Election 2025
Who is the man behind the Trumpet of Patriots?
Australians annoyed by a flood of political texts this election can blame Harry Fong, a Queensland Senate candidate for Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party.
As Ariel Bogel writes in The Guardian Australia, the messages, which range from nationalist slogans to home loan promises, have sparked a wave of complaints and online backlash.
Fong, described on the party’s website as a “highly respected barrister”, has a long-standing connection to Palmer dating back to the 1970s.
Tiger King backs Albo in bizarre last-minute plea for freedom
Joe Exotic has roared into the Aussie election campaign from a US prison cell, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call Donald Trump and lobby for his release.
In return, the Tiger King star has offered to work unpaid at a zoo or wildlife group of Albo’s choosing.
As David Aidone reports for SBS News, Albo chuckled when quizzed on the endorsement, brushing it off as a light-hearted moment in a heated campaign.
Labor pours millions into meme-heavy ad blitz targeting Dutton
Labor has outspent the Liberals two-to-one on digital advertising in the lead-up to the federal election, pumping nearly $5 million into Google and Meta platforms between late March and late April.
According to Oscar Godsell, who writes on Sky News Australia, the cash splash has fuelled a stream of provocative, meme-style content targeting Peter Dutton.
The ads, some of which critics say are misleading, cast the Opposition Leader as everything from Star Wars villains to serial killers, usually in the act of metaphorically butchering Medicare.
Streaming
Foxtel cuts 100 staff weeks after DAZN takeover
Just weeks after Foxtel was snapped up by UK-based sports streamer DAZN, around 100 staff have been shown the door, mostly from marketing and engineering.
As Calum Jaspan reports in The Sydney Morning Herald, despite the shake-up, the company says its streaming aggregation platform Hubbl isn’t going anywhere.
A Foxtel spokesperson described the job losses as part of a long-running shift toward efficiency, noting the business has been evolving from a traditional pay-TV model to a digital-first streaming player.
Legal
Pro-Israel lobby accuses Nine of contempt over Lattouf reporting
The legal saga surrounding Antoinette Lattouf took another twist this week, with pro-Israel lobbyists accusing Nine Entertainment of breaching court orders that protect their identities.
According to James Dowling in The Australian, the group, whose complaints allegedly triggered Lattouf’s sacking from the ABC, claim Nine’s reporting revealed who they are.
Nine’s legal team pushed back, saying they hadn’t received a clear explanation of how or where the alleged breaches occurred.
McKenzie under pressure as Roberts-Smith appeal takes dramatic turn
The defamation battle between Ben Roberts-Smith and journalist Nick McKenzie has taken a sharp turn, with legal expert Chris Merritt warning the stakes have flipped firmly onto McKenzie’s shoulders.
As Max Melzer writes on Sky News Australia, new evidence, including a secret recording and text messages, has prompted Roberts-Smith’s legal team to argue for a retrial, claiming a miscarriage of justice.
Merritt believes the risk now lies with McKenzie, who is set to be cross-examined.
Television
ABC chair admits error in pushing radio spots for touring comedian
ABC chair Kim Williams has admitted to a “stern learning experience” after Media Watch revealed he lobbied senior staff to secure interviews for comedian Sandy Gutman, better known as Austen Tayshus, on regional ABC radio.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones reports in The Australian Financial Review, Williams intervened five times after Gutman complained about being snubbed while touring.
The move has been slammed as a serious lapse in judgement, with Media Watch calling it a blow to the ABC’s editorial independence.
‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ contestant reveals low daily pay packet
Former Farmer Wants a Wife contestant Ellen Dunger has revealed the show’s daily pay rate is a meagre $80, and that’s only for days spent filming.
The ex-cast member, who appeared in the 2024 season with Farmer Todd, shared the details on TikTok following the premiere of the 2025 season.
As Isabella Rayner reports on Sky News Australia, to make matters worse, 40% of that already small daily rate is held back by Seven until after the show airs.
Journalism
Why Aussie writers are flocking to Substack
Substack has passed 5 million paid subscriptions globally, with Australia riding the wave.
As Amy Fallon writes on Crikey, from political figures like Malcolm Turnbull to acclaimed writers, the platform has become a magnet for journalists seeking creative and editorial freedom, even the Labor Party has joined in.
Unlike traditional media, Substack sidesteps ad-driven algorithms, letting writers build direct subscriber relationships.
Radio
ARN confirms sweeping wave of redundancies
The Australian Radio Network (ARN) has begun another round of sweeping redundancies as part of a business overhaul aimed at streamlining operations and refocusing investment.
The cuts are part of a transformation strategy that also includes the offshoring of entire departments, including finance, media services, and technology.
Mediaweek understands the full number of redundancies will depend on discussions held over the coming months.
Social Media
Here’s what to know about Meta’s new AI app
Meta has launched a standalone AI app to compete with ChatGPT, powered by its Llama 4 model.
The app boosts features like image generation, editing, and a voice mode that operates across other apps.
The most unique aspect of the app is its “discover” feed, which showcases how others are interacting with the assistant, with an aim to foster a community around AI usage, setting it apart from competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
Retail
Australians cut back on spending as cost of living pressures mount
Coles CEO Leah Weckert has highlighted a shift in shopping habits as Australians become more budget-conscious.
Customers are trimming expenses by reducing purchases of luxury items like alcohol, meat, and bottled water, while relying more on loyalty points to ease checkout costs.
But, as Glen Norris reports on The Australian, despite ongoing cost-of-living challenges, Coles posted a 3.4% sales increase for the March quarter, totalling $10.4bn.
Film
Screen Forever conference brings producers together
Next week, the Gold Coast will host the annual Screen Forever conference, a three-day event organised by Screen Producers Australia.
As David Knox writes on TV Tonight, the conference is a key platform for producers to network, discuss industry trends, and build creative collaborations.
Producer Tony Ayres (known for Clickbait, Fires, and Glitch) emphasises the importance of these in-person gatherings for fostering genuine connections.