2023 | newsletters
The year in review and AI in newsrooms - In our newsletter for 15 December, Sacha spoke with ex-ACCC chair Rod Sims, journalism scholar Anya Schiffrin and media consultant Hal Crawford about the NMBC - 3 years on - covering fairness, transparency and whether the code should cover generative AI. Michael reveals our research into AI and newsrooms, hot off the press this week; and Monica describes the CMT’s deep dive into regional media. Meanwhile, Derek outlines some last minute developments in media policy and regulation.
The balancing Act - In our newsletter of 1 December 2023, Monica reflects on the open letter advocating for ethical reporting in Israel and Palestine. and writes about its implications for journalistic principles of impartiality and the reputation of the profession more broadly. Sacha draws attention toward news sites that are dedicated to uplifting news stories from around the globe. Michael writes about the imperative for digital platforms to strike a balance between transparency in information and compliance with legislation and we share our latest CMT podcast, in which, Ayesha spoke with the founder of Zan Times, a Canada-based news site that is led by Afghan women journalists in exile.
Accountability, prominence and impartiality - For our newsletter of 17 November 2023, Ruth Janal, professor of law at Germany’s Bayreuth University, and CMT visiting fellow, discusses Europe’s broad approach to platform accountability under its Digital Services Act (DSA). She notes in particular its differing approach to Australia on data access and enforcement. On a similar theme, Sacha introduces Californian tech-lawyer Richard Whitt, who visited CMT last week to discuss his ideas for promoting platform accountability and improving trust in the digital media space. Meanwhile, Derek looks at the contradictory findings in the research conducted by Free TV and ASTRA on public attitudes to imposing rules on television manufacturers to increase the prominence of free-to-air content and services. And finally, Monica discusses the difficulty of reporting on Gaza when so much is at stake, the subject of an online forum held last week.
Going regional, freedom and accountability - in our newsletter of 3 November 2023, We discuss our NEW regional news media report release. Derek takes a look at how media standards schemes work in Germany – as part of CMT’s broader work on how well or otherwise, our own many media standards schemes are working. Tim interviewed Genevieve Jacob, from the Canberra based start-up Region Media for our Double Take podcast.Michael has been listening in on Senate Estimates hearings and the concerns of some MP’s about the proposed new ACMA powers to combat misinformation on digital platforms
Tackling Chaos - For our newsletter of 20 October, Kieran comments on Australia’s approach to regulating digital platforms.Michael writes about the Australian government’s proposed Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill. Simon writes about how judicial efforts to ensure the rights and safety of journalists covering the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas are being challenged.
Holy grails, defamation update, and can AI change how journalism covers refugees? - For our newsletter of 6 October, Tim takes a look at the US site 538 – once a darling of the start-up scene – which has been absorbed by Disney’s ABC and is now a shadow of its old self. Derek is looking at the increasingly fractured state of our supposedly national defamation laws. And Ayesha examines the potential of AI to change the way reporters cover refugees and detention centres – especially with the use of AI generated images.
Improving the news, with the help of quantum physics - Our newsletter of 22 September is all about making news better. From Cardiff in Wales, Monica reports on the latest in journalism scholarship; from the airwaves, Derek discusses the perils of undisclosed commercial deals on radio; and Sacha teams up with Chris Ferrie to explore what quantum physics can teach us about voting in the Voice referendum.
Bills, balance and boycotts - For our newsletter of 8 September 2023, Ayesha looks at dangers for journalism in the government’s proposal to criminalise accessing or possessing violent extremist material. Sacha finds an uncanny familiarity in the circumstances surrounding Meta’s blocking of news in Canada. Our UTS colleague Wanning Sun talks us through her recent research on the Australian media’s relationship with the Chinese-Australian community, and Monica gives her take on the Walkley walkouts. Finally, don’t miss our latest podcast, where Monica talks with the editors of a new book on journalism during the pandemic.
From literature to AI - unveiling modern challenges - our newsletter of 25 August Monica delves into the heart of conversations at the Byron Writers Festival that questioned objectivity, balance, and the trustworthiness of news sources. Derek writes about some suggestions the team made in the submission to the proposed Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2023. Michael discusses the possible impact of AI for Wikipedia. Lastly, Sacha’s talks about the UTS Law Tech Challenge which brought together UTS law students, a software company, a law firm and four not-for-profit organisations to build apps in pursuit of social justice.
(Not quite) all about AI - For this newsletter of 11 August, Evana Wright and David Lindsay start to sketch out the case for extending the News Media Bargaining Code to recognise the use of news content by generative Al (genAI).Michael explains the position we've adopted in a new submission on 'Safe and Responsible Al in Australia', and Sacha gives a round-up of contributions to last week's symposium on 'Humanising Al'. Monica considers News Corp's active turn to Al for its local newsrooms, while Chris looks at a different aspect of journalism and technology: the educational background of You Tubers engaged in 'platform journalism'.
Ethics amid digitalisation - For our newsletter of 28 July, we discuss CMT research on how journalists use AI, being presented at the 2023 Humanising AI Futures Symposium at UTS. Sacha considers the ethical question of whether a sour breakup between two politicians is of public interest or rather a private event between two individuals who deserve, and in this case required, privacy in the media coverage.
Tim Koskie discusses Wikipedia's role in the digital transition and the concerns of its contributors about AI tools.
Double bodies, double takes - In this newsletter of 14 July, Sacha casts an eye at the complexities of balancing free speech with other rights. Tim narrows his gaze on Twitter, where the balance seems to have been lost, asking why we continue to stick it out. And Derek expands on the strife in Canada, where Meta and Google are poised to pull news from their platforms.
Russia, Reddit and other cage fights - In this newsletter of 30 June, antalised by the prospect of Twitter v eSafety and Musk v Zuck, we examine a series of heavyweight bouts. Derek takes a ringside seat for the next round of the slugfest that is Australia v misinformation. Monica looks abroad to call the unfailingly unpredictable contest of Putin v Normalcy. Tim covers the unseemly backyard brawl between Reddit and its own moderators; and Michael reports on news v AI, where all that’s at stake is our future.
Habits, ethics and descriptors - In this newsletter of 16 June, we discuss the launch of Chrisanthi Giotis' first book Borderland: Decolonizing the Words of War. Michael looks at whether it's fair for journalists to now refer to Ben Roberts Smith as a ‘war criminal’ whilst Sacha delves into the ethics of journalists using the social media profiles of those who died in the Singleton bus crash last weekend, ahead of their identities being revealed by police.
Defamation, coronation and tech regulation - In this newsletter of 2 June, Michael looks at Twitter’s withdrawal from the voluntary EU Disinformation Code and the impending application of the Digital Services Act in the EU, while Sacha notes the release of a new Australian government consultation on AI and considers some of the higher level principles for tech regulation. Derek discusses the dismissal by the Federal Court of the appeal by Peter V’landys over the ABC’s 7.30 report on ‘wastage’ of thoroughbred racehorses and Monica on the ABC's panel discussion feat. Stan Grant, that the Ombudsman found did not breach the broadcaster’s impartiality rules. Monica explores if there was another way to cover the critical issue of Indigenous dispossession?
Budget, impunity and the AI Act - In this newsletter of 19 May, Derek writes about the Coalition’s Budget in Reply speech, in which Opposition leader Peter Dutton proposed a ban on gambling ads during the broadcasting of games.Ayesha on a special report by a leading international press freedom watchdog. The European Parliament has moved a step closer to a full-on ban on facial recognition in public spaces and other harmful AI systems, Emma highlights some shortcomings in the text. Shaun sheds light on how AI hallucinations make GPT an unreliable research assistant.
Automated influence, press freedom and outsiders offside - In this newsletter of 5 May, Monica looks at another problem with the ready availability of the new AI tools – their ability to automate the production of news, or news-like, content, sometimes of questionable veracity. Of course, AI is not the only hot media issue. Ayesha looks at Australia’s performance in the latest World Press Freedom Index (hint: still worrying), Sacha comments on the ACCC’s findings about influencer advertising on social media, and Derek examines ACMA’s recent breaches of the Outsiders program’s climate coverage.
ChatGPT, Fox News and lies in the public sphere - In this newsletter of 21 April, Tim questions the motivations of Elon Musk slapping the Twitter accounts of the ABC and SBS with the label, ‘government-funded media’. Liz Giuffre reveals her research into one of Sydney’s former cultural hubs, the Hopetoun Hotel, which aims to ensure that its history is told by all those involved, not just the boys in the bands. Michael reflects on Google calling for the regulation of AI, which is having issues with ‘hallucinations’. And Sacha draws a link from these AI hallucinations to Fox’s out-of-court settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for falsehoods spread during the 2020 US election.
Better than chocolate. Read this! - In our newsletter of 7 April, Hamish from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which calls CMT home in Sydney, looks at the cultural impact the Panama Papers has had since the investigation was first published 7 years ago. Derek updates you on the policy submissions CMT has been working on. Michael and Sacha have been burning the midnight oil at an international conference on Platform Governance Research where they talked about the News Media Bargaining Code, being replicated or adapted in other jurisdictions around the world.
Trust, reliability and responsibility - in our newsletter of 24 March, Monica kicks off with a timely interview with Laura Tingle. Sacha looks into the launch of NewsGuard in Australia, which aims to provide users with guidance on authoritative news sources. And finally, Ayesha rounds out our discussion of trust when she relates the observations of Indonesians journalists who spoke of the problems with 'hoax' news and the highjacking of original journalism in Indonesia.
Free speech and responsibility - in our newsletter of 10 March, Monica Attard reflects on the Adelaide Writers Week, which was not without controversies. Sacha examines the media coverage of the online abuse that ABC host Lisa Millar received last week. And we discuss a visit to the Centre by a delegation of journalists from the Philippines.
Policy on the boil and media mistakes - in our newsletter of 24 February, Derek addresses the question of which regulator should be tasked with managing the external dispute resolution scheme for digital platforms proposed by the ACCC, and Sacha looks at the proposed reforms issuing from the review of the Privacy Act.
Crikey! Regulating misinformation and media framing - In our newsletter of 10 February, Derek takes a look at the new governments Revive national cultural policy which includes a commitment to the introduction of Australian screen content on streaming platforms. Michael discusses Communications Minister Michelle Rowlands announcement that the government wants ACMA to get new powers to hold digital platforms to account and improve their efforts to combat harmful misinformation and disinformation.Monica on the legal battle between Crikey and Lachlan Murdoch, and the perils of discovery. And finally Ayesha speaks to mainstream media coverage of the troubles in Alice Spring and the alcohol bans which are proving to be quite controversial.
2023 trends - exit Pandemic; enter AI - For our newsletter of 27 January - Tim reveals what Australians think of media diversity, Derek talks streaming and siphoning and Sacha asks ChatGPT if it has any predictions for media in 2023
