Forum to look at media diversity
Do you ever change the channels on your TV wondering why you can’t find a station without a home renovation show? Do you read the paper only to find the opinion writers blend as one? A forum in Sydney tomorrow night will hear speakers arguing how Australia’s laws on media ownership should change to break open competition from the small number of companies who hold the reigns. The topic is about to hot up as the Howard government looks at taking another shot at making changes to laws around media ownership. However, the forum at NSW Parliament House organised by The Fabian Society and Pluto Press will put forward ideas that Communications Minister Helen Coonan doesn’t want to implement. Micahel Atkin spoke to Dr Julianne Schultz, journalism academic and editor of the Griffith Review about whether Australia’s cross media ownership laws are out of date.