Trust, once considered journalism’s most valuable currency, is becoming increasingly difficult to earn and even harder to keep in a media landscape infiltrated by misinformation, according to a recent report. ACMA updated their News Media in Australia report in May to reflect the current media landscape over the last decade. The survey has reflected the growing separation between news outlets and the people they are writing for. ABC Illawarra Radio Programs Producer, Jake Cupitt, who has been part of the national broadcaster for a decade, said it was important journalists share all sides of a story in a world of…
Author: Laragh Michael
Changes to the Health Star Rating system will mandate labels on thousands of new products, with the aim to give Australians a more accurate picture of the food they’re consuming. Health Star ratings have previously been optional, but Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) are pushing for mandated stars on products that already have nutrition labels. University of Wollongong student Ocea Thiedeman, said that the stars are under-utilised due to a lack of consumer exposure to them. “It’s not on all the products so it’s not standardised,” Ms Thiedeman said. “People don’t use them as much as they could.” The…
Music education has been revealed to be the biggest economic contributor to the Australian music industry, a new study has shown. Music Australia’s Bass Line report has shown that music education had the highest gross value added (GVA) ot the industry, even more than live music. Music Australia Director, Millie Millgate said in the report’s foreword, that key players in the industry understand how Australians interact with the music industry in their daily lives. “With two years of data, patterns are beginning to emerge that no single snapshot can show,” Ms Millgate said. “We can see how value moves through…
A local event collective is giving Wollongong nightlife a makeover with the introduction of a new DJ night. Deja-Vu hosted the first Face Off night on Saturday, featuring a 360 degree stage setup at the Grand Hotel. Deja-Vu Director Hayden Bliss said Face Off is the catalyst for a new era of clubbing culture in Wollongong. “I feel like the scene has been too much of the same for too long,” Mr Bliss said. “It’s the same thing every single week and I think people want that to change.” Saturday nights have been hosted by Deja-Vu at The Grand for…
COVID-19 lockdowns are still affecting the way that young Australians are socialising, a new study from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown. Findings from the General Social Survey has reported that Australians are overall less satisfied with life since 2019, with the average satisfaction rating dropping from 7.5 to 7.1 per cent. Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski said in a ‘Loneliness Awareness Week’ media release that mental wellbeing is directly correlated with the meaningful connections found through socialisation. “Creating safe and inclusive spaces that support healthy and meaningful social connections for young people … is an important part…
RadioU UOW · News Bargaining Incentive The Albanese government has unveiled draft legislation in a media release on Tuesday. The proposal states that multinational companies must strike deals with Australian news outlets in order to share content. The proposed ‘News Bargaining Incentive’ imposes revenue-based charges on external companies to preserve the Australian journalism industry. “This is a fix that we are putting forward,” Prime Minister Albanese said. “There is no substitute for Australian news and stories told by Australian journalists.” Under the legislation, companies such as Meta, TikTok, and Google would pay 1.5 per cent of revenue to Australian…
A study published last month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Australians are most likely to be working multiple jobs when they are in their early twenties. The 2025 study has delved deep into the demographics of people working more than one job, and has revealed that the 20-24 age-bracket had the highest rate of holding multiple-jobs. Mental Health Nursing professor Lorna Moxham said that working multiple jobs can have a domino effect on students who are struggling to make ends meet. “When they’re so busy working and trying to pay rent, I suspect it would have…
By Laragh Michael and Bella McCann Over the last century, Anita’s Theatre has seen great change, however its significance within the Illawarra has remained intact. At each stage, one thing has stayed the same. The venue has been a significant cultural hub for the local community, holding the melodies and memories of patrons and performers alike. Opening on 22 October 1925 as the King’s Theatre, the iconic building nestled in Thirroul’s main street has lived many lives. From its establishment, the venue joined other theatres within the Illawarra such as the Crown Theatre and the Regent Theatre to bring performing…
Creativity took centre stage at GongLUG’s annual LEGO fundraiser, with exhibitioners fostering generosity and community values for a special cause this Christmas season. During the October long weekend, GongLUG (Wollongong Lego User Group) hosted a fundraiser event in which proceeds were split between a cash donation to SAHSSI and toy donations to children in need. Lego enthusiast Graham Draper, who founded the event, spoke of the importance of the split donations in order to help a larger portion of the community in need. “I wanted to go directly to SAHSSI and do a cash donation as well,” Mr Draper said.…
Yours and Owls Festival will be returning to Wollongong next March for a two-day celebration of live music and the arts, complete with local and international acts. Yours and Owls dropped the highly anticipated lineup for the 2025 festival, featuring some massive names in music such as Denzel Curry, Fontaines D.C. and the Goo Goo Dolls. Music enthusiast Connor Granger, 18, shared enthusiasm for the lineup following the cancellation of numerous festivals this year due to a lack of ticket sales. “The festivals for next year seem to be making sure to have good lineups after the recent let-downs,” Mr…