Junk in, junk out

Public health experts are calling for the next Federal Government to take action to stop junk food ads targeting children, after new research showed that the issue is a concern for 85% of parents and caregivers.

The fake news arms race

A new model depicts how competition for attention leads news sources to publish misinformation. The findings portray a trend, or “arms race,” towards hyper-partisan fake news to increase audience engagement.

Bad news for young journalists

There seems to be more ‘news’ than ever, but shrinking budgets and job insecurity means there are fewer opportunities for young journalists, and that’s bad news, especially in regional Australia.

A beacon in the dark

Australia should step up funding for ABC International to counter anti-democratic propaganda in the Pacific region.

Local news for local people

The provision of local news is critical to healthy and engaged regional communities, but a collapse in advertising revenues in the age of the internet and social media has seen long-standing newspapers disappear or gut their staff and coverage.

Word virus

The accessible humour of internet memes offer an easy entry point for conspiracy theories and ever more extreme perspectives.

Rescuing regional news

Local journalists can play an important role in providing essential information to keep people safe, strengthen the social fabric and reinforce community, but the death of regional newspapers mean they have no platform to do so.

The real news about fake news

Whatever the result of the Australian Federal election, fighting electoral misinformation and disinformation is in everyone’s interest if democracy is to survive.

The misinformation malaise

Many Australians are aware of the influence of misinformation and disinformation on elections, but there are more insidious ways it harms our democratic society.

The information insurgency

Democracies must highlight the virtues of their systems and rally against autocratic and authoritarian movements around the world by giving citizens the tools they need to protect themselves from disinformation.

Updating broadcast policy

Media policy needs reform, not tinkering, to prioritise Australian interests and voices over the commercial needs of broadcasters and streaming giants.

Truth in political advertising

Will Australia’s media do better at cracking down on falsehoods and misinformation this election? The signs aren’t good so far.