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!