Category Archives: Australian journalism

Telstra Australia…redefining the journalist/pr relationship

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The relationship between public relations representatives and journalists has always been a tenuous one at the best of times, but one can only wonder at the level of total incompetence and bizarre actions of Telstra in its dealings with the media. As a result of the story he was deluged by vitriolic emails from Rod Bruem, Telstra’s then editor-in-chief for blogging, that accused him of having manipulated the poll results, being a liar (because he hadn’t warned Bruem he was writing the story), and of not being a journalist.

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AFL slays Australian media

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When Melbourne’s Channel Seven network broke the news last week that players at a Melbourne based AFL club were receiving therapy for illegal drug use and that a leading player from the same club had been investigated for drug trafficking they rapidly became the pariah of the Australian news media. Rival media organisations and commentators looking to gain favour with the AFL quickly whipped themselves into a frenzy in their attempts to use the most condemning superlatives they could think of to criticise the actions of Dylan Howard who broke the story, as well as the network.

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Australian journalism’s day of shame

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The revelation of comments allegedly made by Federal Treasurer Peter Costello to three Canberra press gallery journalists over a presumably boozy dinner more than two and a half years will forever damage the relationship Australian journalists have with their sources. Australian journalists have in the past had an admirable reputation for protecting their sources and respecting the confidences of those who provide them with background information. Indeed, Australian journalists, like their counterparts in other countries, have been prepared on numerous occasions in the past to go to jail rather than reveal their sources of information. The decision by the trio, Tony Wright of Melbourne’s The Age, Paul Daley of The Bulletin, and  ABCTV journalist Michael Brissenden, to suddenly all decide … Continue reading →

Australian journalism's day of shame

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The revelation of comments allegedly made by Federal Treasurer Peter Costello to three Canberra press gallery journalists over a presumably boozy dinner more than two and a half years will forever damage the relationship Australian journalists have with their sources. Australian journalists have in the past had an admirable reputation for protecting their sources and respecting the confidences of those who provide them with background information. Indeed, Australian journalists, like their counterparts in other countries, have been prepared on numerous occasions in the past to go to jail rather than reveal their sources of information. The decision by the trio, Tony Wright of Melbourne’s The Age, Paul Daley of The Bulletin, and  ABCTV journalist Michael Brissenden, to suddenly all decide … Continue reading →