Journalists’ union gives notice to quit Australian Press Council
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance hopes its decision to withdraw from the Australian Press Council will spark a discussion about media regulation.
Australia: ‘Facebook move reinforces need for a News Media Bargaining Code’
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance said Facebook is abusing its dominant position and is holding Australian news agencies, advertisers and consumers to ransom with its decision to block sharing of content from Australian news media outlets.
Australia: Defamation outcomes chill public interest journalism
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said the recent judgment in a case filed by a businessman against a local media network highlights the need to adopt defamation law reforms in Australia.
Australia: ‘Journalists need better protection, not prosecution’
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said there is still an urgent need for much broader reform to remove laws that criminalise journalism in Australia.
Australia urged to follow up Afghan report on war crimes with prosecutions
An investigation found credible information of 23 incidents of unlawful killing of 39 people by Australian forces in Afghanistan. The Australian soldiers who came forward to speak out about these incidents challenged a culture of secrecy and silence that has surrounded the Australian Defence Force for many years.
Australia: Senate media inquiry urged to consider multiple challenges facing the industry
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance welcomes a new Senate inquiry into Australia’s media and offers its expertise on the role of public interest journalism, concentration of media ownership, and the impact of digital platforms, among other issues affecting the industry.
MEAA condemns China’s harassment of Australian journalists
After the detention of CGTN news anchor Cheng Lei in China, two more Australian journalists were threatened, harassed, and forced to evacuate the country.
Australia: Queensland needs journalist shield laws now
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance pointed out that Queensland is the last jurisdiction in Australia not to have shield law protection for journalists, which is vital for public interest journalism.
Australia: Public interest journalism wins in defamation reforms
Media groups said the current defamation laws are used to threaten journalists in order to avoid legitimate scrutiny.
Australia: Journalists insist possible prosecution of ABC reporter must be dropped
The police recommended that charges should be considered against ABC journalist Dan Oakes for stories that exposed allegations of war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.
Australia: War on journalism still raging a year after police raids
A year after the police raided the home of a journalist and media office, Australia’s press freedom is still undermined by laws that “inhibit the public’s right to know”.
New spy bill threatens press freedom in Australia
The law will allow security officials to access Australians’ personal information that is held by US information technology organizations such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, YouTube and more.
Australia: ‘Court decision on ABC raid a blow to press freedom’
Media groups said the court decision upholding the warrants used by the police to raid the ABC offices is another blow to press freedom in Australia.
Australia: Concern over hike in secret access to journalists’ data
Australian Federal Police were granted six warrants to access journalists’ data on 20 occasions.
Australia: Axing of Arts Department a fresh blow for struggling sector
“… as we have seen with the erosion of the public’s right to know and attacks on press freedom, this is a government that is intent on silencing the storytellers, particularly those who confront it on issues it would rather keep hidden.”
Australia: Media industry must unite against gender-based online abuse
A report about the online harassment of women media workers and proposed strategies to counter gender-based abuse.