Cathy Border, Ten News State Political Editor, has been named the recipient of the 2007 Most Outstanding Contribution to Queensland Journalism Award. The lifetime achievement Award was announced at tonight’s Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre presentation dinner for the 2007 Queensland Media Awards. Landline’s Sally Sara and Pip Courtney shared the Award for Journalist of the Year for their work “Black Dog” on depression amongst rural Australians. For more information visit the Queensland Media Awards web site.

Members of Media Section of the Alliance are invited to enter the inaugural South East Australia Regional Media Awards 2007. The awards are open to members who work in rural and regional newsrooms south of the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales through to and including Victoria, and east of the Northern Territory and South Australian borders. The Awards are in twelve categories and recognise and encourage excellence in the profession.  The entry requirements and categories can be downloaded here.

Sydney-based freelance contributors to Fairfax are invited to join a meeting at the Alliance offices, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern on Thursday 9th August at 12.30pm. The meeting will address the main concerns over the Fairfax copyright contract for contributors, the new Media Alliance freelance copyright model contract and future Alliance strategies for tackling unfair copyright contracts. You can RSVP for the meeting by following the read more link. Don't for get to sign our petition asking Fairfax to withdraw its latest editorial and photographic contributor copyright agreement located here.

The Alliance has condemned the AFP’s attempts to identify the source of a leaked police interview with accused terrorist supporter Dr. Mohamed Haneef and the Government’s threats of legal action. “This Government is obsessed with the source of leaks rather than focusing attention on the content of the leaks, and fixated with controlling information rather than addressing issues of national importance,” Alliance Federal Secretary Christopher Warren said. Haneef’s barrister has admitted to releasing the documents but denies any wrong doing. Read full press release.

Hundreds of News Ltd editorial staff met around the country last week with a convincing vote to reject the Company’s offer of a three year collective agreement with pay rises of 4% on 1 July 2007, 3% on 1 July 2008 and 3% on 1 July 2009. The next meeting with the company is on Tues 24 July at 11am in Sydney.

Fairfax is asking its photographic and editorial contributors to sign copyright agreements that take away their copyright and moral rights. These contracts deprive Fairfax contributors from just compensation and seriously challenge the integrity and authenticity of their works. This petition asks Fairfax to withdraw its latest editorial and photographic contributor copyright agreements and start negotiating with its contributors on a fair and equitable basis. All online petitioners will remain anonymous until the list is presented to the management of Fairfax. Click here to sign the petition. A list of FAQs for contributors follows.