Fourth Estate

Crikey’s proprietor Eric Beecher, is a rare combination of journalist, media owner and idealist. “A media mongrel”, he says his friends call him, at 33 he became the youngest-ever editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, but was wooed away by the most consequential press mogul’s of the modern age, Rupert Murdoch. But as he tells Tina Quinn, it was a short-lived tryst. He joins Fourth Estate this week to talk about the dangers of moguls, why press manipulation goes back much further than the Murdoch dynasty, and the future of serious, quality journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After close to two months of speculation, Hamish Macdonald, the former Q+A host and current Radio National and The Project presenter has been confirmed as the new Mornings host on ABC Radio Sydney. Macdonald replaces Sarah Macdonald, who announced on air only days after being told that her contract would not be renewed, prompting public outcry from her very loyal listenership. It comes amidst concerns from the ABC audience, that its local radio stations are at risk of being commercialized by its new management. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Jenna Price, Columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald, and Daanyal Saeed, Media Reporter at Crikey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we dip back into the Fourth Estate archives to Tina Quinn's 2022 discussion with Samantha Maiden and Jess Hill, reflecting on the ten year anniversary of the famous and historic 'misogyny speech', delivered by Australia's then Prime Minister Julia Gillard. While many seemed to miss the gravity of the moment in the immediate aftermath, and dismissed the speech as a misstep by a then embattled Prime Minister, it was a moment which became a global sensation, and a decade on has continued to linger in the public's memory. So why did some in the Australian media get it so wrong at the time, and how has it informed reporting in the decade since as sexism and misogyny has experienced a reckoning? This episode was originally broadcast in October of 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Marr was 33 years old when he was appointed editor of the National Times, but his tenure was short lived. He was spectacularly sacked within two years, but his unmatched prose would see him become an internationally renowned biographer, and an award winning journalist for his coverage of the deaths of Aboriginals in custody for the ABC's Four Corners program. In part two of his conversation with Tina Quinn, David discusses his extraordinary career reporting on the leading social issues of our time, like racial injustice, gay rights, and the plight of asylum seekers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Marr’s extraordinary career as a journalist, broadcaster and biographer, has seen him write about the most interesting and controversial people in Australian history. From Kevin Rudd and George Pell to John Howard and Bill Henson, his work he says has been about trying to explain the "contradictions" of his subjects. As part of our ongoing series of profiles, David joined Tina Quinn in studio talk about his upbringing in the conservative Australia of the 1960s, coming to grips with being gay at a time when homosexuality was still criminalized, the "halcyon" days of journalism at the National Times, and his much revered biographies of Chief Justice Sir Garfield Barwick and the world renowned Australian writer Patrick White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world's media has brought us spectacular images out of Syria this week, as the brutal dictatorship of the country's President Bashar al-Assad crumbled this week, in a moment being compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and one which promises to reshape the landscape of power in the Middle East. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss this seismic moment: Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent who is currently in the Syrian capital of Damascus, Kareem Shaheen from New Lines Magazine, and Paul Conroy the filmmaker and photographer; who whilst working in the region was brutally injured by the same Syrian shelling which claimed the life of his friend and colleague, Marie Colvin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Maxine McKew first entered the world of journalism in 1974, her home state of Queensland was ruled by the “oppressive” government of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, where police corruption was rife and the media was largely stifled. She rose through the ranks of the ABC on programs like This Day Tonight, Nationwide and The Carleton-Walsh Report, and became the first woman appointed as the public broadcasters Washington Correspondent. At her height, hosting Lateline and The 7.30 Report, she was known as one of Australia’s finest current affairs interviewers, but she gave it all up for a career in politics, unseating then Prime Minister John Howard in the seat of Bennelong. As part of our ongoing in-profile series, Maxine joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about an extraordinary career which saw her blaze the trail for other female journalists, and gave her a front seat to history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Australia prepares for a forthcoming election year, predictions are coming left, right and center as to what way it might go. Journalist and author, George Megalogenis thinks we could be looking at a minority government as the changing politics of Australia continues to take shape. But who will hold the balance of power, why has the electoral map continued to change, and how is our own fourth estate’s report card looking when it comes to explaining it all to its audience? The former press gallery reporter and longtime political commentator joined Tina Quinn to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For close to forty years, Alan Jones, inspired adoration from his passionate listeners, and both fear and loathing from the politicians whose public popularity he could make or break. This week, Child Abuse Squad detectives arrived at the luxury home of the 83 year old to arrest him, charging him with 26 offences, involving nine victims. His arrest is the latest chapter in the downfall of one of Australia's most controversial figures, a man described by one of his alleged victims as being “more powerful than the prime minister”. Tina Quinn was joined by Kate McClymont and Chris Masters, both of whose work examining the life, power and influence of Alan Jones has led to this moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we dip back into the Fourth Estate archives and revisit Tina Quinn’s interview with ABC broadcaster, Geraldine Doogue. This interview was originally broadcast in December of 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what was an incredibly decisive vote from the US electorate, following an incredibly divisive election, Donald J Trump will return to the White House in January, becoming the 47th President of the United States. Had she been elected, Vice President Kamala Harris would have made history as the country's first female President, but American voters decided on a different precedent. Joining Tina Quinn to analyse the media coverage and its impact on the result was Danielle Allen (formerly of The Washington Post), Nick Bryant (formerly of the BBC), Amelia Lester (Foreign Policy Magazine) and David Folkenflik (NPR). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Negus cut an iconic figure in the Australian media industry. One of the original stars of 60 Minutes when it was first established in Australia, he redefined the medium of television journalism. His multi-decade career saw him go head to head with world leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Muammar Gaddafi and Australia's own Bob Hawke. He brought stories from all four corners of the globe home to Australians, in his knock-about, down to earth style that became known as quintessential Negus. Ray Martin and Jennifer Byrne both joined Tina Quinn in studio to remember their friend and colleague, who passed away aged 82, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year on from last year's referendum, and the deep divisions laid bare during its bitter campaign remain. With minimal progress made on Indigenous affairs, the path ahead for Australia's First Nations communities looks increasingly bleak. Daniel James and Clare Armstrong join Tina Quinn to discuss the difficult conversations the media is still failing to navigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year on from the beginning of what has become the deadliest uprising of violence between Israel and Palestine that we've ever seen, this week we turn our eye on the language often used by the media when reporting on this conflict. Joining host, Tina Quinn to discuss is the ABC's Paul Barry, and Al Jazeera's, Meenakshi Ravi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Watergate scandal was already unfolding when Jeff McMullen arrived in the United States in 1972, having just been appointed as the ABC's New York Correspondent. He would spend the next decade filing compelling stories for Four Corners on the turmoil surrounding nuclear waste, uranium mining and the plight of the Native Americans. During his years covering the Reagan White House, Jeff made the difficult decision to leave the ABC for the Nine Network's 60 Minutes, at a time when current affairs television was at its peak. In part two of his conversation with Tina Quinn, Jeff discusses these extraordinary decades and the purpose that still guides him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Within 12 months of joining the ABC in 1966, 18 year old Jeff McMullen took his very first posting as a Foreign Correspondent to Papua New Guinea. It was the beginning of a multi-decade career, which would see him cover the Watergate scandal in the United States, the coup in Chile, the famine in Eritrea and the genocide in Guatemala. As part of our ongoing series of profiles, Jeff joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about what began his attraction to far flung places, his love for storytelling and his desire to better understand humankind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we again dip back into the Fourth Estate archives, to August of 2021, when Tina Quinn assembled journalists Jeff McMullen, Chris Masters and Morag Ramsay to commemorate the 60th birthday, Four Corners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first round of voluntary redundancies from Nine Entertainment have been announced, with 85 journalists at what was once the Fairfax papers, packing their bags. But could the supposed bloodletting lead to a worsening prognosis for Australia's largest media company? Journalists Jonathan Green, Kerry-Anne Walsh and Scott Mitchell join Tina Quinn to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Its been more bad news this week for the already embattled Seven Network, with Four Corners airing a searing expose into the commercial broadcaster's workplace culture. The picture painted was one of bullying, harassment and misogyny. Four Corners Investigative Reporter, Louise Milligan joined Tina Quinn and Virginia Haussegger, who herself navigated a multi-decade career in television news and current affairs to discuss the allegations uncovered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Margaret Throsby first came through the doors of the ABC in 1967, as the new “announcer” on staff, she was the only woman in a room full of men. As part of our ongoing series of profiles, the incomparable broadcaster joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about the remarkable 56 year career that followed. The word legend is often generously bandied about, but its fitting for the famously velvet voiced presenter, who in 1978 would become the first woman to read the news for ABC Television, encouraging commercial networks to quickly follow suit, and who is thought to have conducted over 15,000 interviews during her decades long career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new presidential candidate in town, and her name is Kamala Harris. Proving that a week is a very long time in politics, the presumptive nomination of the vice-president to the top of the Democratic ticket has changed the conversation surrounding the 2024 US election yet again. Joining Tina Quinn to analyse these latest developments is political reporter for The Washington Post, Mariana Alfaro, and features editor for The Age, Maher Mughrabi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're still months away from the US election, and already the 2024 presidential race is proving even more tumultuous than previous years, with a gunman opening fire on the former President, Donald Trump at a political rally. Now many are wondering whether the attempt on Trump's life may have sealed the fate of the election? Tina Quinn is joined by Walkley award-winning journalist, Hamish Macdonald and US political commentator, Kim Hoggard to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To kick off Fourth Estate’s series of profiles, radio trailblazer Angela Catterns joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about a career thats included getting fired for sounding “too intelligent”, smoking spliffs in the Triple J studios and knocking Alan Jones from number one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington Post, long held up as a beacon of great american journalism, has found itself the subject of some very bad headlines the last number of weeks. NPR's David Folkenflik and Peter Jukes of The Byline Times, join Tina Quinn to discuss how the esteemed 'paper of record' has itself become the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we take another step back into the Fourth Estate archives to Tina Quinn's interview with the Gold Walkley award winning journalist, Caro Meldrum-Hanna. This interview was originally broadcast in April of 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a scandal-plagued few weeks for Nine Entertainment, made only worse by its Chairman, Sir Peter Costello’s altercation with a News Corp journalist at Canberra Airport, leading to his resignation. Mike Seccombe, National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper and Jacqueline Maley, Columnist and Senior Writer at The Sydney Morning Herald, join Tina Quinn to discuss the tumultuous developments at one of Australia’s largest media organisations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week saw the Rupert Murdoch owned News Corp waging another battle in its seemingly constant war against our public broadcaster, with what some have called a "raging pile on" against journalist, Laura Tingle. Taking issue with comments she had made on a panel at the Sydney Writers Festival, numerous News Corp journalists accused Tingle of breaching ABC's editorial policies. But were their fervent attacks just some well-organized retribution? Quentin Dempster, Peter Van Onselen and Margaret Simons joined host, Tina Quinn to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the ABC's Chief Political Correspondent for 7.30, Laura Tingle found herself at the centre of a media maelstrom, following her weekend comments on a panel at the Sydney Writers Festival in which she referred to Australia as 'a racist country' and went on to criticize the budget reply speech of Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton. News Corp publications all followed with fierce condemnation of her comments, in what some are describing as a Murdoch pile on. This week we decided to look back at Tina Quinn's conversation with Laura Tingle from June, 2021; in which she reflected on the Murdoch media's relentless attacks on the ABC, and the declining state of political discourse in Australia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Accusations of false equivalencies have flown from both sides of the conflict in the Middle East, and this week was no exception with the International Criminal Court’s Chief announcing their intention to apply for arrest warrants for top leadership in the Israeli Government and those working for Hamas. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss this latest development is the ABC's Geraldine Doogue, Network Ten's Hugh Riminton and former Middle East Correspondent-turned-Human Rights campaigner, Sophie McNeill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we dip into the Fourth Estate archives and bring you Tina Quinn's December, 2021 interview with journalist and broadcaster, Fran Kelly. Fran joined Tina in studio during her very last week as Host of RN Breakfast, after 17 years at the helm of the program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we return to coverage of the conflict in the Middle East, as the Israeli Government forces the closure of Al Jazeera's Jerusalem bureau. Bernard Smith, a Senior Correspondent for Al Jazeera joined Tina Quinn from East Jerusalem to talk what it means for the television network's coverage of the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The increasing surge in female deaths at the hand of a male partner has led to nationwide protests, countless think pieces in every major and non-major masthead, and the usual platitudes from government. As the nation grows weary to these ritualistic reckonings, host Tina Quinn, discusses whether this time could be different with Bridget Brennan and Rachel Withers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a big week for social media news, as billionaire and so-called 'free speech warrior', Elon Musk defies orders from Australia’s E-Safety Commissioner and gets into a war of words with Politicians across the aisle. It’s all part of a bigger conversation around censorship. Guardian Australia’s Josh Butler and The Sun-Herald’s Amber Schultz join Tina Quinn to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Fourth Estate we look at the "omnishambles" (to quote Justice Michael Lee) that was the Bruce Lehrmann v Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson defamation trial. While Lehrmann walked away a proven rapist (in the balance of probabilities), nobody really got off lightly, especially not the media. Host, Tina Quinn is joined by Kate McClymont, Chief Investigative Reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Amy Remeikis, Guardian Australia's Political Reporter and former current affairs producer, Anthony McClellan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we mark six months since the latest outbreak of war between the Israeli government and the Palestinian people kicked off, host Tina Quinn explores whether coverage of the conflict is shifting. She's joined by independent journalist, Antony Loewenstein, Political Reporter for The Australian Sarah Ison, and Co-Host of Guardian Australia's 'Full Story' podcast, Nour Haydar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we take a look back at the media maelstrom that was 'Kategate'. Were we the public to blame for elevating a social media bin-fire? Was it the media? Or did the wheels of the Palace PR machine completely come off? And what does it say about our relationship with once very trusted institutions? Host, Tina Quinn returns to the Fourth Estate chair to interrogate those questions with the former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper, Alan Rusbridger, Royal Correspondent Ellie Hall and the host of the After Work Drinks podcast and Editor of the newly relaunched Elle Australia, Grace O'Neill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk to the hosts of a new program called Blaksiders. Blaksiders is a First Nations news and analysis program that doesn't follow traditional formats or structures. Our guests were Peta MacGillivray and Gemma McKinnon. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we ask why does the US want to ban Tik Tok and does this mark a new phase in the US's attempts to decouple from China. Our guest were Marina Zhang and Wanning Sun. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Monica Attard talks with Kim Williams about objectivity in journalism and his new role at the ABC. Produced by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at Meta's decision to not renew its agreements under the News Media Bargaining Code. What will this mean for our newsroom and is there an alternative funding model? Our guest this week is Professor Peter Greste Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk about new research into why people are attracted to conspiracy theories, the stages they go through in getting radicalised, and how these people may find their way back. Our guests were Emily Booth and Marian-Andrei Rizoiu Produce and Hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at Julian Assange's last chance to avoid extradition to the United States where he faces 17 charges for his work with Wikileaks. To talk about the legal challenges and his options with spoke to Professor Holly Cullen. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we do a deep dive into Medianet's 2024 Australia Media Landscape Report. The report shows an industry focused on ethics and stress about the future. Our guest this week was Managing Director Amrita Sidhu. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at a report from the Centre for Media Transition titled Gen AI and Journalism. To talk about the report we had two of the authors Professor Monica Attard and Dr Michael Davis. Produce and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Monica Attard spoke to Tracey Kirkland, the Continuous News Editor for the ABC News Channel, and Gavin Fang, Deputy Director at ABC News. Together, they edited a collection of essays that cover the logistical, ethical, and existential challenges faced by the news industry during the Pandemic and beyond. It’s called Pandemedia and it asks, how did the pandemic change journalism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode of the year, we speak with Paddy Manning about his new podcast series, 'Rupert: The Last Mogul.' The podcast is a 6-part deep dive into the world of Rupert Murdoch, asking some big questions about what motivates him and what his life and legacy mean. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week CMT Researcher Dr. Timothy Koskie talks media diversity and regional media with Genevieve Jacobs AM, whose Region Media Group hosts a variety of regional online news sources that service local communities across NSW. Interview provided by Double Take, from the UTS Centre for Media Transition Produced by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Ayesha Jehangir speaks with Zahra Nader, the founder of Zan Times, a Canada-based news website that enables Afghan women journalists to continue reporting on Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. They discuss the Zan Times, the challenges of practicing journalism in exile, and the safety concerns confronting women journalists in Afghanistan. Interview provided by Double Take, from the UTS Centre for Media Transition Produced by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the publication of the Review of Secrecy Provisions, we spoke with Professor Peter Greste from Macquarie University about the review and we also talked about whether there is a better way forward that protects public interest journalism. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Monica Attard speaks to Bernard Collaery, a Canberra lawyer and former ACT Attorney-General, on his prosecution by the Australian Government – recently dropped – for helping to expose a government spy operation against Timor-Leste during treaty negotiations in 2004. Interview provided by Double Take, from the UTS Centre for Media Transition. Produced by Anthony Dockrill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices