The Australian Communications and Media Authority should urgently conduct an inquiry into events surrounding the censorship of the Nine Network’s coverage of the leaders’ debate on Sunday night, the federal secretary of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said.

Leon Gettler will be joining the Alliance Freelance Writers Network to discuss the highs and lows of blogging, and how you can make the most of it to maximise you career and your writing. Come to network and improve your skills. Alliance members free and non-members $5. Monday 8th October, 6:30pm at the Victorian Writers Center, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne. Please RSVP Linda Grinter on linda.grinter@alliance.org.au .

The petition launched by the Alliance in July asking Fairfax to withdraw its latest contributor copyright agreements and start negotiating with its contributors on a fair and equitable basis gathered 370 signatures. Alliance Federal Secretary Chris Warren has written to Fairfax to explain that the contracts deprive Fairfax contributors from their means of income as freelancers at a time where Fairfax word rates remain low. The letter also acknowledges the importance of moral rights to ensure the continuing integrity of journalists' work.

The final draft of the News Ltd Metropolitan Newspapers Collective Agreement is finished. Local delegates are now checking the document prior to signing by both the Alliance and News Ltd. Once signed, pay offices will increase pay rates by 4% from the next pay, with the back pay processed in the following pay period.