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Opinion | Features
Disclosure in Social Media: How transparent should bloggers be?
In this guest post, blogger and digital creative Laura McWhinnie argues for more disclosure in the bloggersphere.
The bloggersphere has always been a bit like the Wild West. Bloggers could post about products to their heart’s content without having to disclose their relationship with the brand. This meant that consumers had no idea who was behind the marketing messages influencing their purchasing decisions. But in 2009 that all changed
Liars, cheats and thieves
Is our industry full of cheats and liars or do people of honour who stand by their word still exist in business? In an article that first appeared in Encore, Cameron Boon investigates. The recent court case involving Paul Fishlock suing his former employer The Campaign Palace brought into focus more than just the struggle of one man. It highlighted that there are some in adland whose word cannot always be relied upon.
Q&A with Adshel's Rob Atkinson
Online trading is the next big thing says Rob Atkinson in a piece that first appeared in Encore. Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Harold Mitchell because of his influence and the footprint he has left. He’s built a huge brand in Mitchells, offloaded it into Aegis, Aegis has obviously done extremely well to be then sold on to Dentsu. So if you think about it, he is very much a father figure of the industry.
Making it overseas
Is the best way of being successful in Australia not be here at all? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Lee Zachariah speaks to Aussies making it big abroad.I always wanted to work in New York,” says Julian Cole. “I thought it was the number one place to work in advertising; a lot of the best campaigns were coming out of there. So I moved over and was lucky enough to have a couple of interviews in the first couple of weeks.”
Cole’s story is indicative of the somewhat contentious idea that the best way to be successful in Australia is to not be in Australia any more.
Got a book in you?
From journos to ad execs and PRs, these days everyone seems to have a book in them. But what does it take to get published and will you actually make any money? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Brooke Hemphill finds out.Attention wannabe authors. Forget big fat advance cheques and living off royalties. The reality of having a book published today is another story altogether. There are only two reasons you should even consider sitting down at your computer to bash out a manuscript – passion or profile.
Savage counsel
In an article that first appeared in Encore, Chris Savage tackles your career and agency dilemmas in his weekly advice column.Hi Chris,
My clients seem to be demanding more and more from us. At the same time, it seems many of the younger people in our industry simply don’t have the client servicing skills my generation grew up with. How do we instill in our executives some of the good old-fashioned behaviours that would keep a client happy and loyal?
Fake it til' you make it... as an ad agency receptionist
From dressing the part to playing the gatekeeper, Leo Burnett Sydney’s Susie Henry tells us how to make it as the face of adland in a piece that first appeared in Encore.What does a receptionist in an ad agency actually do?
Well, there’s the frantic every-day, all-day stuff of deliveries, courier bookings, doing expenses for directors – always challenging – plus arranging all the travel. But one of my main jobs is counselling the account service people. I also keep up with all sports information to discuss with our sports-loving clients – because who wants to be bored while they’re waiting? And I know how they like their coffee. You need to know everyone – from accounting to HR. I’m also the go-to for all catering and sending flowers.
Whose views skew the news? Media chiefs ready to vote out Labor, while reporters lean left
Most journalists lean left-of-centre, says Folker Hanusch of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in a post first published on The Conversation.Most Australian journalists describe themselves as left-wing, yet amongst those who wield the real power in the country’s newsrooms, the Coalition holds a winning lead.
But while the media’s political leanings will no doubt be debated in the lead-up to September’s federal election, our study has also found other largely unscrutinised biases remain – particularly whose views disproportionately shape the news.
It's time for a new New Wave in the film world
Government funding bodies are lazy and decadent, says industry veteran Michael Thornhill but in a piece that first appeared in Encore, Ed Gibbs begs to differ.I vividly remember the time I first saw Animal Kingdom, David Michod’s breathtaking labour-of-love feature debut. The press screening was half empty, despite the film winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance just months earlier, in 2010. Yet its superb performances, stylistic flourishes and overall polish left me speechless. Could this really be a feature debut, an Australian one at that, I wondered, almost out loud? It seemed too good to be true.
Going cold turkey on an agency addiction
Life is sweet for freelance writer Max Kitchen, but in a feature that first appeared in Encore, he admits his struggle against returning to the agency fold.I’ve never taken heroin. But I suspect if I had, the temptation to try it again would not be too dissimilar to the lure of returning to agency life.
Can sport save Ten?
First there was the Grand Prix. Next came the reported $500m bid for cricket rights, then Ten secured the 2014 winter Olympics. So, can sport save the ailing network? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Nic Christensen investigates.The television sports rights bidding process is a bit like a game of poker.
Check, fold or bet. Those were the options for the Ten Network last week when it had to finalise its bid for the cricket rights.
Andy Lark: good for the marketing of marketing
I can still remember the first story I wrote about Andy Lark, when it emerged that he was to be the new chief marketing officer of CommBank.
It was immediately clear that Australia was about to meet an interesting marketer, one who blogged and tweeted and thanks to his time at Dell in the US was digitally savvy. Even two years ago, that was a big deal. The fact that he also had a stint in public relations gave him an absolutely intriguing background before he even arrived.
Storming the media barricades - advice for young journalists
This week Mumbrella’s Nic Christensen, who began his career four years ago, gave the keynote address to would-be journalists at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Student Day. This is an edited version of his speech.Good afternoon, I can remember distinctly the last time I was in this room.
It was 2009 and I was sitting where you are. I’d come to this event, a friend and myself — from memory we sat up the back — and I can remember at the time wondering if I’d ever get a job as a journalist.
It was only four years ago and then as now getting a job was ultra competitive but I’m not sure there was quite as much media ‘doom and gloom’ as there is now…
Paywalls will help fund campaigning journalism
In this guest post, News Limited’s group editorial director Campbell Reid responds to the views of ninemsn’s Hal Crawford that the company’s push into metered paywalls is about data rather than dollars.Hal Crawford is both right and wrong in his article which argued that our digital subscription plans are all about the data.
Fake it 'til you make it... as a features editor
Cosmo’s Kate Leaver tells us how to bluff it in her job in a feature that first appeared in Encore.What do you do, as a features editor?
Really, play with words and ideas all day. At any one time, we’re working across three issues of the mag – getting one on its way to the printers, pooling all the words together for another, and planning the issue after that. It’s busy but it’s a pretty magnificent process.
Radio bosses, editors, marketers and agency chiefs join Mumbrella360 for focus on media
Some of the most senior players within the Australian media industry can today be announced as part of the lineup Mumbrella360, as we reveal another four major sessions for the conference, all themed around the media.
Mumbrella360 takes place in a fortnight’s time, on June 5 and 6 at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.
There will be a high profile panel featuring the bosses of Australia’s major radio networks in conversation about the challenges faced by the indystry. A further panel will developing publishing models from people involved in developing alternative models at first hand. Another will explore the future of media regulation. Also being revealed for the first time will be a survey of media industry sentiment – and discussion of what it means.
Commercial radio: The year everything changed
Tate: Rewrote the playbook
The commercial radio panel will feature Cathy O’Connor, who is CEO of DMG which owns Nova and smoothfm; Ciaran Davies, CEO, Australian Radio Network which owns the Mix and Classic Hits networks; Adam Lang, who is CEO of Fairfax Media’s radio group which include high profile talk sations 3AW in Melbourne and 2UE in Sydney; and Russell Tate, CEO, Macquarie Radio Network, parent company of 2GB.
In a discussion moderated by Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes, the quartet will looks to the future via the lessons from one of the most dramatic years in the radio industry’s history. Tate rewrote the social media playbook in his handling of the station’s Alan Jones crisis; the major global music streaming brands launched in Australia and partnered with the networks; Read more »
Vodafone uses Jensen Button to compare its network problems to a broken down Datsun
Vodafone is continuing its series of ‘self depreciating’ advertisements with ad which compares the network’s coverage to a broken down Datsun 120Y.
In the ad, Vodafone invited British Formula One driver Jenson Button to attempt a lap record at the Calder Park Raceway in Victoria. During the lap – resembling Top Gear’s “star in a reasonably priced car” segment – the Datsun apparently breaks down on the driver.
A voiceover then says: “Some people used to say the old Vodafone network was like this but we’ve come a long way and there’s still more to come.”
The ad then promotes Vodafone’s 4G offering which switches on in some metro areas of Sydney and Perth next month, along with “some coverage in Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong” according to the small print of the ad. No mention is made of Victoria.
Conroy’s underpants auction raises $2bn – mostly from Telstra – in spectrum sell-off
The government’s spectrum auction to telcos has raised just under $2bn for the government, less than market expectations.
Telstra snapped up the most expensive spectrum – suggesting it is likely to extend its dominance in the market offering 4G and 3G mobile services.
Optus bought more than half a billion dollars of spectrum according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority announcement.
TPG Internet spent a relatively modest $13m and Vodafone withdrew from the auction, suggesting its poor network reputation is unlikely to see much relief.
Some spectrum remained unsold.
The auction – in part made up of the airwaves which will be freed up when the analogue TV signal is switched off – became infamous after media minister Stephen Conroy boasted that he could make the telcos wear red underpants on their heads if he wanted to do so as part of the process.
The winning bids: Read more »
Q&A with Amanda Duthie – CEO and festival director of the Adelaide Film festival
Amanda Duthie, CEO and festival director of the Adelaide Film Festival in a Q&A that first appeared in Encore.
Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Person: Stephen Conroy
Company: Apple
Distribution: NBN Read more »
A $olid investment?
Will the government’s $20m investment in attracting overseas productions actually make a difference to the local screen industry? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Cameron Boon finds out.
The federal government’s March 13 announcement of a $20 million cash injection for the film industry has not died with Simon Crean’s career, and still remains a solid strategy if it is a precursor to an eventual permanent increase say those in the industry. Read more »
Straight from the Ministry of Truth
As everybody knows, Rupert Murdoch does not tell his editors what to write.
But he sure does hire people who think alike…
Yesterday’s Sun in the UK:
The best way to appreciate press freedom is to lose it
I’m late to this fight.
I find myself a little uncomfortable standing in the same corner as the over-the-top Daily Telegraph response to Stephen Conroy’s proposals for media regulation. But in truth, I’m a fellow traveller.
Conroy’s proposal to effectively end press self regulation is a bad thing.
The risk posed to freedom of the press is relatively small, but it opens the door a crack.
And in the last few days, I’ve found myself thinking about the miserable year I spent editing a magazine in a country that censored the press. Read more »
Mining magnate Clive Palmer tweets PM offer to help with media reforms
Dr Mumbo is delighted that eccentric mining magnate Clive Palmer has volunteered himself as an adviser to Julia Gillard while the new media reforms are implemented.
Brave new Labor
Dr Mumbo thought he’d woken up in Dubai when he opened up today’s Daily Telegraph. Story after story was full of praise for the brave government leadership as the newspaper took a crack at the sort of stories it claims media minister Stephen Conroy wants.
“Senator Conroy,” reported The Tele, “one of the most successful and handsome members of cabinet, gave the public a rare treat by playing in the annual Stephen Conroy versus The Rest of the World soccer match.
“The minister especially stunned onlookers with an ingenious move in which he pretended to fall over so he could closely inspect the turf.” Read more »
Bad chemistry in media battle
Yesterday saw a string of media bosses appear before the politicians – and cameras – in Canberra. The Conversation’s Michelle Grattan was there.
The media chiefs expect to have the last word about the government’s plan for a print media watchdog – more poodle than pit bull – and a public interest test to prevent further ownership concentration. And in private, the last laugh.
If, as seems likely, these media reforms crash, they will chuckle over how they put that upstart Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in his place.
They came to Canberra, tempers variably in hand, and locked horns with the feisty left senator Doug Cameron. Read more »
Ten hits out at media reform proposals, ‘It is now obvious to everyone that SCA plans to merge with Nine’
Ten’s newly appointed boss Hamish McLennan has issued an angry statement in response to the government’s media reform proposals.
He has called plans to scrap the 75% audience reach rule “staggering” and said it would enable Nine Entertainment Co’s widely rumoured merger plans with the TV assets of Southern Cross Austereo, formerly known as Southern Cross Media, to go ahead.
McLennan said that it was now “obvious to everyone” that Southern Cross Austereo plans to merge its TV assets with Nine and suggested that “whispers have taken place over the back fence” between media minister Stephen Conroy and the potentially merging parties. Read more »
Twitter reminds media moguls about stones in glass houses
In the wake of the Daily Telegraph’s front page comparing Stephen Conroy to Stalin, Mao, Castro, Kim, Mugabe, and Ahmadinedjad, Dr Mumbo has been watching the reaction of social media quite intently.
One of his favourites so far has been a slightly modified poster tweeted by No Fibs Geek (@Geeksrulz) early this afternoon. Instead of comparing the minister to dictators it compares him to media moguls.
These people believe in controlling the news cycle… but where’d they get the idea from?
Dr Mumbo loves a good tabloid front page and today’s edition of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph certainly delivers.
The Tele has chosen to compare Australia’s communications minister Stephen Conroy with no less than the dictators: Stalin, Mao, Castro, Kim, Mugabe and, just for good measure, Ahmadinedjad.
Dr Mumbo is pleased that the Tele was careful not to fall foul of Godwin’s Law (the first side of an argument to compare the other to Hitler or Nazis automatically loses), after all using Hitler would have been too much.
But he does wonder where the idea came from… Read more »
Conroy proposes media reforms: the experts respond
By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation
Australian print and online news organisations will be self-regulated through voluntary membership of a press standards body, under media reforms proposed by the Federal Government today.
The reforms comprise the government’s official response to the Convergence Review and Finkelstein Inquiry into the media in Australia.
Among the proposals is the creation of Public Interest Media Advocate, who would oversee mergers and acquisitions of news organisations, and a new Public Interest Test to ensure that diversity of voices is considered when mergers take place.
Minister for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said news organisations that join up to a press standards body will be rewarded with a special exemption from certain sections of the Privacy Act. Read more »
Q&A with Peter Fray – director of media start ups News Armada and FrayJobSearch.
In a Q&A that first appeared in Encore, Peter Fray talks about is media habits and the long list of journalists he’d like to poach.
Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Tempted to say Rupert Murdoch (or Kim Williams) but truth is it’s the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. He/she can change the rules for all media. So, at the moment it’s Stephen Conroy.After that, well, I guess if Tony Abbott doesn’t punt him to foreign affairs, the answer is Malcolm Turnbull.
News Limited: Speculation on us buying Ten is ‘highly fanciful’
News Limited has this afternoon rejected speculation that it is interested in purchasing Channel Ten, describing the suggestions as “conspiratorial, highly fanciful and wrong”.
The statement comes after the Greens today urged Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to toughen media ownership rules due to fears the appointment of former News Corporation senior executive Hamish McLennan as CEO of Channel Ten could be a sign of a desire by News to purchase the free-to-air TV station.
In a statement, a spokesman for News Limited said: “Much of today’s reporting and commentary is conspiratorial, highly fanciful and wrong. News Limited has no plans to acquire Channel Ten. Read more »
Cabinet to discuss media reform
The Federal cabinet will meet today to discuss media minister Stephen Conroy’s plans for law reform, The Australian Financial Review reports. Read more »
Production sector opposes local content quotas with cartoon campaign
A cartoon of the ghost of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo interviewing Senator Stephen Conroy is part of a new campaign from the production sector to oppose changes to the local content sub-quotas that governs Australian TV stations.
The cartoon is drawn by Crikey’s First Dog on the Moon and sees Skippy grilling Conroy over the amount of American television on Australian screens and what the production sector calls Conroy’s ‘sweeping regressive changes to local content sub-quotas’ to the TV network’s multi-channels. Read more »
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