Media & Advertising
Future is not what it used to be
AS A baby boomer, I must say I'm terribly disappointed with modern science and technology. I mean, where's my robot? Apparently Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot in 1495.
Spare me harsh realities, slay that dragon and let the movies cast a spell
Clem Bastow When economic times are tough, fantasy and cinema come to the rescue, again.
Roddy Meagher, the man who dared to be different
Paul Sheehan In this age of individualism, when everyone can turn their personalities into public personas via the internet, we are discovering that genuine eccentricity is rare.
Australia you are not a good friend
Martyn Awayang Namorong I'M on my first visit to Australia right now - and what an introduction to your country. A two-week run of four major cities where I'm meeting politicians, journalists and ordinary Australians.
The brave new world of media advertising
Matthew Ricketson Rupert Murdoch's every pronouncement attracts almost as much media attention as his own media outlets devote to celebrity gossip — which is to say a shirtload.
The Indian obsession with fairer skin sinks to a new low
Amrit Dhillon A new vagina lightening cream is helping peddle self-hatred to women.
Music not to ears of everyone
BACKGROUND music in cafes, restaurants and clothing stores has been around ever since Major-General George O. Squier patented the idea back in the 1920s.
Policy on drugs endangers youth
Vivienne Moxham-Hall When you get to high school, you are taught that drugs are ''bad''. The teachers show you pictures and tell you the horror stories about drugs, but at that age, you can never really believe that...
New body needed to fill cracks of corruption
George Williams The debate over allegations of misbehaviour by our federal politicians has an important subtext. Does Australia have the right laws and institutions in place to deal with accusations of corruption,...
Indonesia's moral police a threat to democracy
Michael Bachelard When I wrote in March about the Indonesian religious affairs minister wanting to ban mini-skirts because he believed them ''pornographic,'' one comment on the Fairfax website stood out.
A moderate lament for the imminent passing of privacy
Tim Soutphommasane Our constant connection through Facebook and its like may have a downside.
Industry's learning difficulty
When a federal Coalition MP says a group of public employees deserve to have their wages more than doubled to a top rate of $150,000, listeners are bound to wonder if their hearing is faulty.
Macquarie's mitts all over our supposed Strine
Germaine Greer Australian academics have been laying down the law about my mother-tongue — oops, I mean, of course, mother tongue.
Shop wars are a dirty business
Julie Szego The sign in the shop window near Acland Street caught my attention on a recent afternoon stroll: ''If you don't shop locally, there won't be any local shops.
Fighting an outbreak of complacency
Tony Adams Australia is ill-prepared for a fast-moving public health emergency.
Colonial attitudes reappear in our plans for Christmas and Cocos islands
Richard Woolcott In the Asian century, we seem to ignore legitimate concerns of our neighbours.
Abortion politics for export
Chloe Angyal Australians' love of things American must not extend to a growing assault in the US on women's reproductive rights.
Silence doesn't work: it's time we talked about suicide
Kate Carnell This week, the national spotlight was again shone on the tragedy that is suicide with the death of Don Ritchie OAM, often referred to as “the angel” of the notorious Gap in Sydney.
How to rekindle interest in the great Australian stories
Michael Heyward We are in the thick of a debate about how we value our literary heritage. So many writers who matter are out of print. Australian studies are on the margin at many of our universities.
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