Media Flash – Aug. 28, 2000 (Aug. 30)

Media Flash – Aug. 28, 2000 (Aug. 30)

Media Flash

and Australian Media Job Directory

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Week Commencing Monday, August 28, 2000

Expressed to more than 6300 Media Decision Makers.

Confidential Weekly E-Newspaper.

Published by Ash Long.

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

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Inside 'Media Flash' This Week

* B&T BITES BACK AT AD NEWS: Publisher Barrie Parsons Speaks Out

* TOP NEWSMAN DIES: Galley Rattle For Jack Ayling - The Ace

* 40 YEARS OF LEADER: Tom Mead Reflects On St George Leader (NSW)

* $24,000 IN AWARDS: Bronwyn Bishop Opens The Purse

* NEW FEATURE: Where Are They Now?

* AUSTRALIAN MEDIA JOB DIRECTORY: See bottom of page

Breaking Media News In A Flash

YOUR EDITION: E-Mailed To Your Desktop

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Advertisement

Fairfax Community Newspapers

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

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

Publishers of: Dandenong Journal, Monash Journal, Knox Journal, Maroondah Journal, Yarra Ranges Journal, Whitehorse Journal, Footscray Mail, Altona-Laverton Mail, Williamstown Advertiser, Brimbank Advocate, Melton Express-Telegraph, Bacchus Marsh Express-Telegraph,Macedon Ranges Telegraph, Sunbury Telegraph, Werribee Banner, Community News - Moonee Valley, Community News - Moreland, Frankston-Longbeach Flier, Mornington Peninsula Flier, House & Land, New Homes & Land.

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B&T Hits Back At Ad News Jibe

* BARRIE PARSONS, Publisher at B&T Weekly, writes: 'Your follow-up story on B&T's resignation from the Audit Bureau of Circulations is only half a story (Media Flash, Aug. 21). Forget the Ad News beat-up, the facts are that B&T resigned from the ABC to join the Circulations Audit Board, which has introduced demographic profile audits to make the business-to-business publishing industry more accountable. The number of business magazines using ABC audits has fallen away to a handful. The future is demograhic audits.'

* PARSONS continues: 'Last month, B&T Weekly became the first publication in Australia to achieve a profile demographic audit under the auspices of the CAB. The demographic audit provides a detailed breakdown of readers by industry category, job function and purchasing influence. Reed Business Information, publisher of B&T, is committed to the demographic audit system and it will be the B2B audit standard in the future (see B&T, July 7). B&T's single issue CAB audit figuere is 9269 - a mix of paid and registered readers but all high quality.'

Bunfight Between Media Mags

* SAMANTHA TANNOUS' hit at B&T Weekly, in the magazine she edits, Ad News, brings this response from BARRIE PARSONS:

* 'A few other facts. Ad News' circulation dropped in then latest ABC audit. B&T is weekly. Ad News is fortnightly and out of date. B&T's weekly print run is in excess 10,300 copies - our next CAB audit will be in excess of 9000. Ad News has been heavily discounting its subs rate for years and continues to bribe would-be subscribers with all sorts of promotional trinkets. B&T is the clear market leader in advertising pages - it's on the increase and well ahead of Ad News. Finally, Ad News seems to be very negative in its promotion - perhaps they have reason to be with so many changes within their organisation. I'd appreciate a right of reply as the Ad News angle is highly distorted and requires some clarification.'

Passing Of Top Aussie Newsman

* JACK AYLING, one of the real characters of Australian print journalism, passed away on Thursday. Ayling was known for the'Topical Taps' column in Truth, under the proprietorship of RUPERT MURDOCH, and also MARK DAY with OWEN THOMPSON. He was a hit with his family. 'The Ace' had worked at The Argus, and was known as one of the old school reporters, taking a great interest in the track. Murdoch loved his trips to Melbourne, where 'Ace' always had a winning race tip. Ayling was one of the leading participants in 3UZ's racing coverage, originally with BERT BRYANT, later holding court at the Post Office Hotel, St Kilda. His memorial service is expected to take place this Friday. Hold on to your hats for the wake!

40 Years For St George Leader

* TOM MEAD, Founding Editor of The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, was invited to introduce the 40th Anniversary supplement of the twice-weekly newspaper, now headed by IAN CROWTHER of Fairfax Community Newspapers (NSW). SIR FRANK PACKER had given Mead instructions in the late 1950's to buy some local newspapers, with The Propeller proprietor at Hurstville knocking back an offer of £160,000. What would £160,000 be worth now - and whatever happened to The Propeller?

* RUPERT MURDOCH'S purchase of Cumberland Newspapers, saw a fightback by Suburban Publications, owned jointly by the PACKER and FAIRFAX families. That company changed name to Fairfax Community Newspapers Pty Ltd in 1986. Today, The Leader has a 144,434 circulation, and the 10-page supplement featured Editor JIM BURRELL and Deputy Editor PAT MUSICK.

Help Fite Illituhrasse

* DR DAVID KEMP, Federal Education, Training and Youth Affairs Ministers, has announced that GENE SWINSTEAD'S News Limited Suburban Newspapers as a major sponsor for National Literacy Week. Other sponsors are Dymocks Bookstores, Australia Post, Texas Instruments and Faber Castell. The News Limited Suburban network will give coverage of literacy and numeracy issues in the lead up to, and during and after the week. Participating authors are LIBBY HATHORN (NSW), MARGARET CLARK (Vic.), ANDY GRIFFITHS (Vic.), MEM FOX (SA), GLYN PARRY (WA) and NATALIE JANE PRIOR (Qld). www.detya.gov.au/literacyweek/

John Laws: Court Case

* JOHN LAWS, 2UE broadcaster, 65, is pleading not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to soliciting information from a former juror for the purposes of obtaining information about the deliberating of a jury. The case continues as Media Flash goes to press.

Rumorfile

* KERRY PACKER'S ACP Publishing to swoop harder on the Optus TV Guide?

* TERRY TAYLER'S Geelong Independent to be the target of a big group's takeover?

* STEVE PRICE, 3AW Program Director, to take over in a year or two from JOHN SORELL as Director of News at GTV-9?

* STEVE HARRIS' Age had to run a 'clarification' after running a 'Sydney 2000' color broadsheet poster in its Australia's Olympians supplement: 'The Age today includes a guide listing all members of the Australian Olympic Team for Sydney 2000. It contains a special commemorative poster, which received the advertising support of Qantas. Qantas would like to point out that it is not an official sponsor of the Australian team or the Sydney Olympics.'

Olympics: 'Holmes Kissed Off'

* STEVE STICKNEY'S Manly Daily covered TRACEY HOLMES' departure from the Seven Network's Olympic Games with this headline, and an interview with mum LYNNE. Tracey had recently penned a guest column for The Manly Daily. (PS: Is the paper considering adding a Monday edition to its Tuesday - Saturday schedule?)

Magazine Forum

* HAZEL EDWARDS, a freelance writer, has joined with Larkford - Community Education Online, toprovide a 'Writing For Your Club Magazine' forum at www.larkford.com.au during Adult Learners' Week, September 3-9. More details are available from LIZ WORTH, Business Development Manager, Larkford Online, (02) 6291 2122.

Where Are They Now?

* ROGER JOSEPH, at Parliament House, Canberra, writes: 'I wonder if you do 'where is ...?' The reason I ask is that in the late 1970's MARK SKURNIK was working in radio, mostly in Victoria. I wonder where he is now. Can you help? I enjoy Media Flash. Keep up the good work!'

* TONY FITTOCK, one-time Manager at the Knox News, is the target of one of this week's Media Flash searches. He had worked in Victorian country radio, was an associate of BARRY BROWNE - now with HARTLEY HIGGINS at Reliance Press - Town & Country Media, Surrey Hills (Vic.)

Our Resolve: No More Virus Warnings

* JIM MURPHY, senior Melbourne journo and TV-film writer, sent us a computer virus warning in good faith. We re-printed it in good faith (Media Flash, Aug. 21). It was a hoax - as we've been told by so many Media Flashers.

* DAVID WILLIAMS, a newspaper IT specialist in Bongo-Bongo land (not his real name), advises it's best not to pass on the warnings: 'Hoax warnings are typically scare alerts started by malicious people - and passed on by innocent users who think they are helping the community be spreading the warning. Do not forward hoax messages. We've seen cases where e-mail systems have collapsed after dozens of users forwarded a false lert to everybody in the company ... end users must not forward virus alarms. Ever. It's not the job of an end user anyway. If such message is received, end users could forward it to It department but not to anyone else.'

* JED WHITE, former Editor-in-Chief of Australian Personal Computer and Publishing Director of ACP's computer magazines, writes: 'Hi Ash ... Nothing to be ashamed of ... have seen many knowledgeable and well-intentioned souls caught out by these things and become their unwitting hosts and carriers.' He cautions that the warnings can actually the viruses!'

* But TRISHA HELBERS of the Australian Medical Association (SA) put it best in her broadcast E-Mail: 'Dear EveryBody In The World, Apparently I was wrong to send you the virus warning I just sent you Mu Cousin Who Shoul Know because he works for the Government in IT tells me that I am a dill and that it was a HOAX. (Well, I inferred the bit about me being a dill.) Pardon me for living and I'm sorry to have disturbed you. P.S.: I have it on good authority that if GOD HIMSELF (or any of his Agents) sends you an E-Mail warning about viruses, he is pulling your leg and you should ignore him. Bad God, bad, bad God! No biscuit!'

$24,000 In Media Awards

* BRONWYN BISHOP, Federal Minister for Aged Care, will be recognise coverage of older Australians in the media with national awards carrying $24,000 in cash prizes. Mrs Bishop says last year's inaugural Commonwealth Media and Advertising Awards were an unqualified success. "More than 1100 nominations were received for the 1999 awards, with many excellent portrayals of older Australians in a realistic and positive way. There are 12 award categories: Daily and Sunday newspapers; Suburban weekly and bi-weekly newspapers and magazines; Regional weekly and bi-weekly newspapers; Metropolitan television; Regional television; Radio; Daily and Sunday newspaper photography; Suburban and bi-weekly newspaper and magazine photography; Regional weekly and bi-weekly newspaper and magazine photography; Radio/television advertising; Newspaper/magazine advertising; and Video/advertising/other media c

Queensland Quips

* CAROLINE GARDAM, Editor of Brisbane's 100-page Minni magazine, celebrates its second birthday on September 15 with a special edition of the youth fashion/arts/lifestyle publication. Some 20,000 copies are printed, delivered through 250 outlets from Currumbin to Noosa. With partner MARGOT DAVIES, the mag's 'cast' includes design specialists ALISTAIR CANTRILL, SHELLEY MITCHELL and JULIET SHAW.

Sydney Desk

* RICK STONE of Parramatta Parkroyal has engaged GREG RADLEY of 2KY Racing Radio to host the Olympics Opening Ceremony big screen coverage, with seafood buffet. $1200 for a table of 10. The hotel is accommodating international media throughout the Olympics - all of whom should be at Homebush, when the buffet is served. Disclosure: Parramatta Parkroyal is a client of The Sydney Report, produced by ASH LONG MEDIA.

* CR ALLAN SHEARAN of Blacktown Council is calling for Western Sydney to have its own television station. The Blacktown City Sun, managed by DIANNE BOYD and edited by RACHEL DERHAM, says current legislation does not allow a new station to be licensed until December 31, 2006.

* WILLIAM VERITY, Editor of the Fairfield City Championi, assembled an impressive 'Buy Fairfield' wrap-around this month, in conjunction with MIKE RODGERS, President of the local Chamber of Commerce, representing 750 businesses.

* MICHAEL HANNAN'S suburban papers are promoting CV Magazine, available Thursdays at Westfield Shoppingtowns and other Sydney shopping centres. The employment carries the line: 'It's about jobs ... it's about time."

Melbourne Memo

* LES TWENTYMAN, community worker, has released his new autobiography, to be launched by Governor-Designate JOHN LANDY on Wednesday next week (Sept. 6). The book is publisheed by Hardie Grant Books, $29.95.

* DERRYN HINCH (3AW) and MAL GARVIN (3AK) were to the fore for Victoria's 4.6 earthquake at 11.06pm Tuesday (Aug. 29). Radio talkback callers continued next morning with rival mid-yawners KEITH McGOWAN (3AW) and LEIGH DREW (3AK).

* DAN McIVOR has joined the ad sales team of The Nillumbik Mail at Eltham (Vic.), owned by HARTLEY HIGGINS and GEOFF HEYES.

This Week In Byron Bay

* BYRON BAY FOLLIES: Fast Buck$ alleges fatal flaw in general manager selection process; Visitor Centre's former manager claims report 'a lie and a total misrepresentation of the truth'; Underage drinking on increase, say police; Editorial: Howard's vision - the army vs the people; MUNGO MacCALLUM on the economy - 'Success is an act of Howard, failure is an act of God'; DAVID LESER joins BayFM community radio. THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO is an independent locally-owned free weekly covering Australia's most sophisticated rural market. Check it out on www.echo.net.au. Advertising enquiries to geoff@echo.net.au or ring 02 66841777. (Advt.)

Your ABC

* SUE MASTERS, who commissioned Sea Change, which became ABC-TV's biggest success story in years, has quit after being asked to apply for her own job as Head of Drama. AMANDA MEADE of The Australian reports that ABC MD JONATHAN SHIER removed this request and offered a payrise, but it was too late. Ms Masters goes to the Ten Network in October.

* JOHN REID, ex-Poets Corner host, had his Bacchus Marsh (Vic.) vineyard highlighted by JENI PORT this week in The Age.

* JONATHAN SHIER'S ABC is offering an Indigenous Broadcast Journalist Trainne Program, with one position in Sydney and another in Melbourne. Salary is about $30,000 p.a.

Air Waves

* PAUL ROOS, ex-Sydney Swans footballer, will host the overnight C7 Games (Blue) Network for the Olympics. Netballer LIZ ELLIS has charge of C7 Olympics (Gold). Other hosts include ex-tennis pro KERRYN PRATT, Adelaide radio man JAMES BRAYSHAW, Melbourne TV sports caller PETER DONEGAN, and rugby league commentator TERRY KENNEDY.

Community Radio

* PETER JACKSON, Radio National Web Co-Ordinator at the ABC, advises that the Media Report on Thursday carried a segment on 'community radio .. where ordinary people share their stories ... but community licences are now worth millions of dollars - so is big money strangling small voices?' www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8/30/mediarpt/promo.htm

* AMANDA IRELAND of The Macarthur Advertiser (Campbelltown, NSW) has surprised her colleagues. She was secretly also working as a sports commentator at communtiy station MCR 100.3FM. For her efforts, she earned a jibe in the paper's Mac Chat column penned by Editor ERIC KONTOS.

* GORDON SAMUELS, NSW Governor, has opened the new Glebe studios of radio station 2RPH.

Dot.Com

* REMARQ has closed as a free web-based access to newsgroups and Usenet, following its takeover by Critical Path.

* GREG RADLY'S isis3.com is taking Australian Financial Review ads to promote free phone calls, which 'turns your PC into a phone' with '100 per cent free local and long distance phone calls - with no catch". It is funded by sponsors.

So, This Is Showbiz

* DUNCAN ARMSTRONG, 1988 Olympic Gold and Silver medallist, hosts the Southern Courier (NSW) Business Awards at South Sydney Juniors on Wednesday (August 30).

* MICHAEL RICHARDS, Group Publisher for Courier Newspapers (NSW), is pictured in the Wentworth Courier with Hotel Carnbrook with DR LES MECHTLER, at a Smith Family Winter Appeal charity night.

* GUS MERCURIO and comic GEOFF BROOKS are featured on a Ballarat Courier front-page story by CARLA DANAHER, about filming of a new Australian movie Dalkeith at the Morshead Park greyhound track.

Australian Media Job Directory

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

In-Between Names Dept.

* IMRE SALUSINSZKY, former 'Imre' columnist with The Australian Financial Review, has taken his weekly writings to mate GREG HYWOOD'S Sydney Morning Herald. DISCLOSURE: The author has taken alcohol in the company of Mr Salusinszky.

Movers And Shakers

* PAUL HOLT has been appointed Managing Director of Gordon and Gotch, after spending 27 years with UK-firm W H Smith News.

* BRAD HIGGINS, Carlton Television news chief (Plymouth, Devon, UK), and wife LORNA, have just married. He is heard most weeks on KEITH McGOWAN'S Overnighters radio program on 3AW Melbourne.

* TRACEY HOLMES has joined 2GB for the Olympic Games, to co-anchor Breakfast with PETER FITZSIMMONS. Regular GRAHAM RICHARDSON will be busy as Mayor of the Olympic Village.

Odds and Ends

* MICHAEL McDONALD, Editor of The Echo at Byron Bay (NSW), carries the 'Backlash' column which says: 'Anonymous letters, of course, will not appear nxet week or any other week. Anonymity in letter writing seems to go hand in hand with excessive use of red ink, capitals and exclamation marks. As a wise man once said, multiple excalamtion marks are the literary equivalent of wearing underpants on one's head.'

* DALE PETERS, Mayor of Melbourne's City of Banyule, has his Council sponsoring a Young Writers' Competition in association with Leader Newspapers, which is promoting independent youth magazine Approach in its Heidelberger and Diamond Valley News titles. Cr Peters is due to launch his opposition Banyule Observer fortnightly 25,000-circulation community paper this weekend.

* MARK SALES of Netspace writes: 'Hi Ash. Thanks for a wonderful mag. Just a quick one to let you know that Newcastle's own YAHOO SERIOUS (GREG PEAD) was back home last week for publicity for his movie, Mr Accident. According to The Newcastle Herald and unfortunately for Yahoo, on his way to interviews with KOFM and NXFM he was involved in a car accident!

The Local Report

* GORDON ALLINGHAM'S funeral service on Friday was attended by many who had associated with him through as lifetime as a news photographer. He had worked at The Argus daily in Melbourne, The Age, Truth, and had been an awards judge for the Australian Suburban Newspapers' Association.

* YVONNE GREGORY, customer service coach, speaks on Wednesday next week (Sept. 5) at The Sydney Weekly-sponsored business breakfast at The Duxton Hotel, Milsons Point (NSW). Cost for non-members: $77. The Sydney weekly is heavily promoting its circulation figure of '90,500 copies across the North Shore'. DISCLOSURE: Duxton Hotel Melbourne is a client of The Sydney Report TV program.

* DAVID CAZALET, ELVIS PRESLEY impersonator, has hosted the Mt Druitt - St Marys Standard 'Crazy Coins' competition drawn at Westfield Shoppingtown Mt Druitt. A major prize of $5000 was offered.

* BRENTON APLIN of Messenger Newspapers is heavily promoting his company's distribution of inserts and plastic bags in Adelaide. Color messages are available on the plastic delivery bags.

Personal Bests

* ANTHONY McDONALD, GM of The Melbourne Weekly Magazine, has poached the Motoring rep from CRAIG MARSH'S Inside Melbourne. Result: a new 11-page motoring section, lifting MWM to 88 pages in the current real estate advertising drought.

* BRIAN BURY presented a special morning program on Wednesday, to celebrate the birthday of 2GB.

Absent Friends

* REX LOPEX, 71, long-time journalist, died last week. He started on the Sydney Daily Mirror, then worked at the London Daily Express and Melbourne's Sun News-Pictorial, with a brief stint at the late ROBERT HOLMES a COURT'S Western Mail. He was probably best known by readers as The Sun TV critic. A service was held at Malvern (Vic.) on Thursday morning.

* JOHN DIXON, former Executive Editor at Community News, 73, was mentioned in last week's Media Flash following his hospitalisation. We're sad to record his passing on Tuesday, August 22 at Western Hospital (Vic.). He was raised at Rochester, in country Victoria.

Credit Where It's Due

* MEDIA FLASH receives a number of publications without charge. They include IAN CROWTHER'S Fairfax Community Newspapers (NSW); NEIL COLLYER'S Fairfax Community Newspapers (Vic.); JOHN ENGISCH'S Torch Publishing group publications; SYLVIA BRADSHAW'S Leader Newspapers (Vic.); TOM MILOSEVIC'S Messenger Newspapers (SA); Quest Newspapers (Qld); Cumberland Newspapers (NSW); Community Newsgroup (WA); BRIAN STAGMAN'S Melbourne Independent Newspapers; ERIC BEECHER'S Melbourne Weekly Magazine; MICHAEL HANNAN'S Courier Newspapers (NSW); BARRIE PARSONS' B&T Weekly; CAROLINE GARDAM'S Minni magazine (Qld); DAVID LOVEJOY'S The Echo (Byron Bay); CHRISTINE McDOUGLALL'S Advertiser (Woolgoolga, NSW); BOBBI MAHLAB'S and ALEX CRAMB'S City News and Pyrmont-Ultimo News.

* MEDIA FLASH welcomes publications. It helps us keep in touch, and allows us to promote your publication to media buyers. Put us on your VIP complimentary mailing list: publications should be sent to Media Flash, PO Box 1014, Research, Vic. 3095

It's A Date

Include your media event with a free listing. E-Mail by 5pm Friday please.

* MONDAY, AUGUST 28. 7.00PM. The Age Good Food Guide Awards. At Colonial Stadium, Melbourne. By invitation only.

On This Day

Include birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations with a free listing. E-mail by 5pm Fridays please.

Some references from GREG NEWMAN'S Jock's Journal, (07) 3398 5779.

* MONDAY, AUGUST 28: MARK WARREN, TV commentator, birthday (1953). COURIER-MAIL, Brisbane's newspaper, anniversary (first published under this name, 1933). AUSSAT launched 1985.

* TUESDAY, AUGUST 29: ALAN BROCK, former editor of Seymour Telegraph (Vic.), birthday (1934). Melbourne founded 1835.

* WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30: LINDA BULL, singer with sister VIKA, birthday (1967)

* THURSDAY, AUGUST 31: LEN EVANS, wine columnist, birthday (1929). JACK THOMPSON, actor, birthday (1940 - born as JOHN PAYNE). SU CRUICKSHANK, entertainer, birthday (1946).

* FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: REX GARDNER, Managing Director, The Mercury and Davies Brothers, Hobart, birthday (1950). STEPHEN KERNAHAN, 3AK footy commentator, birthday (1963). CRAIG McLACHLAN, actor-singer, birthday (1965).

* SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2: ERNIE SIGLEY, 3AW afternoon host, birthday (1938). TED MULRY, musician, birthday (1949).

* SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3: CANBERRA TIMES, first published 1926.

Writers' Block

* AMY WHITING won The Age Book of the Year Award on Friday night for her novel Isobel On The Way To The Corner Shop, set almost entirely in a TB sanatorium in the Blue Mountains in the 1950's. KIM MAHOOD won the non-fiction prize for her book Craft For A Dry Lake. PETER MINTER won the DINNY O'HEARN prize for Poetry for Empty Texas. Value of the 26th annual awards was $40,000.

* PATRICK DODSON, one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal leaders, was keynote speaker at Friday night's Awards, introduced by author and poet MARGARET SCOTT and presented by Literary Editor JASON STEGER. A party followed at the C.U.B. Malthouse.

Members' Mailbag

* CLIFF STONEMAN, Director, Dunhill Recruitment and Dunhill Advertising & Multimedia Solutions, has written with his request to be placed on the Media Flash subscription list.

* Welcome also to CHRISTINE BELL, Advertising Manager, The Sunday Age; BRIAN NIELSEN, Principal, Nielsen Instant Knowledge Systems, Hilton (SA); LINDA THOMAS, U Magazine at Leader Newspapers; KAYE LARISSA at Reed Business; CASEY WILSON, freelance professional writer; SHANNON NORRIS at Leader Newspapers; STEVE CLARK at The Geelong News and The Echo; DANIEL BATT at Thomson Legal & Regulatory Group Asia Pacific Ltd; RAY KHOUREY at Fairfax Community Newspapers; JENNIFER PEDEN at Media People, Media Monitors; JODIE MARTIN at Hardie Grant Books; DAMIAN FURLONG, Media Manager, South Sydney City Council;

* Additions also include journalist-editor JUNE CUMMINGS; STEVEN CINCOTTA at La Trobe University; MARTEEN BURGER at Kennedy Rea Online, Sydney; MANJU MATHEW, Features Editor, Business NSW; GEORGINA McLEOD at Fairfax Community Newspapers (Vic.); HADLEIGH ARNST; JAMES SCAMBARY; MARK BRUNGER; ROSS LANYON, Company Secretary, Elliott Newspaper Group.

Fan Mail

* FERNANDO D. ARIAS writes: 'I wish to know more about media jobs out there. I am currently finishing an Arts degree and am looking at moving into the Media industry.' EDITOR REPLIES: We'll put you on the Media Flash subscription list. Keep an eye on the Australian Media Jobs Directory.

Editor's E-Mail

* SAMANTHA KELLIHER writes: "Ash, Well it looks like you too have been taken for a ride with your first headline of this weeks Media Flash entitled: Urgent Alert: 'California' Virus Warning. Wobbler is a hoax virus. I thought though that you might like this one that I received recently: If you receive an email entitled "Badtimes," delete it immediately. Do not open it. Apparently this one is pretty nasty. It will not only erase everything on your hard drive, but it will also delete anything on disks within 20 feet of your computer. It demagnetizes the stripes on ALL of your credit cards. It reprograms your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your VCR and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you attempt to play. It will re-calibrate your refrigerator's coolness settings so all your ice cream melts and your milk curdles. It will program your phone auto dial to call

The Review - Part 1

* MEDIA FLASH this month looked back at the days of Nation Review, and challenged Publisher RICHARD WALSH'S assertion (Media Flash, August 14) that Walsh had published a version called The Saturday Review.

* RICHARD WALSH replies: 'Ash - You may be right or you may be wrong. Sadly, I would only be able to resolve this matter by going to the Public Library of NSW and looking at their Ferret back copies. At the moment I do not have the luxury of the time required to do this. Around June 1971, when we were moving to a Saturday morning on-sale and migrating from the masthead The Sunday Review to The Review, I certainly played around with a masthead that had the word "Saturday" floating above the word Review, in order to reinforce the change of on-sale. I thought I had used this masthead at least once but perhaps you have a more accurate memory than I do and I am confusing intention with actuality. Given that we are talking about events of almost 30 years ago (which means neither of us are the boys we once were!) and I have launched more publications in the meantime than I dare think about

* ASH LONG replies: 'Ouch, you sure know my weak-spot, Richard! I'm s-o-o-o-o-o sorry ... about the possibility of being labelled the LITTLE JOHNNIE of netpub. I maintain that The Review, in all its lives, failed to maintain a sufficient commercial demand ... insofar, as being able to continue in business. I should know, our family's income partly relied on commission of copies sold! Business Manager BARRY WATTS, in an August 20, 1971 memo (yes, I keep everything), said: 'The proprietors of our publishing company have been greatly concerned about our ability to absorb rising costs in producing The Review and have rightly questioned the future viability of our operation.' I have a collection of these intra-company memos, however the intellectual influence and political importance of The Review, especially around 1972, is unquestioned. The Ferret failed to stay in business, in the end

* P.S.: RICHARD WALSH once had a celebrated exchange of correspondence with journalist RICHARD L'ESTRANGE, known throughout the journalism industry as 'DICK THE ODD'. Walsh signed the reply as RICHARD LE NORMAL.

The Review - Part 2

* 'Dear Ash, Of course you and RICHARD WALSH are both wrong - and right - about the survival of The Sunday Review. It changed its name to The Review when its distribution went national and then was merged with George Munster's Nation to become Nation Review in 1970. It reached its circulation peak (about 65,000/week) in mid-1972 (lampooning BILL McMAHON and championing GOUGH WHITLAM). When I bought it in mid-1977 I discovered its circulation was down to around 15,000/week - which (financially) surprised me as Richard always referred to its 25,000/week circulation-base. Display advertising was always minimal with the only regular, non-circulation-income being generated by the risqué "D-Notices" classified section. Many believe that advertisers were put off by the paper's rabble-rousing reputation (although, looking back, Richard's editions appear as tame as today's Saturday Review se

* GEOFF GOLD continues: 'In 1980 my solution was to cut costs by turning from a weekly tabloid to a monthly A4 magazine and widening the readership by supplementing the best of local independent writers with top quality articles from a variety of international sources including The New York Times, Harpers, New Statesman, Far Eastern Economic Review. Despite the grumbles of many the move was successful and we doubled our readership. Unfortunately I had no further resources to attempt to convert the new readers to paid subscribers or to gain major advertisers. As a result I reluctantly closed Nation Review in December 1980. A pathetic mish-mash of pirated and inferior editorial was published in 1981 under a variety of names (including NR and The Ferret) by a so-called financial consultant we had the misfortune to come across during our last, desperate hours of need. This was followed

* GEOFFREY GOLD concludes: 'For the record I am still very involved in media. My Melbourne office publishes the regionally-acclaimed Asian Journal of Mining (soon to be joined by its associated asianmining.com and AJM Conferences) and Singapore-based Chineseroots.com Inc (don't laugh, this is a serious name), is the global leader in Chinese-language genealogy services. For the past five years I've spent much of my time in Jakarta managing my Indonesian business research and directory publishing company, PT Citra Buana Masindo. Australian colleagues will not be surprised by our top titles - media, national government, local government, associations and NGOs - although they only became best sellers following the demise of the Soeharto regime. Our little community of Australians conducting quality media, research, PR and advertising businesses up here quietly suffered JAMES CARDEN'S re

* EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks for your note Geoff. I well remember visiting you and Editor CHRIS FORSYTH at your Nation Review offices in Tooronga (Vic.) around 1977, and loaning you my NR files (which must now be almost due for return!) You are right about PETER ISAACSON'S attempts to resurrect The Review in 1981. 'Foundation Editors' were listed as BOB ELLIS, JOHN HEPWORTH and JOHN HINDLE; MUNGO MacCALLUM reintroduced 'Ferretwatch' media columns; FRANCIS JAMES wrote on 'Ethics'; and SAM ORR (RICHARD BECKETT) re-introduced a 'Tucker' column.

Fan Mail

* BEVERLY SHAMON writes: 'Hi Ash, I'm really enjoying receiving your Media Flash e-mails. What a good idea. I am a freelance journalist with many qualifications in the natural health industry. I write for professional and lay publications as well as teaching. Because I love writing and also have many years newspaper experience I am open to writing commissions in lots of areas. So would be interested to know of anything interesting that comes up. Perhaps you could put this in your column. Keep up the good work.' ehc@ion.com.au

Father Trewistle Emerges * From Warrwick Barraclough

* E-media mogul and public benefactor MILTON TREWISTLE today unveiled a global e-doption agency to speed the international search for loving homes for orphans. "It's the old principle of 'tell it like it is'," Trewistsle punctuated. "We will simply set up my company's very latest ghetto-cams and desert-cams and slum-cams wherever there are hungry or unwanted children. Prospective foster parents, for a fee appropriate to their pre-qualifying assets tests, can log on to the target area, pan and zoom in their armchairs. If they are sufficiently impressed with the area, they can contact Trewistle Technology and, in seconds, arrangements are in place to have a selection of the village orphans woken up and brought to the camera site. I want to make it very clear, we are not in this for the money. We make no charge at all when there is a successful adoption as a result of the service we pr

Long Shots

* SHAWN COSGROVE, of Gold-FM, had a brain-teaser about EDDIE McGUIRE'S Footy Show's Personality of the Year presentation by Carlton Football Club President JOHN ELLIOTT to Essendon coach KEVIN SHEEDY. How much of a surprise was the award? Sheedy was wearing a radio microphone.

* DENNIS RUSSELL, JACQUI BROWN and MARGARET GLOVER are assembling the 50th Anniversary Edition of B&T Weekly to be published on November 24, 2000. The mag commenced in 1950, and the special perfect-bound issue will have a print run of 15,000 copies.

* CNN are backing a new media website, based from Toorak (Vic.). They are advertising for a freelance journalist to file items on media, marketing and advertising. Or people can simply read Media Flash.

Media Money

* KERRY PACKER'S Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd enjoyed annual after-tax profits of $323.9 million. Chief Executive NICK FALLOON says Crown Casino improved across all business units including the hotel, restaurants and poker machines. Ecorp Executive Chairman DANIEL PETRE said the company had enough cash ($104.4 million) to fund it to a cashflow-positive status and make new investments without requiring further capital, according to an Age article by JANE SCHULZE.

A Long Story - Part 4

* Ash Long looks back at some of the various people of his media career

* MAXWELL NEWTON commenced publishing the Melbourne Observer newspaper, two weeks after GORDON BARTON closed his Sunday Observer newspaper in March 1971. CLYDE PACKER (KERRY'S brother) wrote of Max: 'In one decade, he became a newspaper owner, a hopeless drunk, a bankrupt, and in final desperation, an operator of several sex-for-hire businesses in Melbourne's seedy massage-parlor industry'. Max was educated at Perth Modern School where classmates included the Treasury's JOHN STONE, entertainer ROLF HARRIS and future Prime Minister BOB HAWKE. After Economics studies at Cambridge University (UK), Newton returned to Australia, later becoming the Editor of The Australian Financial Review for 'RAGS' HENDERSON of Fairfax. Newton became the Foundation Editor of RUPERT MURDOCH'S Australian in 1964. After just over a year he quit over differences about editorial matters for the new national

* MAX NEWTON'S Sunday Observer perhaps didn't come at his best time. Mid-1971, he overdosed on Mandrax at Hong Kong's Mandarin Hotel, whilst with lover DIANE AUSTIN (who tried to commit suicide later in the year). Max started drinking after 12 years abstinence, and the extraordinary financial difficulties at The Observer soon followed in 1972. Max used the presses of colorful Melbourne print identity DERN LANGLANDS, in a questionable financial arrangement organised by Victorian Farmers & Graziers, with its accountant jailed for a while over the deals. I was still studying, and working part-time in the Observer publishing room in May 1974 when Federal Liberal Leader BILL SNEDDEN gave PM GOUGH WHITLAM a tough run in a topsy-turvy election. First two editions headlined 'Killer Gough'; next two editions were trimmed to 'Go-Go Gough'; the final edition simply cried 'Phew'. At the Decembe

* JOHN SORELL, now GTV-9's Director of News, had been recruited from his Walkley Award 'On The Spot' column at The Melbourne Herald in July 1972 to edit the paper. He took it from 80,000 copies to a high of 240,000 copies in 1976 - all printed by top Aussie print man TOM GARDINER. It was an extraordinary place to work. I had scored an interview for Melbourne Uni. newspaper Farrago with TV star ERNIE SIGLEY, when he used a throwaway line that he was 'a bit of a bugger on the booze'. In the best tabloid traditions, The Observer lifted the entire story, with a front-page headline to the effect: 'Sigley Bugger Shouck'. After Sorell left for Channel 9, the paper was variously edited by CHRIS FORSYTH, JOHN BROOK, JOHN BLACKWELL, and ALAN ARMSDEN. Controversial copper JACK MATTHEWS handled the 'Hotline' column in both Midweek Observer and Sunday Observer editions, alongside TV star GRAHAM

* Next Week in Part 5: Max Newton ... all about Contra Castle ... forming the Workers Party with John Singleton ... how the Rolls Royce was re-possessed ... and how we beat Max's bouncing cheques.

Maxwell Newton Notes

* MAXWELL NEWTON'S private papers have been purchased by the National Library of Australia from MRS OLIVIA NEWTON (VALERIE WALDRON). The 31 boxes are available for reference, and date almost entirely on his years in America (1980-1990). Correspondents include RUPERT MURDOCH, former WA Premier SIR CHARLES COURT, news service operator GREG COPLEY, economist MILTON FRIEDMAN, J.B. WERE, marketer JIM MARETT, and Australian columnist FRANK DEVINE. www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/9362.html

Australian Media Job Directory

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

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Australian Media Job Directory

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Just $110 (GST included) for up to 200 words. Fax your ad: 1-800 231 311.

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

Journalist

Fairfax Community Newspapers (Vic), publishers of the Maroondah and Yarra Ranges Journals, has a vacancy for a keen and energetic reporter to cover news, features and sport for both editions. Based at the Knox office, this full-time position will suit applicants with a genuine interest in local news, and the development editorially of a community minded focussed newspaper. The job offers a 38-hour week with some evening work and occasional weekend work. The successful applicant should have council reporting experience, be a self-starter capable of working by themselves and have proven writing skills. Applicants are invited to express their interest by 5pm, Monday, August 28, to either: PETER SIMCOCK, Regional Editor (east), psimcocked@fcnvic.fairfax.com.au 9837 7002, or TRACY MOTTOLA, Executive Assistant,

tmottola@fcnvic.fairfax.com.au 9238 7777.

Journalist

Fairfax Community Newspapers (Vic), publishers of 20 newspapers in the western, north western, eastern and south eastern suburbs of Melbourne has a vacancy for a sub-editor on its centralised sub-editing desk at the Dandenong office. This full-time position will suit applicants from a reporting background who want to improve their sub-editing and layout skills using the Cybergraphics system.

The job entails a four-day, 38-hour week including Sundays. The successful applicant should have proven writing skills and a keen interest in sub-editing, design and production. They should be able to work well in a hard working, professional environment. Applicants are invited to express their interest by 5pm, Monday, August 28, to: TRACY MOTTOLA, Executive Assistant, tmottola@fcnvic.fairfax.com.au 9238 7777.

Fairfax Community Newspapers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Promotions Person

* JOHN van DELFT, Company Secretary at Dutch Courier, a monthly newspaper by the Dutch community on behalf of the Associated Netherlands Societies in Victoria Inc., is searching for a Promotional Person. We have been publishing for 30 years, and as our subscribers are an ageing populatuion decided recently to print 50 per cent in Dutch and 50 per cent in English, hoping to service more readers. We wish to be better known around Australia and seek someone both eager and self-motivated, who is willing to join our dedicated group of volunteers to take on this exciting and challenging task, please contact John at PO Box 7142, Upper Ferntree Gully, Vic. 3156 immediately if you are such a person (out of pocket expenses will be covered).

Employment

* ADRIAN REIS at MJR Human Resource Consultants advertises for a mid-$70,000 p.a. Publishing Services Manager, with a strong production focus. careers@mjr.com.au

* TONY CASTRICUM, MD, Rogen International, seeks a Corporate Communication Strategist. melbgeneral@melb.rogen.com.au

* ROD BISHOP, Director, is taking enquiries for Head of Corporate Services at the Australian Film and Television School, North Ryde (NSW), offering a $93,650 package plus benefits.

* SENATOR MARGARET REID, President of the Senate, is hiring a Media/Communications Adviser, who will receive a base salary of $56,788, plus $12,180 allowance.

* SHARON DAVIS at City Search is hunting for a Creative Content Producer for the Fairfax Interactive Network (f2), to be based in Sydney. Sharon also has vacancies for Senior Account Manager positions in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

* AMANDA TUCCI at Fairfax advertises for a Part-Time Data Entry Clerk for the Sydney office. She is also taking applications until Friday for a Sales Executive's position for Photo Sales.

* IAN MYLCHREEST of Channel E wants a Deputy Editor for Australasian Business Intelligence. Commencing salary is $50,000.

* KERIN GRUBB of Courier Newspapers (NSW) seeks an Account Manager for two new publications. kgrubb@couriernews.com.au

* ROBERT DEAL at Courier Newspapers (NSW) is recruiting an Advertising Sales Cadet to work in the Features Department at the Alexandria-based group. rdeal@couriernews.com.au

More Jobs

* ROBERTA HARDY seeks a Head of Policy, reporting to MD NIGEL MILAN, for SBS. Applications for the three-year contract position should be submitted by September 8.

* CHRIS WIDELEWSKI, Station Manager at Imparja Television, Alice Springs (NT), is hiring a Director of News, and Journalist. Applications close Monday, September 11. joannelane@imparja.com.au

* ALLISON ASHBY at South Australian Film Corporation is fielding enquiries for the position of Finance and Administration Manager. Rowan.Ashby@hotbbot.com.au

* IAN CROWTHER'S Fairfax Community Newspapers (NSW) wants a Marketing and Research Assistant to work from the Condell Park head office.

* HUNTER ROYLE at The Project Group wants applications for a graduate journalist/PR practitioner for a Sydney-based Pr job. hunter.pryor@theprojectgroup.com.au

* CLAIRE ROYLE at AC Nielsen is taking CVs for an Account Manager's vacancy in Brisbane.

* DIANNE BOYD of the Blacktown City Sun is advertising for an Advertising Administrative Assistant. dboyd@mail.fairfax.com.au

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