PR News

There’s been a lot of talk about how social media is playing a role in the recruitment industry, and it’s clear that businesses are looking up LinkedIn profiles left and right. But there’s apparently a new, more disturbing trend emerging – businesses are now asking applicants for their Facebook login details.

Over at The Atlantic, there’s new information that businesses are actually asking applicants for login details, including Robert Collins from Maryland, who was apparently asked to reveal his password during an interview with a government department.

That incident has now sparked some involvement from the American Civil Liberties Union, while another, Justin Bassett from New York, ended a job interview after he was asked for a Facebook login, and a separate story from AP notes these aren’t just random incidents either.

“But the whole thing is also, more importantly, worrying. It’s striking how deep the divide can be between our conceptions of online privacy: To me, an interviewer asking for my password – Facebook or any other – would be a fairly shocking imposition. To Justin Bassett’s interviewer, though, it was a question like any other.”

This is a fascinating trend, especially as social media plays more of a role in recruitment. But there are significant legal questions around asking for a password, and businesses would do well to determine the legalities of asking such a question before they go ahead and do it.

Story source: http://www.smartcompany.com.au, story by Patrick Stafford

WHO really owns your social media profile and contacts?

When it comes to LinkedIn, a site popular with executives and white-collar workers, it is likely your employer can claim ownership of some of your contacts and legally tell you to delete them when you leave your job.

Your employer could also tell you to remove any reference on LinkedIn that you are looking for work elsewhere, according to employment lawyers.
Freehills partner Kate Jenkins said LinkedIn poses particular issues for employers as it blurs the lines between work and personal activities.

By publicly indicating on LinkedIn that you are looking for a different job, you could be in breach of an employee’s ”duty of fidelity”. ”I think the fact of doing that would be a breach of their employment obligations,” she said.

In Britain an employee was sacked after he made negative comments about his employer on LinkedIn and also said he was free to be contacted for ”career opportunities”. A decision is yet to be handed down in that case.

Ms Jenkins said LinkedIn contacts were another fraught area, particularly in industries where contact lists are commercially sensitive, such as professional services or recruiting. ”The other thing, which is quite untested, almost everyone is collecting a network of contacts, which in the past would have been a confidential client list.”

Staff, when they leave, can face restraints when they go to a competitor that they should not contact clients. But on LinkedIn, a simple update by an employee that they have moved jobs could tell hundreds of contacts of their new role.

Ms Jenkins said employers could be able to restrain employees from making an update for a certain period of time or negotiate with them to delete contacts they acquired while working for them.

University of Adelaide law professor Andrew Stewart said the legal issues were yet to be tested. ”Although these suggestions [by Freehills] may be soundly based in existing legal principles, they are yet to be fully tested in relation to LinkedIn,” he said.

Story by Ben Schneiders, source: www.smh.com.au

Airlines used to slip seat upgrades to people who “looked the part” and had the frequent flyer status to prove it. But now airlines are looking at the online social influence of an individual and their propensity to “tweet and share” before rewarding customers with a fancier seat.

The airlines’ new approach is one of an avalanche of emerging trends touted by Chris Sanderson, the co-founder of the London-based forecaster, FutureLab, which is advising Australian companies such Country Road, Just Group and Wesfarmers’ Target division.

The search by airlines for “social influencers” highlights how some companies are coming to grips with the new world of social media management.

Companies such as San Francisco-based Klout, which has built profiles and rankings on about 100 million online users so far, “scrapes” data from social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook to quantify the size and influence of a person’s social network based on their messaging and the interaction that takes place with them.

The way Sanderson explains it, several airlines which he will not name are developing systems that prioritise individuals for upgrades based on their Klout rankings to increase the likelihood of more positive “brand messaging” and influence in social media.

But before the social media evangelists get too excited, there is a counter trend coming.

Sanderson says the next decade will see consumers become highly capable “data curators” and “personal reputation managers”.

It means the information which online giants such as Google and Facebook now collect and monetise for free will cost them. Although privacy is a concern for many, Sanderson says people will realise marketers can make money from data about them. People will “lease” their information in exchange for hard cash or goods or services.

Privacy legislation around the world will push that trend along, says Sanderson, but he predicts commerce will get there faster. He predicts a smart company somewhere soon will produce an app that will allow an individual to centrally and easily control their data flow for any online business.

“The personal data curator is very much coming out of the idea that as we understand our data has value we will claim it back,” Sanderson says.

“One of the most valuable things we have in our online activities is our data. We will have apps that allow us to monetise our personal data in the way you lease something.”

Sanderson says people’s broad concerns over privacy will diminish as they realise they can get something by “leasing” their information.

“The moment you realise that by actually leasing your data back to someone like Target you get dollars off your monthly shop, you find the time and inclination to manage these things,” he says.

FutureLab predicts consumers will evolve into “traders”.

“We trade products, we trade value, we trade information and we trade time,” Sanderson says.

“Now we expect brands to reward us for trading. I can go to a 7-Eleven and exchange Facebook credits for a real product. If Facebook credits were translated into real-world value, it would be the third-largest economy in the world.”

Story source: http://www.afr.com/p/business/marketing_media/the_more_you_tweet_the_better_the_Dp4L5FHjReKQbzoj1WA79H

Date originally posted: 20 February 2012

You need to be careful about what you promise—especially when you make a promise on social media.

This adage is ringing loud and clear for Toronto-based Timothy’s Coffee. In an effort last month to grow its Facebook fan base, the company ran a promotion saying that anyone who “liked” its page would receive four free 24-pack boxes of single-serve coffee. As the Toronto Star reports, this was rather generous, as these boxes retail for over $17 CAD each.

A contest aggregating site picked up the promotion and, as you can imagine, responses poured in, reports the Star. Problem is, the stock of product was depleted within three days of the launch, yet Timothy’s still sent emails telling people their coffee was on the way.

Despite obvious problems, the company said nothing until Jan. 4th, when it told fans that the promotion was “first come first serve.” Consumers lashed out, on the company’s Facebook page and in blogs. One blogger claimed Timothy’s deleted nasty comments from its page.

Last week, the company issued a candid apology on its Facebook page:

“We are so sorry!
“This is our first go at this and we admit that we underestimated the response.
“We are blown away that our fans love our coffee so much.
“It really saddens us that we’ve disappointed our fans.
“We apologize.”

It also apologized in a video to fans and said that those who signed up will receive a coupon for a free 12-pack box. The coupon will “most likely” come via regular mail.

Clearly, Timothy’s gaffe illustrates its lack of understanding about social media. The company grossly overestimated the value of a Facebook fan, and then vastly underestimated the outrage caused by their bungled initiative and broken promises.

That it took almost a month to resolve this issue speaks clearly to its lack of comprehension about the way people behave on the social Web.

Don’t want this to happen to your brand? Check out this week’s PR Daily story on “How to avoid a social media nightmare“.

Story source: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/10597.aspx

Let’s talk about a good response to a customer service, turned social media, crisis, shall we?

During the holidays, a video of a FedEx delivery man throwing a computer monitor over a gate and onto a customer’s lawn emerged.

The scary thing is it’s actually in a computer monitor box, not a FedEx box, so he knew it was fragile. He didn’t try to open the gate or ring the bell. He just threw it over the gate. And it broke.

The person who lives in that house must have the same “neighbourly” issues we have because he has a security camera on the front gate. And the “delivery” was captured on video.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Clearly this is not a PR or social media crisis. It is a customer service crisis. But it was turned into a PR crisis when the customer posted the video on YouTube (which got five million views in five days).

What did FedEx do, in return?

They did NOT ignore the video. They did NOT ignore the crisis. They did NOT stick their heads in the sand and pretend the video (that now has nine million views) doesn’t exist.

They took to YouTube and created their own video. Just like Domino’s did in 2008 when a YouTube video of a franchisee’s employees sneezing and spitting in food went viral.

In a blog post accompanying an embedded version of their video, Matthew Thornton, III, senior VP of FedEx Express U.S. Operations, said:

As the leader of our pickup and delivery operations across America, I want you to know that I was upset, embarrassed, and very sorry for our customer’s poor experience. This goes directly against everything we have always taught our people and expect of them. It was just very disappointing.

He goes on to describe what they did for the customer and how they’re using the video in employee training to make sure these kinds of things don’t happen.

Here is the video of the Thornton’s apology.

Customers and employees weighed in on the blog post, most citing positive examples or stories about being grateful for working at FedEx.

The lesson? Always answer with a real apology. Not “I’m sorry, but…” apology, but a real one. And answer it on the same social network where the crisis is happening.

FedEx did this exactly right, and in the right amount of time. They described the issue, said what had been resolved and how they were using this as a lesson going forward, and apologized.

Every, single one of us makes mistakes. It’s in how we handle them that is remembered.

Story Source: http://spinsucks.com/communication/fedex-customer-video-turned-good-pr/

Date originally posted: 11 January 2012

When a fleet of Japanese whaling vessels set sail late last year, everyone wondered what would happen and what the news headlines would be this time around.

Even those who are not concerned about the Japanese whaling industry feel their blood boil a little when images of slaughtered whale carcasses being towed onto the back of a frigate invades their personal space in the form of social media and television; especially when the events occur so close to our homeland.

But who is the winner in the PR war now that three Australians crossed the open ocean to slip through razor-wire and board a foreign and hostile vessel in the dark of night?

When Geoffrey Tuxworth, Simon Peterffy and Glen Pendlebury boarded the Shonan Maru 2, they were hailed in some quarters as heroes but in others, they became pirates.

That is what is making news.

While many Australians are appalled by Japanese whaling practices, the actions of the three men may have caused long-term damage to the cause – there has been overwhelming negative response on social media and talkback radio in Sydney and Melbourne condemning their actions.

There are really no winners in the whaling PR war, firmly back in focus yet again.

The Australian Government has taken far too long to act and year after year after year, the electorate has heard the same rhetoric – but no action. Ordinary Australians may not be impressed by the actions of the trio who boarded the Shonan Maru 2 but they are equally fed up with the Government not taking a strong position.

Japan is not a winner, either. Brand Japan is certainly being damaged by the annual negative publicity as they experience global condemnation – there must be economic, diplomatic and social costs each whaling season that has long-term collateral damage.

Last year’s natural disasters impacted on Japan’s tourism industry, which is yet to fully recover and negative publicity will make the revival even more difficult.

The environmentalists who risk their lives trying to prevent the Japanese boats from going about their business seem to have the support of many Australians except when they exceed the boundaries of what most people think is reasonable.

Unfortunately, the environmental groups lose the PR war as more conservative supporters take umbrage at tactics like illegally boarding a hostile vessel.

There are no winners in the PR war – there is just more of the same; desperate environmentalists who will try whatever they deem is necessary to stop the atrocity; a Federal Government loathe to act with strength and conviction; and a Japanese industry hell-bent on ignoring global opinion.

Sadly, it will probably be exactly the same story in 2013.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

What’s making news today?

NRL mourns loss of Arthur Beetson. Died on Gold Coast yesterday

Ian Macdonald tells ICAC hearing he fell asleep fully clothed next to Tiffanie in hotel room

Arrival of another two boats at Christmas Island yesterday. November record month for boat arrivals

Gay marriage rift deepens for ALP Right. Labor factional bosses sandbag PM to avoid same-sex rout

Strike surge under Fair Work. Days lost to industrial action highest since 2004

Bank downgrades hit big four. Australian banks latest victims of global ratings clamp down by S&P

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Front Page Stories

NRL legend Arthur Beetson dead, after suffering a heart attack while riding his bike on the Gold Coast yesterday

Other Coverage

Start your engines - V8s roar into Sydney Olympic Park today. Sydney Telstra 500 driver guide

Former minister Ian Macdonald tells ICAC hearing yesterday he fell asleep fully clothed in hotel room with Tiffanie

Snr bureaucrats in state govt’s environment dept have stopped publishing scientific papers that challenge fed govt’s claims of rising sea levels, says former public servant

Killer benefits from doubts over forensic evidence. Jeffrey Gilham could be released from jail today

More than 200 boat people arrive in Australia yesterday, as alarming immigration asylum figures released.

Karen Ibrahim, wife of Sam Ibrahim, tells court she lives in daily fear for life, but trial judge unmoved

Kim Kardashian placed on govt watch list after she falsely claimed to be visiting Australia as a tourist on three business trips

Fury at pay rise for MPs. A bit rich, unions claim

Cheaper than chips. Bananas back on menu as price falls

Snr Lib party members to be questioned by police after routine meeting at Club Marconi ended in a wild brawl last Wednesday night

Mining baron offered sailor at centre of navy spanking scandal $1m sex offer

Adventure park planned for construction at Cockatoo Island

More women in NSW legal profession than ever before

Opinion

Piers Akerman: Lying leaders are inept and cruel

Ray Hadley: This week’s top 10: Brothel sorted, Labor should move on to getting beer in a brewery

Cars Guide

Cover story: It’s fast, affordable, fun and it’s a Toyota. Brute Ute SS V Redline

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Front Page Stories

Bank downgrades hit big four

Labor may ditch surplus projected for next year if Europe’s debt crisis further destabilises world economy

MUA muscles in on white-collar jobs

Other Coverage

Fosters boss says jury still out as to whether Fosters paid too much for winemaker Southcorp

Doubts over HESTA board nominee

NBN deal put back a month

MP Ian Macdonald claimed he fell asleep with near prostitute

NuCoal in halt over licence row

Origin ‘one step ahead’ of naysayers and other gas debate coverage, pgs 6-7

Manufacturers losing ground, warns senior industry economist

Retail sluggish, building approvals fall

Muted reply from govt re university budget cuts

VW praise for Japan’s cars

ALP Conference coverage, [gas 22-23

Teoh’s TPG creeps like an elephant on watchful iiNet

ASIC wary of poor resources reporting

Fair Work looks at more flexibility for job rules

Westpac on high-tech growth plan

Weekly section: Review

Lead story: Strauss-Kahn sting. Vexing evidence suggests DSK may have been framed

Weekly section: Life and Leisure

Cover stories: Exclusive recipes from top chefs + Gift Guide: what men want

Monthly mag: Boss

Cover story: Retail revolution. DJs desperately seeking shoppers

Chanticleer

NBN Co to lay it on the line

THE AUSTRALIAN

Front Page Stories

Strike surge under Fair Work. Days lost to industrial action highest since 2004

Dormant smuggling markets reopen as word spreads of ‘softer’ policy

Warning on CSG impact ignored

Divide grows in boom-and-bust economy

Other Coverage

Fears for OPI phone tap records

Call for Koori-style Koranic courts

‘Unreal’ alcohol guidance ignored. Drinking patterns have not changed and govt needs to step-up, says report

Factional bosses sandbag PM to avoid same-sex rout

Conroy breaks with Right on bid to end export ban to India

Origin boss blasts industry critics

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Front Page Stories

Gay rift deepens for ALP Right

Solution to the problem of infertility: give away your spare embryos

Family joy as judges hint at acquittal for Gilham

I fell asleep, MacDonald tells ICAC

Other Coverage

Coal miner feels heat of corruption hearing

Visa reviewers left without facts on asylum seekers. November a record month for boat arrivals

Water treatment turns common chemicals toxic, says report

Coal seam gas exploration still being examined in protected conservation areas

Retail improves but department stores still in slump

New Jetstar rival to fly Sydney to Singapore

Bowen backs Rudd’s call for rank-and-file to choose leader

Weekly Liftout: Metro

Cover story: Top Homebake ac acts

Weekly Liftout: DriveLife

Cover story: Diversion therapy. Is it better to avoid the Hume?

FINAL VERVE NEWS SUMMARY OF 2011

WE HOPE YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM VERVE’S DAILY NEWS SUMMARIES THIS YEAR, AND ALTHOUGH WE’RE ADMITTEDLY EXCITED FOR SOME EXTRA HOURS OF SLEEP BEFORE THE YEAR’S END, WE’RE GENUINELY LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING TO YOUR INBOXES ON MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2012.

BEST WISHES FROM THE TEAM AT VERVE.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

What’s making news today?

NRL mourns loss of Arthur Beetson. Died on Gold Coast yesterday

Ian Macdonald tells ICAC hearing he fell asleep fully clothed next to Tiffanie in hotel room

Arrival of another two boats at Christmas Island yesterday. November record month for boat arrivals

Gay marriage rift deepens for ALP Right. Labor factional bosses sandbag PM to avoid same-sex rout

Strike surge under Fair Work. Days lost to industrial action highest since 2004

Bank downgrades hit big four. Australian banks latest victims of global ratings clamp down by S&P

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Front Page Stories

NRL legend Arthur Beetson dead, after suffering a heart attack while riding his bike on the Gold Coast yesterday

Other Coverage

Start your engines - V8s roar into Sydney Olympic Park today. Sydney Telstra 500 driver guide

Former minister Ian Macdonald tells ICAC hearing yesterday he fell asleep fully clothed in hotel room with Tiffanie

Snr bureaucrats in state govt’s environment dept have stopped publishing scientific papers that challenge fed govt’s claims of rising sea levels, says former public servant

Killer benefits from doubts over forensic evidence. Jeffrey Gilham could be released from jail today

More than 200 boat people arrive in Australia yesterday, as alarming immigration asylum figures released.

Karen Ibrahim, wife of Sam Ibrahim, tells court she lives in daily fear for life, but trial judge unmoved

Kim Kardashian placed on govt watch list after she falsely claimed to be visiting Australia as a tourist on three business trips

Fury at pay rise for MPs. A bit rich, unions claim

Cheaper than chips. Bananas back on menu as price falls

Snr Lib party members to be questioned by police after routine meeting at Club Marconi ended in a wild brawl last Wednesday night

Mining baron offered sailor at centre of navy spanking scandal $1m sex offer

Adventure park planned for construction at Cockatoo Island

More women in NSW legal profession than ever before

Opinion

Piers Akerman: Lying leaders are inept and cruel

Ray Hadley: This week’s top 10: Brothel sorted, Labor should move on to getting beer in a brewery

Cars Guide

Cover story: It’s fast, affordable, fun and it’s a Toyota. Brute Ute SS V Redline

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Front Page Stories

Bank downgrades hit big four

Labor may ditch surplus projected for next year if Europe’s debt crisis further destabilises world economy

MUA muscles in on white-collar jobs

Other Coverage

Fosters boss says jury still out as to whether Fosters paid too much for winemaker Southcorp

Doubts over HESTA board nominee

NBN deal put back a month

MP Ian Macdonald claimed he fell asleep with near prostitute

NuCoal in halt over licence row

Origin ‘one step ahead’ of naysayers and other gas debate coverage, pgs 6-7

Manufacturers losing ground, warns senior industry economist

Retail sluggish, building approvals fall

Muted reply from govt re university budget cuts

VW praise for Japan’s cars

ALP Conference coverage, [gas 22-23

Teoh’s TPG creeps like an elephant on watchful iiNet

ASIC wary of poor resources reporting

Fair Work looks at more flexibility for job rules

Westpac on high-tech growth plan

Weekly section: Review

Lead story: Strauss-Kahn sting. Vexing evidence suggests DSK may have been framed

Weekly section: Life and Leisure

Cover stories: Exclusive recipes from top chefs + Gift Guide: what men want

Monthly mag: Boss

Cover story: Retail revolution. DJs desperately seeking shoppers

Chanticleer

NBN Co to lay it on the line

THE AUSTRALIAN

Front Page Stories

Strike surge under Fair Work. Days lost to industrial action highest since 2004

Dormant smuggling markets reopen as word spreads of ‘softer’ policy

Warning on CSG impact ignored

Divide grows in boom-and-bust economy

Other Coverage

Fears for OPI phone tap records

Call for Koori-style Koranic courts

‘Unreal’ alcohol guidance ignored. Drinking patterns have not changed and govt needs to step-up, says report

Factional bosses sandbag PM to avoid same-sex rout

Conroy breaks with Right on bid to end export ban to India

Origin boss blasts industry critics

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Front Page Stories

Gay rift deepens for ALP Right

Solution to the problem of infertility: give away your spare embryos

Family joy as judges hint at acquittal for Gilham

I fell asleep, MacDonald tells ICAC

Other Coverage

Coal miner feels heat of corruption hearing

Visa reviewers left without facts on asylum seekers. November a record month for boat arrivals

Water treatment turns common chemicals toxic, says report

Coal seam gas exploration still being examined in protected conservation areas

Retail improves but department stores still in slump

New Jetstar rival to fly Sydney to Singapore

Bowen backs Rudd’s call for rank-and-file to choose leader

Weekly Liftout: Metro

Cover story: Top Homebake ac acts

Weekly Liftout: DriveLife

Cover story: Diversion therapy. Is it better to avoid the Hume?

FINAL VERVE NEWS SUMMARY OF 2011

WE HOPE YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM VERVE’S DAILY NEWS SUMMARIES THIS YEAR, AND ALTHOUGH WE’RE ADMITTEDLY EXCITED FOR SOME EXTRA HOURS OF SLEEP BEFORE THE YEAR’S END, WE’RE GENUINELY LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING TO YOUR INBOXES ON MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2012.

BEST WISHES FROM THE TEAM AT VERVE.

Being hip is all very nice. But being reliable, functional and at least appearing to care about your customers matters a whole lot more.

That’s the lesson Reed Hastings has learned at NetFlix and the lesson that Virgin America is still learning.With the cute tag line “We’re shaping up our back end” Virgin America may have thought it had prepared their customers for a bumpy ride, when it changed over to the Sabre reservation system. But everything that could go wrong did go wrong – including Virgin’s catastrophically blasé response to their customers’ outrage.

Customers couldn’t access the website, many of those that did were given the wrong boarding passes or incorrect information and no one was told when any kind of normal service could be expected to resume. Even Virgin America flight crew were given the wrong information about when to turn up for work. The phone system couldn’t cope; one customer said he was on hold for four hours – and then was hung up on. When he complained on VA’s Facebook page, he was promptly kicked off. One poor woman was charged nine times for the same flight.

This is all bad enough. But, of course, the company spin just made matters worse. A VP of corporate communications at Virgin America claimed that customers and staff were happy with the change and they were experiencing minimal problems with the “smooth transition.” Meanwhile, Twitter and Facebook were awash with howls of complaint.

Virgin may think having a cool brand is enough to keep it afloat but at moments like this, no amount of style and sexiness will calm customers’ ire. And, just as the Netflix debacle has shown in recent weeks, years of customer loyalty can be blown away in a day when it’s clear that the management has lost all touch with its customers.

How Virgin America could have responded

‘Fess Up. Stop saying everything is fine. Tell the truth with contrition. Anything else is stupid and insulting.

Acknowledge not just the pain you’ve caused – but also the time, money and trust you’ve just wasted. Demonstrate that you think of customers as people to whom these things are precious.

Support the front line employees. Make sure they’re well armed with remedies, compensation and stamina. They will be on the receiving end of anger and abuse. Make sure they have the support they’ll need. Do not under-estimate how taxing this will be.

Shower your abused customers with love. Not for a week; not for a month. Cover them with love, refunds, rewards and air miles. Make it impossible for them not to forgive you. Use software intelligently so you can personalize this. Remember: if you address the crisis well, the angriest customer can be converted into an evangelist. But only if every subsequent encounter with the business is magical.

Take social media seriously. Put real people with brains on Twitter and Facebook. Get them to respond with integrity and honesty. Ditch the fake fans immediately. Fire the stupid PR guy who tried to deny the crisis.

Remember: however cool the brand, nothing beats being trustworthy. It may sound dull but it is the basis of forgiveness.

Story by Margaret Heffernan, www.cbsnews.com

What’s making news today?

Cuts to baby bonus and HECS as Swan tries to find money for a surplus

ICAC witness denies trying to trap Ian Macdonald

Labor shifts costs to try and make surplus promise

Daily Telegraph

Front page

Swan cuts middle class welfare services to try and bring in surplus

13-year-old with afro sent home from Australian Islamic College until haircut

Other coverage

Government report says climate change is a threat to the health of Australians

Ultimate Car Club – for owners of multiple prestige vechicles

CBD stuck in slow motion because of O’Farrell’s electricity decision

Commonwealth Ombudsman says risky refugees are applying for community release

Mission Australia’s 2011 National Youth Survey says teenagers are stressed about the future

Water Minister Tony Burke in hot water as angry farmers reject Murray reforms

110 years old and still living independently – her secret eat plenty and no booze

Clayton Utz female lawyer sexual harassment suit settled out of court

Tim McDermott leaves 2UE

Opinion

Andrew Bolt: Budget blowouts

PM under fire over gay marriage at ALP conference this weekend

Sport

Michael Clarke could pick four rookies for NZ test match

Johnny Lewis makes peace with Danny Green

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley to take on Sydney to Hobart

Australian Financial Review

Front page stories

Swans backs a resurgence in tax revenue to achieve budget surplus

Analysis by Alan Mitchell at new cuts – “Wafer thin with too little reform”

Labor shifts billions of dollars out of next year’s finances to achieve surplus

Ralph Norris not confident Government will reach surplus

Other coverage

PM asked to stop WA port strike

Australia Post has launched a push into travel and currency exchange in a bid to boost its business model

Lawyers, single-income families and employers registered with WorkCover will be target by ATO

Kevin Rudd support plan for three-way economic and security pact with US and India

Chevron signs $43billion gas project in WA

Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout will urge the federal government to consider the economy and business at ALP summit

Fly in, fly out tourism hurts ordinary traveller with no beds left

10 pages on Mini-Budget analysis

Economists say surplus still a long way off

Macquarie Group’s plan to become top player in global aircraft leasing on hold

Virgin Airlines might enter FF deal with Coles – Coles looking to re-launch FlyBuys

DPS on Commonwealth Bank – passing the baton

Special Report – dealbook quarterly

Chanticleer

China could sink surplus

New boss of Australian supermarkets and petrol at Woolworths shocked at disconnect between composition of customers and staff

The Australian

Front page stories

Labor gambles on $40billion budget turnaround

Riots at Christmas Island and Villawood caused by overcrowding and poor security

Fair Work Australia approves agreement by NSW paint contractor to allow a higher rate of pay to substitute for overtime, carers’ leave and long-service entitlements

Other coverage

Parents warned against sleeping with baby

Australia ranks in bottom third of OECD countries in treatment of disabled

Union leader Bill Ludwig steps down from ALP national executive

NSW hoteliers will turn pubs into war zone if Julia Gillard does not back down on pokie tax

3 pages on budget update

Feature on ALP conference

Education

Higher education sector took a $650million hit in Wayne Swan’s cuts

Gareth Evans committed to creating the Kennedy School of Government at ANU

UNSW looks to hire 100 staff

Business

Euro fears haunt budget review

Facebook – $100bn valuation

Solomon Lew says interest rates need to be further cut to encourage spending for Xmas

Tinkler plans $2.5bn coal terminal

Falling prices slash Harvey Norman profits

Photon eyes growth after sorting debt

Wealth

Money makes money for rich

Sydney Morning Herald

Front Page Stories

Public servants, students take brunt of Swan’s cuts

ICAC witness denies trap for Ian Macdonald

Other coverage

School and body image main worries for teenagers

Longer wait for surgery but fair better in emergency – study shows how NSW compares with other states

One page on budget review

Australia and China join forces in military exercises

Business

Gerry Harvey criticises Government cuts

Middle-income earners will pay the price for tax concessions for lower earners as part of government’s cost savings

Capex spending jumps to record $232b

Sydney is the world’s third most expensive shopping destination

Money

How to take money overseas when travelling – the options – includes Travelex

Travel insurance