Media

Chris Oldfield. The new Naracoorte Lucindale Council has voted 6-3 in favour of supporting this newspaper, The News. Its decision follows a motion by Cr Cameron Grundy, seconded by Cr Trevor Rayner ... It called on the council to treat The News and another outlet identically, including all paid advertising, all media releases and all photo opportunities regarding news items and visitors. The motion also says: “Furthermore, council representatives are required to respond to requests from media within 24 hours.”

An advocacy group has slammed what it calls “inaccurate and harmful” reporting of an issue that is crucial to rural communities and the national prosperity. Speak Up Campaign chair, Shelley Scoullar, said rural Australians are ‘fed up’ with unacceptable media standards and the lack of effort to ensure crucial issues are reported accurately and with balance. Mrs Scoullar said the latest example was from the ABC’s national environment and science reporter, Michael Slezak, and his reporting of Australia’s State of the Environment document, in which he used selective information that presented a false picture of Murray-Darling Basin Plan progress in broadcasts and online, including ABC National News.

The Australian Electoral Commission either needs more funding or it needs a kick up the backside. This year’s federal election saw the removal of two major polling booths in Cape York, while another was nearly lost at the last minute due to a lack of staffing ... It’s a disgrace that two communities the size of Aurukun and Napranum did not have a polling booth on Saturday.

The [Tarrangower] Times has an excellent and longstanding relationship with its printer. That printer was the bearer of bad news recently, when it informed the Times that the cost of printing newspapers had increased significantly due to a dramatic rise in the cost of paper. It is expected there will be further price hikes in the pipeline. There is also a looming newsprint shortage.