MEAA

meaa.ioWhy some musicians aren't happy about labels signing AI deals with platformsRecord labels that sued AI music companies are now licensing them. But payouts are undisclosed, lawsuits continue and musicians ask who benefits.

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"By licensing our members’ performances to AI platforms... without consent, credit, or compensation, companies like Universal, Warner Records, and Atlantic are bypassing the very human creators who made their catalogs valuable in the first place,” meaa.io/4spbEpU #PayUp #StopAITheft

The NSW Journalists’ Benevolent Fund’s Student Loan Relief Grant provides eligible young journalists with a one-off payment to help reduce student debt and support their journey towards home ownership. Applications are now open. meaa.io/4hZwQzn

meaa.ioSecret review into Seven West Media reveals 'diabolical' culture problemsA bombshell review of Seven West Media in 2024 has been told of a "diabolical" corporate culture, with allegations sexism, bullying and harassment were rife and "sacred cow" executives favoured by…

MEAA is deeply concerned by the findings reported about workplace culture at Seven West Media and stands with workers affected by unsafe or unacceptable behaviour. Seven must now explain what action it has taken to address these allegations and ensure workers are protected. meaa.io/3U6ZAgv

meaa.ioMEAA Statement on Seven West MediaAn engaging three-day event you won't want to miss.

Read MEAA’s full statement here. meaa.io/3WG7Ch1

meaa.ioABC reporter saves man from sinking car in floodwater north of BrisbaneABC reporter Will Murray and another man swam out to the car and pulled the driver out of the vehicle.

MEAA member and ABC reporter Will Murray showed remarkable courage today, helping rescue a driver from a sinking vehicle in floodwaters north of Brisbane. Thank you Will and to all journalists who continue to serve their communities, even in the most challenging circumstances. meaa.io/4yF1vXV

Congratulations to Shona Martyn on an outstanding career and her retirement announcement. On behalf of MEAA, thank you for your leadership and dedication. We wish you all the best for the next chapter. meaa.io/47BZDUD

3rd annual vigil to observe the United Nations International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. 7-8pm, Monday, 2 November Reddacliff Place, Brisbane CBD RSVP here: meaa.io/3VKMNAS

NSW based Media comrades! Come join us to talk about Press Freedom with our esteemed panel. This Press Foundation Q&A and conversation is to kick off Gadigal / Sydney’s Peace Week events. Please RSVP here meaa.io/3WjwQBI

All MEAA members in Victoria are invited to join us for an evening of celebration, connection and solidarity at our Melbourne Members' Night and Gold Honour Badge Presentation. Wed 11 Nov, 6pm Common Rooms, Victorian Trades Hall RSVP meaa.io/MelbMembersN...

MEAA recently surveyed over 500 journalists and media workers. Without a floor for freelancer pay and conditions, we found 56% of freelancers are forced to spend less time on research, fact checking and quality control Read the report: meaa.io/FreelancerRe...

Through the News Bargaining Incentive, we’re demanding freelance media workers receive:   Fair minimum rates  Timely payment within 30 days of engagement  Superannuation paid on top of fees

A strong show of support for Michael Slezak. Swipe to read solidarity statements from MEAA House Committee members at newspapers and media outlets across Australia. Elected union leaders must be able to advocate for workers without fear of disciplinary action. #PressFreedom #WeStandWithMikey

MEDIA RELEASE : MEAA welcomes the Joint Select Committee on AI’s recommendation that Australian creators retain control over how their work is used and are paid when it is used by AI. meaa.io/4yowKpY

meaa.io'Pre-vetting' accusation as politicians grapple with AILabor and the coalition stand accused of interfering with a bipartisan committee's recommendations from an independent inquiry into...

Big Tech should not get a free pass to use creators' work. The Joint Select Committee on AI has recommended the government review copyright settings to ensure creators retain control of their work and are compensated for its use. That's a welcome step. #PayUp meaa.io/4zuDHGK

Australian creative and media workers deserve consent, control and fair pay for their work and to be fairly paid when it is used by AI. Sign the petition: meaa.io/FairPay

MEAA members at the ABC have overwhelmingly backed a motion defending the rights of elected union representatives to speak out and represent members.

Members are calling on ABC management to respect legal union rights, commit not to undermine those protections, and meet with staff to discuss their concerns. Union representatives must be free to advocate for the members they were elected to represent. #PressFreedom #WeStandWithMikey #ABC

meaa.ioMEAA calls for stronger worker consideration as Future News continues rolloutThe Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has called on Nine Entertainment to manage the increasing concerns from journalists, camera operators, editors and production staff regarding pay,…

The rollout of Future News at Nine News outlets can't come at the expense of news workers. Journalists, camera operators, producers and editors are taking on extra duties while newsrooms face redundancies and growing workloads. meaa.io/4duO2tP

MEAA is calling on Nine Entertainment to address workers' concerns and ensure change is matched with fair pay, proper training, safe workloads and respect for the people who make quality journalism possible. #StrongerTogether

In our recent survey of over 500 media workers, 100% of freelancers surveyed agree: Outlets receiving public funding should be required to commit to fair pay and conditions for workers, and upholding standards of quality, ethical journalism. Read the report: meaa.io/4zTLAH1

As the News Bargaining Incentive moves into implementation, it must include: -Minimum pay rate for freelance media workers -Timely payment within 30 days of engagement -Superannuation paid on top of fees -AI regulation

Freelance journalists' rates of pay haven’t kept up with the cost of living and in fact are going backwards in real terms! Read the report: meaa.io/FreelancerRe... #StrongerTogether #NewsBargainingIncentive

Through the News Bargaining Incentive, MEAA members are calling on the government to implement a fair minimum rate for freelancers, ensure timely payment and guarantee superannuation on top of fees.

MEAA members are calling on the government to implement a fair minimum rate for freelance media workers, with superannuation on top of fees through the News Bargaining Incentive. Read the report: meaa.io/FreelancerRe... #PayUp #NewsBargainingIncentive

meaa.io‘A great honour’: Anton Enus signs off for the last timeAfter nearly three decades at SBS, we are saying good-bye and happy retirement to Anton Enus. Anton, on behalf of the World News team, and all our viewers, we thank you for your professionalism,…

21 Sept

Anton Enus is not only one of Australia's most respected broadcasters, but also a proud and longstanding MEAA member, whose career reflected the values of integrity, professionalism and public-interest journalism. We wish him the all the best in retirement. meaa.io/4iAvbRz

16 Sept

Freelance journalists are contracted as sole traders and paid per word or per piece, rather than per hour. They have no rights and protections under the Fair Work Act and Superannuation Act. Read the report and stand with freelancers fighting for a fair go: buff.ly/2FDX4CK #PayUp

16 Sept

MEAA members are calling on the government to require media organisations to pay superannuation on top of a minimum fee to freelancers through the News Bargaining Incentive.

15 Sept

MEDIA RELEASE: Media workers union highlights continued exploitation of freelance journalists by media outlets. meaa.io/4Af6WP7 #PayUp #FairGo4Freelancers

14 Sept

Freelance journalists are a vital part of the media landscape, producing award winning journalism but are increasingly used to prop up media organisations while many struggle to pay their rent. Read the Pay Up for Freelancers Survey Report 2026: meaa.io/FreelanceRep... #PayUp

buff.lyAI tears through China’s $25b entertainment darlingThe country’s wildly popular microdrama industry is undergoing a dramatic upheaval thanks to artificial intelligence – with a very real human cost.

14 Sept

With no protections in place, AI is tearing through the Chinese screen industry. Actors are reportedly selling the rights to their image or voice for as little as $30. buff.ly/ODubQvh #PayUp #StrongerTogether

14 Sept

This is a warning for Australia. Without strong laws, creators risk losing control of their work, their likeness and their livelihoods. Through the “Pay Up” campaign, MEAA members are calling for legislation that ensures creators are paid the true value of their work when it is used by AI companies.

11 Sept

Thank you for standing up for journalism. Every signature on the MEAA member News Bargaining Incentive petition has helped build momentum for fair pay, stronger regional media, support for freelancers, and a more sustainable news industry for all Australians.

11 Sept

But the work doesn’t stop here - as the legislation moves into implementation, we are actively engaging with government to ensure these measures are delivered as intended and that the benefits reach the journalists, media workers, freelancers, and First Nations workers they were designed to support.

theconversation.comTheatre audiences still show up. So why do so many shows fail to make money?Economists say the theatre sector struggles from something called a ‘cost disease’. But what does that mean? And why is it so hard to fix?

The challenge facing Australian theatre isn't a lack of audiences wanting to attend. Despite strong interest, the rising costs mean many productions struggle to break even. buff.ly/katgX6o #NationalCulturalPolicy #SaveLivePerformance

One Nation staff have once again banned journalists from a press conference. Journalists from the Guardian Australia and the ABC were told to leave, while journalists from The Australian were allowed to stay.

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- Speak to your colleagues about what threats might come your way and how you can have each other’s backs. - When a colleague following a line of questioning is abused, threatened or stonewalled by someone seeking to avoid valid scrutiny don’t let it slide.

- When colleagues are barred from press conferences call for them to be let in. - After an incident occurs, debrief with affected colleagues around you. Press Freedom: holding the line on the public’s right to know. Read more: meaa.io/4h3dojr #PressFreedom

Restricting access to journalists from some any media outlet is a threat to press freedom and restricts the public’s right to know. Freedom of the press is a crucial element of a democratic society. If you experience a threat to press freedom, we call on you to hold the line:

theage.com.auStrike by Arts Centre workers threatens to disrupt Macy Gray concertA strike planned by workers at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday threatens to disrupt performances including a concert by Grammy Award-winning US singer Macy Gray.

9 Sept

Arts Centre Melbourne workers will go on strike this Friday in the fight for fair pay, secure working conditions and proper government funding for the sector. The action is expected to affect programming and venue operations, including Friday night's Macy Gray concert. meaa.io/3UJtirN

meaa.ioSTOP ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE GOING BACKWARDSCurrently, Arts Centre Melbourne union members are fighting for a fair pay deal. This is the first time ACM staff have ever taken industrial action. Industrial action is never taken lightly, but ACM…

9 Sept

Sign the petition to support Arts Centre Melbourne workers: meaa.io/ArtsCentre

Arts Centre Melbourne workers escalate campaign with 24-hour stop work action from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday in fight for fair pay, secure working conditions and proper government funding for the sector. Picket line: 3:30pm Friday Rally: 6pm Friday

Join your comrades on the picket line and stand in solidarity as we fight for a fair outcome that reflects the value of the work they do. Show your support, sign the petition: meaa.io/ArtsCentre #StrongerTogether

hrleader.com.auStop-work performance delay will not be the last, unions warnDelaying a recent performance by the Melbourne Orchestra amid ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations, Arts Centre Melbourne workers are calling for employers to offer fair remuneration that…

MEAA members working at Arts Centre Melbourne are taking industrial action in their call for fair wages, secure jobs and sustainable funding for one of Australia's leading cultural institutions. We can't have world-class arts and entertainment built on low pay and insecure work. meaa.io/4ynheL8

Stand with arts workers, sign the petition: meaa.io/ArtsCentre

lamestream.com.auExclusive: ABC Backflips on Indigenous TV Closure, 'Will Continue in Existing Divisions' For NowABC management has announced that its proposal to axe its stand-alone Indigenous TV department will go back to the drawing board.

We welcome the ABC's decision to pause its proposed changes to their First Nations division and seek further feedback from staff. First Nations workers must be represented, supported and valued across the entire ABC, not just a single area of the organisation. meaa.io/4gICsgI

3 Sept

Creators deserve to be paid fairly for the work they produce. We’re calling for stronger protections and fair pay for creative professionals. Help us get to 2,000 signatures meaa.io/FairPay #StrongerTogether #PayUp

31 Aug

MEAA member Michael Bachelard and special guests Emma Fulu (Equality Institute), Saffron Zomer (Australian Democracy Network) and Sherele Moody (Australian Femicide Watch) are presenting a Q&A Screening of SILENCED at Cinema Nova in Carlton on Sep 3rd.

31 Aug

SILENCED follows international human rights lawyer and free speech defender Jennifer Robinson's fight for survivors of gender-based violence to tell their story. Find out more about the film and where it's showing near you: meaa.io/4gZOoL8

nsw.nteu.auEnterprise Bargaining - USyd BranchThrough Enterprise Bargaining, staff at the University of Sydney, lead by NTEU members get a chance to negotiate for improvements to our workplace and working conditions.

28 Aug

MEAA stands in solidarity with NTEU members at the University of Sydney who are striking on Wednesday 2 September in support of job security, quality of teaching and protection from AI mis-implementation for academic and professional staff. meaa.io/4y5awt8 #StrongerTogether