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Edit Me, I am Page Intro: Western Australian Journalists’ Association : News

Entries for the new-look WA Media Awards are now easier online 02/09/10

Entering this year’s WA Media Awards is much easier with a new online registration and email verification system…. Continue Reading »
Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism 02/09/10

The University of Western Australia is now accepting entries for the Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism for 2010. The award is made annually for the best contribution in a newspaper or periodical in Western Australia…. Continue Reading »
Proposed new media shield law “useless” 11/08/10

WA’s media union has called on the Barnett Government to get serious about effective media shield laws after the announcement of “reforms” that still leave journalists exposed to three years’ jail and $60,000 fines for doing their jobs properly.
WA Attorney-General Christian Porter said the State Government would legislate to protect media workers who obtain information from confidential sources.
However, the proposed new law won’t cover journalists who break news stories based on leaked documents or confidential public service tip-offs.
Nor will it prevent a repeat of the infamous 2008 WA police raid on The Sunday Times or the secret interrogation of five Perth journalists who were threatened with jail in 2007.
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance has written to Mr Porter urging him to address these fundamental weaknesses in the proposed legislation.
“We welcome the Barnett Government’s support for the concept of shield laws as a step in the right direction,” Alliance WA Branch Secretary Michael Sinclair-Jones said.
“But such laws will be useless if they don’t allow journalists to do their job properly – that is, to find out and report what’s going on without fear of being treated like criminals.
Sinclair-Jones said almost 350 WA journalists – including newspaper editors, TV news directors and online content managers – had signed a petition urging WA Premier Colin Barnett to adopt effective media shield laws as a matter of urgency.
Their call is backed by the WA Law Reform Commission, which in 1993 recommended courts get a general discretion to excuse journalists from breaching confidences.
“This has gone on far too long,” the Alliance told Mr Porter last week.
“It is disappointing that WA is not noticeably any closer to an acceptable shield law.
“It’s high time the Government put concrete proposals into a draft BiWA’s and took active steps to make it law.
“This is a law that journalists have waited too long for.” Continue Reading »
Cover letter to Christian Porter 11/08/10

The Hon. Christian Porter MLA
Attorney-General of Western Australia
WA Parliament House… Continue Reading »
Formal response to Christian Porter 11/08/10

Ref: WA A-G, Hon C. Christian Porter MLA
letter of 30 June 2010 to
Mr Michael Sinclair-Jones, WA Branch Secretary … Continue Reading »
Are you being paid $1 a word? 11/04/10

Following discussion at the annual general meeting held recently at the Flying Scotsman, WAJA has launched a Name & Shame campaign to publicly expose shamefully low freelance rates being offered by some WA news outlets…. Continue Reading »
Munro raids photography awards 20/03/10

Ian Munro has been named the WA Press Photographer of the Year for a diverse portfolio of photographs that included a police raid, a hospital clown and a Nullarbor golfer…. Continue Reading »
More than 320 sign WA Free Speech online petition - have you signed yet? 11/03/10

More than 300 people have signed the WA journalists’ Free Speech online petition. They include WAN CEO Chris Wharton, Rural Press WA Publisher Joe Italiano, ABC News Director Kim Jordan, WAN Editor-In-Chief Bob Cronin, Sunday Times Editor Sam Weir, Nine… Continue Reading »
It's a Date! 04/02/10

Friday, November 12

After the success of the 2009 event at the venue, Friday, November 12 has been locked in for the WA Media Ball and Awards at Perth Convention Exhibition Centre…. Continue Reading »
Freelance Committee Forming 09/02/10

WAJA is seeking freelancers who are interested in being part of the Freelance Committee for 2010 to help organise networking events and guest speakers of interest to freelance journalists, photographers and artists…. Continue Reading »
Remember Your Youth 09/02/10

Entries close soon for the 2010 WA Communicate! Youth Media Awards, which recognise and reward excellence in media reporting of young people and youth issues…. Continue Reading »
Between Iraq and a Wild Place 31/01/10

A reporter who was embedded with US soldiers in Iraq during the 2007 surge will be the star attraction for media workers at this month’s Perth Writers Festival…. Continue Reading »
Lindsay Leaving 31/01/10

Community Newspaper Group’s longest serving photographer Lindsay Muskett has announced his retirement. … Continue Reading »
Community on the Move 22/01/10

After more than 20 years in its Northbridge digs, Community Newspaper Group will move to a dedicated area in The Sunday Times building in Stirling Street, Perth…. Continue Reading »
Hay Hay It's Andrea! 12/01/10

Andrea Hayward was named Reporter of the Year at the AAP News Wire Awards.
Editor in Chief Tony Gillies said Andrea (pictured cooling her heels last year in St Petersburg) had filed excellent words, images and video that were picked up widely online… Continue Reading »
Information access in WA - a bad Korea move? 31/12/09

Hypothetical scenario: you’re a reporter in a news room in WA. The phone rings. On the line is a public servant telling you she has information regarding a report into a certain gas pipeline explosion in the northwest of the State. … Continue Reading »
Christmas Cash for Tribunal 30/12/09

Christmas came early for media staff at Perth’s National Native Title Tribunal with a $1150 cash payment for signing a new enterprise agreement. The joint deal with the Community and Public Sector Union also provides a 3 per cent pay rise in early January… Continue Reading »
Yvonne calls it a day at Community 17/12/09

Weekend Courier editor Yvonne Thompson will retire in the New Year after more than two decades at Community Newspaper Group. … Continue Reading »
2009 WA Media Ball pictorial 10/11/09

See all the action from the biggest and best WA Media Ball ever. Who was that girl in the slinky red dress? What happened on the dance floor? Is Martin Saxon turning into Buffalo Bill? See it all here. Continue Reading »
Pennells wins 2nd Walkley 25/12/09

See it all here. Continue Reading »
Scoop 12/10/09

Future editions of the popular WA journalists’ magazine Scoop will be published online in a format yet to be finalised. … Continue Reading »
Membership 22/10/09

Not in the Alliance?
It’s easy to join – just ring 1300 656 513

If your membership has expired and you owe money, just call 1300 656 513 to arrange for your debt to be waived and get back on board by direct debit subscription. Continue Reading »
Nine's Matt Tinney a winner, too! 17/12/09

Nine TV reporter Matt Tinney’s name was missing from the winners’ list when awards were presented at the 2009 WA Media Ball at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre on November 7. Tinney won the Tourism Prize − and $500 − for his coverage of the Kimberley premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia�?, with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman… Continue Reading »