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24-06-2012 03:38 - Round the World Travel Video Adventure I reacquainted myself with the fantastic 1976 Film 'Network' recently, and when I heard this iconic speech again, it hit me how, even though it is 36 years old, it is still relevant today! A Mashup of the feature film, Network (1976) featuring Peter Finch and the song, Subaquatic Utopia by Re-Drum from their It's better to Burn Out Than To Fade Away. Peter Finch playing newsman, Howard Beale performing the iconic "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" speech. The last three images are related to issues of the current media; pedlars of lies, propaganda that bastardises certain words - 'hope' and truth speakers who become enemies of the State. AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL VIDEO ADVENTURE website: Facebook: twitter: google+:

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The Anger of Hope, Past and Present Mass Media Mashup - Video

The Australian Greens will introduce draft laws for a public interest test governing media ownership to keep editorial control out of the hands of people like mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Party leader Christine Milne said she wanted Australians to benefit from a flourishing, independent, diverse media landscape.

The consolidation of media power in the hands of individuals was a clear threat to free speech and democracy, she said.

The Greens will introduce a private member's bill to the Senate later in the week that aims to implement a public interest test for changes in control of major media companies.

Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam said the bill would contain a combination of proposals from the Convergence Review and earlier work by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on applying a public interest test.

'Gina has triggered this debate,' he told reporters on in Canberra on Monday, adding the billionaire's bid for seats on the Fairfax media board had demonstrated to the whole country the urgency of 'these sorts of reforms'.

'She's intending to use a media platform as a political weapon to advance her other commercial interests.'

The bill will apply to broadcasters and newspapers with an Australian audience of at least 500,000 per month and with a revenue of at least $50 million per year.

The matters to be taken into account in applying the public interest test include the impact on editorial independence and free expression of opinion along with the likely impact on the fair and accurate presentation of news.

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Greens for public interest test on media

KERRY Stokes' Seven Group has upped the stakes in the battle for control of Consolidated Media, reportedly warning the competition regulator it wants to buy more shares in the company.

The Seven Group chairman signalled his intention to thwart Rupert Murdoch's $2 billion offer for ConsMedia when his company lodged a request with the competition regulator late on Friday for an informal review.

Seven already holds 24 per cent in the pay-TV takeover target, while James Packer owns just over 50 per cent and is friendly to offers from Murdoch's News Ltd.

Questions surround Mr Stokes' motivations and whether he actually wants full control of ConsMedia or is pressing News Ltd for a higher price.

Analysts also say the issue might bring Mr Stokes' conflicting media and mining services investments to a head.

Seven already carries as much as $1.8 billion of debt - a high level, even before he gets into a bidding war with Mr Murdoch, Fat Prophets media analyst Greg Fraser said.

Mr Stokes bought his way into pay TV through the ConsMedia stake after losing a $200 million legal battle against other media players in 2007 for control in the industry.

That case ended badly with him having to pay costs and might well be driving a possible bid for the rest of ConsMedia, Mr Fraser said.

ConsMedia's pay TV investments, including 25 per cent of Foxtel and 50 per cent of Fox Sports, are not as affected by the weak advertising market hitting other media because they rely on subscriptions.

Seven could sell some of its investments to finance the bid, including its diverse range of construction and mining equipment businesses and its shares in Telstra.

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Stokes eyes more of ConsMedia

Christine Milne

AAP Images

THE Greens have moved to introduce a public interest test bill to protect media ownership diversity in light of mining magnate Gina Rinehart's increased stake in Fairfax.

This news came as the Sydney Morning Herald's publisher and editor-in-chief Peter Fray, Sydney Morning Herald editor Amanda Wilson and The Age's editor-in-chief Paul Ramadge stepped down amid newsroom restructures.

Greens leader Senator Christine Milne said that the test was necessary as changes in ownership at Fairfax could be a potential threat to editorial independence and media diversity.

"If we want to ensure that all Australians benefit from a flourishing, independent, diverse media landscape now and into the future, we have an obligation to start acting to protect that landscape," Senator Milne said.

"The public interest test for changes in media control is a sensible place to start."

Greens spokesperson on communications Senator Scott Ludlam said that there was a "real urgency" for the public interest bill, which would target nationally significant media enterprises rather than bloggers or smaller media outlets.

"(Rinehart is) one individual buying a controlling stake in a media organisation with the clear purpose of shutting down dissent against her other corporate and financial interests and deliberately stifling debate about issues of science, of fairness, of great community interest," he said.

The test would apply to media enterprises with a monthly Australian audience of 500,000 that also derived more than $50 million in revenue annually from supplying media content in Australia.

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Greens bring media ownership bill

THE Greens will try to gazump the government by releasing their own proposal for a public-interest test governing media ownership before Cabinet finalises its plans.

Last week's restructure announcements by News Ltd and Fairfax Media, which publishes the Herald, and a push into Fairfax by the mining magnate Gina Rinehart, have put the issue under the spotlight.

The Greens will announce today the introduction of a private member's bill seeking to ensure diversity of media ownership and editorial independence.

The public-interest test would apply to nationally significant media enterprises - defined as those which control the content they deliver, have an Australian audience of at least 500,000 a month, and derive at least $50 million a year in revenue from supplying media content in Australia.

The Greens' bill proposes that the statutory media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, publishes guidelines, and the application and enforcement of the public-interest test. There will be opportunity for submissions and possible public hearings. Any decisions by the authority could be appealed in the courts.

The Greens' test would take into account whether the acquisition of an organisation would diminish the diversity of ownership and content, the impact on editorial independence, on free expression of opinion, and on the fair and accurate reporting of news.

Last week, the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, confirmed that new media ownership laws under consideration would take into account the public interest as well as competition concerns.

The laws, to be based on recommendations from both the Convergence Review and the Finkelstein review commissioned by the government, are set to be signed off soon.

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Greens grab headlines with media probity plan