freediver
Gold Member
Online
www.ozpolitic.com
Posts: 47049
At my desk.
|
New lows in chequebook journalism -- a Crikey list Sophie Black and Stephen Mayne write:
$180,000 to tell the world that his girlfriend accidently "fell into" the glass of wine that he was in the process of throwing over her and that he did not "realise" that the glass had cut her face -- well done Wayne Carey in conjunction with New Idea, and with bruised grid girlfriend in tow, for marking a new low in chequebook journalism, in what is already a very sordid and shallow pool of candidates.
Let's mark this auspicious occasion with a look back on the Crikey list of chequebook stubs: the list includes payments to enterprising characters such as Bec and Lleyton and their million dollar baby, Bob and Blanche for the "love that wouldn't die" and its $200,000 price tag, and of course, self-made millionaires Brant and Todd, who hold the record with their $2.6 million dollar payout courtesy of Ed.* Wayne Carey and Kate Neilson: The woman whose face was cut by a glass thrown by her boyfriend this week graces the cover of New Idea, with Wayne by her side, to tell the world: "Wayne isn't violent - not at all...That's not to say our relationship hasn't been volatile, but that's (only) at times." Price tag: reportedly $180,000.
Corey Worthington and his parents: A Current Affair shelled out for a follow up interview with new fame whore and monster of their own making Corey Worthington, while on the other side of dial, Channel Seven's Today Tonight paid his parents to tell their side of story that wouldn't go away. Price tag: undisclosed sums.
Mohamed Haneef: 60 Minutes paid Dr Haneef for his exclusive account of his detainment and deportation. Price tag: $150,000 to $200,000.
Lisa Robertson: The Qantas hostie pocketed a wad of cash from the ever generous 60 Minutes for her hot n heavy account of airplane toilet s-x with Ralph Fiennes. An exclusive interview about seducing a Hollywood star? Several thousand dollars. Quotes like "I was just on the sink -- arms, legs everywhere, you know"? Priceless. Price tag: $50,000 - $60,000.
Jana Pittman: Pittman arrived to her wedding hiding under umbrellas as helicopters flew overhead -- she'd sold the rights to New Idea on the condition that no one else could get a shot. Price tag: Undisclosed sum.
Jodi Power: Today Tonight paid the former best friend of Schapelle Corby to spill the beans on the Bali jailbird's drug use. Price tag: between $50,000 and $100,000.
Simone Warne: A two-part tell all in New Idea on her serial philandering husband Shane. Price tag: more than $250,000
The Beaconsfield miners: An exclusive deal with Channel Nine and ACP magazines landed new head of Channel Nine Eddie McGuire his first big coup: a two-hour special and exclusive interview with Todd Russell and Brant Webb with ACA’s Tracy Grimshaw that included 24 minutes of commercials (for which Nine is believed to have generated $2 million in revenue) with companies paying up to $100,000 (50% more than the usual rate) for a 30-second ad. Add to that the “special Nine Network goodwill event”, a charity concert in Beaconsfield broadcast during The Footy Show and Packer's magazine arm carve-up of the story over three titles: The Bulletin, Woman's Day and The Australian Women's Weekly. Price tag: $2.6 million.
Lleyton & Bec: Exclusive deal with Woman's Day for the first year of baby Mia's life. Price tag: close to $1 million from various outlets for wedding and baby stories and pictures.
Douglas Wood: The Ten Network paid for the rights to an exclusive interview with the 63-year-old engineer about his 47-day ordeal as a hostage in Iraq in May and June, 2005. Price tag: At least $250,000 – and possibly as much as $400,000.
The Bali 9: Nine secured an exclusivity agreement with the Bali 9 and their families in May 2005, giving exclusive access to A Current Affair , 60 Minutes, the Today Show and Woman's Day . Price tag: Amount unknown
Schapelle Corby: Nine secured Schapelle, sister Mercedes and mother Roz with a 60 Minutes exclusive interview in November 2004 after Schapelle was caught at Bail airport with marijuana in her baggage. Throughout the trial Schapelle's family appeared on A Current Affair and spoke exclusive to Nine. Price tag: Amount unknown
|