Business of Media
Sky News claims Google too eager to brand debate as misinformation
Sky News Australia chief executive Paul Whittaker has criticised how the Google-owned video sharing platform YouTube separates truth from lies, saying “it now appears commonplace to discredit any debate on contentious issues as ’misinformation”, reports AFR’s Natasha Gillezeau.
“Why does a tech giant, YouTube, and faceless, nameless individuals backed by an algorithm based in California get to decide that holding governments and decision-makers to account is misinformation? Why do they get to decide what is and isn’t news?” Whittaker rhetorically asked a Senate committee investigating media diversity on Monday.
The News Corp-owned pay television company was banned on August 1 from uploading content to YouTube for a week after violating the Google-owned platform’s medical misinformation policies. Sky News had posted various videos that denied the existence of COVID-19 or encouraged people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to treat the virus.
Fresh from the incident, executives from Google Australia and Sky News clashed on the line between illegitimate misinformation and free speech during Monday’s hearing. The question of whether the banning constituted a legitimate protection of YouTube’s users from false information that could have been harmful, or if it was an overreach by a private company into the freedom of the Australian news media, formed the crux of the debate.
Sky News Australia denies broadcasting Covid misinformation, saying YouTube is ‘totalitarian’
Whittaker also said he spoke frequently with co-executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch but he was a non-executive director and he did not run Sky News, reported Guardian Australia’s, Amanda Meade.
Murdoch declined the committee’s invitation to appear and flew out of Sydney for the US on Sunday to re-open Fox News offices.
Whittaker revealed that he had “self-censored” an additional 18 videos which questioned the public health response to Covid-19 because it “only takes one for us to have another suspension” and be banned from YouTube permanently.
Asked by committee chair, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, if he accepted that Sky News had directly or indirectly promoted misinformation about Covid, Whittaker said no.
Alan Jones had “strong opinions” and was a popular broadcaster of 35-years, but he had made a couple of mistakes which had been corrected, he said.
Sky News boss confirms News Corp climate focus
Sky News Australia boss Paul Whittaker says the television station will look at the issue of net zero emissions but said he was not aware of any plan by owner News Corp to limit the voices of dissenting conservative commentators on climate change, reports SMH‘s Lisa Visentin and Amelia McGuire.
Facing a Senate inquiry on media diversity in Australia, the TV boss was asked about a story in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age about News Corp Australia’s decision to embark on a campaign for countries to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and promote the benefits of a carbon-neutral economy. He said Sky’s involvement was limited to an upcoming documentary timed to coincide with the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in November.
“I think it’s a question of interpretation about saying that that’s a campaign,” Whittaker said. “From Sky’s point of view, we’re seeking to explore the policies and solutions.”
CEO Magazine list nominations for top media and PR executives of 2021
The CEO Magazine has revealed the finalists for the 2021 Media & PR Executive of the Year Award.
Covid permitting, the 2021 awards ceremony will be held at The Star, Sydney on ICC Sydney on Thursday 18 November with new host Ben Fordham.
The CEO Magazine’s Media & PR Executive of the Year Award identifies the achievements of leaders in the marketing and media industry over the past year and the contributions they have made to their companies.
The finalists in the 2021 Media & PR Executive of the Year category are:
Media & PR EOTY Finalists L-R Jimmy Hyatt, Jocelyn Hunter, Jen Sharpe, Luke Girgis
Jocelyn Hunter, Managing Director, BENCH PR
Luke Girgis, CEO, The Brag Media
Jimmy Hyett, CEO, This Is Flow
Jen Sharpe, Managing Director & Founder, Think HQ
Also from the media industry, Publicis Groupe CEO, Michael Rebelo, a finalist in the major award category, CEO of the Year.
Michael Rebelo
The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards identifies the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs, executive leaders or CEOs who have successfully led their businesses through lockdowns, work-from-home and the Zoom mute button.
Chris Dutton, co-founder and CEO of The CEO Magazine, said since the beginning, the event has continued to grow, improve and showcase leaders in Australian business.
“After the devastating events of 2020 we need to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s best executives – the vital cogs in the engines of our country’s businesses,” said Dutton.
“Since its inception in 2012, the event continues to grow and these awards are extra special as we’re celebrating the 10th year. This is a true testament not only of the extraordinary dedication of our global team, but also to everyone involved in these awards, including applicants, judges, sponsors and the incredible team who put it together.”
The CEO Awards 2021 judging panel:
Louise Adams (Aurecon Australia and New Zealand Group Chief Operating Officer), Grant Barling (Maserati Australia and New Zealand, General Manager), Anna Dutton (The CEO Magazine Co-Founder), Chris Dutton (The CEO Magazine Co-Founder), Rosi Fernandez (La Prairie Group Australia and New Zealand Managing Director), Tim Gurner (Gurner Owner), David Jepson (The CEO Magazine CEO), John Karagounis (The CEO Circle CEO), Dorry Kordahi (Illawarra Hawks: DKM Blue Co-Owner and President; Managing Director and Co-Owner), Tobi Pearce (Sweat CEO), Lynette Phillips (Maxmedialab and Maxconnectors Founder and CEO), and Soren Trampedach (Work Club Global, Founder, Chairman and CEO).
The ABC has apologised to former senator and Sky News host Cory Bernardi
The ABC has apologised to former senator and Sky News host Cory Bernardi for airing allegations by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young – which he has strongly denied – in its popular TV series Ms Represented, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
The public broadcaster admitted that it failed to give Bernardi a “fair opportunity” to respond to the allegations made during the program, and also admitted the episode breached its editorial standards.
Bernardi wrote a letter of complaint to the ABC following the airing of the second episode of the four-part July series focusing on female parliamentarians and hosted by Annabel Crabb.
The episode included Senator Hanson-Young relaying in detail interactions she claimed she had with Bernardi during a parliamentary sitting sitting on December 4, 2014.
Television
Overnight ratings moving to 10am
As previously flagged, a major shake-up is coming in television ratings with OzTAM to place a 10am embargo on Overnight ratings, reports TV Tonight.
It follows a push by networks to seek to better reflect a Total TV picture of how audiences are viewing.
From Monday September 13, Daily Overnight Linear TV Program Ranking will be under a 10am embargo.
Around 9:15am it will first release Daily Consolidated 7 Total TV Program Ranking. This will rank shows from a week earlier, with metro and regional linear TV figures and the national BVOD figures. It demonstrates how much a show from a week earlier has lifted across the 7 days.
A third report, a Weekly VOZ National Consolidated 7 Total TV Program Ranking, will also be issued weekly.
Former Bachelorette star Georgia Love in hot water over casually racist Instagram post
A high-profile Melbourne news reporter has apologised for an “offensive” social media post, reports News Corp’s
Brianna Travers.
Channel 7 journalist and former Bachelorette contestant Georgia Love quickly apologised for the social media blunder posted to her Instagram account on Monday morning.
In the post, Love captured footage of a cat sitting in an Asian restaurant shopfront accompanied by the caption “shop attendant or lunch?”.
Sports Media
Stan Sports recruits Bozza for UEFA Champions League coverage
Stan has signed one of Australia’s best and most-loved football exports Mark “Bozza” Bosnich, plus former Matilda Grace Gill and experienced UK-based football presenter Mark Pougatch who will all join Stan Sport’s exclusive coverage of the upcoming UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League competitions.
Bosnich, who played Premier League and Champions League football for several English clubs including Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea will join host Max Rushden and expert Craig Foster for Stan Sport’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League group stage with matches commencing on September 15.
Mark Bosnich said: “I’m so excited to be joining Stan’s coverage of the UEFA Football competitions. Having played Champions League and the old UEFA Cup (now Europa League) it’s such a part of my being that it’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of it again. Since the 90’s, the UEFA Champions League has been regarded the pinnacle of football worldwide with the best players from around the world (regardless of where they are born) competing with and against each other. I’m looking forward to working again with Max Rushden, and finally having the opportunity to work with my old Socceroos teammate Craig Foster. We’ll certainly bring a whole new combination to football coverage in Australia. Plenty of passion, entertainment, and of course some fun awaits!”
Grace Gill, a former Matilda who won two W-League Championships with Canberra United, will provide a fresh approach to Stan’s coverage bringing experience as a player, strong analysis and passion for football.
Also joining Stan Sport’s coverage as sideline reporter is UK-based Mark Pougatch. With over 25 years covering live sport, Pougatch is currently the face of ITV’s football and rugby coverage presenter and recently hosted the Euro 2020 tournament. Pougatch will be Stan’s man on the ground interviewing the biggest players and coaches from the sideline in key matches across Europe.
Stan’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League group stage begins on Wednesday 15 September with an epic encounter between European heavyweights Barcelona and Bayern Munich with live and on-demand coverage from 2:45AM AEST.