Welcome to The Spy Report at Media Spy - a handy guide to what’s making news in the media industry. Our team of contributors will help keep you up to date on developments in the industry and what we’re talking about in the forums.


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Newspaper, magazine circulations down

Latest figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) have shown a drop in circulation in most newspaper and all weekly magazine titles.
The biggest drop in the weekly magazine sector was Pacific Magazines‘ Famous which in the July to September quarter recorded an 18.7 per cent drop in circulation compared to the same period […]

November 14th 2008 — 8:26 pmPrint
Penberthy walks the News Limited plank to new venture

David Penberthy has resigned as editor of the Daily Telegraph in the midst of the paper’s campaign for the New South Wales Government to “sack itself”, ABC News is reporting.
After three years in the position, Mr Penberthy will be replaced by former Channel Nine news and current affairs editor Garry Linnell, who joined News Limited […]

November 14th 2008 — 12:03 pmPrint
Herald Sun editor sacked

The editor of Melbourne’s Herald Sun has been sacked.
Bruce Guthrie, a former editor of The Age and The Australian’s weekly magazine, was sacked last night and will finish month’s end.
He will be replaced by Sunday Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel. Pristel will in turn be replaced by Damon Johnston, a former US correspondent.
Guthrie was not […]

November 11th 2008 — 8:05 amAppointments, Print
Newscorp, GTV foreshadow job cuts

Rupert Murdoch is preparing to cut jobs from his Australian and UK newspaper businesses as a result of falling profits and slowing advertising revenues. The media mogul refused to say how many positions would be cuin order to avoid adverse headlines, according to The Age.
News Corporation shares fell 23.1% on Wednesday, closing at their worst […]

November 8th 2008 — 12:37 pmIndustry, New Media, Print, Talking Points, Television
Complaints over ‘misleading’ Coke ad

An advertising campaign for soft-drink giant Coca Cola featuring television and film actress Kerry Armstrong is facing the axe.
The Advertising Standards Bureau is reporting to be considering whether or not the ad should be pulled.
The full-page advertisement featuring Armstrong aims to break the “myths” surrounding Coca Cola:
“When I was asked to speak out in favour […]

November 2nd 2008 — 1:11 amAdvertising, Celebrities / Personalities, Print
Regulators clear Seven to purchase WAN

The competition regulator has approved the Seven Network’s purchase of 22.4% of West Australian Newspapers and has raised no objections with Seven purchasing 100% of the West Australian company.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has advised Seven it does not propose intervention in Seven’s acquisition of shares in WAN nor would the ACCC see any […]

October 31st 2008 — 11:09 amPrint, Television
Martin accuses proprietors of abandoning serious journalism

In the annual Andrew Olle lecture, long-time Nine Network journalist Ray Martin last night slammed owners of media companies for “dropping the ball” on serious journalism.
“Would the last journo out please turn off the studio lights?” he asked the audience. “There have been sackings and forced redundancies. Share prices tumbling and TV programs dumped,” he […]

October 17th 2008 — 11:12 pmIndustry, Print, Television
Kirk hits out but Fairfax unrest continues

Fairfax chief executive David Kirk has lambasted his critics in an address to The Sydney Institute last night, saying they did not realise what challenges the company faced.
He was scathing in his assessment of Crikey head honcho Eric Beecher, who suggested the company be split and sold, and former editor of The Age Michael Gawenda.
“His […]

October 15th 2008 — 8:33 amIndustry, Print
Axe swings through ACP

ACP Magazines’ events and publicity teams have been shown the door, after the completion of an audit by new PBL Media chairman Tim Parker.
Another 150 jobs, as well as the closure of underperforming magazines (such as recent launch Grazia) are also on the cards as PBL try to trim costs.   Commissions on exclusives have […]

October 12th 2008 — 9:51 amPrint
Reuters drops coverage of cricket tour

Reuters will not cover the Australian cricket team’s upcoming tour if India as a result of ‘unacceptable’ terms. The international news agency says that it has failed to successfully negotiate accreditation terms with Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
In a statement, the organisation said that if an agreement is not […]

October 9th 2008 — 1:02 pmIndustry, International, Press Releases, Print, Talking Points