Weekly media index: 20 - 26 June 2009

Utegate: The political debate over alleged improper influence favouring a car dealer in Brisbane by the Treasurer and Prime Minister, that has almost inevitably become known as Utegate, ended up being seen by virtually all the media as a major tactical blunder by the Leader of the Opposition and a win for the Government after one of the key emails upon which he based his claims against Kevin Rudd was shown to be a forgery. This revelation also led to serious doubts about the evidence of Treasury official Godwin Grech, while separate claims against Wayne Swan have been completely overshadowed by the forged email.

Wimbledon: After a strong performance by Australians at the French Open, the traditionally most watched foreign Grand Slam has achieved plenty of coverage across all forms of media in its first week despite there only being one Australian male in the singles draw for the first time in 70 years, with Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt once again sailing through the early rounds, while Jelena Dokic lost in the first round amidst coverage of her father’s serious illness and her rejection of any reunion.

State of Origin: Queensland wrapped up an unprecedented fourth series victory in a row with a solid if uninspiring win over New South Wales in the second match at ANZ Stadium. After racing out to an early 18-nil lead, the Maroons held on for a 24-14 victory, with the match winning the ratings and receiving wall-to-wall coverage in the rugby league states but far less interest outside Queensland and NSW.

Swine influenza: Swine flu coverage has dropped down the list again this week, despite claims of the first deaths in Australia from the virus, disputed in one case. The death of a 25 year old indigenous man has led to concerns over the comprehensiveness of the response to the potential spread of the virus in remote communities and amongst groups more susceptible to respiratory illness.

Iran: After a week of largely peaceful but widespread protests, the Iranian police and militias have cracked down hard on public protests, with footage of people being shot in the streets being accessed via social media sites and shown on mainstream media across the world. The U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the violence against protesters, following criticism from Republicans and parts of the media that his response had been weak, while the Iranian government blamed British and American influence for the unrest.

Quote of the week:

“I wanted to have a place that I could create everything I never had as a child." – Michael Jackson tells why he built his Neverland ranch

"When I saw him move, I was mesmerized, I knew that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of James Brown." – Michael Jackson discusses what made him want to be an entertainer

About the index
This list reports Australia's weekly top news stories by volume across thousands of newspaper, magazine, television, radio and Internet news sources monitored by Media Monitors, including international and domestic, business, sport and entertainment news.

Data and analysis provided to Slice Media by Media Monitors Australia

Media monitoring

Weekly media index - 30 May - 6 June 2009

Swine flu: Swine flu remained easily the most reported story across the country, although with significantly lower volumes than last week, as the number of cases headed quickly towards four figures, most of those still in Victoria, although most other areas of the country have been affected to some degree. Predictions in the media of how severe the outbreak would be continued to vary, although many experts are now likening the outbreak to a regular flu season.

State of Origin: Despite the recent bad publicity received by rugby league, the State of Origin was a ratings and publicity success, also achieving strong crowd figures at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. The NSW media tended to focus on controversial refereeing decisions while the Queensland media were basking in another win by their team, looking for an unprecedented fourth series victory in a row.

No recession: The Government were cock-a-hoop about the quarterly GDP figures showing the economy had grown in the first quarter of 2009, confounding most business and political commentators who felt sure the figures would confirm a second quarter of negative growth, the common definition of a recession. The Prime Minister immediately claimed the positive figure was due to the stimulus payments and first home owners grant while the Opposition claimed they showed that less could have been spent.

French Open: Samantha Stosur’s run at the French Open finally ended in the semi-finals against Svetlana Kuznetsova in a tough three set match, Kuznetsova facing Safina in the final, while interest was strong in who would earn the title on the men’s side of the draw following the early exit of Rafael Nadal.

Indian student attacks: There has been widespread concern of a possible drop in international student numbers after a series of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, with the Government being heavily criticised in Indian media reports, while Victorian police maintain theft rather than ethnicity was the motivating factor in the attacks.

Quote of the week:

“I have at least two or three Judases in my midst and they had the drip on me” – Former Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon

About the index
This list reports Australia's weekly top news stories by volume across thousands of newspaper, magazine, televion, radio and Internet news sources monitored by Media Monitors, including international and domestic, business, sport and enterainment news.

Data and analysis provided to Slice Media by Media Monitors Australia

Media monitoring

Weekly media index: 25 Apr - 1 May 2009

Swine flu: Australian and global news has been totally dominated by the outbreak, initially in Mexico, of a new influenza variant, now widely known as swine flu. Concern over the possible rapid spread of the disease and significant confusion about its current impact and death toll characterised the media coverage. Political leaders around the world have been touting their preparedness for any widespread outbreaks and the availability of effective medication, while also warning that the effects could be significant.

Richard Pratt: Melbourne billionaire Richard Pratt lost his battle with cancer during the week following an eventful few years in which the head of the huge cardboard manufacturing and recycling company Visy, well known for his philanthropy to the arts and involvement in football, was involved in price fixing investigations by ASIC which were then followed by criminal charges, dropped only hours before Mr Pratt’s death.

Bduget speculation: Budget speculation continued to ramp up in the last two weeks before what is expected to be a record deficit, with the Opposition continuing to strongly attack the amount of Government spending in the last six months, while women’s advocates have warned the Government against going back on its commitment to introduce paid parental leave.

Border protection: Media discussion of the asylum seeker issue and border protection dropped off significantly last week, although the swine flu concerns and claims of government payments going to asylum seekers in detention on Christmas Island kept the issue in the news.

Bushfires Royal Commission: Coverage of the Bushfires Royal Commission has focused this week on the perceived lack of early enough and prominent enough warnings, in particular through state wide and local broadcast networks, while the Government announced bushfire relief was set to be extended.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

This is the freedom ride, We will not go and hide
We have just come over here, To keep the public occupied
We are going to ride, Around the Adelaide Hills
We are hardworking people, Who pay the bills

SA bikie leader Alex Vella revs up the troops with some poetry before the “freedom ride” to protest anti-bikie gang laws

About the index
This list reports Australia's weekly top news stories by volume across thousands of newspaper, magazine, televion, radio and Internet news sources monitored by Media Monitors, including international and domestic, business, sport and enterainment news.

Data and analysis provided to Slice Media by Media Monitors Australia

Media monitoring

Weekly media index: 9 - 13 February 2009

DOMESTIC
Victorian Bushfires: There are fears the death toll could top 300, as entire communities have been wiped out by Victoria’s bushfires. The fires have become Australia’s worst peacetime disaster. Politics were put aside in Federal and several state parliaments as politicians expressed their condolences for the victims. New US President Barrack Obama also sent a message of sympathy. The Victorian government has flagged a Royal Commission into the state’s bushfire response. People are encouraged to donate to the Red Cross.

Economic Stimulus Package: The federal government's $42 billion economic stimulus package has still yet to get the official nod, with two senators, Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding calling for additional concessions before they give their support. Xenophon called for further support for Murray-Darling Basin communities affected by water scarcity, while Fielding promoted his own $4 billion job creation package. The PM has received some criticism by his linking of the stimulus package with funding for an income support scheme for bushfire–affected residents.

Qld Floods: Flood-ravaged north Queensland may have a two-day reprieve from heavy rain, as many residents have returned to their homes after hundreds evacuated when the river peaked at 12.2m twice in one week. Despite their personal troubles, many of the flood-affected are shrugging off their problems and want to hand over their aid cheques from Canberra to the Victorian bushfire appeal.

Jayant Patel: The committal hearing of charges against Patel has begun. It is alleged Patel performed botched operations that led to death or permanent incapacity for several patients. The prosecution argued Patel had misdiagnosed patients, performed surgeries he was barred from doing in the US and severely harmed five patients, three of whom died. The fraud charges centre on allegations he falsely represented his qualifications. The hearing was told more than 70 witnesses would appear over the next three weeks.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US Stimulus Package: The US Senate has passed a $US838 billion economic stimulus plan. Obama called the outcome ‘a good start’ to his bid to rescue the battered US economy. Senators voted 61-37 to approve the package, setting the stage for talks aimed at reconciling differences between their legislation and the House of Representatives' rival $US819 billion plan.

Phelps Drug Use: Coverage of the Olympic swimmer’s fall from grace continued this week after being suspended for three months by USA Swimming following a published photograph appeared to show him smoking marijuana. Phelps’s woes continued when US food company Kellogg's said it would not renew its endorsement deal with the Olympian when it expires at the end of the month.

Israel Election: Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and ex-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both declared victory in a nail-biting Israeli election, setting the stage for a protracted power struggle. Livni's Kadima party won a razor-thin victory, gaining one more seat than right-wing rival Likud, according to a final ballot count.

Grammys: The partnership of Led Zeppelin frontman Plant and country chanteuse Alison Krauss was a successfully one, with their rock-country collaboration scooping five awards, including album of the year. Other big winners included rapper Lil Wayne with four awards and British group Coldplay with three.

BUSINESS NEWS
Qantas: Qantas Airways' first-half profit slumped 66% as fuel and labour costs adversely affected Australia's biggest airline. Passenger revenue at the Qantas division fell 3.4% to $5 billion. The company also spent $1.38 billion buying new aircraft, including three A380 double deck aircraft, as well as other planes and equipment.

SPORT
Cricket: The Aussies have levelled the five-match Chappell-Hadlee series after a six-wicket win over New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night. After losing the first two matches, the series will now be decided in Brisbane on Friday.

A-League Soccer: Melbourne Victory beat Adelaide United 2-0 in the A-League major semi-final first leg at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium. They play a re-match next Saturday in Melbourne.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I was way out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that. And there is nobody that has heard that tape that is hit harder by it then me” – said a contrite Christian Bale following his expletive laden rant on the set of Terminator Salvation to the hapless director of photography.

Weekly media index: 7 - 11 July 2008

DOMESTIC
Emissions trading – The media pressure on both sides of politics was intense this week, with major cracks showing in the Labor response to climate change, with NSW and Victorian politicians calling for coal to be exempt, while the cracks loomed even larger on the Liberal side, the Leader Brendan Nelson completely backing away from an ETS despite his Shadow Treasurer and Deputy’s support for it.

World Youth Day – A planned rail strike on the main day of World Youth Day celebrations sent the NSW media into hyperdrive, the union backing away from the threat after feeling the popular mood, while debate over the special police laws for the event continued.

Petrol prices – Up and up and up and up. Prices at the pump headed well over $1.70 a litre as the CSIRO released a report claiming that petrol prices could hit $8 a litre in the future, with the price rises the main factor keeping inflation above the RBA’s target rate.

Murray Darling – Inflows into the Murray Darling continue to be the lowest on record, as stern predictions on the complete collapse of the system come closer to reality by the day, with some media reporting predictions the system will be completely dry by the end of this century.

Cardinal Pell – The Archbishop of Sydney was forced to fend off claims of inappropriate handling of a sexual abuse case involving a priest which has come to light just days before he hosts the Pope for World Youth Day.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
G8 Summit – The almost complete focus of the G8 summit was climate change, with George Bush for the first time agreeing to a long range target along with the other developed nations, while China and India backed away from any firm commitment on reductions.

In other international news - International condemnation continued to have no effect on Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe this week; Australian soldier Sean McCarthy became the sixth Australian serviceman to die in combat in Afghanistan, with the PM warning of further likely casualties; and former presidential hopeful Jesse Jackson has been caught on tape attacking Barack Obama over his approach to African American issues.

BUSINESS NEWS
iPhone – Apple’s iPhone was finally officially released in Australia with an avalanche of associated publicity, with overnight queues resembling the release of a Harry Potter novel.

Minimum wage increase – the Fair Pay Commission lifted the minimum wage by $21 this week, with some small business groups saying it will hurt the economy although most economists were less critical of the decision.

TALKBACK
Climate change issues and the ETS were number one on talkback this week, with plenty of firm opinions as well as some confusion, World Youth Day and issues surrounding it was a close second, petrol prices maintained their usual spot in the top five and big bad Barry Hall had sports fans ringing in to have a jab.

SPORT
In what will surely go down as one of the best finals ever, Rafael Nadal broke Roger Federer’s five year stranglehold on Wimbledon in five sets, while Venus beat Serena in the Williams’s sisters pet event; Cadel Evans is breathing down the leader’s neck in the Tour de France, just 6 seconds behind as they move towards the Pyrenees; the future of Barry Hall remains uncertain after he was stood down from the Swans after an attempted roundhouse right on the weekend; and disappointment for Jana Rawlinson for the second Olympics, missing the event with a toe injury.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We, as a footy club, just can't put Barry in a position that at the moment he's not capable of handling”
Paul Roos, clearly talking about Barry Hall’s psychological, rather than physical, ability to handle himself.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message