National Press Club (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The National Press Club is an association of primarily news journalists, but also includes academics, business people and members of the public service, and is based in Canberra
, Australia. It was founded in the 1960s as the National Press Luncheon Club by a few journalists with the backing of the Canberra Press Gallery
. It was renamed the National Press Club in 1968, and established official new premises in 1976. Since its inception the Club's reputation has steadily grown, attracting respected political figures, scientists, diplomats and sporting figures to its weekly luncheons. Its guests included prime ministers and other political leaders of both Australia and other countries, including Gough Whitlam
, Richard Nixon
, Margaret Thatcher
and Indira Gandhi
.
In its current form, the National Press Club address is a weekly formal speech of approximately one hour, which includes time for questions from members of the press. The long serving president the former journalist Ken Randall introduces the speaker and moderates the questions. The addresses are broadcast on the ABC Network
at 12:30 pm.
and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
was hosted by the National Press Club from the Great Hall of Parliament in Canberra. The debate was televised live by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
, Channel Nine
and Sky News
. A controversial decision was taken during the debate to interrupt the provision of the live transmission signal to the Channel Nine network because of the inclusion by Channel Nine within its broadcast picture of a real time graphical display of the aggregate studio audience reaction to the debate.
This graphical display is referred to as the 'Worm
', after the form in which it is rendered and an approximately 'worm like' movement of the display within the area of the screen in which it appears. The decision by the National Press Club to interrupt the provision of the live transmission signal to the Channel Nine network has been heavily criticised as contrary to the principles of free speech that are a part of the journalistic tradition.
On 22 October 2007, Greens Senator Bob Brown
called for a Senate Enquiry into the circumstances in which the transmission signal had been cut.
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia. It was founded in the 1960s as the National Press Luncheon Club by a few journalists with the backing of the Canberra Press Gallery
Canberra Press Gallery
The Canberra Press Gallery, officially called the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery, is the name given to the approximately 180 journalists and their support staff, including producers, editors and camera crews, who report the workings of the Australian Parliament...
. It was renamed the National Press Club in 1968, and established official new premises in 1976. Since its inception the Club's reputation has steadily grown, attracting respected political figures, scientists, diplomats and sporting figures to its weekly luncheons. Its guests included prime ministers and other political leaders of both Australia and other countries, including Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
.
In its current form, the National Press Club address is a weekly formal speech of approximately one hour, which includes time for questions from members of the press. The long serving president the former journalist Ken Randall introduces the speaker and moderates the questions. The addresses are broadcast on the ABC Network
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
at 12:30 pm.
'Wormgate' – 2007 Federal Election Leaders Debate Controversy
On 21 October 2007 a debate between Prime Minister John HowardJohn Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
was hosted by the National Press Club from the Great Hall of Parliament in Canberra. The debate was televised live by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, Channel Nine
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
and Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
. A controversial decision was taken during the debate to interrupt the provision of the live transmission signal to the Channel Nine network because of the inclusion by Channel Nine within its broadcast picture of a real time graphical display of the aggregate studio audience reaction to the debate.
This graphical display is referred to as the 'Worm
Worm (marketing)
The "worm" is a market research analysis tool developed by Roy Morgan Research , with the purpose of gauging an audience's reaction to some visual stimuli over some time period...
', after the form in which it is rendered and an approximately 'worm like' movement of the display within the area of the screen in which it appears. The decision by the National Press Club to interrupt the provision of the live transmission signal to the Channel Nine network has been heavily criticised as contrary to the principles of free speech that are a part of the journalistic tradition.
On 22 October 2007, Greens Senator Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
called for a Senate Enquiry into the circumstances in which the transmission signal had been cut.