A random selection of Australian journalists woke up on Friday morning to news they had been blacklisted by Russia.
Alongside billionaires Lachlan Murdoch, Gina Rinehart and Mike Cannon-Brookes, the eclectic bunch of hacks accused of pushing a “Russophobic agenda” included the Australian’s political editor Simon Benson, ABC chair Ita Buttrose, Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt and ABC foreign correspondent Eric Campbell. The editors-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, the Australian and the West Australian – Ben English, Chris Dore and Anthony De Ceglie respectively – make an appearance, as does Liz Hayes from 60 Minutes.
RN Breakfast’s Patricia Karvelas was also targeted. Karvelas said on air she has no idea how she ended up on the list but “I am in very spectacular company”.
Waking to news of being sanctioned by Russia 🇷🇺 at 3:30am was a hallucination reality dreamscape I didn’t imagine for my Friday #sanctioned
— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) June 16, 2022
However, there was one notable omission. The Russian spies missed the ABC’s Matt Bevan.
Celebrating being left off the sanctions list by planning a holiday to St Petersburg. What could possibly go wrong?
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) June 16, 2022
Bevan’s popular ABC podcast – Russia, If You’re Listening – focused on the allegations of Russian involvement in the 2016 US election of Donald Trump, and the reporter has kept a keen eye on Vladimir Putin ever since. But given he got left off the list, we can assume Russia was not listening to Matt Bevan.
Heated climate argument
Rita Panahi might not be as well known as her Murdoch colleague Andrew Bolt, but according to a report from a UK thinktank she is a major influencer in global climate misinformation.
Like Bolt, Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist and a Sky News After Dark presenter. But unlike Bolt she uses her 299,000 Twitter followers to make a “disproportionate” contribution to climate misinformation, the analysis published by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue says.
The former Sky executive who hired Panahi, Angelos Frangopoulos, told the BBC last week that “when it comes to climate change, there is contention”. Frangopolous, who spent almost two decades leading Sky News Australia, was talking to Ros Atkins about his first year as chief executive of GB News.
'When it comes to climate change, there is contention.' My exchange with GB News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos when I asked about the network's approach to climate change. Full interview for The Media Show on @BBCRadio4 here. https://t.co/gIOxZN54EY pic.twitter.com/GpNGF1DaXK
— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) June 10, 2022
The misinformation report looked at how views antagonistic to climate change action are spread around the world, how the content is created, and who is influential in spreading those views. In Australia, Panahi – who has called climate change “scaremongering” and not “rooted in hard science” – is called out in the report as a “key amplifier”.
Western elites were in the grip of an ideology that made them incapable of understanding the hard realities of energy production.
— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) June 15, 2022
China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin took advantage of the delusions of the decadent West, and now we are all paying the price. https://t.co/mbeDadzi7h
Panahi, a co-host on Sky’s Outsiders, is one of a small group of influencers whose content is shared through denier networks across the globe. She made a name for herself during Cop26, when she attacked Prince Charles as the “biggest hypocrite and idiot” and claimed he bullied Scott Morrison to attend the summit.
Coal comfort for Canavan
You may have noticed Queensland senator Matt Canavan seizes the opportunity to amplify his political message when he appears on TV. The Nationals senator makes use of the television screen behind him in Zoom interviews to push a message, whether it is pro-coal, anti-vaccine mandate or another pet topic.
In a recent interview with the ABC News channel, he had the words “Build Coal Power Stations” emblazoned behind him.
Isn’t this advertising on the ABC? Because it’s not technically a commercial message it appears to be acceptable to Aunty.
Reporters trying to keep warm in Melbourne, however, are not given any such leeway.
Suzie Raines, a producer at ABC News in Victoria, issued a memo on Thursday outlawing any brands on TV.
“Please avoid wearing branded clothing on air where possible,” Raines said. “There are ABC branded jackets available for use behind [the] desk”.
Weekly Beast understands an external complaint about senior reporter Ben Knight wearing a Kathmandu puffer jacket on air prompted the note.
We asked Knight how he felt about the directive and he said it was the first he heard of it.
“I’ve worn similar before with no problem, and it was absolutely freezing out by the Yarra last night,” he said.
Logies are back
The Logie awards return on Sunday after three years in hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. TV’s night of nights will be held on the Gold Coast with 25 awards handed out live on Channel Nine.
.@Tonaaayy_ is red carpet ready - make sure you get your votes in!https://t.co/ermrEDTug0 pic.twitter.com/QgtpMyBRa9
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) June 15, 2022
Fans of ABC News Breakfast sports presenter Tony Armstrong are hoping he wins best new talent, but there is stiff competition from soapie stars and Married At First Sight sexologist Alessandra Rampolla.
Armstrong may have boosted his chances this week though with his enthusiastic response to the Socceroos win.
Give this young Fulla a vote for the Logies @Tonaaayy_ is all class and does an amazing job https://t.co/ayYhrvtwTm pic.twitter.com/KIWM0ErDyQ
— Troy Cassar-Daley (@troycassardaley) June 14, 2022
After a three-year Logies absence, the in memoriam section is chock-a-block. On the list this year are five Gold Logie winners alone, according to TV Tonight. The names that don’t make it on to the telecast will appear in an extended presentation online.
Cameraman’s emotional return to Indonesia
When the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, touched down in Jakarta this week, he was accompanied by Nine News cameraman Ghaith Nadir, who left Indonesia as a refugee 11 years ago.
It was an important moment for Anthony Albanese to appear in Jakarta but for someone behind the scenes, it mattered even more.
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 12, 2022
#9News cameraman Ghaith Nadir left Indonesia as a refugee 11 years ago and this week returned with the PM for his official visit. @Fi_Willan pic.twitter.com/YufB3UHX4G
The Iraqi Australian spent four years as a refugee in Indonesia waiting for resettlement after leaving Iraq when he was 14.
Bluey champion walks away
Michael Carrington, the man credited with greenlighting Bluey at the ABC, surprised everyone by resigning on Thursday to return to the production sector.
After four years in what is arguably the most important content role of director of entertainment and specialist, Carrington is walking away. Carrington commissioned Bluey when he was running children’s television at the ABC in 2017.
A brand new special episode of Bluey will air this Father’s Day on ABC Kids. Premiering Sunday 5 September at 8am on ABC Kids and ABC iview. For reals! #madeinaustralia #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/Nxbd6pfJp3
— Michael Carrington 🇦🇺 (@TV_Veteran) August 19, 2021
“We have built a strong foundation to connect with and build new audiences, including strengthening our creative teams, aligning our linear and digital platforms, evolving ABC iview, improving our operations, and most importantly launching a long list of new and compelling Australian content,” he said.
“I also owe a thank you to the amazing local independent producers, writers, and performers I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years. Being able to support this incredible industry during the challenges of COVID with the launch of the $5 million Fresh Start Fund, which supported more than 200 Australian productions and new content ideas, will remain a personal highlight.”
The ABC’s head of factual and culture, Jennifer Collins, will be acting in the role until a replacement is found.
McKenzie signs off at press club
Nick McKenzie is best known as an extraordinary investigative journalist at the Age who branched out into television on Nine’s 60 Minutes.
But he has also been the president of the Melbourne Press Club during a tumultuous couple of years that included a global pandemic and uproar over the Quill awards.
The Age sports reporter Sam McClure had his 2020 Quill Award reinstated to him by McKenzie in April after the board decided to overturn an earlier decision to strip him of the award.
McKenzie announced he was stepping down at the club’s annual meeting on Wednesday. He will remain on the board, which has been reduced from 20 to 17 people, but a new president has been elected: ABC journalist Ashlynne McGhee.
“It’s been a real privilege to lead the MPC over the last two years. We have been fortunate to hold terrific in-person Quill award evenings despite lockdowns, delivered great masterclasses and other events for our members, become a vital hub for young journalists and taken important steps towards embracing diversity,” McKenzie said.
Very excited and humbled to be elected President of the @MelbPressClub, even if taking over from @Ageinvestigates is a bit of a hard act to follow. Looking forward to championing Victorian journalists and journalism - see you at a press club event soon!
— Ashlynne McGhee (@ashmcghee) June 15, 2022
The editor and publisher Eileen Berry, a stalwart of the club, has retired from the board, as has media lawyer Justin Quill, a 17-year board veteran. Also quitting the board were Nine News Melbourne’s chief of staff Kate McGrath and the AFL’s Jude Donnelly. The only new board member is Tito Ambyo, who previously served on the club’s diversity committee.
