Media People
Remembering Shopper Media’s Ben Walker: Contribute to Go Fund Me page
Mediaweek reported earlier this week that Ben Walker, founder, and CEO of Shopper has passed away aged 47. After launching Shopper Media in 2015, he oversaw the growth of the company and eventual rebrand as Shopper in 2021.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started for Ben’s family with the campaign organiser Shopper Media noting: “One way to memorialise the life of someone we’ve lost is by helping others. Ben was larger-than-life, passionate about his family, friends and business and he was devoted to giving back to the community.
“This Go Fund Me page has been set up on behalf of his family to allow us to pay our respects whilst helping others in need. All money raised will go to a charity of Lisa Walker’s choice.”
Make a donation here.
Business of Media
Bloomberg Media, Twitter renew global partnership, launching Crypto series
Bloomberg Media and Twitter have announced a global multiyear renewal of their partnership starting in January 2022, covering all major media markets across North America, EMEA, LatAm and APAC, reports Advantage Television.
The partnership features new projects that combine Bloomberg News’s credibility in cryptocurrency content with Twitter’s immediacy and transparency to help consumers navigate this evolving, saturated market. Bloomberg’s editorial team will combine its reporting and analysis with Twitter’s data.
Building on the connection that Bloomberg’s @Business, @Climate, @Luxury, @Technology and other handles have created with people on Twitter, the @Crypto handle is a hub for investor news on the digital currency market’s rapid pace of change.
Twitter and Bloomberg will continue elevating the news team’s exploration of the way cryptocurrencies and blockchain are reshaping the world by providing exclusive video and written content for Twitter.
In addition to the new @Crypto series, Bloomberg Media will launch additional new video franchises on Twitter in 2022 and 2023. They will also host multiple Twitter Spaces every week, expand engagement on Spaces across international markets and continue to stream its premiere live events internationally, including Bloomberg New Economy Forum and more.
“We’ve had amazing momentum in our long-standing relationship with Twitter and are excited to build on that,” said Anne Kawalerski, Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomberg Media. “Our news team’s expertise in crypto, combined with audience and brands’ hunger for that content, stood out as the perfect opportunity for Bloomberg Media and Twitter to take our partnership forward. We want to meet consumers with clarity, through data-driven news and analysis that helps them understand this rapidly-evolving market even better.”
“This is the perfect time to expand our long standing partnership with Bloomberg Media and bring more of their content to Twitter,” said Sarah Rosen, Head of US Entertainment and News Partnerships at Twitter. “Crypto conversation on Twitter is exploding and we’re thrilled to have Bloomberg provide their authoritative voice on the topic, breaking down the trends, the coins, the global impact and everything in between as we enter this new frontier of global currency.”
News Brands
Jenna Clarke embarks on next media adventure at The Australian and 6PR
Busy Perth-based journalist Jenna Clarke has started her next media adventure. After a successful career on the west and east coasts of Australia, Clarke has started working for a new publisher and a new broadcaster.
Clarke has stepped away from her role at The West Australian and joined News Corp Australia. Her new position sees her working at an associate editor on the national daily The Australian. Commenting on her newspaper move this week, Clarke said: “After three amazing years with The West Australian and [editor] Anthony De Ceglie, I’m starting a new chapter.
“ADC is the hardest working, inspiring leader I’ve had the privilege of working with. His dedication to his team, products and campaigns is beyond. But most importantly, he’s a wonderful friend.
“To say I’m terrified at the responsibility of working for a masthead I have dreamt of joining since I was a 14-year-old copy kid at the Warren-Blackwood Times in Manji is an understatement.”
After spending time at Triple M Perth as part of the breakfast show with Basil Zempilas, Clarke has left the FM broadcaster. She has recently turned up on Nine-owned 6PR as a contributor on the Oliver Peterson drive show.
Clarke is continuing her role at Sky News Australia with one change. Her daily show The Front Page is now starting earlier at 10.30pm daily and it could soon possibly be following the new Piers Morgan program which looks set to take the old Paul Murray timeslot of 9pm.
During 2021, Clarke spoke to Mediaweek’s Tess Connery.
Having worked in several Australian markets, Clarke said that there are a few things that make the Perth media market such a unique place.
“Perth people enjoy hearing what’s going on in their backyard, and they like to know how national and international news will translate and impact their lives. If it’s happening in a suburb or a small town, they want to know about it, whereas I found in the bigger markets it’s probably a little bit more focused on your CBD and your major metro areas.
“I feel in Perth, there is a real connection to all aspects of the state, being so big. Some of the regions have such unique personalities. People like to know what’s going on in Kalgoorlie, they like to know what’s going on in Broome, a lot of people love to get down south for the weekend. So I think that’s the one unique thing that the Perth media market has: it has to be local and it has to appeal to them and how it impacts their lives.”
Outrage as Nine network pays more than $2m for Cleo Smith interview
The Nine Network has paid more than $2m for an exclusive interview with the parents of kidnapped four-year-old girl Cleo Smith – a record in Australian television that has angered staff and is likely to outrage the media group’s shareholders, reports The Australian’s Liam Mendes.
The plan is for the interviews with the family to appear on the network’s news and current affairs flagship 60 Minutes, with possible spin-offs for the Nine newspapers and talk of a six-part special for streaming service Stan.
It is understood the deal involves filming with not only the toddler’s mother, Ellie Smith, and stepfather, Jake Giddon, but also Cleo herself.
The Seven network was also chasing the story for its Spotlight series, and was also prepared to pay big money for the interview.
It is understood Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes had taken a personal interest in the story and was keen for the network to acquire the rights.
The deal was negotiated by talent agent Max Markson, who stands to pocket at least $400,000 from the deal on his usual 20 per cent cut.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Darren Wick, Nine’s director of news and current affairs, said the network is “honoured that the family of Cleo Smith has chosen to tell their story to Nine.
“From a 60 Minutes story to other opportunities across Nine, we will continue to support Cleo and her family as they go through the court process, and we take our legal obligations around reporting on Cleo’s story extremely seriously,” Wick said.
December a better month for many global news sites, two Aussie news brands top 30
Many leading news sites again saw large year-on-year global traffic falls in December, although visits fell less sharply than in the month before, reports Press Gazette.
Last month Press Gazette reported that most of the world’s top 10 biggest English news sites saw double-digit falls in traffic in November due to the effect of 2020’s “Trump bump” which temporarily benefitted many sites covering US politics.
The enduring effect of a particularly intense news cycle is also likely to be reflected in December’s traffic data from digital intelligence platform, Similarweb. Of the top 10 sites by number of visits, CNN saw the biggest year-on-year fall (612.7m visits- down 27%) followed by nytimes.com (339.2m visits- down 22%).
UK news providers the BBC (1.1b visits – down 13%) and the Guardian (302.5m visits – down 13%) were among other big name brands that saw double-digit traffic falls in December.
Two Australian news brands continue to rank amongst the most-visited news sites in the world.
The highest-ranking of the two is abc.net.au with 108.1m total visits, up 4% month-on-month and up 6% year-on-year.
Also siting in the global top 30 is news.com.au ranked at #29 with 90.7m total visits. That is a fall of 12% month-on-month and is down 3% year-on-year.
Radio
Deborah Clay to exit radio after 11 years as a news director, six of them at ARN
This week Deborah Clay revealed her decision to step away from radio.
“I have resigned as national news director of Australian Radio Network and Sydney drive news presenter, to realise my long-term goal of writing a book and continuing my journey as a strategic leader,” Clay posted on social media.
Deborah Clay
“In what could be the most heart-warming farewell message from a boss you will ever read – ARN chief content officer Duncan Campbell shared a post to staff expressing his surprise and shock over our 10am teams meeting this week, [the meeting] in which I resigned. There’s never a dull moment in radio and our lively conversations often leave us challenging propositions and coming up with the next exciting idea for the business. We understand each other and have had a lot of fun exchanging views. Thank you.
“The reaction was similar from Derek Bargwanna, the KIIS content director, when I told him – complete shock. He thought I would be the last person in the office to resign. Thank you for your belief in my talent and the unwavering professional support.
“As for the news team, I will miss you. I have been a news director for nearly 11 years, the last six at ARN. The opportunity to work with diverse and gifted journalists around the country is a source of daily happiness and pride. Over the last two years the team has reported with accuracy and care about Covid-19, while providing local information for listeners across our powerhouse stations @kiis1065, @wsfm1017, @theedge961, @gold1043, @kiis1011, @973brisbane @4kqbrisbane @mixadelaide @cruiseadelaide, @96fmperth and digital station, Chemist Warehouse Remix. We have a special culture in the newsroom.
“I am finishing up at ARN on February 14 and then focus shifts to the book over the coming months. I know where I’m going and look forward to what 2022 will bring.”
Clay is a regular contributor to Seven’s Sunrise and the ABC’s The Drum and was recently awarded Best Journalist/Producer at the Women in Media Awards.
Clay moved from SCA to ARN in 2015. At the 2013 ACRAs Clay received the Brian White Memorial Award in recognition of sustained excellence in journalism.
Triple M’s Ben Dobbin left Hamilton Island’s over leaked Amal Clooney photo
Brisbane radio host Ben Dobbin has revealed he cut his honeymoon short after he leaked a photo of Amal Clooney inside a luxury resort on Hamilton Island, reports The Courier-Mail.
After tying the knot in early November, Dobbin and his new wife Amity travelled to stay at the up-market Qualia Resort, where George Clooney and Julia Roberts were also visiting to film romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise.
But, speaking on Triple M drive show The Rush Hour on Wednesday, Dobbin said he left Hamilton Island two days early after the resort’s manager confronted them about a photo they shared of Clooney’s wife, Amal Clooney, who is a well-known human rights lawyer.
Unauthorised photos aren’t welcome on the privately-owned island but a Hamilton Island spokesperson said Dobbin was not asked to leave and is welcome to return any time.
“I’m not going to say I got kicked off Hamilton Island. Our honeymoon was cut short,” Dobbin told co-hosts Leisel Jones and Liam Flanagan.
Television
Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia considers returning to medical career
Doctor Jonathan LaPaglia — it has a good ring to it.
Survivor Australia: Blood v Water host LaPaglia says the pandemic has forced him to look at other career options, including returning to medicine, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
Long before Survivor or his starring role as Dr Patrick McNaughton on TV drama Love Child, LaPaglia worked in the emergency ward in Adelaide as a physician.
“I am still a doctor, I just haven’t practised in a long time so don’t ask me to do much more than a Band-Aid,” the brother of actor Anthony LaPaglia told Confidential.
“I have been off the bench for way too long.”
LaPaglia, 52, has been based in Los Angeles for many years and travels back to Australia for work, as he did for Survivor, with the new season premiering on 10 on January 31.