Journalism

**Coates Productions’ Showreel** Jun 20, 2014

Balloon race — **The great balloon race** Sep 29, 2013

Police beat — **The police beat** Sep 26, 2013

audio description spear carrier — **Live theatre and being blind** Dec 03, 2012
Jamie Oxenbould performs The Spear Carrier (audio described) at the Ensemble theatre

**Audio description allows blind people to visualise live performance details such as facial expression and stage position.**

The highly valued service is volunteer-dependent and offered by only a few theatres.

A first-hand insight into how audio description works reveals ageing technology, frustrated advocates, and blind people who would like more options.

SMH Tickets — **Australian rules give MPs a ticket to the game** Sep 01, 2012

4040412-3x2-940x627 — **Fairfax follow up** Jul 22, 2012
**Fairfax Media has started its latest voluntary redundancy program that will shed 1900 jobs.**

The re-structure includes a new operating model and new positions at the Sydney Morning Herald aimed at harnessing opportunities presented by the digital age.

For many the Herald’s Pyrmont office is a difficult place to be and is made even more challenging by the spectre of Gina Rinehart’s uncompromising bid to influence the company.

**I spoke with senior investigative journalist at the Herald, Stuart Washington.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/stuart-washington-interview-19072012.mp3

Vitamin D enriched mushrooms Jul 17, 2012

Vitamin D deficiency is a problem in Australia and mushrooms could now play a role in addressing the issue.

A University of Western Sydney study into the effects of Ultra Violet light on mushrooms has led to a Vitamin D enriched product now available from grocers.

**Wild dogs** Jun 09, 2012

**Wild dogs attacking livestock is an ongoing issue for rural Australia and good conditions have led to increased threat.**

Peak Industry Body, Wool Producers, is calling on the Federal Government to help fund a national strategy to beef up current pest control measures. But animal welfare groups say existing methods such as trapping and poison-bating are inhumane.

Khancoban farmer, Russell Murdoch, runs sheep and cattle across a 1000 acre property bordering the western side of Kosciuszko National Park.

He wants more funding for wild dog trapping and has taken direct action to bring attention to what he says is a growing problem.

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wild-dogs-final-25052012.mp3

**Citrus growers face bitter reality** May 02, 2012

Despite bumper crops Australian orange growers are tightening their belts. They can’t sell all their juicing oranges this year and wonder why when banned pesticide residue is being found in Brazilian juice imports.

The road to NSW’s Riverina citrus district is long and straight for a Sydneysider heading west on highway 94. Countryside once starved by drought to a worn saddle brown, now swells with moisture – nourished and plump.

40 kilometres from the Brobenah Hall turn-off, next to an orange orchard on the outskirts of Leeton, is a corrugated iron building that is packing house, Pacific Fresh. Avoiding piercing heat, citrus boss, Frank Mecuri, stands in the shade of the factory – short, stocky and neat, with a faded company cap he rarely removes. There is little or no opportunity for growers he says, “they are price takers not price makers”.

Frank Mecuri smokes and talks to fellow grower and Pacific Fresh shareholder Frank Nadi

The irrigation-dependent soil of the Riverina accounts for 30% of national citrus production and is Australia’s largest citrus growing region with more than 3 million trees.

The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), located inside the Riverina, began at the end of the 19^th century as an idea to harness diverse food production opportunities offered by the Riverina flood plains and surrounding river systems. By 1913 it was a complex scheme involving water management, infrastructure, and the promise of prosperity.

But the reality today might not be as princely as the then-planner, Walter Burely Griffin, had envisaged: growers competing globally, absorbing world leading production costs, and regulators protecting imports by imposing double standards around use of dangerous pesticides.

Second-generation fruit farmer, Frank Mecuri, was 2 years old when parents, Vince and Connie, migrated from Italy in 1962. Six years on, they bought a 50-acre farm in Leeton that Frank and his brother Dom – who now own 300 acres between them – still farm today.

The farm Frank grew up on had “apples, pears, apricots and plums. It had everything on 50 acres” he says, remembering a time of plenty when survival was not bound to producing commercial quantities of a single fruit. Back then they did have a lot of peaches but in 1992 the “local cannery shut down and everything went haywire, everyone had to pull out all their stone fruits.” Now it is mainly citrus and wine grapes, he says.

Between harvest, the Pacific Fresh packing house is dark and still – a handful of workers keep up maintenance, replacing an industrial size ceiling lamp with a cherry-picker. Across the growing and packing operations electricity is forensically monitored and used mostly during off-peak periods. Examination of Mr Mecuri’s Origin Energy invoice shows the cost of powering irrigation pumps for a 50-acre citrus farm has risen by 69% since 2009 and another price hike of 16% will take effect on July 1.

NSW Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, attributes soaring power bills approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to network development costs and Federal Labor’s “carbon tax”. IPART’s own report attributes 9% of the latest rises to a price on carbon and another 8% to “poles and wires”. Mr Hartcher slammed Shadow Minister, Luke Foley, for network charges resulting from “overspending approved by his own Government” and says the O’Farrell Government has stopped “network overspending” but current price arrangements are “valid until 2014.”

Cost analysis from KPMG report, Competitive Alternatives: http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

Across the meeting/lunch table in Frank Mecuri’s shared office – contained in the packing warehouse –, he explains that competing with cheap juice concentrate (crush) from Brazil means most surplus juicing oranges – such as “this year’s 100 thousand tons” – will go to waste, “we just cannot compete with Brazil, and prices offered for “out-of-contract oranges barely covers the cost of picking”.

Geoff Parker, CEO of Fruit Juice Australia – a division of the Australian Beverage Council representing large processors like Lion’s, Berry – says, “processors want to use local produce but when demand amounts to more than half a million tonnes annually, and local farmers can only produce around half that, the domestic juice industry relies on imported product.”

This commercial solution is a problem for growers. Any opportunity to significantly increase sales for concentrate – regardless of the quality of their fruit – is quashed by frozen sludge imported at a fraction of the cost and labelled Australian-made after factories pour water into it.

Adding to the conundrum is carbendazim, a disease-controlling fungicide known to cause testicle deformity and infertility in laboratory animals. Oranges are left hanging across Australia at a time when juice concentrate, primarily from Brazil, is being destroyed in the US – but allowed into Australia – after traces of carbendazim were discovered.

Alarming people is not in Frank Mecuri’s interest, he is concerned that when people “hear about chemicals in juice they stop drinking it.” “But”, he says, “do you really want to take the risk when you hear all that.”

Frank Mecuri surveys orange trees on his plantation

The Australian Food Standards Code specifies an maximum residue limit (MRL) for carbendazim of 10 milligrams for each kilogram of citrus fruit product. The Australian Total Diet Study states “at the levels of carbendazim found a 70 kg adult would have to drink around 150 litres of orange juice in a day before going over the safe level.”

CEO of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), Steve McCutcheon, says “there is an MRL for carbendazim…imports can come into this country providing they meet that level”. But he also admits that a decision by the the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to reduce the carbendazim MRL to zero was reversed because, “our response – driven by representations from the juice industry” – cited “potentially serious impediments” to the juice concentrate trade.

The APVMA banned the use of carbendazim on Australian citrus crops in 2010. Citrus crops in Australia are among the “cleanest and greenest” in the world according to to Mr Mecuri because the mostly dry conditions keep mould and disease at bay. Carbendazim is, however, particularly effective in tropical climates and Presidente of Associtrus, a Brazilian citrus growing association representing around 1300 growers, Flavio Viegas, says carbendazim is “a very effective fungicide costing a third of similar products.” He also says the “USA use carbendazim extensively in paints and other products so the cumulative exposure to the product is dangerous.”

Under significant commercial pressure from the United States Mr Viegas concedes, “Brazilian growers are replacing carbendazim with other products. In a year the OJ from Brazil will be free from the product [carbendazim].”

Staunch Frank says the past year was the “worst he can remember” for citrus farmers. He says there are two main reasons for that; one being the competition with Brazil (made even more frustrating by a “bumper crop”); and two, the rapidly rising cost of production in Australia. With concern and frankness, he says, “We are probably one of the most costly places in the world to produce things and everyone is putting their costs up. But the grower; who can he pass those increases on to?” There is not going to be anything left…a lot of growers at the moment are on the brink of collapse.”

Mr Mecuri has a point. We know that producers and manufacturers generally ‘do it tough’ in Australia but just how tough in recent times may not be as clear. A 2012 cost-of-doing-business report from global accounting network, KPMG, puts Australia second behind Japan with a “cost structure 4% higher than the United States”. Brazil, on the other hand is the fifth most competitive place in the world to do business behind Russia and Mexico. Notably Australia has undergone a radical “cost change” of +6% since 2010 with most other developed economies recording changes of around plus or minus 2%. According to data presented by the KPMG study, Australia has the highest retail energy prices in the world.

Cost analysis from KPMG report, Competitive Alternatives: http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

The driving factor has been the appreciating currency and Frank Mecuri says the rising “dollar has hit us hard.” Pacific Fresh normally sends around 70 thousand boxes of oranges to America but last year they sent only 40 thousand.

We have “contempt for famers in this country”, says South Australian Senator, Nick Xenophon, and we are known as the “free trade Taliban” because of our politicians’ puritanical approach to free trade. Senator Xenophon, who answers to citrus growers from South Australia’s Riverland, says FSANZ has “backflipped” on a decision to get rid of carbendazim in orange juice and the move is “another example of the big end of town putting the squeeze on small producers.”

More... — **Citrus growers face bitter reality** May 02, 2012

Despite bumper crops Australian orange growers are tightening their belts. They can’t sell all their juicing oranges this year and wonder why when banned pesticide residue is being found in Brazilian juice imports.

The road to NSW’s Riverina citrus district is long and straight for a Sydneysider heading west on highway 94. Countryside once starved by drought to a worn saddle brown, now swells with moisture – nourished and plump.

40 kilometres from the Brobenah Hall turn-off, next to an orange orchard on the outskirts of Leeton, is a corrugated iron building that is packing house, Pacific Fresh. Avoiding piercing heat, citrus boss, Frank Mecuri, stands in the shade of the factory – short, stocky and neat, with a faded company cap he rarely removes. There is little or no opportunity for growers he says, “they are price takers not price makers”.

Frank Mecuri smokes and talks to fellow grower and Pacific Fresh shareholder Frank Nadi

The irrigation-dependent soil of the Riverina accounts for 30% of national citrus production and is Australia’s largest citrus growing region with more than 3 million trees.

The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), located inside the Riverina, began at the end of the 19^th century as an idea to harness diverse food production opportunities offered by the Riverina flood plains and surrounding river systems. By 1913 it was a complex scheme involving water management, infrastructure, and the promise of prosperity.

But the reality today might not be as princely as the then-planner, Walter Burely Griffin, had envisaged: growers competing globally, absorbing world leading production costs, and regulators protecting imports by imposing double standards around use of dangerous pesticides.

Second-generation fruit farmer, Frank Mecuri, was 2 years old when parents, Vince and Connie, migrated from Italy in 1962. Six years on, they bought a 50-acre farm in Leeton that Frank and his brother Dom – who now own 300 acres between them – still farm today.

The farm Frank grew up on had “apples, pears, apricots and plums. It had everything on 50 acres” he says, remembering a time of plenty when survival was not bound to producing commercial quantities of a single fruit. Back then they did have a lot of peaches but in 1992 the “local cannery shut down and everything went haywire, everyone had to pull out all their stone fruits.” Now it is mainly citrus and wine grapes, he says.

Between harvest, the Pacific Fresh packing house is dark and still – a handful of workers keep up maintenance, replacing an industrial size ceiling lamp with a cherry-picker. Across the growing and packing operations electricity is forensically monitored and used mostly during off-peak periods. Examination of Mr Mecuri’s Origin Energy invoice shows the cost of powering irrigation pumps for a 50-acre citrus farm has risen by 69% since 2009 and another price hike of 16% will take effect on July 1.

NSW Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, attributes soaring power bills approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to network development costs and Federal Labor’s “carbon tax”. IPART’s own report attributes 9% of the latest rises to a price on carbon and another 8% to “poles and wires”. Mr Hartcher slammed Shadow Minister, Luke Foley, for network charges resulting from “overspending approved by his own Government” and says the O’Farrell Government has stopped “network overspending” but current price arrangements are “valid until 2014.”

Cost analysis from KPMG report, Competitive Alternatives: http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

Across the meeting/lunch table in Frank Mecuri’s shared office – contained in the packing warehouse –, he explains that competing with cheap juice concentrate (crush) from Brazil means most surplus juicing oranges – such as “this year’s 100 thousand tons” – will go to waste, “we just cannot compete with Brazil, and prices offered for “out-of-contract oranges barely covers the cost of picking”.

Geoff Parker, CEO of Fruit Juice Australia – a division of the Australian Beverage Council representing large processors like Lion’s, Berry – says, “processors want to use local produce but when demand amounts to more than half a million tonnes annually, and local farmers can only produce around half that, the domestic juice industry relies on imported product.”

This commercial solution is a problem for growers. Any opportunity to significantly increase sales for concentrate – regardless of the quality of their fruit – is quashed by frozen sludge imported at a fraction of the cost and labelled Australian-made after factories pour water into it.

Adding to the conundrum is carbendazim, a disease-controlling fungicide known to cause testicle deformity and infertility in laboratory animals. Oranges are left hanging across Australia at a time when juice concentrate, primarily from Brazil, is being destroyed in the US – but allowed into Australia – after traces of carbendazim were discovered.

Alarming people is not in Frank Mecuri’s interest, he is concerned that when people “hear about chemicals in juice they stop drinking it.” “But”, he says, “do you really want to take the risk when you hear all that.”

Frank Mecuri surveys orange trees on his plantation

The Australian Food Standards Code specifies an maximum residue limit (MRL) for carbendazim of 10 milligrams for each kilogram of citrus fruit product. The Australian Total Diet Study states “at the levels of carbendazim found a 70 kg adult would have to drink around 150 litres of orange juice in a day before going over the safe level.”

CEO of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), Steve McCutcheon, says “there is an MRL for carbendazim…imports can come into this country providing they meet that level”. But he also admits that a decision by the the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to reduce the carbendazim MRL to zero was reversed because, “our response – driven by representations from the juice industry” – cited “potentially serious impediments” to the juice concentrate trade.

The APVMA banned the use of carbendazim on Australian citrus crops in 2010. Citrus crops in Australia are among the “cleanest and greenest” in the world according to to Mr Mecuri because the mostly dry conditions keep mould and disease at bay. Carbendazim is, however, particularly effective in tropical climates and Presidente of Associtrus, a Brazilian citrus growing association representing around 1300 growers, Flavio Viegas, says carbendazim is “a very effective fungicide costing a third of similar products.” He also says the “USA use carbendazim extensively in paints and other products so the cumulative exposure to the product is dangerous.”

Under significant commercial pressure from the United States Mr Viegas concedes, “Brazilian growers are replacing carbendazim with other products. In a year the OJ from Brazil will be free from the product [carbendazim].”

Staunch Frank says the past year was the “worst he can remember” for citrus farmers. He says there are two main reasons for that; one being the competition with Brazil (made even more frustrating by a “bumper crop”); and two, the rapidly rising cost of production in Australia. With concern and frankness, he says, “We are probably one of the most costly places in the world to produce things and everyone is putting their costs up. But the grower; who can he pass those increases on to?” There is not going to be anything left…a lot of growers at the moment are on the brink of collapse.”

Mr Mecuri has a point. We know that producers and manufacturers generally ‘do it tough’ in Australia but just how tough in recent times may not be as clear. A 2012 cost-of-doing-business report from global accounting network, KPMG, puts Australia second behind Japan with a “cost structure 4% higher than the United States”. Brazil, on the other hand is the fifth most competitive place in the world to do business behind Russia and Mexico. Notably Australia has undergone a radical “cost change” of +6% since 2010 with most other developed economies recording changes of around plus or minus 2%. According to data presented by the KPMG study, Australia has the highest retail energy prices in the world.

Cost analysis from KPMG report, Competitive Alternatives: http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

The driving factor has been the appreciating currency and Frank Mecuri says the rising “dollar has hit us hard.” Pacific Fresh normally sends around 70 thousand boxes of oranges to America but last year they sent only 40 thousand.

We have “contempt for famers in this country”, says South Australian Senator, Nick Xenophon, and we are known as the “free trade Taliban” because of our politicians’ puritanical approach to free trade. Senator Xenophon, who answers to citrus growers from South Australia’s Riverland, says FSANZ has “backflipped” on a decision to get rid of carbendazim in orange juice and the move is “another example of the big end of town putting the squeeze on small producers.”

2 Crikey Image — **Journalism lecturer tells student to kill FOI request** Apr 12, 2012

**University of Canberra Journalism lecturer, Crispin Hull, wrote a letter to five students explicitly requesting they abandon freedom of information requests.**

The students wanted to verify reports of planned cuts to the journalism program and the university’s new multi-million dollar sponsorship of rugby team, the ACT Brumbies.

Despite additional pressure from University of Canberra administration, third year journalism undergraduate, Lauren Ingram, pushed ahead and wrote of her ordeal in Crikey.

**I spoke with Lauren Ingram about her FOI experience.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/lauren-ingram-final-11042012.mp3

ask-not-what-your-intern-can-do-for-you-but-what-17079-1328583224-142 — **NGOs talk to a changing media** Apr 04, 2012
Fairfax editor, Gary Linnell, put to NGOs that it is not about what the media can do for them but what they can do for the media

**The Centre for Independent Journalism and the Australian Council of Social Services hosted this year’s NGO Media Forum at the NSW Teachers Federation in Surry Hills.**

The forum focused on stories that matter in a changing media landscape.

Attendees from the not-for-profit sector and leading Australian journalists discussed issues such as the power of personal narratives and some of the opportunities and threats brought by new technology.

Before lunch a panel of editors and reporters responded to audience participants on how to get important stories told and some of the resource issues facing print journalism.

**I was at the forum and spoke with Fairfax editor, Gary Linnell, and New Matilda editor, Marni Cordell.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/gary-linnell-marni-cordell-28032012.mp3

panic-button — **Finkelstein report triggers hysterical response from press** Mar 18, 2012

The Finkelstein media report has sent the press into a frenzy about the notion of free speech. Some journalists say the hysteria is stifling community debate about effective complaint handling and promoting quality journalism.

Ensuring independence and funding, and questions about the power of a new media council, are central issues. Also on the table are concerns about media ownership concentration and the extent to which the internet facilitates diversity.

Despite the need for healthy debate about the media some newspapers have attacked academics; accusing them of using the inquiry to vent grievances and attack large corporations. One person copping some vicious and misleading opinion is renowned journalist, Professor Wendy Bacon.

**I spoke with Wendy Bacon about media inquiry issues and some of the accusations in the Weekend Australian newspaper.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wendy-bacon-final-edit-15032012.mp3

imgres-1 — **MEAA don’t like Finkelstein’s media report** Mar 18, 2012
**The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance has described the Finkelstein Report on media regulation as a huge** **disappointment**.

They say the proposal for a Government body to oversee all journalism is impractical and not appropriate in a free society.

The MEAA also says the report fails to address the demise of traditional print business models and what this means for investigative reporting and Australian democracy.

**To get across the MEAA response to the Independent Inquiry into the Media I spoke with Federal Secretary, Christopher Warren.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/christopher-warren-07032012.mp3

**Twitter untapped and some legal questions** Feb 26, 2012
Twitter can be an avenue for people to talk back

Twitter continues to be a blessing for activists and journalists but in some cases remains an untapped opportunity for brands and politicians. People’s ability to visibly talk back — and do it collectively via a hashtag — can be a revealing gift and an image damaging disaster.

Twitter began in 2006 and three years later one billion tweets had been posted. Today more than one billion tweets are sent each week and in excess of five hundred thousand accounts are created each day.

Examples of law being applied to tweets are emerging and the first Australian defamation case involving Twitter has become an attempt to test the communication platform’s liability as a publisher.

To look into the missed opportunities, humiliations, and legal aspects of Twitter I spoke with Associate Professor, Axel Bruns, from Queensland University of Technology; Axis Legal Principle, Sara Dolpopolo; and Canberra Times columnist and UTS Journalism academic, Jenna Price.

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/twitter-without-fx-23022012.mp3

picture_14 — **The future of online intimacy** Feb 18, 2012
Picture from i09.com

**The internet can be a gateway into a plethora of impersonal interaction tempered only by an occasional emoticon. But — as is often the case — technology could be about to change all of that.**

Futurist, Ross Dawson — also known for his predictions about journalism and social media –, thinks the web might be able to facilitate inter-personal simulated intimacy.

Based on a handful of products, some in development and others commercialised, Mr Dawson believes the physical and emotional experiences we have touching and kissing someone could eventually be had at a distance…via the web.

He says there is viable evidence to support the idea of remote intimacy and that associated internet-based products are already popular.

**I spoke with Ross Dawson about the role of a Futurist and his “future of sex” website.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/future-of-sex-final-edit-15022011.mp3

081223-lotto — **Freelancing, feature writing, & Pauline Hanson** Dec 02, 2011

**Erin O’Dwyer started her career as a journalist in 1997, writing for the Queensland Times and then the Courier Mail. It was an interesting time in QLD given Pauline Hanson was on the rise.**

Since then Erin has contributed to Vogue, Australian Geographic, The Sun Herald, and the ABC’s, Radio National…to name a few.

She won an Australian United Nations Media Peace Award in 2006 and was a finalist in 2010.

Some recent pieces from Erin include a gritty and personal insight into online dating and a profile of Angry Boys creator, Chris Lilley.

Now living on the South Coast on NSW, she regularly contributes to the Sydney Morning Herald and lectures at UTS.

**I spoke with Erin O’Dwyer about Pauline Hanson, “The online love lotto”, and the puzzling Chris Lilley.**

**https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/erin-odwyer-final-cut.mp3**

501837-kyle-and-janice — **Kyle Sandilands shines a light on ACMA** Nov 30, 2011
Sandilands meets Janice Dickinson on the new and failing TV show, A Night with the Stars. Picture: Channel 7 and sourced from adelaidenow.com.au

Popular radio host, Kyle Sandilands, has again spewed his vile lyric. This time targeting online journalist, Alison Stephenson, for writing unfavourably about a new and failed TV show that is co-hosted by Sandilands and Jackie O.

Sandilands labelled Stephenson a “fat slag” and continued his obscenity by describing her breast as too meagre for her clothing.

Kyle Sandilands has since been called a grub and a piece of s*$t. Calls for his axing are in abundance via Twitter.

Despite the gravity of his comments he remains defiant. Sandilands is no stranger to the Australia Communications and Media Authority and ACMA’s effectiveness could be generously described as questionable.

**I spoke with Ben Eltham, commentator and journalist for Crikey, the ABC, and New Matilda.**

**NB. Both Ben Eltham and I refer to the Independent Media Inquiry in this report. The correct reference is the Convergence Review.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ben-eltham-final-edit.mp3

**Big Harto** Nov 17, 2011
Outgoing News Ltd chief, John Hartigan, pours a glass of water for fellow executive, Campbell Reid, at the Independent Media Inquiry hearings in Sydney. Photograph: Nathan H Coates

**Harto entered Labor’s Independent Media Inquiry like a wounded bear come to confront his attackers. The mood was icy and the outgoing News Ltd chief was keen to set the record straight:**

“We don’t hack phones and nor do we pay bribes. And in terms of bias this is a Government that is on the nose and looking for any excuse.”

Mr Hartigan would not be drawn on News Ltd’s awesome power but admitted to being able to “bring significant pressure”. He said any campaigns are up to individual editors and that it depends on what is meant by the term campaign. Mr Hartigan added:

“If News Ltd was as powerful as people say, Australia would be a republic.”

After being afforded a lengthy speech Mr Hartigan gave way to inquiry leader, Ray Finkelstein. Even though Harto’s monologue wained, it was the least Mr Finkelstein could do for a loyal CEO that may have been pushed before his time to make way for a money-man.

Some might recoil from being a News Ltd enthusiast because of a minority of unbridled blogger/columnists (blogumnists) and suspicion that Rupert has an annoying habit of using his newspapers as political weapons… Despite News Ltd’s image journalists like John Hartigan inspire a strange and wary affection. His charisma and strident claims of believing in real journalism make for a great story.

And a good yarn is exactly what Mr Hartigan told the media inquiry today. He was almost seething at the idea of having to answer questions — given News Ltd have not been accused of phone hacking — but at the same time was the first person questioned to refer to Finkelstein as “Sir”. Harto was busting to bellow out company lines regarding political influence and media ownership, and still he listened carefully to ideas on whether the Australian Press Council needs to be empowered to force correction.

The scene was animated: the small room we were jammed into had filled quickly just prior to Harto’s arrival and was littered – for the first time since the opening address – with still photographers making the glamourous sound they do.

After clearing up any doubts about News Ltd’s integrity Mr Hartigan went-in-to-bat for the Australian Press Council. He said the APC is not self regulation but independent regulation. Harto went on saying that News Ltd was able to work well with APC Chair Julian Disney and ‘by and large’ agreed with his approach.

News Ltd executive, Campbell Reid, confirmed this apparent cooperation by saying he is working with News Ltd editors to “step-up the presence of the Press Council in our papers”.

Mr Reid added he would prefer to continue working in the way they do now with the APC rather than within a dynamic where the APC might be able to force corrections. He continued and said:

“We would resist strongly being told on which page and how a correction might appear.”

Mr Hartigan did feel the need to contextualise his comments by saying previous APC administrators had been “wasteful”. Sounds like Harto is ok with Professor Disney’s current staff of 2.5 and that is a good thing given News Ltd currently account for 45% of the APC’s funding.

**The View from Nowhere** Nov 14, 2011
I imagine the the view from nowhere looks something like this. The picture looks nice but is not very informative. Photo: N H C

As much as one might love — nay cut off an arm — to be able to take credit for the blog title obviously that is not possible. It was the title of a book written by NYU Philosophy Professor, Thomas Nagel, in 1986. According to Conor Friedersdorf’s article in The Atlantic, titled: “Stop forcing journalists to conceal their view from the public”, the term has been “popularised” by NYU Journalism Proffessor, Jay Rosen.

“The View from Nowhere” is a concept well-worth exploring, writing about, thinking about some more, and then making sure — as a journalist — it is not forgotten. The best way not to forget may be to practice based on its criticism.

Objectivity is somewhat of a nonsense notion given we are all fallible and have developed bias. The idea of being completeley objective as a journalist is not possible as choices are constantly made about newsworthiness, emphasis, and who to interview etc. Moreover it is subjective assessment that gives something meaning and the ability to be communicated in a comprehensible way: without subjectivity one does not know what anything is. In a practical and day-to-day sense the View from Nowhere is explained and problematised by Rosen, who says:

“In pro journalism, American style, the View from Nowhere is a bid for trust that advertises the viewlessness of the news producer. Frequently it places the journalist between polarized extremes, and calls that neither-nor position ‘impartial.’ Second, it’s a means of defense against a style of criticism that is fully anticipated: charges of bias originating in partisan politics and the two-party system. Third: it’s an attempt to secure a kind of universal legitimacy that is implicitly denied to those who stake out positions or betray a point of view. American journalists have almost a lust for the View from Nowhere because they think it has more authority than any other possible stance.”

Friedersdorf’s piece along with a blog entry by UK Guardian writer, Dan Gillmor, go some way in fleshing out the issue.

The Atlantic article tells the story of American journalist, Caitlan Curren, who was — according to the article — sacked from WNYC — a New York based not-for-profit broadcaster — because she was caught holding a placard at an Occupy Wall Street rally. Interestingly the placard did not say anything — as noted by Friedersfdorf — about Curren wanting to run a propaganda campaign via WNYC. The placard was a quote from an article written by Friedersdorf and it said:

“It’s wrong to create a mortgage-backed security filled with loans you know are going to fail so that you can sell it to a client who isn’t aware that you sabotaged it by intentionally picking the misleadingly rated loans most likely to be defaulted upon.”

This quote had been published and was not considered then to be unethical. It was also picked up by NPR’s radio program, Public Money, including broadcasting a paraphrased version. Noteworthy is that the SEC — US Securities and Exchange Committeee — fined Goldman Sachs $550 million dollars for the ABACUS deal: transactions that pretty much amounted to what was written on the placard held by Curren.

So it would seem the statement might be true or at least is true enough to warrant a half a billion dollar fine. Yet in a fit of ridiculous “zero tolerance” Curren is fired for holding the words up in front of a group of people (something the published article had done for many more).

Friedersdorf’s piece is a great read for anyone feeling a little less human because of lofty notions about objectivity. This is by no means an excuse to become wantonly opinionated: in fact quite the the opposite. It is about defining real ethics that allow for the publication and expression of logical, well researched, and accurate arguments.

Do the work is the message. It is easy to quote the so-called “both sides” and call the report objective even when there is more to it and the argument from one or both sides is misleading and without evidence.

The blog entry by Dan Gillmore is mentioned because he proposes these ethical guidelines for journalists:

“1) Be human. 2) Be honorable. 3) Don’t embarrass us.”

To talk about this issue and the case of Caitlan Curren I spoke with media ethics expert from Curtin University, Dr Joseph Fernandez.

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/joseph-fernandez-final-edit1.mp3

mental-illness-sketch-21 — **Stop the cuts and let’s talk about it** Oct 13, 2011
http://civilrightsandwrongs.wordpress.com

**Sonia Neale is a media savvy advocate who has experienced mental illness.**

She said, “The reason I do this, the reason I tell my story, is that I want to normalise mental illness”.

Ms Neale is also campaigning against planned cuts to Better Access – a broad Government scheme aimed at giving people access to psychologists.

“Just because you have a mental illness it doesn’t mean you are mentally deficient in any way”, says Ms Neale – twice pointing out that being able to talk about her problems transformed her into a consistent “tax payer”.

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Australians. The ABS 2011 Causes of Death report ranks suicide between breast cancer and land transport accidents. People close to the issue – advocates and ordinary folk alike – say they want more reporting around mental health but note the importance of getting it right.

Mindframe is a 10-year-old Government initiative aimed at delivering resources to journalists and other communicators so they can be confident when dealing with mental illness and suicide. People don’t want reports that stigmatise mental illness but “they absolutely want to see more media coverage”, says Mindframe Program Manager, Jaelea Skehan. She said it’s incumbent on the mental health field to provide reporters with access to people who can share their journeys of difficulty responsibly and with support. In her role Ms Skehan has worked with over 4000 journalists. She said she could only remember 5 who were not interested in mental health.

Rural Mental Health – an online discussion hub – and Mindframe recently convened a Twitter chat on mental health and the role of the media. Mike Stuchbery, Melbourne-based teacher, writer, and occasional broadcaster, tweeted:

“When it’s done, discussion of mental health is usually done very well. I just wish it was more regular.”

Touting a reason for a perceived lack of reporting on mental health, he tweeted:

“Well, to be utterly mercenary/crass, it’s not very sexy, is it?”

PR Manager for Baptcare – a Christian not-for-profit support service for the disadvantaged –, Georgina Liew, replied:

“I agree but I’ve also had experience of clients sharing & then shortly after regretting it…makes it hard.”

Another concern expressed by tweeters – made up of advocates, journalists, and ordinary people – was the planned cuts to Better Access. Measures that would see the maximum allowable visits with a Medicare-funded psychologist reduced from 18 to 10. According to them, cuts to the program will harm people’s ability to access adequate psychological care.

Practicing psychologist and Chair of the Association of Counselling Psychologists, Ben Mullings, said:

“Research has consistently shown that people need to be offered at least 15 to 20 sessions, even for mild to moderate cases of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder”.

Promoted alternatives to Better Access, such as Government-funded psychiatric services or the ATAPS scheme, are incomplete, Mr Mullings said. Psychiatrists “are so thin on the ground” it can take up to six months to get a session, he said.

ATAPS – Access to Allied Psychological Services – enables certified GPs to refer certain groups of people with mental health disorders to low cost psychological services. Dr Simon Cowap, a Sydney-based GP who works with Headspace – the National Youth Mental Health Foundation – said ATAPS is not an alternative to Better Access, it is complimentary. He said ATAPS is a more targeted initiative and noted his group ran out of ATAPS funding well before the end of the last financial year.

Sonia Neale says through Better Access she was able to access 18 sessions a year with a psychologist and that is when her “mental health improved exponentially”. Ms Neale said it can take years for the root cause of a person’s issues to be discovered and dealt with, adding:

“A person can’t just go into therapy and say they were sexually abused when they were 12 and therefore at age 30 they have an eating disorder.”

For Ms Neale, making the connection takes time because often underlying problems have been hidden for years. “People in the media seem to understand that mental illness is a big issue”, she said, and talks positively about her interview experiences. Ms Neale says she enjoys “de-stigmatising” mental illness and wants to encourage responsible conversation about it.

**I spoke with Sonia Neale about her experience and the proposed funding cuts to Better Access.**

https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/sonia-neale-better-access.mp3

**I also spoke with Program Manager for Mindframe, Jaelea Skehan, about the role of the media.**

**https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/mindframe-j-skehan-edited-06102011.mp3**

For support please contact any of the following services.

Lifeline (24 hours) 13 11 14

Kids Helpline – 24 hours, for young people aged 5 to 25 years 1800 55 1800

MensLine Australia (24 hours) 1300 78 99 78

SANE Helpline – mental illness information, support and referral 1800 18 SANE (7263)

Reach Out – Interactive website for young people http://www.reachout.com

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

beyondblue 1300 224 636

14359-1_oct_cartoon — **Freedom of the press: A tradition at least 150 years old** Oct 01, 2011

**There are some important goings on around media regulation at the moment.**

We have the Convergence Review (dealing with traditionally regulated broadcasters merging with the digital stream) and a new Media Inquiry (looking into print and online).

Historically print has been free of Government interference in Australia: a tradition going back at least 150 years. Government, the judicial system, and people may have enough protection with law around defamation, obscenity, and court proceedings.

One cannot go past the argument that the new Media Inquiry is a Government response to perceived News Ltd bias and the NotW scandal in the UK. PM Julia Gillard did say News Ltd “has questions to answer”.

**To gain in-depth analysis, I spoke with veteran journalist and current presenter for the ABC’s Media Watch, Jonathan Holmes.**
[audio https://nathanhcoates.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/jonathan-holmes-edited-complete.mp3]

Qantas workers prepare to strike Sep 15, 2011

Zetland mosque Sep 13, 2011

For this busy inner-city mosque a diverse congregation is celebrated. Leader, imam Hady, says this Muslim place of worship is not dominated by any one ethnic group.

According to Mr Hady 500 to 600 people attend the Jumu^ah (Friday) prayer and the congregation of Zetland mosque includes “people from all walks of life and country of origin…[The] Middle East, Asia, Africa…also from Europe…and there are so many Australian converts”.

When asked if this is unique and if he was trying to create an Australian brand of Islam, Mr Hady said:

“For some…yes…because perhaps this practice is not taking place in every mosque…it is the essence of the teaching of Islam.”

A recently published 12-year study by the University of Western Sydney surveyed more than 12500 Australians.

One question referred to Australia being weakened by people of different ethnic origins sticking to their old ways: 41.2% of respondents agreed. Another asks if there are cultural groups that do not fit into Australian society and 41.4% of people said yes.

Mr Hady says he faces misunderstanding and feels compelled to apologise, on behalf of Islam, following acts of terrorism.

This year includes the 10^thanniversary of the September 11^thtragedy. Jeremy Jones from the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said:

“Immediately after those events [911 attacks]…we had a big interfaith gathering at Martin Place and Amin Hady was the key Muslim religious person”.

The Reverend, Tara Curlewis, from the National Council of Churches has been frequenting Zetland mosque for three years. Ms Curlewis said:

“the faith community is trying to recognise that we [Australia] are not only a multicultural society but we are also a multi-faith society.”

Amin Hady is “first imam to Zetland mosque” but he is also a cleric and a Sheik. He said:

“imam is [a] title for [a] religious cleric who is in charge [of] religious matters for the community and usually he will be based at [a] certain mosque.”

A Sheik is a title given by an Islamic university. In the late 1970’s Mr Hady graduated from university in Medina, Saudi Arabia, and could then be called Sheik.

Becoming imam at Zetland mosque in 1998, Mr Hady promotes a pluralistic and moderate approach. He wants to engage the local community on issues including the role of women.

“We have given women not only significant [but] also prominent roles within our mosque” said Mr Hady.

On promoting the role of women in Islam Mr Hady notes that “strong emphasis” was placed on this by the prophet Muhammad. He cites the prominent roles played in business and education by Khadija, Aisha, and Fatima – Muhammed’s first and second wife and daughter.

According to imam Hady the role of women in Islam is often misunderstood because the real Islamic teaching is not known and due to “practice amongst Muslims themselves who mislead other communities about the role of women…they tend to limit the role of women not knowing that Islam has given women an important role in every aspect of life.”