General Press Release No. 235 (November 1999)

Launceston Public Forum

Senator Nick Sherry (ALP, Tas) will lead off an Australian Press Council public forum on "What is News?" in Launceston on Thursday 25 November.

Readers and publications often disagree about what is newsworthy in a particular location on a particular day. Questions are raised about such issues as the distinction between what is in the public interest and what is merely of interest to the public. Where should the line be drawn in dealing with questions that relate to the private concerns of individuals? And should that line be different for public figures?

Senator Sherry will be speaking as a politician and public figure when he presents his opinions on what newspapers select as news.

He will be followed by former leading educationist and community arts leader Margaret Bartkevicius, who will speak about the expectations of the average reader of newspapers. She will examine the role of newspapers in relation to the public that the media serve as seen through the eyes of the average reader. She will comment on issues such as equity, young readers, ethics and the responsibilities of newspapers to readers. Rod Scott, the Editor of The Examiner, is the final speaker and will speak on the processes and issues involved for publications in the selection of news.

The public forum will be held at 6pm in the Earl Arts Centre on 25 November during a visit to Launceston by the Australian Press Council for its monthly complaints hearings and Council meeting. Chair of the forum will be the chairman of the APC, Professor Dennis Pearce. The forum will be opened by Cr John Lees, the Mayor of Launceston.

After the speeches, there will be the opportunity for questions to the speakers and some audience discussion of the issues raised. To assist with this aspect of the evening, the Council has invited the editors of the other two Tasmanian dailies,The Mercury and The Advocate, to attend, and participate in the discussion.

Admission to the forum is free and all members of the public are invited. It is not necessary to make reservations: just turn up on the night.

About 20 members of the Council will be in Launceston on 25-26 November for the CouncilÕs regular monthly meetings.

The APC is the newspaper industry watchdog. It consists of public and journalist members, and industry appointed representatives. Its meetings are usually held in Sydney but at least twice a year it visits other metropolitan and provincial centres.

This will be the CouncilÕs second visit to Launceston. The earlier one was in 1989.

A transcript of the forum will be produced and printed as a part of the Council's Conference Papers series. A pdf version of the transcript will be posted on this website.

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