Fact at Meta, News at Nine, Cyber security
Issue 1/2025
Michael looks at Meta’s decision to end fact-checking in the US and what this means for the role of the Facebook Oversight Board, while Derek considers the regulatory gap that allows Nine to pull its local news service from Darwin. Dr Susanne Lloyd-Jones, looks at how journalists and law-makers might need to brush up their act on cyber security. And we introduce Dr Alena Radina – our new Postdoctoral Research Fellow – who tells us about her research interests and background.
Delays, stings and dumping print
Issue 2/2025
Monica looks at the continuing news funding crisis. Alana discusses at the decision by Australian Community Media to move all its 65 daily and non-daily mastheads to only one print edition per week over the next seven years. Tamara examines instances of media stings gone bad following News Corp’s embarrassing attempt to catch out instances on anti-Semitism and Alena is looking at the voluntary Ethical Political Advertising Code to combat disinformation in the lead up to the impending federal election.
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Will transparency fix the trust deficit?
Issue 3/2025
Derek considers the implications of the sale of Southern Cross Austereo’s television network to Australian Digital Holdings – operator of right-wing YouTube channel Newsmax. Tamara turns her eye to the UK, where the government has proposed a copyright exemption for AI training. Transparency over data sources won’t give much relief to creatives, or the news industry, who are incensed. Michael looks at last week’s AI-related kerfuffle at the LA Times, where a new bias-o-meter produced more controversy than transparency and Alexia highlights an upcoming event next week, Securing the Sustainability of News and Journalism in Australia, featuring Julie Eisenberg, Lenore Taylor, Professor Allan Fels and George Siolis, which ties into the latest episode of our podcast, Double Take and joint IIC/CMT report.
Follow the money: legal battles, tech lobbying, and viral hate
Issue 4/2025
Michael examines the backlash over Clive Palmer’s controversial election ads, challenging the notion of impartiality and the boundaries of acceptable political advertising. Gary investigates concerns regarding Gazette News’ affiliation with the teal independent movement. Derek discusses the major American tech companies’ lobbying efforts, urging the Trump administration to pressure Australia into relaxing its regulations on social media and streaming services. And Alena focuses on the interactions between digital hate and real-world hate crimes.
Regulators, the Donald and ‘situationships’
Issue 5/2025
Gary Dickson is looking at the media regulator’s first Media Diversity Measurement Framework Report, and Michael Davis is looking at the threat of deep fakes in this election campaign and what the Australian Electoral Commission thinks we should do about them. Kieran takes a look at OpenAI’s new image generation tool, which millions are signing up to use, and Alexia tells us about the latest Double Take podcast!
Under pressure: Meta, YouTube & the battle for influence
Issue 6/2025
The Federal Trade Commission is on Meta’s heels—Derek explains why. Chris reveals YouTube’s growing role in Australian ‘electioneering’. Michael connects the dots between Meta’s scandal-laden history and Australia's push for youth social media laws. Plus, Alexia delivers your quick-hit guide to our most recent podcasts.
And there was an election
How far is too far for the ABC when interviewing guests with something to sell? Gary asks the hard questions. Lisa Main– co-author of our December 2023 report on Gen AI and Journalism – on bots, influencers and the polarisation of voters, while Monica dissects Peter Dutton’s characterisation of “hate media”. Kieran explores Europe's new digital platform dispute systems—and what they could mean for Australia.
Under the influence
Issue 8/2025
What’s ahead for incoming communications minister Anika Wells? Monica sets the scene. Alena presents findings from a new CMT study on how Trump-style populism emerged in the Australian election. Michael closes the loop, showing how Trump’s tech alliances are impacting AI regulation globally.
Choice, data and the AI highway
Issue 9/2025
AI is racing ahead—but where exactly are we headed? Tamara mines Mary Meeker’s mammoth 340-page trend report for clues. Derek unpacks three major reports on the health of Australian news media. Chris challenges the assumptions we use to define who is a journalist in the age of YouTube. And Monica poses a relatable question: when you need a quick answer, are you still Googling—or are you asking ChatGPT?
On the frontline
Issue 10/2025
AI, disinformation, and press freedom collide in this issue. Michael delves into the Digital News Report 2025 to ask: how comfortable are we with AI in the newsroom? Simon considers stronger legal protections for journalists reporting from crisis zones. Tamara explores the rise of slopaganda—AI-generated content designed to deceive. And Derek examines the growing friction between digital creators and the justice system as influencers and news outlets are issued warnings for breaching suppression orders in the Erin Patterson triple murder trial.
The Lattouf decision, the ABC and impartiality
Issue 11 /2025
The Federal Court’s decision in the Antoinette Lattouf case is forcing the ABC to scrutinise its hiring and firing practices, but the decision should also prompt it to rethink what it expects of its journalists. In this newsletter, we’re focussing on one core issue: how workplace laws prohibiting an employer from terminating an employee – including a journalist – for their political opinions intersect with the ABC’s statutory obligation to ensure impartiality in its journalism.
Broadcast bans, online wins and cartoonist losses
Issue 12/2025
The past fortnight has brought a series of flashpoints – both in Australia and abroad – that remind us how closely journalism, politics, and social justice are intertwined. In this newsletter, Derek examines ACMA’s decision to reject Free TV Australia’s updated industry code. Kieran analyses X and Canadian activist Chris Elston’s win against the eSafety Commission. And Alena looks at the increasing challenges faced by political cartoonists.
Kiss-cams, climate misinfo and AI influencers
Issue 13/2025
This newsletter explores fascinating and sometimes troubling developments in media and law. Heather Ford writes about landmark new research into climate change misinformation, which is growing subtler and more insidious. Monica Attard asks whether fact checking is on its last legs after Google turned off its support and Meta readies to do the same. And Alena Radina explores the curious world of AI influencers, who may not be real, but who make real money, before Sacha Molitorisz looks at Hulk Hogan, hapless Astronomers and the vexing issue of privacy.
The AI Paradox
Issue 14/2025
Since generative AI hit the headlines in 2022, few industries have felt the impact of the hype and hysteria that accompanied the technology more than news. This newsletter is devoted to some key issues highlighted in our report Gen AI and Journalism: Towards common principles. Monica looks at how the news industry is dealing with the need to take a collaborative approach as it recognises the common needs, and in some ways, a common enemy, brought by AI disruption. Tamara looks at relevant developments in copyright around the globe, focusing on the raft of cases currently before the courts that could seriously impact AI companies if judgements go against them. Michael looks at whether Australian newsrooms are falling behind the game. While they are certainly cognisant of the potential for AI to improve workflow efficiencies and save costs, many newsrooms have found that, given the limitations of AI tools and the need for robust oversight, the benefits still don’t outweigh the costs.
News and the public interest: defamation, copyright and public comment
Issue 15/2025
Serious allegations of failures in patient care are quintessential defamation fodder; when directed at a public figure with a background of personal and professional achievement, they almost invite litigation. Derek discusses a major breakthrough for publishers – in Nine’s successful use of the new public interest defence for the reporting on surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis. Dr Sarah Hook explains the Game Meats v Farm Transparency decision and how it breaks new ground – not for the better. She explains how this decision raises real concerns for public interest journalism. Monica considers the ABC’s new guidelines that will govern public comments by staff. While they make the internal complaints process clearer, do they help to manage different views on the place of impartiality? Chris Hall examines the promise of AI for research and encounters a startling admission by an AI assistant about quality control of its own free and subscription offers.
Inheritances, information and whistleblowing
Issue 16/ 2025
Michael explores how the United States and the European Union deal with data and text mining copyright exceptions, after the bombshell suggestion from the Australia Productivity Commission that AI companies be given wider scope than currently available to use copyrighted material. Tamara looks at the latest move to water down our freedom of information laws which would wind back transparency of government behaviour. Susanne Lloyd Jones on an interview with Cameron Stewart, national affairs reporter for The Australian on an idea that could revitalise the D-notice system. Monica looks at a proposal to establish a Whistle-blowers Ombudsman. Would that have helped Richard Boyle, who blew the whistle on what he claimed was illegal ATO behaviour?
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Inheritances, information and whistleblowing_Issue 16_2025.pdf
Who controls the story?
Issue 17/2025
Sacha examines the issue of privacy in light of the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on data and digital technology, Michael surveys recent tensions between government information practices, media freedoms, and the public’s right to know. And Alena explores the future of political satire after a series of interviews with political cartoonists.
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Stepping back
Issue 18/2025
DIGI, the tech industry lobby group behind the 2021 Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, is considering giving up on policing misinformation because it says the practice is subjective and linked to people’s beliefs and value systems. Michael investigates. China is set to give up on Tik Tok in the United States, under threat of closure. Kerry Stokes is stepping back too – from Seven West Media, which he proposes selling to Southern Cross Austereo. Derek takes a look at what this means for media diversity.
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Games of trouble
Issue 19/2025
Derek investigates ACMA’s latest decency breach finding against the Kyle and Jackie O show and asks why we seem to be back at the beginning of the enforcement path. Kieran examines the definitional hair-splitting underlying the public discussion about which platforms will fall under the social media ban, and queries whether the regulatory approach is genuinely responsive to risk. Finally, Michael looks at Elon Musk’s announcement of Grokipedia, his AI-generated alternative to Wikipedia, in the context of alarming drops in user traffic to both Wikipedia and news websites.
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Press corp crisis and tech reg crunch
Issue 20/2025
Derek looks at what’s left of the Pentagon press corps in the US and its link to the media scene in Australia. Sacha considers some recent high profile regulatory action against digital platforms. Derek, then provides insights from our submission to the review of the Australian Code of Practice on Misinformation and Disinformation. Alexia discusses our recent podcast ep with Noelle Martin on image-based sexual abuse, and flags our upcoming event, "Can News Survive AI?"
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