'Lots to say': Hinch hits out as house arrest ends

Break out the shame file and get ready for a free speech barrage, bearded megaphone Derryn Hinch is back from his five-month court-imposed media exile.

'Sorry to you': Bolt blasts blog moderation

Conservative crusader Andrew Bolt has slammed the moderation of comments on his blog as a dangerous state of affairs in a democracy.

2GB top guns slam Gillard's chief spin doctor as a bully

Presenters at Sydney's top-rating talkback station 2GB have accused Julia Gillard's chief spin doctor, John McTernan, of bullying and abusive language.

2UE shock jock salaries leaked

The shock jocks at 2UE are struggling in the ratings, but they're still taking home enviable salaries of $200,000-plus, according to a leaked document.

ACMA decision: Alan Jones guilty of breaching radio code

Alan Jones has escaped a charge of inciting his listeners to violence, after accusing a government department of behaving in a way that leads people to murder.

ACMA investigates Kyle Sandilands for ‘spider baby’ comments

Australia’s media watchdog has opened an investigation into recent comments by radio host Kyle Sandilands’ that a baby born with extra limbs was a “spider baby” and would have an unfair advantage at the Olympics.

ACMA: Kyle Sandilands breached radio code

The broadcast media watchdog, ACMA, has found that Kyle Sandilands' comments about a female journalist were deeply derogatory and offensive and imposed new conditions on his station 2DayFM.

Advertisers say breakfast with Jones leaves a bad taste

Left-wing lawyers Slater & Gordon heads a large list of firms yet to withdraw advertising from The Alan Jones' Breakfast Show as pressure mounts on the conservative shock jock over his disgraceful Julia Gillard comments.

Alan Jones apologises (kind of) to Julia Gillard

Alan Jones has expressed regret for berating Prime Minister Julia Gillard for being late for a radio interview, and calling for her to be thrown out to sea in a chaff bag.

Alan Jones goes to J-school - and gets a fact checker

Alan Jones' editorial comments will be fact-checked before going to air, under a deal struck between 2GB management and the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The beleaguered broadcaster will also undergo training to ensure his on-air statements are factually accurate.

Alan Jones speaks out on gay rights, Miranda Devine’s hate mail, Piers Akerman blogs on…

Here's what Australia's most powerful Megapohones have been up to over the silly season.

Albrechtsen cries poor, Abbott consoles Bolt, Flannery fires back at Hadley…

Janet Albrechtsen identifies with the plebs, guess who came to dinner at chez Bolt, and Tim Flannery gets one up on Ray Hadley. Here's what Australia's most powerful Megaphones have been up to over the past week.

Albrechtsen reviews The Iron Lady, Bolt slams same-sex marriage...

Andrew Bolt slides down the slippery slope, Janet Albrechtsen goes to the movies and Alan Jones talks climate change with Ian Plimer. Here's what Australia's most powerful Megaphones have been up to over the past week.

Albrechtsen takes on Noel Pearson, Bolt vs Bolt on gay marriage...

Andrew Bolt's family divided over same-sex marriage, Janet Albrechtsen's concerned about the constitution and Alan Jones’ ratings are on the nose. Here's what Australia's most powerful Megaphones have been up to over the past week.

Andrew Bolt found guilty of racial discrimination

Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt has today been found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act over a 2009 article in which he accused fair-skinned Aboriginal people of playing up being black for career advancement.

Andrew Bolt's belly dancer fiancee speaks out in new profile

Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt is an opportunist who lacks emotional intelligence, according to a new profile published in The Monthly today.

Assange stands up for Bolt's rights

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has defended the free speech of conservative columnist Andrew Bolt, of all people, in a column published in the Fairfax press today.

Bolt & Co face shake up at MTR

Poorly-performing Melbourne talkback station MTR is about to get a major overhaul – and may still be sold off altogether.

Bolt blogs again, Hadley lashes Wilkie, welcome Melinda Tankard-Reist

Ray Hadley slams Andrew Wilkie over his pokies backdown, Janet Albrechtsen's favourite footballer, and Melinda Tankard-Reist fires up the feminists.

Bolt examines Peter Roebuck's past, Jones goes rural...

Andrew Bolt trawls through Peter Roebuck's past, Piers Akerman takes an interest in Papua New Guinea and Janet Albrechtsen gives a backhanded compliment to Julia Gillard.

Bolt on abortion, Devine bags Star (and Yumi), Akerman mauls CloMo

Andrew Bolt on the abortion slippery slope, Miranda Devine hasn't forgiven Stynes and Negus, Piers Akerman slams Sydney's provincial political pygmies.

Bolt's queer take on the Qantas dispute, Hadley's war on NSW teachers...

Bolt praises Alan Joyce for smashing gay stereotypes; Devine lashes overzealous parents; Hadley takes on striking teachers.

Bolt: Lachlan Murdoch, not Rinehart, put me on Channel 10

The Bolt Report is being used by some commentators as proof of Gina Rinehart's plans to use Fairfax to advance a conservative, pro-mining agenda. According to Bolt himself, that's a load of tosh.

Conservative heavyweights rally behind Bolt

Opposition finance minister Andrew Robb, climate contrarian Ian Plimer and Stolen Generations sceptic Keith Windshuttle have rallied behind Andrew Bolt's freedom of speech in a full-page advertisement published in The Australian today.

Devine bike bashing again, the Hadley-Abbott bromance continues...

Miranda Devine's war on cyclists, Ray Hadley interviews Tony Abbott, Andrew Bolt on asylum seekers (and the Wiggles).

Devine on vile Kyle, Jones found guilty, Bolt stars in climate-gate: the sequel

Miranda Devine rationalises Kyle's rage, Andrew Bolt trawls through the latest batch of leaked climate emails, and Alan Jones is in trouble with ACMA. Here's what Australia's most powerful Megaphones have been up to over the past week.

Dick Smith backs Gerry Harvey's call for online GST

Entrepreneur Dick Smith has backed electronics mogul Gerry Harvey in his fight to have GST applied to online purchases from overseas.

Dick Smith’s Foods: a resort to desperate commercial Hansonism

It's a de facto marriage made in populist heaven — the unholy union between the little Aussie huckster Dick Smith and the crass, unquestioning tabloid TV of A Current Affair.

Greens hire Bolt’s QC nemesis for privilege case

A key lawyer at the centre of the Andrew Bolt race discrimination case has been hired by Greens leaders Bob Brown and Christine Milne to lead their defence during an investigation of their relationship with benefactor Graeme Wood.

Hadley and Jones take on journalists, politicians and former employers

Top-rating Sydney radio jocks Ray Hadley and Alan Jones have lashed out at journalists over their coverage of the Convoy of no Confidence, due to wrap up in Canberra this afternoon.

Heterosexism or homophobic bullying: Miranda decides

Politicians, health researchers and gay rights activists have accused News Limited columnist Miranda Devine of misrepresenting evidence and downplaying the seriousness of homophobic bullying in a front-page news story and accompanying opinion piece published in Sydney's Daily Telegraph yesterday.

Is Alan Jones the answer to MTR's woes?

Watch out Melbourne: Shock jock Alan Jones could soon be ranting and raving about Sydney's traffic problems on a radio near you.

Jeff Lawrence's War on Everything

Watch out Paul Howes: your status as the biggest loudmouth in the Australian union movement is under threat. ACTU boss Jeff Lawrence is fired up, making new enemies by the day and dominating the headlines.

Jones, Katter and The Greens join forces to shut down mining facility

An unlikely alliance of protestors led by Bob Katter, Alan Jones and The Greens has upped its campaign against mining companies acquiring valuable farmland by blockading a coal-loading facility in Queensland.

Marr sticks boot in, as Bolt hits back at guilty race verdict

News Limited columnist Andrew Bolt has struck back against a court judgement which found him guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act, branding the finding an attack on free speech.

Megaphone to Watch: Michael Smith

The 2UE afternoon host Michael Smith just missed out on The Power Index's top 10, but he's our No. 1 megaphone to watch.

Megaphone Unplugged: Michael Smith’s union interview investigated

2UE afternoons host Michael Smith may not be able to deliver on his repeated promise this week to air an interview that he says raises allegations of union corruption, given 2UE has today taken him off air while the matter is further investigated.

Michael Kroger takes Janet Albrechtsen on a date

As power couples go, this one would be hard to beat. He's a suave investment banker and Liberal Party powerbroker; she's The Australian's most conservative and most talked-about columnist. Together they'd be a conservative killing machine.

Michael Smith lives to rant another day

Sydney shock jock Michael Smith is no fan of Julia Gillard, but he's used her Fair Work Act to help avoid being sacked by radio station 2UE.

Michael Smith recorded private conversations with Fairfax radio boss

Suspended 2UE talkback host Michael Smith secretly recorded conversations with his boss, Graham Mott, on his iPhone last month, a Sydney court has heard.

Neil Mitchell back on top in the ratings

The 3AW mornings veteran scored a 2.7% increase in the latest Nielsen ratings survey, giving him a 16.6% audience share. Faine -- who overtook Mitchell in the previous survey -- has slipped to 13.5%.

Neil Mitchell: Gina can't boss me around, Hadley's tent embassy scoop, Akerman on Aboriginal rights

Neil Mitchell editorialises on Gina Rinehart's Fairfax raid, Ray Hadley sets the pace on the tent embassy fracas and Piers Akerman fears Indigenous constitutional recognition will lead to apartheid.

NZ Megaphone Paul Henry picks up where he left off

Shock jock Paul Henry has made his Aussie TV debut – and proved he hasn't left his controversial ways behind him in New Zealand.

Phelps versus Devine in same-sex marriage stoush

High-profile doctor and gay rights advocate Kerryn Phelps has hit out at Miranda Devine for linking lesbian parenting to the London riots in a Sunday column published in News Limited tabloids.

Phillip Adams ramps up the pressure on Gillard

Phillip Adams has used one of his megaphones to beg for embattled prime minister Julia Gillard to resign and hand over power to his old mate Kevin Rudd.

Piers Akerman defends the nanny state, Miranda Devine nit picks

Neil Mitchell named journalist of the year, Piers Akerman blasts childless Kate Ellis, Miranda Devine wants lice inspectors in schools.

Please explain? Pauline Hanson wants to be a shock jock

Is there anything ex-pollie Pauline Hanson won't try her hand at? The flame-haired former One Nation Party leader has announced she's up for having a go at radio presenting.

Press Council: A dog that wants to bite

The Press Council needs to do a better job, its chairman Julian Disney admits. We know we need to lift our game, he told The Power Index yesterday, but we intend to do that.

Prostitute's TV tug-of-war inspires MP regulation threats

Labor MPs are calling for tougher media regulation and new privacy laws after revelations that Channel Nine aired an ex-prostitute's claims against Craig Thomson even though she had recanted from her story.

Rinehart won’t find a Fairfax megaphone

Gina Rinehart is likely to find investing in Fairfax Media a deeply frustrating experience, whether she's trying to influence the newspapers or just make money.

Rinehart: Andrew Bolt is one of our best journalists

Mining billionaire and freshly-elected Channel Ten director Gina Rinehart has pleaded with Andrew Bolt to continue hosting The Bolt Report in 2012 despite the show's dismal ratings performance.

Sacked for high ratings? Why Fairfax needed Hinch

Why sack Derryn Hinch, Melbourne’s king of drive-time? For being too successful? At a time when Fairfax Radio needs every dollar of revenue, every reader and listener that it can get its hands on and hold, management has taken the novel approach of not renewing Derryn Hinch’s contract.

Study: climate tax coverage has been biased

An extensive study examining coverage of the carbon tax debate has found that News Limited papers crossed the line from reporting to campaigning.

The 10 most memorable Megaphone moments of 2011

In 2011, Australia's Megaphones have been louder than ever. Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt, Ray Hadley and Co have all had a say in how this country's run – and caused plenty of controversy in the process. Here are their 10 most memorable moments.

The message to Alan Jones from PNG: ‘enough is enough’

Alan Jones' destroying the joint spray ignored the importance of getting more Pacific Islander women into positions of power.

The world of Megaphones

We've called them megaphones, but we could have called them shit-stirrers, tub-thumpers or loudmouths. These are the people who rustle up controversy, spark debate and help set the tone of our national conversation.

Unsackable: why Alan Jones can say what he likes

Politicians are railing against him, social media is in meltdown and advertisers are pulling their spending. Yet, despite his insensitive comments about Julia Gillard’s father to the Sydney University Liberal Club, Alan Jones’ status as the king of talkback seems as assured as ever.

Wanted: women to infiltrate white male shock jock crew

Talkback radio is dominated by male presenters. If we’re to have any hope of diversity of opinion we need more women on the radio.

Watch out Sydney: Bolt's on his way to 2GB

Undeterred by the ratings flop that was MTR, Andrew Bolt will soon launch his first foray into the Sydney talkback radio market alongside fellow conservative crusader Steve Price.

What have Bolt, Jones, Akerman, Hadley and Albrechtsen been up to this week?

What have the Megaphones been up to this week?

Miranda Devine praises anti-greed protesters; Andrew Bolt's slammed as a monster by his former fiancee; Alan Jones hits it off with an orthodox climate scientist.

Where is Andrew Bolt?

Australia's best-read political blogger, conservative columnist Andrew Bolt, has mysteriously decided to stop commenting on politics until further notice.

Whittaker's power stakes soar as Breen departs News Ltd

Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker's place in News Limited's power structure has received a major boost this morning following the departure of Sunday Telegraph editor Neil Breen after six years editing the country's top-selling paper.

Who's next on Greg Smith's media hit list?

Daily Tele readers are (allegedly) bigots, (some) 2GB callers are rednecks and Crikey is (largely) gossip. NSW Liberal Attorney-General Greg Smith certainly knows how to make friends in the media. So who's next on his hit list?