Mayne did Rupert’s bidding. Crikey founder Stephen Mayne wasn’t always a vocal critic of News Corporation. When he worked for Rupert Murdoch he used to spruik for him in the pages of his papers. In ferreting through newspaper archives yesterday we uncovered this gem from The Daily Telegraph on November 20, 1998. The then-business editor breathlessly began:

“NEWS Ltd yesterday launched a new broadcasting company aimed at injecting fresh competition and freedom of choice into the Australian entertainment and information services industries.”

Lachlan Murdoch believed, as Mayne faithfully recorded, the venture would “bring the full benefits of rapidly expanding broadcasting technologies into Australian homes”. No, we’re not sure what News Broadcasting ever achieved either. Though we’re pretty sure it was quickly shut down.

“Yep, well spotted,” Mayne told us today. “That was about as bad as I got. There were some other shockers too.”

One he pointed out that “was complete bollocks” is another gem from The Daily Telegraph, written by Mayne in 1998:

The Sydney Morning Herald was in disarray last night after editor John Lyons was dismissed and Kerry Packer launched a raid to poach up to 15 of the paper’s top journalists.

Staff were told of Mr Lyons’ departure after he was photographed having a social after-lunch drink with senior executives from News Limited, publisher of The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Lyons agreed to join News Limited chairman and chief executive Lachlan Murdoch, Daily Telegraph editor Col Allan, editor-in-chief and group editorial director John Hartigan and columnists Piers Akerman and Mark Day at the Darling Harbour restaurant Wokpool, just 100m from John Fairfax’s Sussex St head office.

But before Mr Lyons returned to the office, a three-sentence memo had been posted on Herald notice boards announcing his departure.

Said Mayne today: “Lyons had already been given the boot and News Ltd knew this.”

Happy birthday, ABC News 24. The ABC just put out a media release wishing its 24-hour television service happy birthday. Given my comments over the last couple days I’d like to see a commitment to respond faster to breaking news. Here is the media release:

ABC News 24, Australia’s first free-to-air 24 hour television news channel, celebrates its one year anniversary tomorrow.

In the past year, ABC News 24 has become Australia’s most watched news channel. It now reaches more than 3 million viewers per week across both metropolitan and regional areas. In the five major cities it reaches more than double the viewers of any other news channel…

— read the rest at Margaret Simons’ blog The Content Makers

Front page of the day. The New York Post is one of the jewels in the crown of the Rupert Murdoch News Corporation empire. So it is little surpise that its Big Apple tabloid rival, the New York Daily News (owned by Mort Zuckerman), is rolling around in the latest News of the World scandal:

Cameron: no media group should get too powerful

“David Cameron has signalled that media ownership rules could be changed to prevent any single organisation holding too much power as a result of the judicial inquiry into phone hacking.” — The Guardian

Big Harto: PM slur unjustifiable

“The head of Rupert Murdoch’s Australian media arm has accused Julia Gillard of seeking to link News Limited to Britain’s telephone-hacking scandal and rejected the tactic as ‘unjustified and regrettable’.” — The Australian

The best memes from ‘The Rupert and Wendi Show’

“One day, we’ll have a better understanding of what the Murdochian Inquisition meant in the grand scheme of things; but for now, let’s just take a moment to savor the bounty of fresh memes it’s produced. These memes to us be blessed, amen.” — Gawker

Pentagon set to track social media

“Doubt the power of social media? The Pentagon doesn’t. A new project from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency focuses on social media tracking.” — Social Times

Borders forced to liquidate, close all stores

“Borders, which employs about 10,700 people, scrapped a bankruptcy-court auction scheduled for Tuesday amid the dearth of bids. It said it would ask a judge Thursday to approve a sale to liquidators led by Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group. The company said liquidation of its remaining 399 stores could start as soon as Friday, and it is expected to go out of business for good by the end of September.” — The Wall Street Journal

Nine wants more ads in NRL

“The Nine Network is sending a message to the NRL that it will expect more places for ad breaks in games if sports bosses expect to match the hefty rights of the AFL.” — TV Tonight