Behind the Headlines - How the Media Shapes Our Opinions
Tuesday 4 April 2006

Panel discussions only ever work well when you get the right chemistry between panelists and Catalyst certainly had this with Jacinta Tynan (TV), Emma Tom (Print) and Steve Cananne (Radio). Moderator, Simon Oaten, set the discussion about the role of the media in shaping public opinion off and then the audience quickly leapt into the debate.

One of the most hotly contested topics was on the control Packer and Murdoch have on what is presented – Emma pointed out that there are no rules – the Australian even employers her radical self!

Congratulations to Kath Barnes for winning the Mercedes Benz for the night from Mercedes Benz Airport Express.

Venue: The Verandah Restaurant, off Martin Place, Sydney

The Panel:

Jacinta Tynan (TV)
We first met Jacinta on ABC Television where she reported and presented for the National News and the 7:30 Report. Most recently she anchored the news for ABC Asia Pacific and now presents for Sky News Australia. Jacinta recently published her first book, Good Man Hunting and is ambassador and a mentor for the Sister2Sister teenage mentor program with Life Changing Experiences Foundation.

www.jacintatynan.com, www.lifechangingexperiences.org

Emma Tom (Print)
Emma is an award-winning Australian journalist, author, broadcaster and musician. She has an opinion on just about anything and currently writes a weekly column for The Australian. Emma has written four books. The most recent is Something About Mary, an unauthorised biography of Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

www.emmatom.com.au

Steve Cannane (Radio)
Steve presents Triple J 's current affairs show Hack - Monday to Friday at 5.30pm. He has worked at as producer, reporter and presenter at ABC radio for ten years. Steve has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin, The Australian and jmag and also appeared on ABC TV's Mondo Thingo with Amanda Keller.

Click on the thumbnails to view the photos from the event.