Business of Media
NSW police turns to Bruce Lehrmann producer for top PR role
The sprawling PR operation within NSW police was sent into a tailspin last week when police chief Karen Webb dismissed media chief Liz Deegan, reports Nine Publishing’s Mark Di Stefano.
It was all but inevitable that the spinner would shoulder the blame for Webb and the police force’s recent unforced gaffes and errors around briefing the media and public on crimes. Still, that leaves a vacancy at one of the most influential PR roles in the state. NSW police media controls the drip-feed of information to news outlets and their police beat reporters.
NSW police has turned to Seven Spotlight veteran producer Steve Jackson to take on the top PR role.
Paul Keating says The Australian should be ‘contemptuously ignored’ ahead of Wang Yi meeting
Paul Keating has declared that The Australian newspaper should be “contemptuously ignored” as the former Labor prime minister hit back at criticism of his plans to meet with China’s visiting foreign minister, reports The Guardian’s Daniel Hurst.
Keating, an outspoken opponent of the Australian government’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, also accused News Corp’s national broadsheet of being “trenchantly anti-Chinese”.
Turkey moves against Meta over Threads-Instagram data sharing
Turkey’s competition authority on Monday imposed an interim measure on Meta Platforms Inc meant to hinder data sharing between the Instagram and Threads platforms as it investigates possible abuse of the company’s dominant market position, reports Reuters.
In December the authority launched an investigation into Facebook parent Meta, opens new tab over a possible violation of competition law by linking its social media platforms Instagram and the newer Threads.
Elon Musk defends stance on diversity and free speech during tense interview
Elon Musk has defended his stance on diversity and free speech in a tense interview with the former CNN anchor Don Lemon, reports The Guardian’s Dan Milmo.
The Tesla chief executive was openly irritated by Lemon’s line of questioning during the hour-long video interview, published on Monday.
Responding to a question about his prescription for ketamine, Musk said: “It’s pretty private to ask somebody about a medical prescription.” He said he took the drug to address “a negative chemical state in my in my brain, like depression”.
Sports Illustrated finds publisher for print edition
The owner of the Sports Illustrated brand has selected a new company to publish the legacy sports magazine after dumping its previous publisher over a missed payment earlier this year, reports The Wall Street Journal’s Dean Seal.
Authentic Brands Group said Monday that it has formed a long-term partnership with Minute Media and handed over publishing rights for the Sports Illustrated brand across its print edition and digital platforms.
Minute Media’s license is set to initially run for 10 years, with options for two 10-year extensions that could see the digital-media company publishing the 70-year-old magazine into its centennial.
Radio
Spills and thrills in Australia’s biggest listed radio deal
Veteran chairman Rob Murray got the message. It only took five years of terrible performance, five months under takeover offer and nearly half his share register coming for his head, but the Southern Cross Media chairman finally got it. It is time to sell up, reports Nine Publishing’s Anthony Macdonald.
To his credit, while he was bagged for his “just say no” defence, he got suitor and long-time radio adversary ARN Media to bid against itself and pay an extra 10 per cent.
If Murray can get the stronger-together-type deal formally signed in the coming month or so, his renegade shareholders will save his head from the chopping block. That’s about as good as it gets from here.
Inside the ABC’s call to take Lattouf off-air
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s dismissal from her five-day stint as ABC Radio Sydney Mornings presenter sent shockwaves through the ABC, reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
Lattouf initiated legal action against the national broadcaster, claiming she was unlawfully terminated for sharing political opinions in relation to the Israel-Gaza war and that her race was also a factor. Her case was heard in the Fair Work Commission this month, with a decision yet to be handed down.
Television
‘It’s so unlikely, yet so perfect’: Wild child Robert Irwin calls the shots
Robert Irwin is bouncing around the photographic studio like a cricket that’s accidentally gorged itself on amphetamines. Every suggestion made by photographer Simon Schluter – “maybe put your hand up a little; try looking into the camera” – is met by one of his own, reports Nine Publishing’s Karl Quinn.
“What if I have the camera down at my waist, like this,” says Irwin, who is a keen photographer himself.
Are you always this high energy, I ask the 20-year-old, who is about to step into the co-hosting role previously occupied by Chris Brown on Ten’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, alongside Julia Morris, whose own high-wattage performance style might finally have met its match.
See Also: How the I’m A Celebrity trials team come up with fun new ways to torment celebs
Sports Media
Eddie McGuire sheds light on the sport business conference launching in Melbourne today
Eddie McGuire has shed light on SportNXT, a sport business conference which is launching in Melbourne, reports 3AW.
McGuire is the director of SportNXT, and told Ross and Russ “you couldn’t get better timing” for the conference.
“We’ve got to have a new way of thinking about these things, otherwise we’re going to get left for dead,” McGuire toldsaid.
The detail in the Devil: Why the AFL’s newest club fought so hard for its name
The inaugural chairman of the AFL’s 19th club said he was always going to fight American corporate juggernaut Warner Bros. Discovery for the use of the Devils moniker, after the full name, logo and colours of the new Tasmanian club were unveiled on Monday, reports Nine Publishing’s Jon Pierik.
Amid a launch held at six Tasmanian sites and streamed live to pubs and clubs across the state, the Devils’ chairman Grant O’Brien joined Richmond legend Matthew Richardson in Devonport to confirm the club will wear a traditional myrtle-green jumper, also featuring primrose yellow and rose red. The front of the foundation jumper will have a yellow map of the state emblazoned.
“It’s a massive moment in our rich state history,” Richardson, who played his junior football with East Devonport, said.