Today
Bonfire of the CEOs: Rear Window’s 2023 year in review
The year ended with a lecture from the mining establishment, but not before a carry-on of CEOs joined the unemployment queue.
- Myriam Robin and Mark Di Stefano
Yesterday
Billionaire Richard White spends $11m on Rolling Stone’s local owner
The WiseTech founder, worth an estimated $10.5 billion, will bankroll ASX-listed Vinyl Group’s acquisition of The Brag Media.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
This Month
Elon Musk’s X in political advertising push to offset revenue falls
Plans for new political ads team to hit $US100 million in sales ahead of US presidential election are met with industry scepticism.
- Hannah Murphy
ABC cuts Q+A schedule by 40pc in 2024
After a tumultuous year involving the departure of host Stan Grant and contentious discussions about Israel and Gaza, the show has been cut to 24 episodes for next year.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Higgins said ‘I don’t want to’, lip-reader tells court
Giving evidence in Federal Court, witness Tim Reedy said CCTV footage suggested Bruce Lehrmann had been “plying” Ms Higgins with alcohol that night.
- Miklos Bolza
The ABC’s new chair faces a big audience problem
For the first time in its measured history, fewer than two in three Australians interact with the ABC each week.
- Nick Bonyhady and Sam Buckingham-Jones
Google, Meta warned: Negotiate new media deals or face mediation
Many of the News Media Bargaining Code deals struck in 2021 are up for renewal next year. The government says it will designate platforms like Meta and Google.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Seven Network’s Spotlight goes all in with Bruce Lehrmann
It’s hard to find a good hairdresser today. So it was match made in heaven when one of the broadcaster’s exclusive interviewees, Anthony Koletti, met another.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Wilkinson points to Ten’s lawyers: ‘I trusted the advice’
Giving evidence in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial, journalist Lisa Wilkinson says she deferred to Network Ten’s legal advice.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Nine publishing boss James Chessell to depart
The executive oversaw a period of hard-hitting investigative journalism across the company’s mastheads.
- Updated
- Nick Bonyhady
Wilkinson denies ‘pride and ego’ drove Logies speech praising Higgins
Former Ten journalist Lisa Wilkinson hit out at Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister over questions she says made her sound like a “cheap tabloid journalist”.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
James Packer buys up $US80m stake in Ten owner, Paramount Global
Mr Packer returned to the world of media earlier this year as an investor in broadcaster Alan Jones’ Australian Digital Holdings.
- Primrose Riordan
ASIC sued Star’s board a year ago. The case will be heard in 2025
ASIC’s case against Star’s board, launched 12 months ago, has come to a standstill because a judge is so busy he can’t hear it until February 2025.
- Michael Pelly
Kerry Stokes walks away from SAS defence charity
The mogul has stepped down from an SAS charity he co-founded.
- Updated
- Mark Di Stefano
Potentia promises cash before Christmas to up pressure on Whispir deal
Rival suitor Pendula is expected to reveal its binding offer within days as the private equity firm offers shareholders a speedy deal.
- Nick Bonyhady
BRS emails to stay secret after Stokes agrees to cover Nine’s costs
Kerry Stokes has agreed to pay the costs of Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case, meaning a cache of emails between the billionaire, his corporate fixer and the disgraced soldier’s legal team will stay secret.
- Updated
- Max Mason
Morry Schwartz steps back as publisher of The Monthly, Quarterly Essay
The wealthy publisher and property developer has told staff he will step down as Schwartz Media chairman to give his publications space to grow.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Major retailers threaten to siphon away $1.1b in advertising spend
Morgan Stanley says Coles, Woolworths and Amazon are taking market share from media groups. But publishers and broadcasters are fighting back.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Morrow Sodali shakes up corporate PR with Citadel-Domestique merger
Christian Sealey, the firm’s international boss, said it worked with almost all the country’s largest listed companies and there was plenty of room for growth.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Lachlan Murdoch cancels Christmas bash
The Murdochs aren’t having a Christmas party at their Bellevue Hill estate this year; Nine cuts jobs; ABC political editor’s questionable job ad placement.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
