Media Flash And Australian Media Job Directory

Week Commencing Monday, December 4, 2000

With Flash Updates at www.mediaflash.com.au

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

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Flash Points

a.. PAUL BARRY 'NOT SACKED': Media Watch Host's Contract Expires

b.. THE GAIL JARVIS INTERVIEW: What New ABC TV Head Has To Say

c.. MELBOURNE'S TV RENAISSANCE: The Chase For Silver

d.. CHEAP ADS: Suburban War Sees $300 Half-Pages ... And Get 2 Free

e.. REAL ESTATE PUSH FOR LOCALS: News Spends $10.7 Million

f.. SATELLITE MEDIA CLOSES: New Community Gay Paper Opens

g.. COMMONWEALTH AWARDS: All The Names

h.. NEW ZEALAND: Clark's Fall From Grace

i.. FAREWELL 'EUN': Goodbye To TV-Radio's Friend

Regular Features

a.. YOUR ABC: Shier Waits For Log Of Demands

b.. GLASS HOUSE: Beecher Blasts Devine: Why Didn't You Call?

c.. STIX AND STONES: Stix Is Back ... Next Week

d.. MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Dame Elisabeth Becomes A Fellow

e.. PASQUARELLI'S POLITICS: Kroger, Costello and Reconciliation

f.. AUSTRALIAN MEDIA JOB DIRECTORY: December Job Offers

Join Our Growing List Of Advertisers

a.. EMITCH: Online Media Independent

b.. INSTANT ONLINE PROMOTIONS: It's Your Selection

c.. CANDELA: Secure Your Dot.Com

d.. P3TV: What Are You Paying For Your TV Production?

e.. ERIC SHACKLE: Freelance Stories Available

f.. ALISON GRAHAME: Effective Words

g.. THE MATURE AUSTRALIAN: Advertising Discount to Media Flash Subscribers

h.. COURIER NEWSPAPERS: Unzip Sydney's Money Belt

i.. VOODOO SOFTWARE: So You're Sick Of Software

j.. BYRON SHIRE ECHO: 'Australia's Most Sophisticated Market'

k.. FAIRFAX COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS (VIC.): 20 Vibrant Melb. Newspapers

l.. FAST BOOKS: Getting Started

m.. FORMAT: Monthly Newsletter For Publishers of Formatted Publications

n.. JOB DIRECTORY: Take Your Choice Of Australian Media Jobs

o.. NEWS LIMITED SUBURBANS: More Than 90 Titles Around Australia

p.. PRESSPASS: Now There's A Way To Get The Information You Want

q.. Quadrant MAGAZINE - Australia's Leading Independent Review of Controversy

r.. SUBS PLUS - Subscriptions: Save Money and Grow

To advertise in Media Flash, e-mail your ad by 5pm Friday. $110 for 200 words.

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

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And Only In: Media Flash Confidential

Our Subscriber-Only Confidential Newsletter, E-Mailed Direct To You.

Annual Subscriptions Are Just $50 (That's Less Than $1 A Week).

Subscribe Online now at: www.mediaflash.candela.com.au

a.. MYSTERY AT 3AK: Examining the Tait Williamson Joint Venture

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BREAKING NEWS

Last of The Southern Cross

* BRIAN STAGMAN, Publisher, Melbourne Independent Newspapers (APN News & Media), has closed the last remaining edition of The Southern Cross newspapers, which were the cornerstone of PETER ISAACSON'S suburban newspaper network in Melbourne for half a century. Editor JANE KENRICK announced the Bayside Southern Cross-Melbourne Weekly edition closure in last Wednesday's edition: 'For decades, the Southern Cross had a solid following for its local news coverage, while The Melbourne Weekly's strong magazine style has won fans across Melbourne. Unfortunately, we failed to find our niche and we are sorry to say goodbye.'

* KENRICK blames outside circumstances for the paper's closure: 'However, the economy seems to have worked against us.' One Melbourne media analyst told Media Flash: 'Patent bullshit. It has nothing to do with the economy. BEECHER'S main edition of the Melbourne Weekly Magazine was 120 pages this week.' BRIAN STAGMAN closed the Stonnington Malvern-Prahran edition of the Southern Cross in June last year, quickly followed by the Caulfield-Bentleigh edition.

'We Tipped This'

* FLASH-BACK: MEDIA FLASH predicted the demise of The Bayside Southern Cross - Melbourne Weekly earlier this year. Editions shrunk to 24 pages, and we reported that the paper had been losing in excess of $½-million a year.

* ASH LONG, Media Flash Publisher: 'This latest move must make PETER ISAACSON wince with sorrow. Here was a company that he had built over 50 years through credit squeezes, losses and profits, good times and bad. The man and his company were a success because he practised perseverance.' Biographer DENIS WARNER tells the story that in recent years, ISAACSON told a gathering that he asked his one-year-old grandson, WALTER, what he would do when he grew up: 'I'd like to be CEO of APN ... so I can do to them what they've done to your company.'

Satellite Media Closes

* SATELLITE MEDIA has closed the doors, shutting its Outrage, Capital Q Weekly, Brother Sister editions, and Melbourne Star Observer.

* FLASH-BACK: The subscriber-only Media Flash Confidential (Nov. 27) predicted the new Gay Community Voice publication: 'BEFORE IT GOES POOF: Gay publisher Satellite Media is losing $40,000 a week, KPMG administrator TONY McGRATH told a Creditors' Meeting on Friday. The entire $25 million raised in a float last year has gone. 'A further $15 million to $25 million was unaccounted for,' says The Fin's SUSANNAH PETTY. Get set for some phoenix-like look-alike new gay publications. Outrage has already been suspended, to coin a phrase. More to come?'

'Paul Barry Not Sacked'

* PAUL BARRY, this year's host of Media Watch on ABC-TV, has not been sacked. Instead, he is just at the end of contract, which will not be reviewed, according to Head of Television GAIL JARVIS, to whom he wrote a letter about negative comments she was said to have made about the program. ABC MD JONATHAN SHIER is also understood to be upset with Barry, over his interview with the purse-lipped ABC chairman DONALD McDONALD. Aunty's Quantum program has also been axed.

* JARVIS insited that Barry had not been sacked, when she spoke with Sydney ABC broadcaster SALLY LOANE on Friday. And JARVIS says she already has a new host in mind.

* FLASH-BACK: Media Flash (April 3) noted the public interest in PAUL BARRY'S salary:

* 'PAUL BARRY, host of the ABC's Media Watch, slammed RMIT lecturer LEE BURTON and Australian columnist MARK DAY for listing his annual salary with John Fairfax as $200,000. He even wrote to The Age offering to reveal the figure ... so Media Flash asked the hard question. Barry replied: "Dear Ash, I didn't make the offer to any journalist. I was making it to Lee Burton, Mark Day and others who published my supposed salary without bothering to check. But since none of them has had the balls to ask me, I am happy to tell you. Fairfax pay me $100,000 a year. I obviously need to sharpen my negotiating skills. Best wishes, Paul Barry." WENDY TUOHY'S Sunday Age piece reveals Barry is also paid $135,000 by the ABC.'

The Gail Jarvis Interview

LOANE: Gail Jarvis, another piece of news this morning that's got a lot of air play of course is Paul Barry's sacking from Media Watch. Why did that happen?

JARVIS: Paul Barry was not sacked from Media Watch. Paul Barry had a 12 month fixed term contract that expires on the 31st December. He was told yesterday because we are required by law to give him one months notice at the end of that contract period whether we would intend to extend it or not and I told him we would not be extending that contract.

So Paul has chosen to tell people he's been sacked. His contract has not been extended.

LOANE: Can you tell us why?

JARVIS: Paul was hired for a year. I mean I think you have to look at the history of Media Watch. Media Watch as far as I'm concerned is a signature program and it's a signature of both DAVID SALTER and STUART LITTLEMORE who were basically the creators of Media Watch as we know it.

I think as a pair they were a dynamic duo who forged ahead a very exciting and cheeky and ground breaking program that many people love to watch. With the departure of Littlemore and Salter, it's been an uneasy ride for Media Watch. I think it had a terrific run with RICHARD ACKLAND and DEB FLEMING with the breaking of the Cash for Comments stories etc.

That was a particularly strong year for content of the program. I don't know that it ever reached the signature stage that LITTLEMORE created for it. This year I don't know that I would consider that Media Watch has had its strongest year. And so we're really looking at options for the future. Media Watch will continue as a program. There is no question of that.

LOANE: In a free and fair way.

JARVIS: Absolutely, absolutely it can't exist any other way. There's no purpose in having if it can't exist - if it's not in that process.

LOANE: There has been some speculation this morning in the media that PAUL BARRY upset JONATHAN SHIER with that interview with DONALD McDONALD'S. And in effect JONATHAN SHIER said I don't want him any anymore. Can you comment on that at all?

JARVIS: I suspect he probably did upset JONATHAN SHIER with that program. But I told Jonathan Shier that this was what I intended to do. JONATHAN SHIER didn't tell me that this is what he hoped I might do. JONATHAN SHIER was told of my decision after I had made it and he had no involvement in it prior to that point.

LOANE: Can you tell us who might be fronting Media Watch and whether or not they have the same executive producer, next year?

JARVIS: I can tell you that the person who might be fronting Media Watch next year has considerably more experience than Mr Barry.

LOANE: So you've chosen somebody already?

JARVIS: I'm speaking to somebody this very day.

R = Renaissance (and Repeats)

* MAX STEWART, ex GTV-9 Company Secretary and ATV-10 Accountant, is General Manager of Renaissance TV, which will use Melbourne's Channel 31 frequency from 8am-4pm weekdays to attract the grey market. Stewart says the station will start February on an improved signal from the station's Mt Dandenong transmitter, with programs including Gunsmoke. The channel is being backed by Prime Time retirement homes.

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Clark's Fall From Grace

* DAVID PARDON, Senior Tutor in Journalism, New Zealand Institute of Business Studies, dpardon@iprolink.co.nz reports: "The shock closure by Independent News Ltd (INL) of its up-market New Zealand women's glossy magazine, Grace, leaves high-profile editor LINDA CLARK out of her job along with six other staff members.

* CLARK, former political editor of Television One News, was recruited by INL less than a year ago to arrest the magazine's sliding circulation. But despite moving the editorial way up-market in a bid to capture "elegant, strong and intelligent women aged 25 to 55," circulation collapsed from 26,000 for the first issue to a little over 10,000 for the last two.

INL chief operating officer RICK NEVILLE describes the closure as "business reality."

* The news is the second shock to the New Zealand print media within less than a month, following hard on the heels of Horton Media Ltd's axing of the 96-year-old bi-weekly Northland Times newspaper published in Dargaville. Five staff lost their jobs. Said Horton chief MATTHEW HORTON: "They're not happy about being laid off, and I'm not happy about losing money. It's just the way things go."

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Real Estate Push For Locals

* GENE SWINSTEAD'S army of News Limited Community Newspapers real estate representatives around Australia will be marketing the realestate.com.au site following RUPERT MURDOCH'S $10 million purchase of the web business. His Melbourne newspapers have Property Weekly sections, with the inner city 120,000-circulation City Limits section co-branding with www.homesonline.com.au The Sydney Cumberland newspapers have recently featured re-designed Homebuyer color guides.

* Meanwhile, SYLVIA BRADSHAW'S has pulled in U Magazine, cutting it back to a 35-cm short tabloid, gloss 32-page insert in the Stonnington Leader and Progress Press. It was launched as a pinpoint-delivered publication to top AB wealth-belt households. Its larger distribution disappeared the same week that CRAIG MARSH'S Inside Melbourne stopped publication. All general editorial has disappeared from the mag, now styled as U: The Property Magazine For You.

Cheap Ads In Melbourne

* SYLVIA BRADSHAW'S Leader Newspapers is advertising a December campaign on 3AW to build real estate space prior to Christmas. The group is offering up to $2000 free advertising to one property vendor in each of its 31 weekly titles in a special promotion. Leader's real estate department, led by RIC HILDEBRANDT, is finding property sales under expectations. ANTHONY McDONALD, Publisher of Melbourne Weekly Magazine, made a mid-year public forecast of an 8 per cent drop in property space after July 1, with the GST and Olympic factored into the equation.

* HARTLEY HIGGINS and GEOFF HEYES have been promoting a 'buy one, get some free' deal for advertisers in their 17,000-circulation Nillumbik Mail at Eltham. One local trader says rates are currently $750 per full-page, and becoming lower by the day. Latest offer was $300 for a half-page, with free repeats for two weeks. Works out at 75 cents per column centimetre. A 24-page edition, with 70 per cent ads, at that rate, would gross $3591 revenue, against $8500 costs.

Commonwealth Awards Winners

* BRONWYN BISHOP, Federal Minister for Aged Care, has announced the winners of this year's Commonwealth Media and Advertising Awards. Each of the 12 category winners, runners-up and finalists were announced during an awards luncheon on Friday at the National Press Club.

* The Awards had a total of $24,000 in prize money, attracting more than 1200 entries. The awards are conducted by the community organisation, Older People Speak Out, in conjunction with the Department of Aged Care with the objective of encouraging the media to recognise the 50-plus generations.

* MALCOLM FARR headed the judging panel for this year's awards. He is president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Other judges were lecturer and author Professor LEN GRANATO; SBS MD, NIGEL MILAN; Creative Director of Advertising Partners, BRIAN HALLETT; News Limited Community Newspapers MD GENE SWINSTEAD.

* Real Images of Older Australians, Daily & Sunday newspapers: Winner, ADAM HARVEY, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney for 'The Men from Snowy River'. Runner-up: JANET HAWLEY, Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald for 'The Last Anzac War Bride'. Other finalists: ROSALIND PULLEY, The Cairns Post; RICHARD BEGBIE, The Canberra Times; LEON GETTLER, The Age; JUDITH WHELAN, The Sydney Morning Herald.

* Suburban Newspapers and Magazines. Winner: Diana Bagnall, The Bulletin for 'Middle-aged dread' Runner-up) Jenny Cullen and Jane de Teliga, The Australian Womens Weekly for 'Platinum power' Other finalists: Virginia Imhoff, Inside Melbourne; Denis Craven, Geelong Advertiser; Cathy McQueen, Courier Newspapers.

* Regional Weekly & Bi-Weekly Newspapers. Winner: Karen McCann, The Echo, Geelong for 'Surfing legend lives on' Runner-up) David Call, Bayside Seniors Lifestyle, Queensland for 'Marathon's ageless man, still running for a dream' Other finalists: Kerry Heaney, 50 Something; Cheryl Field, The Australian Senior Newspaper; Lana Best, Ararat Advertiser.

* Metropolitan television: Winner) Scott Bevan, A Current Affair, Nine Network for 'Veterans and students' Runner-up) Richard Forbes, HSV-7, Melbourne for 'Blind farmer' Other finalists: Geoff Hutchison, 7.30 Report, ABC TV; Graham Archer, Channel 7, Adelaide; Ian Harley & David Marshall, Australian Story, ABC TV.

* Regional Television. Winner: Richard Bruinsma, Seven Queensland, Sunshine Coast for 'Mountain Creek nanny' Runner up) Michael Beatty, Today Tonight, BTQ-7, Queensland for 'Oldies show, Charters Towers' Other finalists: Tanya Carlyle, NBN News; Sandra Sully & David Threlfo, TEN Newcastle; Rosanna Natoli, Seven Queensland.

* Radio. Winner: Anthony Frangi & Simon Scoble, Talk Radio 4BC, Brisbane for 'Valuing our older workers' Runner-up) Ric Paterson & Lynn Hawkes, ABC, Hobart for 'Full on - full time' Other finalists: Heather Anderson, 4ZZZ-FM; Mary Keily, ABC Radio, Central Victoria; Madeleine Randall & Natasha Schaad, The Sunday Show, ABC Radio, Newcastle; Brian Abbott, SBS Radio.

* Daily & Sunday Newspaper Photography. Winner: Barry Baker, The West Australian for 'Dynamo Joe' Runner-up) Jamie Hanson, The Sunday Mail, Brisbane for 'Many happy returns' Other finalists: Lori Neilsen, Townsville Bulletin; Mark Calleja, The Advertiser.

* Suburban Newspaper & Magazine Photography. Winner: Bruce Hunt, Community Newspaper, Western Australia for 'Anzac vet tells war tales' Runner-up) Michelle Stanley, Post Newspapers, Western Australia for 'Dreamtime' Other finalists: Colin Stockey, Leader Newspapers; Derrick Tonkin, Quest Newspaper Group.

* Regional Weekly & Bi-weekly Newspaper Photography. Winner: Karen Kindt, The Weekender, Sunshine Coast for 'Medal Pool' Runner-up: Sally Walker-Brown, Bayside Seniors Lifestyle, Queensland for 'Ageless Marathon Man, Still Running for a Dream' Other finalist: Renae Payne, Leader Newspapers.

* Radio & Television Advertising. Winner: Phil Deer, The Campaign Palace, Sydney for Westpac Olympic parents TV ads Runner-up) Garry Horner, DDB, Sydney for 'Great escape', a TV commercial for McDonalds Other finalists: Sonette Johnson, Imparja Television; Jonathon Borthwick, Qld Rail, & Sandy Peacock, creative director, Clemenger BBDO Brisbane; Robert Punton, Singleton Ogilvy Mather, Sydney.

* Newspaper/Magazine Advertising. Winner: Graham Nunn, Foster Nunn Loveder, Sydney 'Lots of walking', an ad for Zurich Financial Services Runner-up) Sue Fitzgerald, Lifestyle, The West Australian for Seniors Week 99 liftout for The West Australian Other finalists: Doug Watson, Fame Advertising; Wayne Geale, The Australian Senior; Susan Russell, Redland District Committee on the Ageing; Jacinta Finger, Lifeline Brisbane; Katie Zimmerman, Huxbury Quinn Group.

* Captioning. Winner: SEVEN LOCAL NEWS, Seven Queensland, Sunshine Coast. No runner-up. Other finalists: PAUL RICHARDSON, Seven Network; MURRAY BERHAN, Advertising Depot.

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Overseas Desk

* MICHAEL SOLOMON, ex-Mirrabella Deputy Editor, succeeds JAMES MEIGS as Premiere magazine Editor-in-Chief.

* DERRYN HINCH is holidaying in Thailand. He recently had ANDREW PEACOCK launch his 101 Ways To Lose Your Mobile Phone book, launched for the Christmas market.

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Sydney Siders

* JEN STOREY, Editor at Rural Press Ltd's thefarmshed.com.au, advises that online merchandise will be offered to NSW readers this month, with other states to follow early in 2001. 'We will offer competitively priced farming inputs including crop protection and health products. Members from outside NSW will be able to browse the store to view our products but will be unable to purchase at this stage,' Jen tells online subscribers this week. The technology platform has been upgraded to increase site security.

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Quadrant

In December's Quadrant magazine:

Mark Latham MP on Globalisation's optimists and pessimists - Greg Melleuish reviews Blainey's History of the World - Alan Gill on Britain under the Jackboot: occupied Jersey 60 years ago - Sean Regan on our post-modern Pilger - Peter Ryan defends the reputation of the judge who sent Ned Kelly to the gallows - the final instalment of Keith Windschuttle's analysis of Aborigine massacres, and the lies of the missionaries - Sophie Masson on Harry Potter - new poems by Les Murray and others.

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Melbourne Memo

* MICHELLE HAMER edited the 64-page Christmas Essentials gift guide for last weekend's Sunday Age. Other project leaders were Production Editor GARRY WILLIAMS, writer ADAM COOPER, designer MARTIN RASPIN and photographer ROBERT HAMER. Sunday Age Ad Manager CHRISTINE BELL and Special Projects Manager JAN LITTLE have organised a second, fresh 64-pager follow-up this coming Sunday (Dec. 10).

* CLIFF GREEN, Warrandyte Diary Editor, is leading a community battle over a Community Centre. He was featured by photographer MICHELLE KELCEY in the past week's Doncaster-Templestowe News (Leader).

West Wire

* MICHAEL THOMSON is hosting Channel Nine's new Fishing Western Australia, just launched by Program Manager RIC BRYNDZEJ.

* SHARON VAN MANEN, ex-Media Decisions chief, has joined The Shorter Group. So has LOUISE EVERS, most recently of east coast Media Com.

* NICOLA BEDWOOD, Telethon Marketing Manager, is launching its own version of the Variety Club's bash, manned by celebrities. CATIE LOW of WA Business News says Ms Bedwood believes Perth can handle two similar events.

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South Australian Snips

* DARCE CASSIDY, SA President of Friends of the ABC, tells MATTHEW SCHULZE of The Eastern Courier Messenger about the appointment of former SA National Nine News Director JOHN DOHERTY to the tole of ABC State Director: 'If they'd appointed someone with a marketing background or an accounting background we'd have been worried.' Doherty has a MBA.

* DIANA CARROLL, General Manager SA of Media Monitors, had a piece in her Mediaweek column in last Wednesday's The City Messenger: 'Media Flash is a weekly e-zine published by ASH LONG, one of Australia's best-known media junkies. Ash may be a great hack but he's sadly not such a great businessman. This week he launched a public appeal via Media Flash to raise the tens of thousands of dollars being demanded by his creditors. Within days, the money was flooding in to keep his newsy, informative and irreverent electronic newsletter afloat. Sometimes you just have to ask.'

Queensland Quips

* RAE NOVAK has been appointed Advertising Manager of the South-West News and City News titles published by Quest Newspapers. Rae started in 1989 at the South-East Advertiser, and has also worked on The Northern News and Northside Chronicle. Her newspaper career started at The Young Times (NSW).

* GAVIN LESLIE reports that Redcliffe is losing its local white pages, following as decision by Yellow Pages only to produce an advertising section in the area. The Redcliffe & Bayside Herald reporter quotes Pacific Access National Sales Manager ANDREW MILLER to say metro white pages are preferred by users, and the Internet directory is increasing at a fast rate.

* FEYNE WEAVER has been including 16-page color gift guide lift-outs in the Gold Coast Sun and Hinterland Sun.

* HUGH LUNN is taking out newspaper ads to sell his $15 books: Vietnam: A Reporter's War, More Over The Top With Jim Stories, Head Over Heels, and The Over The Top With Jim Album ($20). www.hughlunn.com.au

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* BYRON BAY FOLLIES: Pork barrel scores Byron $1.8m for roads; PETRIA THOMAS hands out sports awards; Privatisation the root of Woomera problem, says MUNGO MacCALLUM; FAST BUCK$ considers Council has capitulated to Cr Tucker; LARRY ANTHONY MP on reducing greenhouse gases; THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO is an independent locally-owned free weekly covering Australia's most sophisticated rural market.

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Press Gang

* STEPHEN MAYNE, Crikey Publisher, is facing legal threats from 3AW Program Director STEVE PRICE, and AMANDA MEADE of The Australian, according to his latest subscribers' letter. Price is justifiably angry about serial fruit-loop RAYMOND HOSER'S comments published by Crikey. Meade's by-line was used on an article clearly not written by her. The last time we saw that type of editorial behaviour was when RICHARD L'ESTRANGE edited the short-lived Sunday Mirror in Melbourne in 1983. He used plenty of Melbourne news identities including RANALD MACDONALD and JOHN MONKS on his by-lines. It's a costly parody ... even if one claims there are no Internet defo precedents.

* MAYNE is also in strife with executives and staff of The Daily Telegraph, Sydney.

.

PR Department

* MALCOLM GRIEVE has left his post as PR Director of the National Farmers' Federation.

* JEANNIE LITTLE, actress, has launched the Living Color exhibition at Scienceworks Museum, Victoria. She received front-page publicity in a TED KLOSZYNSKI pix in the Williamstown Advertiser.

Court Report

* JOHN SILVESTER, Age Crime and Law Editor, addressed a Journalism Seminar held at the State Library of Victoria late last month. So did the broadsheet's ndustrial Affairs Reporter ANDREA CARSON, and cadet FARRAH TOMAZIN. Some 280 young people attended.

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Air Waves

* DENISE DRYSDALE gets to keep her Seven Network morning advertorial show, according to the network publicists.

Community Broadcasting

* DIVINE DESIGN did the Brother Sister full-page artwork for JOY 90.7 FM, which has applied for a full-time Melbourne radio station licence. It will have an eight-week temporary broadcast from January 6 for the Midsumma Festival.

* FILOMENA PALARIC of Channel 31 Sydney says the station will double its transmission power from 10kW to 20kW over coming weeks. Four out of five Sydney and metropolitan homes can now pick up the UHF signal transmitted from the Optus Tower in North Sydney. AC NIELSEN'S figures indicate that 240,000 people watch the Sydney station.

Your ABC

* JONATHAN SHIER, ABC MD, says this week's staff strike is 'regrettable'. He says he is still waiting to receive a log of claims from the aggrieved staffers who are protesting at budget cuts and changes at Aunty, including bureau closures in Japan ... and did we hear Washington?

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Smaller Names Dept.

* JIM NOORT, Publisher of Floatnews.com.au, is delighted with the regional title in the Asia-Pacific IT&T Awards for 'Best Innovation - Banking and Finance'. StreamLok pipped them at the post for 'Best Start-Up' category. Jim's crew are off to Malaysia to contest the overall title in the largest competition of its type in the world.

* CHARLES HAPPELL, Age sports writer, has won the Ericsson Australian Golf Writers' Association Award. Colleagues GLENN LESTER and PAT SCALA took out the Victoria Amateur Turf Club media awards. MICHAEL LYNCH has won a premier AVESCO motor sports category for his article on V8 supercars.

Absent Friends

* EUNICE McGRATH was not a showbiz celebrity, but her passing has saddened the TV and radio industry, with many of its artists receiving the benefit of her encouragement over the past 45 years. Mrs McGrath was mother of PATTI NEWTON, wife of TV legend and Good Morning Australia host BERT NEWTON. 'Eun' was well known to the many early-day TV artists involved in her daughter's programs from Swallows Juniors hosted by BRIAN NAYLOR on HSV-7, NORMAN SWAIN'S Tarax Show and GRAHAM KENNEDY'S In Melbourne Tonight on GTV-9, as well as her son-in-law's recent Network 10 commitments. Mrs McGrath was a familiar sight at Melbourne showbiz functions, and Media Flash well remembers 'Eun' at many events from PETE SMITH'S latest CD launch at Chadstone, at GMA, and we flew with her from Melbourne to Sydney for the TCN-9 This Is Your Life family tribute which also included her grand-children, actor MATTHEW NEWTON, and personality LAUREN NEWTON. Requiem Mass is being held this Friday afternoon at East Camberwell. Our sincere sympathy to the Newton family.

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Movers And Shakers

* DAME ELISABETH MURDOCH, 91, has become a Fellow of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. It is the Uni's highest honor.

* DAVID TURNER, Leader Newspapers (Vic.) Group Sports editor, has been awarded the Australian Sports Medal in recognition of services to gymnastics.

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FORMAT

A monthly email newsletter for those involved in the production of formatted print publications -- newsletters, magazines, newspapers etc. Includes news and hints involving QXP, InDesign, PageMaker etc. See back issues at http://www.worsleypress.com/format or subscribe with a message of "subscribe" to format-request@lists.best.com

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The Local Report

* LAURIE FINCO's Whitehorse Journal front-page had the headline 'MERRY BLITZ-MAS'. Any other Christmas howlers out there? E-Mail: mediaflash@yahoo.com

* CAMERON MORSE of The Land provided a shovel and repair sign when National Party leader JOHN ANDERSON announed rural road funding, at a Canberra airport rural roadway. Morse's shovel received national airplay, but not before PM JOHN HOWARD bumped the story, by his Meet The Press announcements the day before. Meanwhile, PETER COSTELLO was up to his gum boots, smoozing the local media at Goondiwindi Argus, which headlined 'HELLO MR MONEY-BAGS'.

Glass House

* ERIC BEECHER, Text Media Group CEO, barbecued FRANK DEVINE (The Australian) urging to him to have 'checked with me before writing his piece'. In our experience, BEECHER doesn't return phone calls or E-Mails. Media Flash tried contact for comment, we're still waiting. Ex-Eric-partner JOHN SINGLETON said earlier this year that even the Singo millions couldn't get phone calls through the Text switchboard to the Beecher bunker.

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FREELANCE STORIES

available from Eric Shackle, (02) 4342 3280. eshackle@ozemail.com.au GORED! When every voter in Campbell Oklahoma supported Thomas Gore.he became a senator, he showed his gratitude by buying uniforms for the Campbell baseball team... and the town changed its name to Gore MARFA AND MIN MIN: HIT OR MYTH? Thousands of tourists visit remote towns in Queensland and Texas, hoping to glimpse mysterious lights TOM TURKEY TYSON. The world's biggest turkey weighed 40kg dressed. Who would have an oven large enough to roast such a monster? (Christmas special).

BUSINESS ANAGRAMS. MONKEYS WRITE the NEW YORK TIMES; the NEW YORK PRESS may RENT PESKY WHORES.... funny anagrams of business names THIS RUGBY COACH WAS A GHOST. Which of the world's 15 places named Rugby participate in the sport? Internet browsing discloses an English ghost story, a town at the geographical centre of North America, and a place in Australia called Rugby NSW GRAZIER DRAWS LIONS IN AFRICA. Chris McClelland manages a large Riverina sheep station, yet finds time to sketch lions and elephants in the wilds of Africa. PLUS stories about Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and many other subjects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------

Editor's E-Mail

* LAWRENCE GIBBONS, of Sydney City Hub, featured Media Flash in his cover story last week. Our subscriber, BRIAN NIELSEN writes from Adelaide:

* Hi Ash: " Thanks for the piece. LAWRENCE GIBBONS takes my observations and feelings about the decline of the general media in Australia and expresses them on my behalf far more incisively than I ever could for myself. Maybe that's why he's a journalist and I am not. I think the article is a fine example of one of true journalism's key roles.

* "Like Lawrence, I mourn the current shallow content but cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. In the end, for commercially driven media, it always comes down to what readers will accept - and they prove they like the junk. "I have seen the enemy... and it us!" There was always the ABC to provide at least some attempt at depth and impartiality... until that is, SHIER'S appointment. Good luck with your continued efforts."

Stix And Stones

* STEVE STICKNEY, Editor at The Manly Daily, is back from a month's leave to celebrate his birthday. After answering the several hundred E-mails in his In-Box, we're hopeful Stix will file copy for next week's Media Flash.

Pasquarelli's Politics

* STEVE STICKNEY writes: 'The Melbourne walk for reconciliation featured all the usual suspects though I was surprised to see Michael Kroger - it may have been a show of support for his mate Costello. It's warm and fuzzy to stroll along on a beautiful Melbourne day, within quaffing distance of an espresso machine but it's a different matter out in the Western Desert with the heat and the dust and the flies where the policy of separation has stranded Aborigines on settlements, leaving them to be killed off by welfare. The same people that tried to ram a republic down our throats are now trying to do the same thing with reconciliation. They will be just as unsuccessful.

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John Pasquarelli

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Please contact me at P.O. Box 139, Yarraville, Victoria 3013.

Ph (03) 9314 4120. Fax (03) 9314 5914, Email: kojak@alphalink.com.au

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It's A Date

* THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7. Walkley Awards For Excellence In Journalism. Grand Ballroom, Westin Hotel, Sydney. Nominations have already been listed in Media Flash.

* MARCH 7-9, 2001. IT Expo incorporating COMDEX. The E-Business Solutions Expo. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. (03) 9820 8522. itexpo@ausexhibit.com.au

COCKLE ADVERTISING tells us the 'Linux Business Expo and Open Source Conference' and 'NetWorld and Iterop' Networking Community Connection will also be held simultaneously.

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We paid a Kenyan witchdoctor, Ndungi Gitare to put a charm on a traditional doll which gives 100% protection for your computer against electronic bugger ups. WHAT YOU GET. Authentic traditional, African doll (not made in Taiwan) approx 4" with a peel tab so that it can attach on the surround by your monitor. FREE colour photo of our witchdoctor putting charm and the guarantee including text `....charms essentially work on the basis of faith and belief. If you have sufficient faith this voodoo doll will totally protect your computer. On the other hand, should your computer still be effected by glitches, virus or any type of malfunction then it is quite clear the operator has insufficient faith in the protective powers of the doll and the doll suppliers cannot be held in any way responsible.' Nonetheless, there is still a FULL ... MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. In the event of the user being struck by lightning return the doll and we will give you a full refund.' Ideal novelty gift for the computer geek who has everything. $15 plus $5 for post and registration. Forward Money order or $20 note to The African Bazaar / P.O. Box 1094 Byron Bay 2481. Or place order with credit card number by e mailing to: hmartin@mullum.com.au

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Australian Media Job Directory

Employment

* PAUL MATKARIS, Victorian Advertising Manager of The Australian Financial Review, wants a Sales Executive for Special Reports. Applications close Friday. pmatkaris@mail.fairfax.com.au LINDA HARRISON has a Sydney vacancy for an Ad Sales Executive for Special Reports and Direct Clients. lharrison@mail.fairfax.com.au And PAUL APOSTOLIS, National Ad Manager, requires a Senior Account Manager, and an Account Manager. papostolis@mail.fairfax.com.au

* JOHN MILLICAN, Human Resorces f2, the Fairfax Interactive Network, seeks an Online Network Sales Manager, reporting to the National Advertising Director. f2_hr@f2network.com.au A Sales Manager, as well as a Marketing Manager, are sought from drive.com.au

* AMANDI TUCCI at Fairfax advertises internally for a Database Production Assistant to work in Sydney. She also notifies the vacancy for a Good Weekend and Sunday Life! Account Manager. smerriman@mail.fairfax.com.au

* MICHAELENE HALPIN, HR Manager at Newcastle Newspapers, is on the hunt for a Regional Finance Manager. mhalpin@newcastle.fairfax.com.au

Work Wanted

* Advertise your 'Work Wanted' notice in Media Flash. During December and January, we'll print your 'Work Wanted' ad for free. Simply E-Mail it to us by 5pm Friday at mediaflash@yahoo.com

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TO SUBSCRIBE: For your own free E-Mail subscription to Media Flash, E-mail your request to: mediaflash-subscribe@egroups.com VOLUNTARY PAID SUBSCRIPTION: $50 for a full year's subscription. Pay by credit card at www.mediaflash.candela.com.au TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an E-Mail, quoting the Mail Batch Number (it's in the subject line) to: mediaflash@yahoo.com THIS WEEK'S DISTRIBUTION: More Than 6400 Copies Printed, published and distributed by Ash Long, who accepts responsibility for election and referendum comment. © Copyright 2000, Ash Long. ARBN No. 91 003 450 207 Head Office: 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095. Telephone/Fax: 1-800 231 311 Sydney Address: 125 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, NSW 2002 Brisbane Address: Suite 131, 7/421 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006 While the information available in this Confidential E-Mail is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, Media Flash gives no assurances or guarantees that the information is accurate, complete or current. The information is provided for information only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial or professional advice. It has taken into account and has no regard to the needs, objectives or circumstances (financial or otherwise) of particular recipients, and is not an exhaustive coverage. Appropriate professional advice should be obtained prior to acting on any information contained herein. No warranty is given as to the accuracy of this information, and the persons who rely on it do at their own risk. To the extent permitted by law, neither Media Flash nor its officers, employees and agents, is liable for any claim, loss, damage or expense sustained or incurred by any person directly or indirectly arising as a result of reliance on an opinion, advice, recommendation, representation of the information expressly or impliedly contained in this E-Mail notwithstanding any error or omission including negligence.

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