MediaLand

The Newcastle Herald has apologised for running an inflammatory ad from Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots party. As the election looms, we look at the standards for political ads, who sets them and why they might be slipping.

NewsCorp is making a big push for Tubi, its free ad-supported streaming service - but is its lesser quality content offering likely to take off? 

The story of a Sydney caravan thought to be linked to an anti-semitic terror attack dominated the headlines in January. Now, it turns out to have been a hoax all along, and the media fell for it. What does it say about responsible reporting in volatile times?

Matt Stanton is officially Nine's new CEO, we look at he brings to the role and where he might take the company after some troubled times.

Guest:

Toby Ralph, political campaigns specialist

The AFL's new broadcast deal kicks off this season, with Saturday matches going exclusive on Foxtel and Kayo. We look at anti-siphoning laws and what the deal means for the future of sport on free-to-air TV.

Meta's glitch meant Australians searching for Cyclone Alfred on Facebook were coming up empty. As social media algorithms drop in quality, are we losing an important resource for emergency info? We look at why we still need mainstream media in times of disaster.

Married At First Sight's wall-punching incident attracted a police investigation, controversy... and ratings. Will the networks get serious about participant welfare and change anything about the conditions of making reality TV? Amanda notices The Daily Mail's headlines are going beyond the deep end, and challenges Tim to a game of 'two truths and a lie' with the most egregious examples.

Guest: 

Dr Rebecca Trelease, Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies, Auckland University of Technology and former contestant on The Bachelor New Zealand

The quick exit of comedian Marty Sheargold from his Triple M slot in the wake of the outcry over his offensive comments about the Matildas seems like a turning point in Australian commercial radio standards. Then again, maybe it's just business. 

Former SCA content director Craig Bruce gives some insight into how networks manage their big stars and how Sheargold's exit signals a dying era.

Plus, Tim and Daany dig into the political 'dirt unit’ chasing opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Guest:

Craig Bruce, former host and content director for Southern Cross Austereo, creator of Game Changers Radio: Melbourne Radio Wars

Undercover reporting is one of those practices that challenges public trust with journalists, so when is it justified to deceive to get a story?

The Daily Telegraph's ‘social experiment’ internally referred to as 'Undercover Jew' seemed to be trying to catch a moment of conflict that didn't arise between workers at an Egyptian cafe and a customer wearing Jewish symbols. 

It's led to accusations of manufacturing the news, and raised questions about stings, stunts and hidden truths in journalism. Tim Burrowes and Daanyal Saeed look at when this practice is really necessary and when it causes harm. 

Plus, we take a look at The Guardian's new partnership with OpenAI to supply reporting and archive material to products like ChatGPT.

Guest:

Alex Wake, Associate Professor, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University

ACM, Australian Community Media, has announced that all 65 of its regional newspapers, including the Canberra Times and Newcastle Herald, will be reduced to weekly print runs over the next seven years. Tim and Viv look at the new initiatives springing up to keep local news alive.

And government ad spending is spiking ahead of the election, what can be done about taxpayer money going to potential political spruiking? 

Guest:

Claire Stuchbery, Executive Director, Local and Independent News Association (LINA)

The dismissals of Antoinette Lattouf from the ABC and Peter Lalor from SEN over social media posts on the Israel-Gaza war raise questions about how journalists separate the personal and professional in the modern world. 

Where does opinion end and advocacy begin? Does a perception of bias lead to material bias in a journalist's work? And is it fair to expect journalists to maintain a social media presence without participating in public conversations? Tim and Viv tackle it all with media ethics expert Dr Denis Muller.

Plus, what the launch of WB's Max streaming service will mean for Foxtel subscribers and Aussie content, and checking the accuracy of ABC comedy Optics' skewering of the PR industry. 

Guest:

Dr Denis Muller, senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Advancing Journalism

ARN Media, owners of Gold and KIIS radio networks, made headlines this week when chair Hamish McLennan teased interest in buying Nine's talk stations 2GB and 3AW. At least that would be the plan, if it weren't for laws that prevent more "than two radio licences in the same licence area". 

Tim and Viv talk to Hamish about consolidation in radio, Kyle & Jackie O's troubled national expansion, and the competition of global streaming platforms.

Plus, a look at NRL broadcast rights and the fight for sport to stay on free-to-air TV, and how the media handled Grace Tame's anti-Murdoch t-shirt.

Today presenter Alex Cullen has departed Nine after taking on a $50k challenge to help rebrand billionaire Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portelli on air. There's a long history of hosts sneaking words onto television, but some dubious ethics in taking a tip for it.

ABC Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver Taylor departs in a flurry of changes for the ABC. Tim and Viv break down the shifts and what it'll mean for the future of the public broadcaster.

Plus, we take a look at the brief US TikTok ban and un-ban, and how the political leanings of the tech broligarchy might impact political comms in Australia.

Guest:

Dr Susan Grantham, lecturer in communications at Griffith University

Media — it's all around us; shaping our worldview, dictating how and what we see, hear and watch. So who are the media players and what do you need to know about how they operate?

Each week media insiders Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly dissect the stories and the story makers. Real-life succession battles, unfolding crises, what made the front page and why.

Broadcast on ABC Radio National on Friday at 5.30pm and on the ABC listen app.