It’s been a busy week at Lamestream HQ!
This morning, we published an exclusive story revealing the ABC apparently breached suppression orders in the trial of Erin Patterson during an episode of its hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily – only taking the YouTube version of the episode down after being alerted it was still live by Lamestream over 24 hours after it was published.
We found out about this story, following our discussion on the latest podcast episode about the media frenzy surrounding the case, and asked questions about whether the saturation – particularly in the daily podcasts being put out by so many publishers – was increasing the risks.
Unable to be stopped, Os writes today about a far-right protest that happened in Melbourne this week. Many on social media were alarmed about how little attention it received. For some in the public, it was an example of bias for the media to ignore this when there has been high-profile critical coverage of protest action directed at Israel’s ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
But at the same time, far-right neo-Nazi groups do these action precisely to attract media and publicise their cause. So when should the media cover these groups and how?
We’re working away on even more for you, both in the newsletter and the podcast. Your support means we can pursue these stories and we’re incredibly grateful to the community that’s already growing around Lamestream.
As always, please get in touch with feedback, tip-offs or questions – you might end up on the show, like Blake, Charlotte and Olivia did this week!
Here is what we've got for you this week:
👀 Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
✍ When does the media cover the far-right? by Osman Faruqi
🏆 The Good Ones: The best journalism, opinion and entertainment for you to enjoy.
Killer Grabs
"ABC staff employed under insecure arrangements cannot be expected to perform their roles without fear or favour, build sustainable careers, or stand up for their rights in the workplace without concerns over potential reprisal" — ABC union house committee statement, following a producer on Play School filing a suit against the ABC in Federal Court.
It's common on TV productions for broadcasters to bend the law — keeping producers on "short term" contracts, that run for up to 48 weeks a year, with production breaks over summer that are should be annual leave, falling outside the contract.
We hoped this kind of thing had long stopped at the ABC, a public institution that should lead the way on workers rights, but the filing of a case in federal court could bring to light fresh information about how the broadcaster structures productions.
“There’s certainly something going to happen in 2027, but I don’t know what it is – I’ve also heard 2034, and I’ve also heard other dates” – Former Channel Seven journalist Ross Coulthart, on when we can expect a mysterious apocalyptic event.
Five-time Walkley winner Ross Coulthart’s fascination with UFOs has led to an entirely new career as an online commentator on all things extra-terrestrial. This week, Coulthart made claims that his sources in national security and intelligence were warning him about a terrifying event that could shape the future of humanity, but wouldn’t tell him any more than the year it’s likely to happen. There’s not many times worth burning your sources, but we reckon the apocalypse could be one, Ross!
