Business of Media
Ex-Seven producer demands compensation, apology
The former producer for the Seven Network’s Spotlight program who gave explosive evidence alleging the broadcaster paid for cocaine and prostitutes for Bruce Lehrmann has threatened to sue his former employer for claiming he lied, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Taylor Auerbach and his lawyer, Rebekah Giles, have sent a 27-page letter to Seven, its outgoing chief executive James Warburton, another Spotlight producer and Seven’s former commercial director Bruce McWilliam in the wake of Federal Court judge Michael Lee’s decision to throw out Lehrmann’s defamation case on Monday.
See also: Taylor Auerbach takes to the stand in Bruce Lehrmann trial
Lehrmann judge queries Ten lawyer’s criticism
Federal Court judge Michael Lee has demanded details of what a senior lawyer acting for Network Ten in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation matter said outside court criticising the blockbuster decision, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Justice Lee has asked Justin Quill, a partner at Thomson Geer and one of the country’s most experienced media lawyers, to provide a transcript of a press conference he gave outside the court after the decision.
See also: Bruce Lehrmann loses defamation case against 10 and Lisa Wilkinson
Student Benjamin Cohen has taken legal action after being wrongly named as Bondi attacker
A university student wrongly named as the Bondi Junction knife-wielding murderer has taken legal action against Channel 7 after the network aired multiple live broadcasts labelling him as the culprit, report The Australian’s Sohpe Elsworth and Alexi Demetriadi.
Benjamin Cohen, a first-year student at the University of Technology, Sydney, has engaged law firm Giles George and is seeking an apology, compensation and costs for serious harm after he was falsely named as the Bondi killer.
Under the NSW Defamation Act it can attract damages up to $459,000.
See also: Seven apologises for misidentifying Bondi Junction attacker
Hugh Grant settles high court claim against Sun publisher for ‘enormous sum’
Hugh Grant has settled a high court claim against the publisher of the Sun for “an enormous sum”, the actor said on Wednesday, reports The Guardian’s Alexandra Topping.
Grant had accused the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun of phone hacking, unlawful information gathering, landline tapping, bugging his phone and burgling his flat and office. His case was due to go to trial at London’s high court in January 2025, alongside other high-profile individuals including Prince Harry and Labour peer Doreen Lawrence.
Seize the moment on media reform to follow Albanese’s vision for Australia: Nine boss
The government must address two big gaps in its latest media reforms if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to stay true to his “Future Made in Australia” vision, the boss of Nine Entertainment has said, reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
Last week, a bipartisan Senate committee largely backed Labor’s proposed communications bill, updating the anti-siphoning list and implementing “prominence” rules that ensure free-to-air networks are given prime placement on smart televisions.
Marketer behind the Stanley Cup frenzy returns to Crocs
The executive credited with turning Stanley’s giant metal water bottle into a status symbol is leaving the company to return to his old employer, Crocs, reports The Wall Street Journal’s Katie Deighton.
Beginning April 29, Terence Reilly will lead Crocs’s casual shoe brand Heydude as president. Prior to taking the reins at Stanley in 2020, he had been Crocs’ chief marketing officer for around five years.
Television
‘My mistake, sorry’: Paul Barry issues correction after Bondi Junction report
Media Watch host Paul Barry has issued an online apology to SKY News presenter Laura Jayes after suggesting her report on the Bondi Junction Westfield attacks set reporters “on the trail,” reports TV Tonight.
Barry implied that Laura Jayes’ coverage contributed to media attention to the family of Ashlee Good, the mother who died in hospital while her baby was in critical condition.
MAFS stars Eden Harper and Jayden Eynaud’s shock split: ‘Didn’t choose me’
Married At First Sight couple Eden Harper and Jayden Eynaud have called it quits, reports News Corp’s Bronte Coy.
Eden, 28, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the sad news with fans, confirming the relationship had ended after eight months.
I’m A Celeb: Stephen K Amos kicked out of jungle in record-breaking vote
The latest celebrity has been evicted from the I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Australia jungle, reports News Corp’s Joshua Haigh.
Stephen K Amos received the lowest public votes on Wednesday night and was booted from the jungle after saying goodbye to the rest of the camp.
“It has been so great to get to know you all,” he gushed as he hugged everyone farewell.
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Top Image: Taylor Auerbach