Winterford is back as Risky.biz expands
By Phil Sim in Media News on Wednesday, 12th February 2020 at 11:00amBeers in a Byron Bay pub have proven the catalyst to luring former iTNews Editor-in-Chief Brett Winterford back into media, joining Patrick Gray’s Risky.biz in a role that will see the infosec podcast create written content targeting the world’s most influential policymakers.
The hire of the well respected Winterford, who has just left a gig as director at security firm Symantec, is a coup for Gray and it’s not even his shout. The role is being entirely funded by the Hewlett Foundation, a philanthropic organisation founded by HP co-founder Bill Hewlett and his family.
Risky.biz is an influential cybersecurity podcast which has carved out a reputation as one of the world’s most authoritative voices on information security. Its guest list reads like a ...
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Brisbane talkback station must double ratings
By Staff Writers in Media News on Monday, 20th July 2026 at 7:56am
Tapt Media’s 4BC Brisbane is reaching only half the audience it needs to be profitable, according to documents obtained by The Australian.
The report by Steve Jackson also cites “disillusioned” staff who have “lashed out” at “out-of-touch” management, blaming them for “trashing one of the country’s proudest talkback radio brands and torching a number of presenters’ careers in the process”.
The Australian obtained “confidential internal network analysis” which calculated that the station needs between 6.2 and 6.4 per cent of market share to break even based on its current costs.
When Arthur Laundy’s Tapt Media acquired the station, the analysis figured that 4BC needed to lift its share to around 8 per cent to be profitable, however, instead its share has gone backwards after it recorded a disastrous most recent ratings result that saw it hit just 3.4 per cent.
Read the full article at The Australian
Upfront: Mining money dries up, Zombie renewables exposed, Rare-earths investment squeeze.
By Staff Writers in Media News on Monday, 20th July 2026 at 6:02am
Mining revenue slump puts Labor’s tax and spending plans under pressure
A sharp fall in mining royalties and resources tax payments—about $25 billion over two years—has reignited debate over whether governments can rely on commodity windfalls to fund budgets and promises. With Labor considering higher imposts on the sector, the story sharpens the political and economic stakes ahead of internal policy fights on resources taxation. Covered by: The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald.
Clean-energy “zombie projects” threaten Australia’s 2030 targets
Concerns are growing that Labor’s Capacity Investment Scheme is backing renewable projects that are delayed or may never be built, risking a gap between announced capacity and real-world generation. Investors and experts are calling for policy tweaks to reduce bottlenecks and improve delivery certainty—crucial as the grid transitions and coal exits accelerate. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, The Australian.
Foreign in
Insider: Audience-first focus for Healy’s In The Blink of AI show
By Will McLennan in Media News on Monday, 20th July 2026 at 11:45am
Georgie Healy, host of the In the Blink of AI podcast, says the show is built entirely around the audience.
"It's all about making sure my listeners get value out of my guests," she said on Influencing Insider last Thursday. "My job is to make it entertaining, make it useful, give people something they can understand at home.
“I've got an expert on the show to give their take, and it's my job to make sure I get the best that's out of their brain onto the episode for the audience.”
One way Healy does that is by asking guests for their best AI hack. She discovered one guest uses AI to curate a personalised wine menu.
She is also not afraid to pursue unconventional lines of questioning, recalling how she once asked Notion chief executive Ivan Zhao what it was like growing up as a middle child.
She advised PR practitioners pitching guests to do their research on In the Blink of AI first, before explaining why their guest is a good fit.
Healy said pitches that stand out in
Bombay High Court denies interim relief to journalist Gurbir Singh
By Pavithra A in Media News on Friday, 17th July 2026 at 8:45pm
The Bombay High Court has dismissed an interim application filed by journalist Gurbir Singh challenging his six-year expulsion from the Mumbai Press Club for facilitating a meeting involving accused persons in the Bhima-Koregaon case at the club premises.
Justice Prafulla S. Khubalkar rejected Singh’s plea for interim relief, observing that the managing committee’s decision did not appear arbitrary or perverse. The court held that the trial court’s refusal to grant an injunction was a plausible view based on the available material and did not require interference at this stage.
The case relates to a meeting held on January 19, 2026, at the Mumbai Press Club, where Singh and two other members organised an event involving four accused persons in the 2018 Bhima-Koregaon case. The meeting allegedly allowed the accused persons to gather, potentially violating their bail conditions.
Following the incident, the Press Club issued a show-cause notice to
Rahul Kanwal awarded Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff University
By Staff Writer in Media News on Friday, 17th July 2026 at 6:57pm
Journalist Rahul Kanwal has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff University, marking what he described as a "full circle" moment in his journalism career.
Kanwal first attended Cardiff University in 2002 as a participant in the Chevening Fellowship for International Broadcast Journalists. Returning for the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony with his family, he reflected on how his time at the university had shaped his professional journey.
"Deeply grateful to Cardiff University for awarding me an Honorary Fellowship," Kanwal said. He thanked the university for welcoming him into its community of Honorary Fellows and expressed gratitude to the Chevening Programme for giving him, as a 21-year-old journalist, "an opportunity that broadened my horizons, sharpened my craft and shaped the way I look at the world."
Kanwal also said he looked forward to staying connected with the Cardiff University community and continuing to champion the values of &
Veteran journalist Janak Raj Singh passes away
By Staff Writer in Media News on Friday, 17th July 2026 at 6:37pm
Veteran journalist and Press Enclave founding member Janak Raj Singh passed away on Thursday.
A senior political journalist, he spent over three decades with The Times of India, covering major events including the 1971 India–Pakistan War and reporting extensively from the Prime Minister's Office and Parliament.
Singh was also an accomplished author and is remembered for his significant contribution to Indian political journalism.
Chennai Press Club condemns police for seizing journalist's phone in MLA bribery probe
By Staff Writer in Media News on Friday, 17th July 2026 at 6:29pm
A Special Investigation Team probing an alleged conspiracy to bribe Tamil Nadu MLAs into voting against a no-confidence motion has summoned and questioned Vijayan, a senior news editor at Puthiya Thalaimurai, and sent his phone for cyber forensic analysis.
Police allege the conspiracy, which they have named the "Mekaalaya Project," involved attempts to recruit around 15 ruling-party MLAs with payments of up to Rs 35 crore, with death threats issued to those who declined. Eight people have been arrested so far, including the alleged lead accused, Thirunavukkarasu, identified by police as a YouTuber and operator of an outfit called IPDS.
According to the police press note, digital evidence recovered during the probe showed Vijayan had exchanged what officers called "objectionable messages" with Thirunavukkarasu and remained in contact with him through the period of the alleged conspiracy. On that basis, Vijayan was summoned, questioned on July 15 and 16, and his phone was taken for f
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