Council public activities

The Council has published and posted the 2008 State of the News Print Media of Australia. Previously it has published the 2007 Supplement to the 2006 State of the News Print Media in Australia report. The 2006 and 2008 reports are available online or can be purchased for $6 (GST inclusive) from the Council office.

The most recent public forum forum featured two high-profile journalists, Chris Masters and Sean Dorney, speaking on how journalists get the story despite government obstruction, spin and threats to sources. Co-sponsored by Bond University, the forum on investigative journalism was held at Bond University on May 7 from 6pm. There were two addresses:

Chris Masters spoke about Investigating investigative journalism. The former Four Corners' reporter, whose reports exposed corruption in Queensland and NSW, examines key components of his craft: research, narrative, sources and spin. He will look at the obstacles placed in front of investigative journalists in Australia, especially the pervasive use of "spin" and threats to journalists' sources.

Sean Dorney spoke on Reporting from the Pacific. The ABC's Pacific correspondent will look at the more immediate physical threats that can arise in reporting on corruption in Pacific Islands governments, and on the current situation in Fiji that led to his recent expulsion.

The Council is currently organising with universities and publishers its Case Studies seminars for 2009.

Deborah Kirkman has written an article (pages 62-63) on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Press Council complaints process, published on-line by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Austrlia.

The Council's 2008 Planning Day was held in late July 2008. The previous Planning Day was in 2005. This is a triennial event where the Council discusses long-term planning. For more on Planning Days.

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The Australian Press Council Annual Address

The Address is to be given annually on a topic related to the freedom and responsibility of the press. The 2009 Annual Address is scheduled for the second half of the year and advice on the Speaker will be given here when available.

The 2007 Address was delivered by David Kirk, CEO of Fairfax Publications. He addressed issues related to newspapers and convergence, especially ythe digital media and press freedom issues. The Address has been posted to this website.

The 2006 Annual Address was presented by Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty on 23 March in Sydney, at a lunch. His topic was Between the lines: New powers and accountability for police and the media.

The 2005 Address was delivered by columnist (and lawyer) Richard Ackland at a media lunch on Thursday 31 March 2005. Mr Ackland addressed his view of the interaction between the media and the law.

Justice Ron Sackville, the Chairman of the Judicial Conference of Australia, responded to the Address and led the question/discussion period that followed.

Titled Much Ado About Nothing - the True State of the Judicature, the Address looked at judiciary and the way it was reacting to media criticism. It has been posted to the website.

Justice Sackville's response The Judiciary and the Media: A Clash of Cultures has also been posted.

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The Australian Press Council News

The News is a quarterly newsletter with articles, opinions and news relevant to the print media and the Press Council. Each edition also reprints all adjudications issued in the preceding quarter.

The articles from the February 2009 News are now posted.

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Recent submissions

To the National Human Rights Consultation on the protection and promotion of human rights.

To the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet in response to the draft Open Government Information Bill 2009 and related legislation.

To the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in response to the draft Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill and the draft Information Commissioner Bill 2009.

To the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee on its inquiry into the reporting of sports news and the emergence of digital media.

To the Queensland government in response to draft Right to Information Bill 2009.

To the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to Issues Paper 34, Review of Secrecy Laws.

To the Australian Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee Inquiry into the Freedom of Information (Removal of Conclusive Certificates and Other Measures) Bill 2008.

To the New South Wales Law Reform Commission on its review of NSW privacy legislation.

To the NSW Parliamentary Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption: The Protection of Public Sector Whistleblowers.

To the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into Whistleblower Protection within the Public Sector.

To the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts: Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children in the Contemporary Media Environment.

To the NSW Ombudsman's Review of the NSW Freedom of Information Act 1989.

To the Independent Review of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld).

To the Northern Territory Department of Justice, Five-Year Review of the Information Act 2002.

To the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice Inquiry into the Prohibition on the Publication of Names of Children Involved in Criminal Proceedings.

To the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to its Discussion Paper 72, Review of Australian Privacy Law.

To the NSW Law Reform Commission in response to Consultation Paper 1, Invasion of Privacy.

To the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007.

To the Commonwealth Attorney-General on proposed amendments to the Classification Code to prohibit publication of material advocating terrorism.

To the state and territory Attorneys-General on possible changes to the Defamation Act on the posting of comments on newspaper weblogs.

To the federal Minister of Communications on possible changes to the Broadcasting Services Act on the posting of comments on newspaper weblogs.

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New Free Speech material

The 2007-2008 Annual Report on free speech issues

Freedom of information: The amicus curiae brief to the High Court in McKinnon's case and the Council's response to the Court's decision. A 2004 speech calling for reform of Australian freedom of information policy and practice. developments arising from the Council 2002 report on FoI, the federal Attorney-General's 'review' of FoI, and comments on them from journalists at The Australian.

The article, Australian Press Law and Practice, has been revised and updated, as at October 2007.

A May 2007 letter to Attorneys-General calling for more effective shield laws.

A May 2007 op/ed article, published by the Herald Sun launching the Council's 'Come Clean' campaign.

The Council's Chairman held a press conference in Townsville on World Press Freedom Day, particularly addressing some concerns with freedom of information in Queensland. A press release his remarks has been posted.

The Council in October 2005 updated its basic position on privacy, particularly how it would deal with proposed legal or judicial restrictions on freedom of speech based on privacy considerations.

A 2005 speech from the Chairman of the Council on the rise in Australia of the possibility of a legislated or judically developed tort of privacy.

Charter for a free press: The Council has developed a Charter which will form the basis of its activities in defence of free speech and press freedom.

Council free speech positions: recently updated to reflect a new policies on surveillance devices and privacy, among other matters.

Further correspondence arising from the Council's study of the administration of freedom of information legislation is posted with the August 2003 APC News. In July 2003, the then federal Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, responded in detail to the Council's study. His response, together with comments by the FoI editor of The Australian, Michael McKinnon, and a recent press release on the increasing costs of FoI (and the fact that such costs discourage many applicants from proceeding) from the then Shadow AG, Robert McClelland, are included.

News Images - a series of links to websites dealing with ethical issues in the use of news images.

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Latest Conference papers

The Council conducted a public meeting in Ballarat in early May 2005 on the press and privacy. Speeches were delivered by Age editor Andrew Jaspan and Victorian Privacy Commissioner Paul Chadwick. Copies of Mr Chadwick's speech are available from the Council office.

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APC Prize announcements

There has been no essay competition since 2005 but, instead, the Prize has been used to sponsor awards to journalism students at tertiary institutions. Fourteen departments or faculties applied and were each be endowed with an award in 2005.

The 2008-2009 Prize will be awarded along similar lines, with sixteen universities participating.

Go to the Prize homepage, for more information about the APC Prize.

Annual Report 32

The 2007-2008 Annual Report has been printed. Printed versions of it and previous annual reports are available on request from the Council.

Some material from the 2007-2008 report is on the site:

2007-2008 Report on free speech issues
Complaints dealt with by means other than adjudication 2007-2008
2007-2008 Complaints Statistics.

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Case Studies recently added to website

Case Study seven - Blood on the Streets - not fictionalised (March 2003)

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The Links page has recently been checked and updated.

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