Spin Cycle

Rachel Withers is Jess Lilley’s guest host this week on Spin Cycle. Together they explore policies and politicians after the recent NSW election, and the associated media coverage. They are also joined by guest Bridget Brennan, ABC journalist and Gold Quill winner, to discuss media coverage of First Nations issues, in particular the Four Corners report from 2022: ‘How Many More? the Crisis of the murdered and missing First Nations women’.

Joshua Thorburn, criminology PhD student at Monash Uni, joins Jess and Charlie to discuss the ideologies of incels and femcels, and common misconceptions about this group due to coverage in the media. Jess and Charlie also briefly cover Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's failed tour of Australia and the media response to the appearance of neo-nazi support at anti-trans rallies in Melbourne on the weekend.

Denis Muller, media editor, research consultant and specialist on media ethics and accountability, talks to Jess and Charlie about the role of public broadcasters in light of recent BBC controversy, and how the ABC stacks up in comparison. Jess and Charlie also talk about Paul Keating’s tough-love AUKUS opinions in his National Press Club address, and what ethical editing means in a news environment of such high output.

Jackie Turner, the Director of the Trans Justice Project, joins the team to chat about how to identify anti-trans misinformation and become more media-literate to anti-trans rhetoric popping up in reporting, both of which she talks about in her piece for Junkee this week. Jess and Charlie also revisit the Tom Morris saga, as well as the on-going Fox News v Dominion lawsuit that has thrown the US media giant into existential crisis.

Melbourne music writer & Journalist, Ben Madden joins Jess Lilley.  They unpack his piece for Junkee on Bluesfest's rocky PR misadventures since announcing,and then eventually removing, sydney-based rock band Sticky Fingers from their line-up.

Jess also digs into the latest reporting around the Robodebt Royal Commission.

Jess and Charlie chat with Alan Kohler, long time financial analyst for the ABC and all-round Finance journalist across a number of Australian publications, including The Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Together, they navigate recent reporting into the Reserve Bank, interest rates and the cost of living crisis, as well as whether the Australian public is interested in the somewhat opaque world of finance.  

Plus, Jess and Charlie also dig into some of the big media stories of the week including Bluesfest's PR blunders, ABC fact-checking and Linda Reynolds launching defamation action against Brittany Higgins' partner David Sharaz.

After more than 60 years of constitutionally mandated pacificism, Japan is embarking on its biggest military spend since the second world war. The Spin Cycle crew is joined by the ABC's North Asia Correspondent James Oaten to explore the implications of this to the Japanese people and the wider region, as well as Oaten's own journey to become a Foreign Correspondent. Elsewhere, Charlie and Najma discuss the controversies surrounding the ABC's reporting of issues in the Northern Territory, and the theatre of Senate Estimates.

In this week's episode, Jess and Charlie talk to Matilda Boseley (she/her), a Melbourne-based reporter for The Guardian. Together they explore the different attempts to entice Australian youth into the news cycle via social media. Jess and Charlie also discuss ageism outrage and Chat GPT controversy.

In Spin Cycle's return for 2023, Jess and Charlie speak to 4 Corners investigative reporter, Louise Milligan about her report on Opus Dei's influence in the NSW education system. Plus we discuss the media coverage of George Pell, as well as revelations about the relationship between media and government revealed in the robodebt public enquiry. 

Please note that this episode contains discussion around abuse that some people may find distressing. For 24 hour free counseling in Australia, the number for Lifeline is 13 11 14.

Happy news year! Jess and Charlie wrap up the biggest media stories of 2022 just in times for Christmas. They chat to Najma, discuss some more recent stories and all of the wonderful guests who have joined them throughout the year.