Media
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Emmy committee stands firm on Gaza journalist’s nomination
The call for Bisan Owda’s nomination to be rescinded was “an incredible testament to the threat posed by a single young woman with an iPhone,” said one author. Continue reading »
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Digital technology: blessing or curse?
The challenge we face with digital technology is not just managing it; it’s about what it’s doing to us. Continue reading »
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The ABC of telling tales
ABC chair Kim Williams reckons the Corporation should focus more on hard news than lifestyle fillers. While purging the pap, he might also look at how some stories get told, particularly to international audiences. Continue reading »
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UK and Hong Kong riots: similarities and differences
One would’ve had to have been living in a cave not to have been aware of the recent street violence in the United Kingdom. For those of us who lived through the riots here in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020, there was an extreme feeling of déjà vu as we watched attacks on police, Continue reading »
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Court strikes again in Thai lawfare – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Another Shinawatra becomes PM in Thailand. Plus: Kishida ‘lost people’s trust’; Big losses as Asian Muslims shun KFC over Gaza; Manila reshapes its superpower ties; Gen Z revolution in Bangladesh; Racism a factor in Olympics row. Continue reading »
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Change on way? ABC reviews ICJ ruling
Major international media outlets face a dilemma over whether to adapt newsroom practices to the World Court’s judgment last month on Israel’s illegal occupation. Continue reading »
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How Rupert Murdoch helped create a monster – the era of Trumpism – and then lost control of it
You can’t help but feel sorry for Rupert Murdoch. Continue reading »
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America is the most violent, aggressive country in the world
Of the international intelligence information that comes to Australian agencies from the Five Eyes, 90% comes from the CIA and related US intelligence agencies. So in effect we have the colonisation of our intelligence agencies These agencies dominate the advice to Ministers writes John Menadue. Continue reading »
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Zionism, Zionists and Jews
Understanding the complex relationship between Zionism, Zionists and Jews seems to defeat many of Israel’s critics in articles and opinion pieces. This article explores Zion and its connection to land and to Judaism and its more modern day forms. Continue reading »
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Neither treaty nor pact, just troubling facts
ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic’s ’exclusive’ claim that “Australia and Indonesia are on the brink of sealing an upgraded defence pact” hasn’t been refuted by Defence so is probably right. Continue reading »
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Political assassination on a butcher’s paper
Has Australian journalism become weapons of mass lies and character assassinations? When did our media become instruments of sabotage and reputation busting outfits? Whatever the answer is, some print media outlets have been exposed as mere butchers’ papers. Continue reading »
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Compounded dishonour
The majority of American politicians, journalists, pundits and most commentators have decided that the war between the Zionist forces and the Palestinian resistance started on October 7th 2023. Not over 76 years ago, or more. Continue reading »
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Zionist bullying distorts politics, media and education
In addition to physical or psychological abuse, bullies use power in relationships to pressure others to adopt their world views. The bullying may appear in letters, lobbying, radio and television interviews, secret meetings with politicians and business leaders and even in legal action against those who criticise the bullies’ points of view. Continue reading »
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Armed conflict and multimedia at the Australian War Memorial
There is no doubt that multimedia technology can tell stories dramatically. These stories particularly resonate with a generation raised on video games and social media, which are now an intrinsic part of their lives. Continue reading »
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A world conspiracy designed to sow doubt for consumers
ABC Media Watch told of the unreliability of electric vehicles (EVs), their poor resale value, and their falling sales. The claims are false, yet hundreds of such stories have been reported throughout 2024. They indicate a campaign from oil companies to discredit EVs, and maintain sales Continue reading »
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How to get good publicity? Ban journos
A tip for politicians worried about bothersome journos upsetting talking points with probing questions: Don’t invite peskies to your pressies. Continue reading »
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Why US politicians are picking on Chinese Olympic swimmers
As with Washington’s routine attempts to challenge all things Chinese as well as global multilateral agencies, its row with the World Anti-Doping Agency is par for the course. Continue reading »
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China’s six unseen struggles, and triumphs
Western media analysts often fail to grasp the significance of the reforms initiated at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing (CPC), which recently concluded in Beijing. Continue reading »
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The challenge of appointing the special envoy on Islamophobia
The appointment of a Special Envoy on Islamophobia by the Albanese Government comes amidst complex political times and strained community relations with Australia’s Muslim leadership. Continue reading »
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Climate change – government and media failure
People trying to change Australia’s climate policies face a huge challenge. A fundamental problem is that in a democracy such as Australia’s, governments don’t make policy changes if they think this will damage them politically. The Albanese government will do everything it possibly can to tackle the climate crisis, except address the core problem, the Continue reading »
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Looking to the future
Pearls and Irritations has long been Australia’s best public policy site and it is now even more important. Continue reading »
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US buttresses anti-China wall – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: America bolsters defence ties with Tokyo, Seoul and Manila. Plus: Diplomat a strong voice for polite countries; India planning Ukraine peace effort; BRICS nations interested in Belt and Road scheme; Beijing to unleash domestic demand; Olympic swimmers awesome but archers more so. Continue reading »
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New Governance arrangements for Pearls and Irritations
From a private to a public company and determined to fill the void left by our monopoly and Washington focussed media. Continue reading »
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Bad news for the media
The latest Reuters Institute and University of Oxford report on media in Australia and the world has been published – and it’s bad news for almost all the media – and to some extent the reading public. Continue reading »
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News Corp – How a rogue organisation operates. A repost from 27 October 2017-slightly updated.
Rupert Murdoch demands loyalty from his followers, not competence. Continue reading »
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Twenty thousand articles in Pearls and Irritations and counting
It was quite a surprise when I noticed last week that we had posted so many articles over 13 years. Continue reading »
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China’s first steps as crisis deal-maker – Asian Media Report Extra
Beijing is projecting an image of China as a crisis deal-maker with peace as its priority, as Asian media are reporting this week. Continue reading »
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AUKUS and the pride of politicians
With AUKUS, the pride of politicians has become an obstacle to reaching the best solution to the ‘national security’ conundrum. In the end, it could be that ego-driven reluctance to shift from entrenched positions results in the Australian people being delivered a disaster. Continue reading »
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Nothing to fear here
Active Muslim participation in our democracy should be encouraged and celebrated, not feared. Continue reading »
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It’s the Voice of ‘Rural Nullius’ on a Jim Crow Country Hour
With just a few more stories farmers in the south of Israel would have been granted as much air time as all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations in Australia put together. Continue reading »