Media Flash – Aus Media News And Jobs E-Newspaper

IN THIS EDITION: Mob Rule: Radio Fiji, TV Off Air - Radio Re-Valued - Schildberger Says - What Are We Bid For 60 Seconds - 'Age' Thumps 'Mpg' Chest- Australian Media Job Directory

SCOOP EDITORS NOTE: Media Flash is delighted to have secured agreement with the publishers of the leading Australian media news E-Newspaper Media Flash to bring Media Flash to the Scoop audience weekly on Mondays. Inside you will find news, views, and inside information from the world of Australian media - and increasingly from New Zealand media. It will be published in the Headlines wire.

May 29, 2000 - Mail Batch No. 057

Media Flash

and Australian Media Job Directory

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Monday, May 29, 2000

Expressed Monday Mornings to 5967 Media Decision Makers.

Confidential Weekly E-Newspaper. Published by Ash Long.

Phone/Fax: 1-800 231 311. E-Mail: mediaflash@yahoo.com

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Inside 'Media Flash' This Week

* RADIO RE-VALUED: DMG'S $155 million buy changes balance sheets

* SCHILDBERGER SAYS: 'We didn't really need Information Australia'

* WHAT ARE WE BID FOR 60 SECONDS? McAlpine to auction Ten's TV ads

* 'AGE' THUMPS 'MPG' CHEST: '60 Pages By Christmas', Predicts John Allan

* AUSTRALIAN MEDIA JOB DIRECTORY: See bottom of page

Suburban Newspapers Special

* ANNUAL AWARDS: All the prize winners from Saturday's Gala Dinner in Adelaide.

Breaking Media News In A Flash

FIRST EDITION: Sunday - At www.crikey.com.au/media/mediaflash.html

LATE FINAL EXTRA: Monday AM - E-Mailed To Your Desktop

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Fairfax Community Newspapers

Victorian Head Office: 142-144 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Dandenong, 3175.

Phone: (03) 9238 7777. Fax: (03) 9238 7682.

Publishers of: Dandenong Journal, Monash Journal, Knox Journal, Maroondah Journal, Yarra Ranges Journal, Whitehorse Journal, Footscray Mail, Altona-Laverton Mail, Williamstown Advertiser, Brimbank Advocate, Melton Express-Telegraph, Bacchus Marsh Express-Telegraph,Macedon Ranges Telegraph, Sunbury Telegraph, Werribee Banner, House & Land.

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Mob Rule: Radio Fiji, TV Off Air

* FIJI TV was forced off air last night (Sunday) after mobs destroyed a TV studio and cameras at Suva, following a protest about a program critical of rebel leader GEORGE SPEIGHT. Cahudhry Government MP JONE TAKUVULA called Speight as a 'two-bit wonder'. Youths carrying sticks, rocks, knives and guns left the Parliamentary compound to make the attack on the TV station. Fijilive.com reports that Fiji One had gone off air, as had Pay TV channels. Fiji One was available on one pay-TV channel only; four of five stations are shut.

* RADIO FIJI studios in Suva were also reportedly hit in Sunday night's attack. Windows were smashed at the radio station building, as armed rioters damaged and torched remaining buildings in the Fiji Islands capital. Earlier, four shots were fired at the back entrance of the home of President, RATU SIR KAMISESE MARA. Suva's Central Police Station was plunged into darkness, with the electricity source sabotaged. The effect on The Fiji Times Monday edition was unknown, when Media Flash went to print.

* JERRY HARMER, Associated Press cameraman, was shot on Saturday in crossfire between Fiji Army soldiers and rebel troops. He was airlifted to Sydney late yesterday. JOHN FERGUSON, of News Limited, reported that Harmer was shot through the right forearm. JAY TOWN, Melbourne-based Herald Sun photographer, narrowly missed being shot.

Aussie Radio Industry Revalues

* PAUL THOMPSON of DMG Radio Group (through its 85 per cent owned GD Ventures subsidiary, with British GWR) re-valued the Australian redio industry on Wednesday with a $155 million bid for a Sydney FM radio station licence. BRUCE GORDON'S WIN TV Wollongong (through its Wollongong Radio Pty Ltd) paid $10 million for the new Campbelltown FM licence. ABA chairman PROFESSOR DAVID FLINT offered a warm welcome to auction participants: 2UE'S TONY MOLTZEN dropped out between $80-100 million, REG GRUNDY'S RG Capital at $100 million, US company Second Generation dropped at $140 million. JANE SCHULZE of Fairfax said BARRIE UNSWORTH'S 2KY (NSW Trades and Labor Council) went to $145 million. Flint said the ABA was 'pleasantly surprised'. It was the first new commercial licence release in Sydney in 20 years.

Thompson Sets Pace ... Again

* PAUL THOMPSON also re-set radio values in Australia by bidding $80 million for 2DAY-FM in the 1980's. Austereo boss PETER HARVIE was quoted to say the English DMG group had used the weak Australian dollar to break into the market. RG'S TIM HUGHES was said to describe the price paid as 'extraoprdinary' and predicting the station was unlikely to be profitable.

* SUSAN HILLIARD, partner at law firm Mallesons, was reported as the 'dummy' bidder for DMG ... and to whom the licence was 'knocked down'.

Rex Hunt's Radio Daze

* REX HUNT'S arrangement with 3AW has reached $325,000 this year, according to papers filed in his Court dispute with former agent GREG NUMA. The radio package is said to be worth $325,000 in 2001, and $350,000 in 2002. KARL MALAKUNAS of the Herald Sun reported on Saturday that Hunt claims he has not been paid $720,000 of a $1.086 million deal with K-mart. Hunt claims he has not received $360,000 of an $850,000 deal with RAMS Home Loans. Other work has been with Shimano fishing gear, Dairy Farmers milk products, Pan MacMillan publishing house and Discovery Leisure Network media group. The papers say Hunt had a $60,000 promotion package with Crown Casino. Hunt's wife LYNNE is said to have been told by Pan MacMillan that her husband was paid $177,995.12 in royalties for his Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventures book.

ASNA Awards - All The Winners

BY ASH LONG in Adelaide (Judge of Best Suburban Newspaper)

* WAYNE BUTTNER, Editor-in-Chief of Melbourne's Leader Newspapers, was main recipient of awards at Saturday's Australian Suburban Newspapers' Association Southern Division gala night at the Playford Radisson Hotel, Adelaide. ASNA Chairman GENE SWINSTEAD noted the hotel was built on the site of RUPERT MURDOCH'S Adelaide News where Swinstead and Fairfax chief NEIL COLLYER had started their journalism careers. The hotel bar operates where Murdoch's office was situated, the ballroom occupies the area once the Editorial Department.

* SEAN CALLANDER of The Werribee Banner (Vic.) accepted the award for Best Suburban Newspaper Under 40,000 Circulation. Second: Doncaster-Templestowe News. Third: Whittlesea Post. Commendation: Weekend Courier Community (WA). News Ltd consultant DON LUDBEY named Progress Press as Best Suburban Newspaper Over 40,000 Circulation, and described its gloss color U magazine as 'sensational'. Second: Community News - Moonee Valley Edition (Vic.) represented by MD GRAEME GOODSON and Editor JIM LAWRENCE. Third: The Journal (Dandenong, Vic.) represented by Editor-in-Chief TREVOR LEWIS.

Best Editorial Award

* RON COLEMAN, Editor of The Western Times (Vic.), accepted ASNA's Best Editorial award winner judged by KIM LEWIS of Lewis Communications. The Stirling Times Community (WA) and Eastern Courier Messenger (SA) were finalists.

* CHARMAINE NEWTON'S '$4000 Scholarship For Secretary's Daughter' story in the Weekly Times Messenger (SA) won the Best News Story award judged by retired Messenger Newspaper Group staffer ALEC MATHIESON. (That company's GM, TOM MILOSEVIC, hosted the evening, chiefly organised by TRACY MOTTOLA, ASNA Secretariat, of Fairfax Community Newspapers). Place-getters were DANIEL MOLONEY of The Melbourne Times for a CityLink tunnel exposé, and the Mornington Peninsula Leader's school inquiry campaign by ADAM COOPER and PETA TOMLINSON (now to work in Hong Kong). ANDREW FAULKNER won commendation for his Eastern Courier news coverage.

Tops For Community Service

* LEANNE RUTHVEN, Editor of the Salvation Army's War Cry, named The Mail (Regional Editor: SUE SCOTT) as winner of the ASNA Community Service award. Second and Third were the Weekly Times Messenger (SA) and Diamond Valley News (Vic.) respectively.

* RIC HILDEBRANDT, Group Real Estate Manager of Leader Newspapers, accepted the Best Newspaper Promotion award for a full-page eight-week series in U Mag, Whitehorse Gazette and Doncaster Templestowe News for TIM FLETCHER'S then-Fletcher & Parker real estate agency. Judge PAUL BURROWS of Brown Orr Fletcher Burrows named Community News as place-getter for its Dining Card and Footy Cash Jackpot promotions.

* MAL CHANDLER, Manager of the Frankston Standard (Vic.), accepted the Best Sports Story award judged by BRUCE LONEY of Cumberland Newspapers (NSW). Reporter PAUL AMY had won the award for a story on a comeback coach, as well as a commendation for a Mordialloc Chelsea News story. Place-getters were STEVEN MILNE of The Advocate (Brimbank, Vic), MATT DEIGHTON of Adelaide's City Messenger, and MICHAEL PLACE of the Waverley Gazette.

Other ASNA Awards

* WENDY McCORMACK, former Cumberland Newspapers Editor-in-Chief, named STEPHEN MARMO'S Moreland Sentinel 'Safe House Support' story as 'Best Pictorial News Story', backed by RICHARD WALKER'S single picture. Placings were achieved by Yarra Ranges Journal, The Heidelberger and the Macedon Ranges Telegraph.

* ANDREW WILSON of Wilson Everard named the Frankston Standard's 110th Anniversary edition as Best Advertising Feature, with Victoria's Community News and Free Press given placings. The Port Adelaide-based Portside Messenger's pub feature was commended.

* Judge SUE MARSHALL gave honors for Best Feature Story to PETA TOMLINSON of the Frankston Standard, with MATT DEIGHTON'S City Messenger cricket tale achieving second place. Third was KAREN McCANN'S bushfire survivor story in the Geelong News placed third.

* ANDREW BROWNBILL of the Doncaster-Templestowe News won first and second prizes in the Best Sports Picture Award judged by JOHN FRENCH and KEN IRWIN of The Age. DAVID SMITH'S Caulfield Glen Eira Leader pix won third. The same judges assessed IAN COOK'S Mornington Peninsula Leader photography as 'Best General Picture'. Second was ANDREW BROWNBILL of Doncaster Templestowe News; and third was IAN RODDIE of the Standard Messenger (SA).

* KATHI DUNBAR of The Advocate took honors for the Most Enterprising Use of Color for the Victorian paper's 'End Of The Century' front-page. Judge JO GINICH of The Ballarat News named the South Australian Leader Messenger and Portside Messenger as place-getters.

* SYLVIA BRADSHAW, Publisher/GM of Leader Newspapers, accepted the award for 'Best House Designed Client Advertisement', as judged by PRUE KIRKALDI of The Starship Enterprise Advertising Agency. Placings were gained by The Echo (MD COLIN DUCK) and The Hobson Bay Times (MD JULIE UPSON).

Online Auctions For Ad Space

* JOHN McALPINE, Network 10 CEO, says online auctions between media buyers for advertising time and space, could be part of the market-place soon. ANDREW McKENZIE of The Australian noted McAlpine's speech to the International Advertisers' Association. McAlpine urged the Nine and Seven Networks to co-operate with an industry proprietary system, but flagged that Ten was prepared to go it alone through its Buyten.com.au website.

MPG To Be 60 Pages

* JOHN ALLAN, Associate Publisher of The Age, predicts that its Melbourne Property Guide gloss color weekly insert will hit 60 pages this year: "The Age MPG has been enthusiastically welcomed by readers and advertiser. New real estate agents are joining The Age each week with product averaging 40-44 pages per week. The outlook is to grow the MPG to around 60 pages by the end of this year based on the response from vendors who wish to appear in the product." Media Flash wonders whether the 60-page product will be an amalgam of MPG and the 24-page Domain midweek section.

* ANTHONY McDONALD, General Manager of The Melbourne Weekly, is more than holding the level of his publication, with this week's edition measuring 128 pages with 97 pages real estate. TMW has sold its 'Property Of The Week' tag to the RACV, which accompanied with a quarter-page to promoted its home loans funded and administered by the Bank of Western Australia.

PINA Nius Online: 10 Bulletins A Day

* NINA RATULELE, Editor of Pacific Islands News Association, advises that the PINA Nius Online was sending out up to 10 news bulletins a day throughout the Fiji crisis: "PINA's members are the radio and TV stations, newspapers, magazines and national associations of journalists in the Pacific Islands. PINA runs a daily e-mail news service for its members in 21 Pacific Islands countries and territories and associate members such as Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia."

'A Silly Report', Says Press Council

* PROFESSOR DENNIS PEARCE'S Australian Press Council says the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies has produced 'a very silly report. which proposes that public monies be spent on a problem that does not exist. The report - In The Public Interest: Monitoring Australia's Media - proposes a taxpayer-paid Media Complaints Commission. "The report is heavy in its support for media control. This, of course, is attractive to many politicians as it enables avoidance of public attention relating to their affairs. However, the report pays scant attention to that most fundamental of principle: that a free society only exists where there is a free press."

Nine To Pre-Empt Seven News Push

* JOHN SORELL, Nine News boss in Melbourne, confirmed with Sunday Age reporter WENDY TUOHY, that the station is examining a 5.30pm half-hour, possibly called Melbourne Extra, and fronted by former Seven newsreader JENNIFER KEYTE. Although this may hit the Channel 10 5pm newshour, it is also thought that the program could pre-empt DAVID ASPINALL'S push to restructure Seven News in Melbourne. Aspinall is believed to have considered poaching MAL WALDEN (Channel 10) and DENIS WALTER (WIN-TV regionals) to improve the ratings currently gained by DAVID JOHNSTON and ANNE FULWOOD. Sorell formerly ran a Melbourne Extra program fronted by JOHN JOST. Former Seven news chief NEIL MILLER is named in Tuohy's article as a strong tip to produce the program. A 5.30pm slot works well in Brisbane, and the same concept is also being considered for Sydney, especially with the Olympic Games in September.

They Said It ...

* ERIC BEECHER goes down in history, telling Age media reporter MELISSA FYFE that everything was going 'gangbusters' at Text Media, just prior to closing The Eye magazine.

* MICHAEL SCHILDBERGER has just dismissed the $30 million failed deal to absorb MICHAEL WILKINSON'S company into his Infosentials group: "We didn't really need Information Australia,' he told Fairfax reporter OLIVIA HILL-DOUGLAS. "We're comfortable where we're going now."

Asia-Pacific Report

* ALASTAIR THOMPSON'S Scoop site (New Zealand) carried a large number of items on the Fiji coup, included an authorised lift of last week's Media Flash coverage.

This Week In Byron Bay

APN's Northern Star boycotted by local schools for prejudicial reporting of teachers' strike; local politicians to join Mullumbimby High School's Walk for Reconciliation; NorthPower's controversial cable much noisier than calculated; Fast Buck$'s open letter to John Mant; Pyramid selling and casino economics: globalisation explained - all in this week's ECHO, Byron Shire's independent locally-owned weekly with attitude. THE ECHO hits the streets of Byron Bay and the web at www.echo.net.au on Tuesdays. National advertisers are welcome to communicate with Australia's most sophisticated rural market. Email geoff@echo.net.au or ring 02 66841777. (Advt)

Book Department

* SHANE MALONEY'S 'Murray Whelan' series, Stiff, The Brush-Off and Nice Try, published by Text Publishing, scored a full-page ad in Text Media's Melbourne Weekly this week.

* BARRY DICKINS promoted his latest book, Heart And Soul, with a public appearance at the Greater Dandenong Literary Fest.

Public Relations Watch

* SAMANTHA HUDDLE at Rehame writes to Media Flash to advise that her company has agreed to be Principal Sponsor of the Public Relations Institute of Australia Conference 2000, and Major Sponsor of PRIA Victoria's State Awards for Excellence. Entries close June 30.

* JUDITH BARR, former SA television presenter, has become Statewide Superannuation's new liaison officer.

* JULIE CAMERON is new PR Manager at Burswood International Resort Casino (WA). ANNA REID joins as Public Relations Officer.

Press Council Adjudicates

* JACK HERMAN, Executive Director of the Australian Press Council, sends these latest adjudications to Media Flash:

* PETER BLUNDEN'S Herald Sun (Vic.) has lost an adjudication, after a complaint by the Alfred Hospital where photographs had been staged to run alongside a story about general hospital hygiene. The Hospital said it had a loss of donor support and criticism from staff, patients and visitors. The Press Council said the paper overlooked its responsibility to achieve a balance.

* MICHAEL WALSH, Executive Director of Givewell, a firm involved in charitable donations, complained to the Press Council over Sun Herald (Sydney) articles about the charitable giving habits of the rich. Mr Walsh raised concerns on January 31, and it was March 26 before a letter was published. "Had the newspaper not been so dilatory in publishing a reasonably held view contrary to the trhrust of the original articles ... the Press Council would have dismissed the complaint." The complaint was partly upheld.

* PROFESSOR W.H. McCARTHY, a Sydney University cancer expert, challenged Daily Telegraph (Sydney) accuracy over a report on a new vaccine against melanoma. He said the report was misleading, inaccurate and based on inadequate data. The Press Council upheld the complaint, and warned on the need for care in producing reports on medical treatments.

Your ABC

* SUE HOWARD, one-time 3LO breakfast shift presenter, is widely tipped to takeover as ABC radio chief.

* IAN HENSCHKE, South Australian based Landline reporter has been elected by national ABC workers to represent staff on the Corporation's Board.

* TERRY LAIDLER, 3LO drive host, is quitting on June 16 to become Director of the Centre for International Research on Communication and Information Technologies at RMIT University. VIRGINIA TRIOLI of The Bulletin will replace him.

Air Waves

* 2RG GRIFFITH was off the air this week after its transmitter hut was hit by lightning late Wednesday night.

* ADELAIDE FM RADIO PTY LTD has just registered mymmm.com.au and mytriplem.com.au The latter is already being used in press promotions.

* FRESH FM president ZAC ZACHARIA says more than 1000 E-Mails were received after the dance music station was forced off the air in Adelaide.

* STATIONRADIO.COM allows users to tune into thousands of radio stations across the world.

* GEOFFREY CRAWFORD-FISH, replacing PETER NIXON as Southern Cross Broadcasting Chairman, cops a caning in this week's crikey.com.au 'sealed section' put together by STEPHEN MAYNE.

TV Guide

* DR KERRYN PHELPS, TV presenter, has been elected as Chair of the Australian Medical Association.

* ANDREW DENTON is rushing production of a new show, In The Deep End (With IAN THORPE), to go to air on Monday next week (May 27) on the Seven Network. HARVEY SHORE, Mediaweek TV and Pay-TV writer, says the program about the Olympic swimming hoepful is a 'one-off'.

* SKY CHANNEL wants to appoint a Quantel Edit Box Operator to work at Frenchs Forest (NSW).

* BRYAN BROWN and MICHAEL CATON have been signed by Southern Star's ERROL SULLIVAN for a new program titled Bad Cop, Bad Cop. HARVEY SHORE of Mediaweek notes no network has yet signed for the Sydney-based series.

Dot.Com

* JEFF KENNETT, ex-Victorian Premier, is now Chairman of Brisbane-based net security company, Identikey. "Since I retired from Parliament I have evaluated dozens of offers," JGK told AAP.

* SHOPNEWS.COM.AU 'Australia's first personalised community shop and events newsletter', says BRONWYN ST CLAIR, who nonetheless had to take out a half-page in the Bayside Advertiser (Vic.) to brag about the once-a-week E-Mail newspaper.

* THORN AUSTRALIA has registered hoteldigitaltelevision.com.au, and womenshealthmag.com.au has been secured by its namesake company. MATT HANDBURY'S Murdoch Magazines has paid for cakedecorating.com.au, and someone has registered ninemsm.com.au

* MICHAEL HANNAN'S IPMG Interactive Pty Ltd has registered adelaideis.com.au, brisbaneis.com.au, melbourneis.com.au, perthis.com.au and sydneyis.com.au

So, This Is Showbiz

* CATHY FREEMAN, Olympic athlete, has registered a namesake Internet domain. So has AFL footballer MATTHEW LLOYD (Essendon).

* DERRYN HINCH was described as 'much-missed patron of North Adelaide's Royal Oak Hotel' in Saturday's 'Tiser column penned by PATRICK McDONALD and SIMON YEAMAN.

* ROB GELL, Channel 9 weatherman, spoke to the Waverley Day View Club, with The Gazette reporting: "Unknown to many, Mr Gell is a keen environmentalist and a qualified coastal geomorphologist, but he is not a meteorologist."

* BRUCE MANSFIELD (3AK) was conducting his Friday lunch-time session with comedy writer MIKE McCOLL JONES on Friday when a talkback caller asked about the health of former 3AW partner PHILIP BRADY. Said Bruce: "Fine. He hasn't called in five months."

* PHILIP BRADY of 3AW'S Remember When left for overseas early in the week, for three weeks leave, and is touring Bermuda with SHIRLEY MORGAN, widow of US band leader RUSS MORGAN. PAUL CRONIN and PETE SMITH are hosting the AW weekly nostalgia show in Brady's absence.

Australian Media Job Directory

* SEE our Employment Section at the bottom of the page..

Big Names Dept.

* JAMES MURDOCH gave an exclusive interview to CNN's Biz Asia hosted by LORRAINE HANH. Murdoch, in Hong Kong, told ANDREW STEPHENS that STAR-TV - of which he is Co-Chairman - had a firm place in taking a leadership position in the Asia digital market. He side-stepped questions about succession at News Corporation, and said his father RUPERT MURDOCH was in great health, with a 'low-grade' prostate cancer caught early.

* JOHN SINGLETON was interviewed by JOHN SAFRAN this week on ABC-TV'S Two Shot. Sibilant Safran was bad, Singo was sober.

* RENE RIVKIN was subject of SONJA ARMSTRONG'S production of The Fortune Teller.

* JAMES MANNING has taken over as Editor and Publisher of Mediaweek from PHILIP LUKER who remains as a Contributing Editor, and files regular weekly reports.

Smaller Names Dept.

* ALEX CLULOW, Editor of the South Sydney Bulletin, has appeared on the front-page of his own paper under the headline: 'I'm The Bunny!' in a promotion his 'Save The Rabbitohs' Party running for South Sydney Council. Alex is passionate with his support for the South Sydney Rugby League football club, and points to News Limited's control of the RL competition, and their Fox Studios takeover at Moore Park.

* BRUCE GUTHRIE'S Who magazine has registered its namesake domain site.

* STEVE HARRIS' Age staff newsletter, Agenda, highlights eight new trainee journalists at Spencer Street: JAMES CHESSELL, LARISSA DUBECKI, AMANDA DUNN, ANDREW HEASLEY, OLIVIA HILL-DOUGLAS, JULIE SZEGO, FARRAH TOMAZIN and DAVID WROE.

* MAL LEYLAND has sold 13 episodes of his Leyland's Australia to the Ten Network, after the show bombed at Nine. His daughter CARMEL is show in revealing cut-off jeans ... more likely to attract Ten's target demogrphic. Mal's estranged brother, MIKE, is producing a documentary series for the Seven Network.

Movers And Shakers

* On the way up, down or sideways? Tell everyone about your appointment in Media Flash. Send an E-Mail by 5pm Friday to mediaflash@yahoo.com

* AMANDA CRESTANI has left MCMB and has joined Virtual Communities (Melbourne), and has a weekend connection with Bayplay Lodge & Adventure Centre.

* TRACEY DWYER joins Pacific Publications on June 6, after being at Text Media Group.

* JOSHUA KENNEDY-WHITE has left his Account Manager position at Parker & Partners, and joined Howorth Communications in Sydney.

* MICHAEL FISCHER has joined the Mansfield Courier, which says he comes with a strong background in newspaper advertising at Melbourne's Leader group. This week's edition carried 6½ pages of government advertising.

* GEOFF THURSTAN has been appointed CEO of Southern Star Duplitek, replacing NIGEL PRICE who retires after 12 years.

* LEAH De FOREST has joined The Canberra Times after a stint at The Western Times, which - by the way - was moved from West Footscray offices to near the Newport Power Station.

Odds and Ends

* GLYNNE KEELAN. of Custom Media Group, writes to Media Flash, letting us know that Weekends For Two is celebrating its 25th issue, with the $9.95 mag including 200 romantic retreats down the east coast of Australia.

* JAN GROENVELD of the Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform On Blood writes to say The Watchtower Society is now permitting JW's to accept 'fractions of any of the primarty components of blood'. That should boost sales of the door-to-door quarterfold!

* PETER COSTELLO'S GST has been a boon for many small weekly newspaper publishers. Most had up to six full-pages, at casual rate, this past week. And ... an Internet entrepreneur has just registered abncheck.com.au

Overseas Desk

* RUPERT MURDOCH has appointed REBEKAH WADE to edit News Of The World. Wade, 31, was reported to head a lobby last year to remove bare breasts, to gain women readers. The London Evening Standard said News International journalists were in a spin over the appointment.

Court Report

* KERRY PACKER'S PR agents issued a 10-page press release explaining the Australian Consolidated Press chief's current case with the Australian Taxation Office. In other news, Packer's CPH Investment Corp share offer has raised at least $240 million, and been oversubscribed. MALCOLM MAIDEN reports in today's Age and Sydney Morning Herald that CPHI originally intended to raise up to $760 million to relaunch the 31 per cent-owned FXF Trust.

The Local Report

* GLEN ROHAN'S Metro News (Vic.) had to made an embarrassing apology to BRUNO GROLLO'S Grocon Pty Ltd, plus other developers and builders over a Fitzroy (Vic.) development known as the Max apartments. Unfortunately, loudly voiced Union concerns about building safety were about another building.

* SYLVIA BRADSHAW'S Leader Newspapers (Vic.) will have new production arrangements from July 1, with GAVIN DIMMOCK of Image Digital Publications advertising for Typesetters, Graphic Designers and Typists being invited to apply for full-time, part-time and casual positioons at Blackburn, Northcote and Cheltenham offices.

* DAVID LOVEJOY, Consulting Editor at the Byron Shire Echo, took his 'Attitude' column pen to the O'REILLY FAMILY'S Northern Star this week over its front-page attack on teachers: "The hyperbole is absurd but the hypocrisy is worse. Australian Provincial Newspapers, which is half owned by an overseas media conglomerate, is part of the community only through the jobs it provides at the Northern Star and the Byron News. This is not an inconsiderable benefit, but it is debatable whether it makes it part of the community. After all, economic rationalism rules at APN as at any other corporation, and if it suits the bean-counters, jobs are shed, down-graded or moved to Queensland. And, unlike genuinely local businesses, APN's profits do not stay in the community.'

Personal Bests

* CAROLYN BATT, Age journalist, has won the COLUMB BRENNAN Award for excellence in court reporting, as part of the Victoria Law Foundation legal reporting awards. She was recognised for her articles covering the Mt Kersey insider trading trial.

* MICHAEL GORDON, Age National Editor, spent five weeks in remote Australia as part of the paper's reconciliation series leading up to the weekend's Corroboree 2000.

* JESPER FJELDSTAD, Doncaster-Templestowe News sports reporter, has been given a High Commendation in the suburban award category by the Victorian Cricket Association.

Absent Friends

* SIR KENNETH MAY, a former News Limited executive, died last week, aged 85. He retired as Chairman of Advertiser Newspapers Ltd in 1989. "It was his powerful presence in Australia as chief executive which enabled me to absent myself with confidence when the group was expanding in England and America," said News Group boss RUPERT MURDOCH. Friday's service saw former News Limited chairman KEN COWLEY say: "Ken's wisdom, judgement and experience rubbed off on a generation of senior executives and editors." FRANK SHAW, former Adelaide News colleague: "You wouldn't find a better bloke than Ken if you hunted the world." Former News chief-of-staff from the 1950's, MURRAY JAMES, said: "Ken May was a great bloke. I had a tremendous regard for and unlimited appreciation of his skills and friendship." RAE ATKEY'S Sunday Mail article was headed 'Journalism Mourns Leader Of Courage', with the st

Glass House Dept.

* JAMES TSAVIOS, 3AK producer, was asked by afternoon announcer BRUCE MANSFIELD: "What did you do last night?" Tsavios, not the quickest at repartee, shared with listeners that he went to bed at 8.30pm, before rising at 6am. Oops! Tsavios forgot about the 1am-5.30am Overnight shift that he pre-records on the 'Wizard'. Worst still, no-one corrected him, no-one heard.

It's A Date

* JULY 17-20. The 31st Annual PANPA Conference and PANTECH, the PANPA Newspaper Technology Expo, will be held in Sydney, the Olympic City, on July 17-20, 2000. Check it out at www.panpa.org.au/annual_conference_details/ * PANPA has received a great response from editors of newspapers large and small to the inaugural Newspaper of the Year Award, PANPA executive director FRANK KELETT tells Media Flash. The new competition, which will be the premier award for the newspaper industry in this part of the world has attracted entries from PANPA, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association, members in Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia. It is sponsored by trans-Tasman newsprint manufacturer Fletcher Challenge Paper. The sections have been designed to allow all newspapers to compete on reasonably even terms and are being judged by six eminent former newspaper editors. Publishers have to show how they connect with their communities through a project or series of projects.

* PANPA has commissioned a high-tech obelisk from a leading Australian sculptor and one will go to each of the six winners, three for daily and Sunday papers and three covering non-daily papers. The obelisk will be cast for the awards each year from 2000 onwards. The awards will be announced at the formal Newspaper of the Year Dinner, on Thursday, July 20, the climax of the PANPA Annual Conference.

And Now In Sport

* MARTIN BLAKE, Age sports writer, has won the Victorian Cricket Association print journalism award for the most outstanding piece of news reporting for a feature on fast bowler DAMIEN FLEMING. PETER HANLON, Sunday Age Sports Editor, won his award from the Victorian Women's Cricket Association for his feature on 'The Other Invincibles'. Managing Editor - Sport STEPHEN LINNELL said EMMA QUAYLE was highly commended for a diary piece on a day at Premier cricket.

* BRUCE LONEY of Cumberland Newspapers had a sporting word of warning for his Southern state colleagues at Saturday's Australian Suburban Newspapers Association awards dinner: 'The quality and variety of sports stories this year did not match the entries from last year. With most reader surveys telling us that sport is what they want we all should be looking at the advertising space and editorial coverage we give to sport.'

Olympic Countdown

* GEORGE SPEIGHT'S Fiji coup has put the Olympic Torch relay throughout the Islands in doubt. One Media Flash subscriber suggested they could always ask KEVAN GOSPER'S family to do the run through the savaged Suva area.

Members' Mailbag

* NICK TABAKOFF, BRW writer (of CHRIS TYLER exposé fame), has joined the Media Flash subscribers' list. So have JASON SANDFORD and JOHN FAS at ISIS Communications; LARA CRULCICH at Foxtel; GREYSON MALING in Advertising Sales at Family Living & Home magazine (IPMG); ELISABETH TUCKEY, Manager Communications, City of Boroondara; JENNIFER WILSON at Satellite Media; ROBYN AINSWORTH, Chief-of-Staff, and MARNIE O'NEILL (Fairfield Advance) Cumberland Newspaper Group, Sydney.

* Also on the list is DAVID CARROLL, Editor, Traveltrade (Reed Business); EMMA BUCHANAN, Advertising Co-Ordinator, Australian Good Taste (Text Media); AMANDA HARDING, Justice Department, Victoria; BRUCE MONTGOMERY, Tasmanian correspondent of The Australian (also President of the Tasmanian Society of Editors); TONY BARRASS at West Australian Newspapers; MANDI ZONNEVELDT at Melbourne Independent Newspapers; NOEL DANIELS at Leader Newspapers.

* We welcome LIANE REYNOLDS, Communications Co-Ordinator at The Age; ANGELA O'CONNOR, also at The Age; JAMES TONKIN at Tonkin Media; JAMIE DUNCAN at the Diamond Valley News (Vic.); EDITH MALING, marketing consultant at Sing Tao Newspapers; MARK CUBEY at Loop (NZ); ANDY GREGORY (NZ); ANGELA ALTAIR at Hobsons Bay City Council; PAUL BURROWS at Brown Orr Fletcher Burrows; PETER ANTHONY at Rural Press Ballarat (Vic.); ALAN PAUL at Argus Group; GRAEME CUTLER at News Limited.

* A hearty Media Flash Subscription Department welcome to: NAOMI GROVE, Sydney freelance journo ASHLEY HALL, SHAUNA KANE, KAREN MILES, MANDY AITCHISON, ANDREW McBRIDE, LIZZIE MINCHIN, NICOLE HARTLEY, CRAIG PEARSON,

Editor's E-Mail

* DEBORAH KELLY, Creative Director, Social Change Media, writes: "Your newsletter was passed onto me - very sexy indeed, gossip and work. Hmmm." Editor replies: Deborah has obviously seen the writing, and not the writer!

* NINA RATULELE, of the Pina Islands News Association, writes: "Thanks for the most interesting Media Flash. Congratulations on your extensive wrap-up of the Fiji coverage."

Flash Points

* 'SYDNEY STAR-FM' and 'SYDNEY HOT-FM' could be two Trade Marks, Business Name Registrations to be swept up, following DMG'S $155 million FM radio licence purchase.

Stix and Stones

* STEVE STICKNEY, Editor at The Manly Daily, gets involved with the nude, the dude, the food and the lewd. * 'I don't care if I have to get up and swim in the nude at the Olympic trials'' - 1500m swimming champion GRANT HACKETT shows the bodysuit controversy is starting to get under his skin. - The Weekend Australian. *'He has mastered the art of dribbling'' - Manchester United soccer ace DAVID BECKHAM explains the sporting progress of his 14-month-old son BROOKLYN, who was introduced to the crowd after his dad's team was crowned Premier League champions at Old Trafford. - FIONA BARTON (Reuters). * 'Once you've tried the Chinese food at Balgowlah Plaza Dumpling Inn, there is no going back'' - restaurant review reveals what damage too much MSG can wreak upon your syntax. - Northern Beaches Weekender. * 'I'll go and have a look'' - former TV king GRAHAM KENNEDY'S droll responce to a call from a friend who had heard a rumour Gra-Gra had died. - Melba column (The Oz).

Long Shots

* CHANNEL 31 MELBOURNE may soon see some management changes.

* SOME major print equipment purchases may be announced soon in Melbourne and Sydney.

* MORMONS are opening their Temples in Melbourne and Adelaide to outsiders not normally allowed admission. The Church of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter-Day Saints have promoted the Open Days with a 16-page supplement in The Advertiser (SA) and an eight-page insert in the Herald Sun. Other denominations will soon be presented with similar print media proposals.

* AMANDA MEADE says GREG BARNS and ANDREW PARKER are the voices behind HILLARY BRAY, at STEPHEN MAYNE'S crikey.com.au. Mayne says they are not.

Media Money

* NEIL SHOEBRIDGE, BRW Editor, has published the annual 'Rich 200' edition which will be on sale for four weeks. Top listing goes to KERRY PACKER ($8.2 billion wealth). Paper packaging giant RICHARD PRATT is next with $2.7 billion. Media listings include JOHN B. FAIRFAX and TIM FAIRFAX of Rural Press, $950 million; KERRY STOKES of the Seven Network, $900 million; list newcomer WAYNE PASSLOW of Open Telecommunications, $890 million; PHILLIP CORNISH of Vodafone, $655 million; TV producer REG GRUNDY, $635 million; telco man JODEE RICH, $605 million; WIN Media magnate BRUCE GORDON, $430 million; THE HANNAN FAMILY of Independent Print Media group, $345 million; telco brothers BARRY and TIM ROBERTS-THOMSON, $345 million; telco brothers AIDAN and DAVID TUDEHOPE, $300 million; THE KANTOR FAMILY headed by ANNE, RUPERT MURDOCH'S sister, $290 million; THE CALVERT-JONES FAMILY, headed by JANET,

* MATT and FIONA HANDBURY of Murdoch Magazines were removed from BRW's list, with last year's wealth assessed at $75 million. Other media people, with last year's figure, included: radio man JOHN LAWS, $80 million; THE O'REILLY FAMILY of APN News & Media, $75 million. ADAM RADLY of ISIS Communications had an estimated worth of $55 million.

Bottom Line

* 10 NETWORK has 'infuriated' commercial rivals Nine and Seven, reports AMANDA MEADE of The Australian, for pinching Fiji coup footage after failing to send a crew to cover the story. Respective News Directors PAUL FENN and IAN COOK said Ten had lifted footage, even including some in news promotions.

* 32 PAGES is the size of Adelaide Matters, the monthly 85,000 heatset color tabloid published by TOM MILOSEVIC'S Messenger Newspapers. Edited by MEGAN LLOYD, the paper is printed by ROGER BAYNES' Cadillac Printing. Designers are KYLIE WATSON, YASMIN DEL BOLLO and MATT WRIGHT. DANIEL CANNY is Ad Manager.

* 35.8 PER CENT of the Seven Network is now held by Executive Chairman KERRY STOKES. He bought around a time when shares were $5.89, comparedto $8.04 on March 28. Deutsche Australia have reduced their holding by a similar share holding.

Last Word

* BRYAN GLENNON, 5MBS-FM spokesman, quoted in Adelaide Matters, about the station's regular advertisers: "It's a technicality. You're not supposed to advertise but you do and give it another name."

P.S. -

* 'HIGH PROFILE PUBLISHER' is the title given in an advertisement from a firm at GPO Box 1111J. Melbourne, who this week called for job applications from cartoonists who wish to work for a weekly publication, based in Melbourne. 'The employer is a major international publishing organisation,' says the ad, which had a sister ad back on Easter Saturday, calling for a range of magazine people (including a Publisher at $195,000 pa) to apply to a Hotmail address.

Australian Media Job Directory

* SEE our Employment Section at the bottom of the page.

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Australian Media Job Directory

Reach 5967 Media People With A Media Flash Job Ad.

Just $100 for up to 200 words. Fax your ad: 1-800 231 311.

E-Mail your ad - mediaflash@yahoo.com - by 5pm Friday. We'll bill you.

Senior Appointments

* JOHN WESTAWAY, 60 Minutes Executive Producer, is seeking an experienced field Producer. The job requires extensive domestic and international travel.

* CHRISTINE HARVEY of the Canberra-based Law Council of Australia will negotiate a salary package for a Public Affairs Adviser.

* THE LAW SOCIETY (NSW) is appointing an Editor for its color Journal monthly.

* DIANE HORGAN at Morgan & Banks, Sydney, is taking CVs for a Manager-Public Affairs position, for an industrial services business.

* ADAM JAMES, of the New South Wales Police Service, is offering up to $57,760 for a Reporter: Police TV for the force's weekly TV bulletin. Also on offer are the $67,738 Media Relations Officer (Supervisor) position, and the $57,760 Media Liasion Officer assignment.

* BRYAN HOULIHAN of Victoria's Department of Justice is taking applications for a Senior Media Relations Officer for Consumer and Business Affairs.

Employment

* NICKI HVASS of Vertical Markets (NSW) seeks a junior journalist to work on the company's business-to-business six titles.

* JENNY SANT at Dolman Legal Search, Sydney, hunts for an In-House Media Lawyer, with the senior solicitor to work part-time or full-time 12-month contract for a 'household name in Australian television'.

* MAUREEN O'REILLY at The Age is collectiong applications for an Advertising Account Manager to work on the weekly Green Guide.

* CUMBERLAND EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING, Sydney South, wants a Journalist/Writer.

* MACLEAY COLLEGE lists a Journalist/Sub-Editor part-time position, with teaching and training skills necessary to win the gig.

* CHRISTINE VINCENT at Lyncroft (Sydney) wants résumés from Austar applicants for these positions: Business Process and Implementation Manager, Training and Development Manager, Mobile Fraud Analyst and Customer Call Centre Manager.

* TWO journalists positions are available at isport.com.au, says the Sydney Morning Herald.

* JOHN HILVERT at ACP Tech's PC User requires a Sub-Editor for the monthly computer mag.

More Jobs

* BOB MUSCAT'S Pacific Publications wants a PA/Editorial Assistant (Sydney) for Aussie Post.

* SIMON BREER, Acting Director of the Media Unit at Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria, is offering a salary range of $35,306 to $52,276 for a Media Officer.

* ALEX WILCOX at Ambition Entertainment Group will pay $35,000-$40,000 for an Accounts/Royalty Clerk: Film and Television (Sydney).

* WAYNE BUTTNER at Leader Newspapers (Vic.) advertises a Journalist - Editor for two of his largest newspapers. Applications close Friday (June 2).

* REBECCA HALLAS is advertising for a Canberra Bureau Journalist for The Age.

* JAN DALZELL at Australian Community Newspapers (Fairfax) is taking applications for an Advertising Sales Executive (Sydney). JOHN LAVERY, Western Region Manager of Fairfax Community Newspapers, wants an Ad Sales Manager for the Parramatta Sun, based at Blacktown. He is also taking on a Display Sales Representative. A further vacancy is advertised for Telemarketers to work at Castle Hill and Blacktown, 22.8 hours a week. FCN also wants a Credit Control Officer to work at Condell Park (NSW).

* TRACY YAFFA at Yaffa Publishing's Ragtrader would like to employ a junior Ad Sales Executive to work from Surry Hills (NSW).

Even More Jobs

* NEIL MURDOCH of Metro News (Melbourne) seeks to appoint an Advertising Sales Executive. His gloss color 114,000-circulation weekly has bounced back, with 40-page editions, and a 14-page real estate section.

* DAVID JOHN at Fairfax's Strategic Publishing Group seeks a Senior Account Manager/Sales Manager, and a Client Support Executive, presumably in Sydney.

* AMANDA TUCCI is hiring a Collection Officer for the Fairfax Collection Department.

* MARK HENDERSON and SALLY SPALDING, News Editor and Deputy News Editor respectively of SBS Radio Melbourne, are advertising for a Broadcast Journalist.

* SHARON DAVIS at CitySearch notifies a vacancy for a Site Manger (Sydney).

* CLARE FALLAW at The Age is hiring an Assistant Business Analyst.

* ROULLA YIACOUMI at ACP Tech Newswire wants a Sydney journo for the IT service.

* MIRANDA BURNE at The Weather Channel is auditioning Weather Presenters.

* THE CAIRNS POST (Qld) requires a Sub-Editor who will also work on the Innisfail, Atherton and Mareeba regional publications.

And Just Finally ...

* JULIA LESTER, former 5AN breakfast announcer, only recently resigned from the ABC, summed up why she left radio: "I got exhausted, stressed, what everybody had said for years I suppose - 'how do you keep doing it' - and one day I couldn't do it anymore. That was really scary."

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