The Alliance has called on WA's 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 Alliance has written to Mr Porter urging him to address these fundamental weaknesses in the proposed legislation. Read the Alliance's letter here.

The producers of the three offshore TV commercials to be produced for Lifelock in August in Australia have confirmed that all performers will be engaged on Equity’s Offshore Television Commercials Agreement (OTCA), previously the Equity/SPAA OTCA. The producers of offshore TVCs for LUX, to be produced in Australia in mid-August, have also confirmed they will be contracting performers on the Equity agreement.

There will be a wonderful opportunity for 20 Equity members to participate in a masterclass with director, Kate Gaul on Saturday August 7 from 10am to 2pm at Equity’s Sydney office. Kate will work with the actors using scenes from existing texts. To apply please send your membership number, contact details and bio to alex.jones@alliance.org.au by 10am Tuesday August 3.

Join entertainment marketing specialist Edweana Wenkart to learn how to build your brand (Including what you need for your own personal media and PR kit) at the Victorian Equity workshop on Monday August 9, from 6pm to 8pm at the Victorian Equity office, 365 Queen St, Melbourne. To apply please send your name, contact details, bio and membership number to alex.jones@alliance.org.au by 12pm Monday August 2.

Join performer, writer and director Catherine Fitzgerald for an Equity Masterclass on Tuesday August 17 (12pm to 4pm at SA Ausdance) where you will be using scenes from existing texts and work to improve your craft in a safe and productive environment. To apply please send your Equity membership number, bio, contact number and bio to alex.jones@alliance.org.au by 12pm Friday August 6. Successful delegates will be sent texts to read before the class. 

Click Read more.. to see Catherine's bio.

A lead Australian performer will only be required in an international film that shoots here if the film is 80 per cent (as opposed to 35 per cent) Australian financed. This is just one of the worrying changes to the co-production guidelines being proposed by Screen Australia. Equity will meet with Screen Australia Chief Ruth Harley today to discuss our concerns.

More than 200 Australian actors have signed onto a letter that raises concerns about Screen Australia’s proposed changes: “The new points test being proposed will empower producers not to engage Australian performers for lead roles on feature films, dramas and animations”. The letter will be presented to Ruth Harley today.

The 2010 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism are now taking entries. Visit http://www.walkleys.com/ and follow the prompts. If you’re a print, online or photojournalist, you’re in for a treat... This year, you can enter entirely online by uploading your PDFs and images, no dashing to the post office. Entries close September 1.

There’s a rocky road ahead for journalists but the Media Alliance and the Walkley Foundation are driving debate about the way our industry is changing and what you’ll have to do to survive the turmoil.

We’ve booked some of the biggest names, both in Australian journalism and the world of news, for the Walkley Media Conference: “What’s the story? Powerful narrative and other tales from the future”, which runs from August 9-12 in Sydney. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of the special rates available to Alliance members to be part of this vital discussion.

Read all about it online, by clicking here.