Gossip columnist Liz Smith dies. Legendary gossip columnist Liz Smith has died, aged 94. Smith wrote about New York celebrities for more than 30 years, writing regular columns in various tabloids until 2009. She was friends with Donald Trump and his first wife Ivana. Her style was gentler than columnists who focussed on the private lives of celebrities, as per The New York Times‘ obituary:

“If her columns lacked edge, they provided something more: the insider’s view. Many of those she wrote about became her friends, people she genuinely liked and who liked her. She lunched with them, partied with them, vacationed with them and shared their successes and travails. And they trusted her, knowing she would not trash them in print. But journalism’s watchdogs accused her, with some justification, of conflicts of interest, of lacking objectivity and distance from those she wrote about.”

Mistaken identity. CNN’s online producers probably should have double checked the caption on this photo of PM Malcolm Turnbull arriving in the Philippines earlier this week — the woman next to him is definitely not his wife, Lucy. It’s the Australian ambassador to the Philippines, Amanda Gorely, who’d been among those welcoming him.

Paradise Papers’ real-life impact. The Paradise Papers — the millions of documents revealing tax evasion by the world’s richest and most famous people — have been subject of news stories by hundreds of journalists from 96 news organisations around the world. But for a story on the real-world impact of tax evasion, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which coordinated the reporting project, has published this account of how the practices affect the people of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, where Glencore operates a multi-million dollar zinc mine:

“Details from leaked Glencore records reveal a story of contrasts. As villagers struggled with hunger, poverty and other hardships, boardroom machinations in faraway Switzerland, Bermuda and other tax havens moved millions of dollars into — and then out of — the small African nation whose name means ‘Land of Honest Men.’ … Documents analysed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Suddeutsche Zeitung and 94 media partners reveal how Glencore made secret payments, battled cash-strapped countries in court, and sought to reduce its tax bill in nations around the world.”

Murdoch company’s short-lived Fox boycott. As we sort of suspected, the Murdoch empire’s boycott of Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity didn’t last long. Realtor.com, which is the heart of the Move.com subsidiary 80% owned by News Corp, was reported to be among a handful of companies boycotting Hannity over his support of Republican Senate candidate in Alabama Roy Moore, who is accused of sexual abuse of a minor. But within a day of Realtor tweeting it had removed advertising from the show, it started backtracking and now says it intends to continue advertising on both Hannity and other Fox News shows. In a statement, Realtor said the tweet was posted in error, and it would continue to advertise on a “broad range of networks, including Fox News and its top shows”. Nobbled by the family? — Glenn Dyer

Front page of the day.

Glenn Dyer’s TV Ratings. A night dominated — well, by nothing, really. The Four Corners story on the Liberal Party and the way it allows Tony Abbott and his conservatives to flourish did moderately well — 935,000 national viewers was OK, but not a standout. But the program has been the only current affairs show to examine this important trend in depth, along with 7.30. Nine and Seven have abdicated any responsibility for political coverage and current affairs.

It was a night when viewers shifted in their tens of thousands to the offerings on the digital channels whose combined audience share totalled 30%. The ABC ended second in total people and second in the main channels thanks to Australian Story with 1.16 million national viewers, the 7pm news with 1.19 million and 7.30 with 1.02 million. Seven won the night.

Today’s woes continued yesterday morning sans Lisa Wilkinson — 305,000 in the metros for Sunrise to 263,000 for Today. Nationally — Sunrise 525,000, Today, 393,000 — no contest, as it has been for quite a while. In the regions, another Seven benefit — Seven News on top with 543,000, then Seven News/TT with 472,000, Home and Away was third with 455,000, Instant Hotel was fourth with 402,000, then The Chase Australia’s 5.30pm part with 367,000. — Read the rest on the Crikey website