How to finally defeat your media nemesis
Grudges and rivalries in media? Dr Mumbo has never heard of such a thing.
That was until prestigious industry organisation The Walkley Foundation tried to round up entries for its upcoming awards. Then it was on like Donkey Kong.
“We know the media is a competitive industry, especially right now, so here’s a tip,” the organisation told followers, teasing how a participant in an industry which has been bruised and battered in recent months could get the edge.
Read the criteria, thinks Dr Mumbo, remembering all those articles about how to craft an award-winning entry? Perhaps it will be an insight about what judges are really looking for when they ask about cultural impact.
Wrong.
“Journos: if you really want to get one over your nemesis once and for all, winning a Walkley is the classiest way to do it. Enter now.”
Well that was, unexpected.
Dr Mumbo readying for his Walkley battle (Photo by James Pond on Unsplash)
The ABC’s Michael Rowland seemed unimpressed when he asked the peak body if it was serious.
Author and The Monthly’s Richard Cooke, however, was all about nemeses fighting it out over a trophy.
When The Walkley Foundation acknowledged it was “inappropriate and not in the spirit of our values”, and offered the old chestnut of apologising for “any offence this may have caused”, Cooke said “Lame”. He is, it appears, all for smiting your enemies by defeating them in the Walkleys.
Benjamin Law also had some home truths for journos who wanted to get high and mighty about prestige and power.
"Stay classy, Walkleys" as if journos don't get absolutely shitfaced before bashing each other on stage at these things
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) July 6, 2020
Dr Mumbo’s favourite response though is this one, from The Guardian’s Naaman Zhou which depicts exactly what it’s like to work on a Walkleys entry when it’s all about your nemesis.
Me working on my walkleys entry https://t.co/U4drKGH1cz
— Naaman Zhou (@naamanzhou) July 7, 2020
Who said Awards season wasn’t fun?
topics
Benjamin Law
Michael Rowland
Naaman Zhou
Richard Cooke
The Walkley Foundation
Walkley Awards
Walkleys
