Margaret Simons

As Australia’s election result reminds us, News Corp no longer has the power to sway voters | Margaret Simons The declining power of the Murdoch press is part of the wider story of the waning influence of mainstream media

@margaretsimons.bsky.social looking under the bonnet of a modern truth finally sinking in - the impotence of News Ltd - and beginning the discussion of what might matter & change things elsewhere.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Done

Me on this .What will Australian media look like in 2025? Messy and imperfect but with glimmers of hope | Meg Simons

We want what’s best for the Observer – and the Guardian. That’s why the deal with Tortoise makes sense | Ole Jacob Sunde The world’s oldest Sunday paper must have resources, a modern strategy and a new focus to thrive. This agreement guarantees all three, says Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of the Scott Trust

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

All options carefully worked through analysed and considered. Charles Gurassa’s open letter explaining this process is here: pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...

I’d encourage you to look through the statements and fact sheets issued today and over the last few weeks. There has been an astonishing amount of misinformation put out there, sadly, and the whole yacht saga is a furphy. The reasons given publicly are the reasons for the decision.

The reasons for the decision and the considerations involved have been clearly and honestly stated. Like the decision or not, this has been a careful process conducted with integrity.

The stuff about the yacht is and always was complete nonsense as a moment’s reflection should reveal. Do people really think a sweetheart deal of the kind alleged would be attempted, and convince not one but two boards composed of eminent and senior independently minded people?

Sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media agreed in principle Scott Trust will become a key shareholder and take a seat on both the editorial and commercial boards of the company

www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...

During research for this book, in late 2021 and early 2022, I was told Plibersek was ‘in the naughty corner’ with Albanese, now leader of the party, and his allies. He was ‘looking over his shoulder’ at her, it was said – and it is true that in 2021, when Albanese was well behind in the polls, said not to be able to ‘cut through’, some of her allies were urging her to consider challenging him for the leadership. In 2020 she edited a book, Upturn, a compilation of essays by policy thinkers about how to return to ‘a better normal’ after the Covid-19 pandemic.28 This, I was told, was seen by the Albanese team as a provocative act. In the 2022 election campaign, despite being shadow minister for education – an area full of opportunity for Labor after a decade of Coalition neglect – Plibersek was kept largely out of sight, until the media began to comment on her absence. And after the election victory, Albanese surprised her by taking the education and women’s portfolios away from her and giving her environment and water instead. The media was full of discussion about whether she had been demoted or not. Environment and water are both important jobs, but the fact that it was a demotion in terms of cabinet ranking is indisputable. In interviews for this book, I asked Tanya the same question that Middleton asked Albanese. Was he her mentor or her contemporary? She responded that after their brief acquaintance when she was a teenager, she hadn’t had a lot to do with Albanese until she was working for Childs. She is sure Childs would have asked Albanese’s opinion before he hired her. After that, they had more to do with each other. They agreed on fundamental values, including feminism, the anti-nuclear movement and Aboriginal land rights. So, mentor or contemporary? ‘Well, he’s not that much older than me. I would say more contemporary. But we have different ways of working. He has always been more interested in and better at the internal politics of the Labor Party. And I’v…

The Tanya Plibersek bio by @margaretsimons.bsky.social provides some background on the PM's latest intervention re the nature positive legislation:

Shades of democracy Former Philippines senator Leila de Lima, imprisoned for nearly seven years during Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”, on her hopes for democratic reform

Me in @themonthly.bsky.social on autocracy, liberalism, democracy as exemplified by the story of Leila de Lima www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2024/d...

It is true that the sub judice contempt rule needs to be reformed as it is out of step with modern digital reality, however in the meantime the best way to ensure Alan Jones gets a trial at all (let alone a fair one) is to shut up about the criminal charges against him.

Me on this. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

My gardening column. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/life/gardeni...

New from me, fresh back from the Philippines. insidestory.org.au/rodrigo-dute...

Me on this in the UK @guardianaustralia.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/news/2023/oc...

Bluesky for Journalists

Just published on our blog: Bluesky for Journalists FAQ

This page also includes a link to a waitlist form for journalists, so members of the press no longer have to email our press inbox for a code.

We appreciate everyone's help sharing this information!

Me on the Murray Darling Basin Plan in @saturdaypaper www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ...

Yes me too. I must buy book to see if she also tackles “explosive” when no actual explosives involved

This is awesome. www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

Yes times a billion. Constantly shocked by how this ignorance/blind spot skews research findings.

Me on this. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Rundle Mall Adelaide

Amazing

My gardening column. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/life/gardeni...

Oooh! Exciting

Me on this. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...