Media Roundup: ABC rejects activism claims, Daily Mail eyes Telegraph, Nine Radio sale looms, and AI fallout over Fallout

Media

ABC, activism claims and the pushback

ABC managing director Hugh Marks has sat down with The Australian's James Madden to discuss activist journalism, insisting he does not see it day to day at the public broadcaster.

During the chat, Marks was firm, saying the ABC spends huge amounts of time enforcing editorial standards, accepts it will not always get everything right, and argues claims of “activism” often say more about the critic than the coverage.

Daily Mail owner lines up Telegraph takeover funding

The long-running UK Telegraph saga has taken a decisive step forward, with Daily Mail owner DMGT locking in funding for a £500m takeover.

According to The Guardian's Kalyeena Makortoff, the move clears the runway for the group to formally outline its acquisition plans this week.

Radio

Nine Radio sale hangs over summer break

The Australian's Steve Jackson writes that Nine Radio’s on-air stars have headed into the non-ratings season with plenty of uncertainty, unsure who they will be working for when they return in the new year.

Nine Entertainment wrapped up final bids for its radio division last week and will now review offers for the business, which includes 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR.

Television

Second screens are changing how TV tells stories

Most of us now watch TV with a phone in hand, especially younger viewers. That distracted habit has quietly become the norm rather than the exception.

As The Sydney Morning Herald's Michael Lallo writes, broadcasters and streamers are responding by pushing writers to be more explicit, with characters spelling out plot and motivation early so viewers do not lose the thread while scrolling.

Social Media

Social media ban gets research backup

Australia’s under-16 social media ban has drawn predictable noise from the platforms, but new research suggests the government may be onto something.

The Australian's Jared Lynch writes that the argument is simple: Endless scrolling is crowding out kids’ thinking, creativity and focus.

AI

Treasury Wine turns to AI to drive its next growth play

Treasury Wine Estates is backing artificial intelligence as it looks to future-proof the business, using data to shape what lands in glasses next.

As The Australian's Danielle Long writes, the company has partnered with research firm Ideally to build an AI-powered insights platform designed to fast-track innovation and spot changing consumer tastes, particularly among younger drinkers.

Amazon’s AI recap misfires on Fallout

The BBC's Liv McMahon reports that Amazon has quietly pulled an AI-generated recap of Fallout after viewers flagged basic factual errors in the summary.

The tool was trialled on Prime Video to help audiences catch up on complex shows.

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