals he has no memorabilia, no trophies, plaques or mementos of his years with the band in his Newcastle home.
And his recollections of those hectic – and dangerous – days as the frontman of one of the world’s biggest 90s rock bands – are “vague” because he has mostly blocked his memories.
Television
The Bachelorette is back: Six things to know from the first episode
The Bachelorette got underway on Wednesday night with Brooke Blurton making history as the franchise’s first Indigenous and bisexual Bachelorette. There’s no denying these changes are overdue, but if the burden of that responsibility weighed heavily on the 26-year-old, you wouldn’t know it, reports SMH’s Thomas Mitchell.
Sweeping through The Bachelorette mansion, Brooke made her mission clear.
“It’s not about gender, it’s not about genitalia, it’s about connection,” said the proud Noongar-Yamatji woman.
You don’t hear the word ‘genitalia’ enough on commercial television, and if this is the kind of Bach-chat Brooke will be serving up, then we’re in for a delightful season.
Chrissie Swan announced as host of new panel show in Network Ten’s 2022 program reveal
Chrissie Swan’s career has come full circle with the news she’ll helm Ten’s version of the hugely popular British panel show Would I Lie To You?, reports News Corp’s Lisa Woolford.
Swan – who started her television career with the network on Big Brother in 2003 and then as co-host of the morning show The Circle – will direct two teams, captained by hilarious comedians The Chaser’s Chris Taylor and Frank Woodley, as they try to hoodwink each other with tall and twisted tales.
“Being trusted to host Would I Lie To You? is a dream come true,” Swan, fresh from her shock elimination on Celebrity MasterChef, said.
“There’s nothing I love more than listening to interesting people tell amazing and unbelievable stories.
“I have no poker face and am extremely gullible, so the host role is a perfect fit.”