Byrne assumes WSFM content director spot
By Jonas Lopez in Media News on Tuesday, 07th January 2020 at 3:28pm
The Australian Radio Network (ARN) has installed Mike Byrne as content director for WSFM 101.7.
Formerly program director for Mix106.5 and Gold 104.3, Byrne started this week after a seven-year absence. He was previously group content director for Southern Cross Austereo in Newcastle and a co-host for River949’s breakfast show in Brisbane.
“Mike brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and I’m pleased to be welcoming him back to ARN. I look forward to working with him as we continue to build on the success of WSFM,” said ARN national content director Duncan Campbell.
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How to pitch GadgetGuy, according to editor Button
By Will McLennan in Media News on Tuesday, 16th June 2026 at 11:48am
GadgetGuy editor Chris Button has outlined what PR professionals should know before pitching the consumer technology publication, starting with what not to send.
"Sometimes I do get pitched some tech stories which are a little more on the enterprise and business side," Button said on Influencing Insider last week. "If it's too business-centric, then it's generally not a fit for GadgetGuy, so I think understanding that difference is important.
"Also, understand that we are very product-centric, so contact us with your product launches or important information about the latest gadgets or gadget trends."
Button said image assets matter too, with a clear preference for clean product photography.
"Having immediate access to spokespeople, good media assets as well, preferably assets that don't have text overlaid over the top of them, because we much prefer just to provide clean imagery of the products without any text or marking materials over the top."
On responsiveness, he said qu
Man charged as media outlets fight to reveal identity of high-profile mystery man in extortion case
By Staff writers in Media News on Tuesday, 16th June 2026 at 7:56am
A man has been charged by police after he did the thing that media organisations have been trying to do for some weeks – name the high-profile mystery man involved in a Queensland extortion case.
Last week, a Queensland magistrate ordered that the name of a man with a "high public profile" be suppressed. The case involves an extortion attempt against a woman the man was allegedly having an affair with.
The case has now reached the Supreme Court. Media outlets including Nine Publishing, News Corp Australia and the ABC have joined proceedings to lift the non-publication order.
Yesterday, a Cairns man who revealed the identity of the man in social media posts was charged by police with disobeying the suppression order.
According to the ABC, the man "has an extensive criminal history but is not personally involved in the extortion case and it was quite by chance that he happened to be in court more than two weeks ago when the matter
Pedestrian jobs on the chopping block
By Staff Writers in Media News on Tuesday, 16th June 2026 at 7:24am
Vinyl Group has instructed Pedestrian staff to work from home as it works through a restructure that will result in more media redundancies.
Jennifer Duke at Capital Brief yesterday cited an email sent to staff that said “some roles” would be impacted by a review of the combined operational requirements.
“Following that review, we have made the difficult decision that some roles across the Pedestrian team will be affected,” the email said.
“We know this kind of news is unsettling, and I’m sorry that we can’t make it easier.”
Staff were asked to work from home during the process and affected staff were to receive communications regarding their role on Monday.
Vinyl provided a statement to Capital Brief which said: ““Like any business, we need to look at how it was operating and see what adjustments need to be made for it to become sustainable”.
Read the full story at Capital Brief
Upfront: Rinehart’s SpaceX splurge, Iran truce fine print, Albo’s relief gamble.
By Staff Writers in Media News on Tuesday, 16th June 2026 at 5:59am
Rinehart’s $1.4b SpaceX punt puts Australian capital on the US tech rocket
Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has taken a reported $1.4 billion stake in SpaceX following its IPO, with Rinehart publicly praising Elon Musk and framing the investment as backing Western technological leadership. Beyond the eye-watering price tag, the story spotlights how Australian wealth is increasingly chasing US growth and innovation—raising questions about local market competitiveness and national investment priorities. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The West Australian, Australian Financial Review.
Iran ceasefire claims ease oil jitters, but the fine print still threatens global shockwaves
Multiple papers report Donald Trump declaring a US–Iran ceasefire that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, helping cool oil-price anxiety—but with major unresolved issues including Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions settings, and wider regiona
MIB publishes draft telecommunication rules for TV & radio services
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 15th June 2026 at 9:59pm
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 for public consultation under the framework of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The draft rules aim to consolidate and streamline the regulatory framework governing television, radio, and associated broadcasting services in India. The Telecommunications Act, 2023, which replaced the Telegraph Act of 1885, provides a comprehensive legal framework for telecommunication services, with MIB responsible for administering provisions related to broadcasting.
According to the ministry, the draft rules bring together multiple existing guidelines into a single regulatory framework, including:
2022 policy guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of satellite TV channels
DTH broadcasting guidelines
HITS broadcasting guidelines
Phase III policy guidelines for private FM radio broadcasting
2024 community radio policy guidelines
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Kannur Press Club remembers senior journalist V.N. Ansal
By Meena R. Prashant in Media News on Monday, 15th June 2026 at 8:04pm
The Kannur Press Club remembered senior journalist V.N. Ansal,59, who breathed his last at a hospital in Puducherry on Saturday, June 13.
C. Sunil Kumar, President of the Kannur Press Club, said, “Ansal was an excellent journalist. His work will serve as an example for young journalists in the years to come. Apart from his professional responsibilities, he was actively involved in organisational activities. He served as the former State Treasurer of the Kerala Press Workers Union and Secretary of the Kannur Press Club.”
Kumar further said that the Kannur Press Club committee would hold a prayer meeting in memory of Ansal.
Press bodies welcome Delhi HC relief for Newsclick, founder Prabir Purkayastha
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 15th June 2026 at 8:00pm
Picture Credit: The Hindu
Press organisations across India have welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to quash the FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed against Newsclick and its founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha, calling it a significant reaffirmation of press freedom and due process.
In a statement on June 13, the Press Club of India (PCI) said the Court termed the proceedings a “gross abuse of the process of law” and described the action as an arbitrary attack on free and impartial journalism. PCI noted the judgment vindicated concerns within the media fraternity, which had viewed the case as a witch hunt aimed at creating a chilling effect on independent journalism.
The PCI also highlighted the impact on Newsclick journalists, many of whom lost jobs and equipment, leading to financial hardship. It urged the government to refrain from targeted action against journalists and called on the Press Council of India to examine accountability and compens
Media news latest
A man has been charged by police after he did the thing that media organisations have been trying to do for some weeks, name the high-profile mystery man involved in a Queensland extortion case. ... Show more
Vinyl Group has instructed Pedestrian staff to work from home as it works through a restructure that will result in more media redundancies. ... Show more
In Front Page News Today: Rinehart’s $1.4b SpaceX stake; Trump’s Iran ceasefire claims tested; Albanese weighs more hip-pocket relief. ... Show more
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