Stephen Hamilton and David Carment

an anl n.d.: l Frc Austra, THE PRESS from t and Gt masthe. u'as ab until cl Abstract 2011:1 The history of print media in the Northern Tbtitoty is one of parish pumps and The media moguls, Cold War tensions and human rights crusades. Locally printed rrade ur and published newspapers have been pivotal to the development of a iorthern the Nor year (B. Tbrritory identity and the cultivation of the krritory's sense of dffirence from the rest of . From the earliest newspapers - part news-sheet, part the time 1968: 1 government gazette - to the colourful online edition of the NT News, lfte union Territory hqs been defined by its press and has in turn defined it, in response n editorial to its remoteness and to its increasing non-Indigenous population. This article press to provides a brief overview of the Northern kruitory press, the history of which remains poorly documented. affairs't position: 'stil1 The Northern Territory has been surprisingly well served by print media since the first les: tollxspe{ successful colony was established some 140 years ago. Despite remoteness from the The main population centres of Australia and the wider world, and of its communities from -' except tb each other, small and large newspapers have repeatedly sprung up, most fleetingly, some rvith lare, with greater tenacity. The dominance of a Murdoch paper (the NT News, as it now The armr styles itself), perhaps unique among the stable in being left largely to pursue its own its suppo (albeit generally conservative) editorial line, has meant that since the mid-twentieth in Febru; century the Territory has had a loud local voice, one if of a tabloid stridency easily and the mocked by southern critics. -. n.d.: 1. Ji The earliest Northern Territory newspaper was the Moonta Herald, published on The S. board the ship that brought the South Australian Surveyor-General, George Goyder, to News in i the Territory 1869. in The first machine-printed newspaper was the we&ly liorthtern had forcei Territory Times and Gazette, initially published on 7 November 1873 from a govemment the Smndt office in Darwin under the editorship of Richard Wells and owned by aionsortium hysteria o registered as The Northern Territory Newspaper and Telegraphic Agency company f1000 uo Limited. A new editorial office and a press were later established in Mitchell Street Labor,eor- (Davis, 2011: l, Lockwood, 1968: l7l-3). The many colourful characters who worked The fir for the publication included vaiben Solomon, who owned the paper between lgg5 its first nv and 1889 and represented the Territory in the South Australian parliament. His clear 1960, and and frequently dramatic editorials reflected his conservative political beliefs. Other Saturday e editors included Joseph Skelton, George Mayhew, charles Kirkland, Edward Foster In the and Jessie Litchfield. Litchfield overcame strong local objections to a woman being informatior appointed when she took over in 1930. In a small and often deeply divided town, some post-cyclor editors were threatened with violence, and copies of the newspaper were torn up and dead and in burnt when it expressed views disliked by sections of the community. Kirkland was recommenc controversially imprisoned in 1913 after being found guilty of contempt of court for It 7977 modem phr Media lnternational Australia rrment - an afiicle in which he criticised a judge (Davis, 2011:1, Kirkpatrick, n.d.: 1, James, n.d.: 1, Lockwood, 1968: 171-8). From 1883, Mayhew and Kirkland published a rival Darwin newspaper, the North Attstralian, in which they often provided very different versions of ihe same events from those of their competitor. In 1889, they bought the Northern krritory Times and Gazette from Solomon and amalgamated the two newspapers under the latter,s masthead. with thc deparfure of the govemment Gazette ii iszl , the paper,s title was abridged to the ltrorthern Territory Times, tnder rvhich it continued publication until closing in June 1932 after being bought out by the Northern Standird (Davis, 2011: 1; Kirkpatrick, n.d.: 1, Lockwood, 1968 175_-6; J'lorth Austrctlian,25 May 1gg9). The Northern Standard .::'s 0nd first appeared on 19 February I 92 1 , published in Darwin wit-h trade union suppott and partly :'t inled flnanced by a union ler,y. Publication was transferred to ' ,'tltern the North Australian Workers'Union in 1928 following its establishment the previous year (Brian, 2001: 85-6, : : 101;NorthAustralian workers Union, n.d.: l). For much of .fi'om the time before world ..:. part war II, its editor was Don McKinnon (Jamcs, n.d.: t; Lockwood, 1968: 179). The 'Moscow Times', as it was known, was very much the . ... s. the voice of the union movement, and opinions other than its own *"." noi given prominence. . : DOnSe An editorial in 1946 stated that the paper'does not pretend, as do iost organs of the free , :i1'licle press to be neutral in the battle ' ''rhich of life, and to present an unbiased view of curent affairs' (Northern standard,3l May 1946). After 1946, it often supporled communist positions. Pro,rinent Darwin journalist Douglas Lockwood u.grLb that by then it 'still less reflected the moods of the town', leading to .a : :.le fifSt lackif confidentc of the townspeople' (Lockwood, 1968: 180). -:.n1 the The I'{orthern standqrd was the only Territory newspaper between 1932 and 1941 .t3s ftom , e1c_eqt for the brief appearance of the communist Proletarian in 1934.In October 1941, ..". some with large numbers of soldiers stationed in Darwin, the weekly Army News commenced. . lt nOW Tlre army had been concemed for some time about the Norihern Stanclard because of : l:S OWn its supposed synpathy for communism. when Darwin was bombed for the first time ., -ntieth in February 1942, the lVorthern Standarcl suspended publication until February i946 :'. easily and the Arnty News remained the sole Teritory papei until the war finished (Oavis, n.d.: 1, James, n.d.: 1). l:iled On The Sydney public relations finn Eric White Associates stafied the Northern krritory ." der, to News t'tt 1952 as a weekly tabloid to counter-balance the Northern Stanclarcl, which it ''. .i'thern had forced out ofbusiness by 1955. Initial efforts by the federal government to counter 'a:xment the Standard's influence had been shelved it 7942, and revived ii :DqS amid the rising t--sortium lXlteriu of thc early Cold War. John Coleman was appointed publisher and allocated f,1000 -- -'mpany wofth of shares, with whitington and white (and through them the chifley :.. Street Labor govemment) retaining a controlling interest in the paper (Wiitington, 1917: 110j. .,\ orked . Jh. first issue was published on 8 February 1952. After appearinpf as a weekly for ::l 1885 its flrst two years, it moved to twice-weckly aftemoon publication, tlel tri-weekiy in ;rls clear 1960, and became an afternoon daily (Monday to Friday) in 1964.It published its hrst -.. Other Saturday edition on 20 April 1968. l Foster In the days following cyclone Tracy on christmas Eve 1974, staff produced an infomation :: bcing shcet from a small press in the Darwin Police Station. The fiist four-page post-cyclone edition appeared .:.11. some from the repaired press on 31 December 1974, listing tiie dead and injured, and providing - up and advice on evacuation .The lt{orthern Territory Neru then recommenced as an afternoon published ..,.,1d rvas daily, Monday to Friday, from February 1975. rn 1911, a new :.urt for web off-set press was installed, bringing a long overdue rt itt to modern photo-composition. A Saturday edition was reinlroduced ir July 1979, and

No. 150 -February 2014 EA has since retained' A the paper reverted to morning publication in 1991, a schedule it In July 19 1984' edited by Gary sister papef the Sunday Terrltirian, was launched on 7 October newspaper, 77 60th anniversary Shipway. The N?tr News, as it was renamed in 2010, celebrated its the twice-wee 2013, the NT orr'a r"t*ury 2012by publishing its first full-colour edition. In March C.H. 'Pop'Ch Saturday edition News had a weekday circulation.-of 16,508, rising to 25,375 for the 227,229). tM (ABC, August 2013). for the right o to 'f'ght for The first editor was Mac JefFries, who declared the newspaper's intention 2008: 49). Du ,work in the Northem North Australia' and for the progress and prosperity of everyone changes and I Jim Bowditch was appointed Territory, (Northern Territory N,,,, S-February 1942). Advocate it 1 a Walkley Award editor in 1955. He was to treaa tne newspaper for eighteen years, win previously. Thr from supporting the (1959) and become well known for crusading o' ta-'y issues' local focus al in 1966, burindji people's land claims following their walk-off from Council or sig to promoiing self-govemance for the Northern Territory (Jolly, 2008: 48-50). Kirkpatriclq n 1960 (Northern Swan Breweries bought John coleman's shares in the paper in that tourist acc and White Territory News, 9 Febn:rary 1987). Around the same time' Whitington were abysmal took control sold their controlling interest in the paper to News Limited, which full The Alice g of the paper h 1g64 (Cowley, 1gg5: 6). ln 2012, News Limited showed confidence had a brief ex in a new in the paper's editoriai staff and its future profitability with its investment Springs News $18 million printing Press. considerably s Althougtr the N1-News began life with an avowedly anti-communist stance, over Newspapers, n B.owditch's editorial the years r1 has often adopteiliberal causes, particularly In the pos -dqq even though reign. In more recent decades, it has taken a more neutral political line, newspapers as Territory' it iemains highly parochial and a staunch supporter of statehood for the Times (Tennan to Along with ,"'""-f, of mainstream media, the News has been subject Rag (est. 1982', (e'g' see criticism for its representation ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 1985-89), the I just as likely to expose Aikman, 2013), but it is probably also correct to say that it is est. 1996) and institutional and casual racism in the Territory as to perpetuate it' numerous, ofto the wider From its eadiest days, the NT News was central to the life of Darwin and the weekly Da in the city, Territory. It remains one'of the main sources of information about events Newspapers, n- fromsocialgossipandsportingresultstocyclonewarningsandtheTerritory,soften The history fraught relationship with the Commonwealth government' in various secr itself as an Lockwood's It is unconcerned by criticism of its tabioid editorial style, seeing Z slogan, erpre.rion of Tenitorians'unique view of the world, epitomised by its website published histo: anniversary Other journalist ,orty i, the Territory' ('only in the Territory" 2ol3).In covering.its 50th most outrageous the Northern Tr in February 2011, AbC TY'; 730 Report described it as 'Australia's that is great,' senior historical surve newspaper-': 'It's bizarre and offbeat uttd u li1l" bit wild and I think Known (n.d.), NT Neisjournalist Nigel Adlam remarked (ABC TV 15 February 2011: 1). together crocodiles, and magazines (Nor today for iis garish often featuring photo-montages of rampaging "orJ.r, the NZNews is a the only overyir its tongue-in--cheek headlines about UfO iigtrtings and public_nudity, -,of not all) long-term Territorians staple life in the Territory. Many-*iri"h (though, of course, their unique References bristle at criticism of their pape., ihey regard as giving voice to usually arrive perspective on a place whose isolation -"urt that other national dailies Aikman, A.2013. price' Australian I auy o. even two after publication and typically cost twice their masthead Burear weekly Darwin ABC_circulat After the early 1g70s, various smallei newspapers -_ such as.the Bowditch, J. 1993 challenge the dominance of ihe , but with Star - affempted to University Pn the Northern Territory University/Charles little success. Between l99i and2005, ?'1"i" Brian, B. 2001, monthly the Big spit and Delirra University Student union in Darwin published the Australian Wc (Northem Territory Newspapers, n.d.: 24)' Centralian Adyoa

Media lnternational Australia ::,rined. A In July 1946. the,Territory - bv Gary s second largest town, Arice Springs, acquired its first newspaper, The Dead Heart? 1:.11\'ersary Ten months later, on 24 May lbqli it *u, ."ptu""J iy the-twice-weekly Centralian ,1. the ly'I Advocate. owned by the well-known local businessman chapman, with .', edition 9,Y lpop' walter Allan as its shlrt-rived first editor (Donovan, rggg: 227 , 229). Jim Bowditch was editor between.1950 and r 954, ,ri"g ,r,. paper to fight for the right of Aboriginal people 'nght for with white heritage to ..".ir"-nril citizenship (Jolly, 2008: 49)' During the 1950s, \orthern tie Centralian Advocite.*p..i.n"J-liequent ownership changes and numerous production .rpointed issues. News Limited took over ttre Centralian Advo.cate. in 1966, providing :r Award access to much more caprtal than"had been availabre previously. The paper showed ,ring the rittre concern with the *id;i;".rd,^maintaining ,;;;; local focus and not being . rn 1966, afraid on occasions to criticise the Town council or signiflcant interests _commercial (Donovan, 19gg; 236, 240,24g,2g1,3034; Kirkpatrick, n.d.: 1). In September 196g, .'t orthern ii attacked the locar iourist industry saying that tourist accommodation ::c White in Alice springs was generally poor and service standards were abysmal (, SeptemUe-r ' -.1 control il 196g). Alice springs Times,whichcraimed ::nfidence . _Th: tL 'carry the toich for norlhem deveropment,, had a brief exisrence :r a new _between September 1965 ind, August Ls6i.- rh" u,eekry Arice springs Jtlews which.is still being published - - began"ln tr.larctr 1994,butwith a considerably smaller circuration tharr the ::Ce, OVef Centraliai dir"irr" rNofihern Tenitory Newspapers, n.d.: 1) . editorial In the post-world war period, .a though II the Territory's sma[er towns arso acquired newspapers as their populations Teritory. increased. These included the knnant an(i District Times (, est. 197g), the .,rbject to Aryangura Newsretter lrxo-ae;, the Jabiru Rag(est. 1982),the KclhgrineTimes(est. ioa51,tt. ) (e.9. See Barkryn"ij.ra(Tennantcreek, 1985-89), the Eylandt Eclzo (Groote Eylandt, est. 19g9), irr CXPOSQ ttte,lrajuraT)rzes (Nhurunbuy, est. 1996) and the palmerston serr (est.2000). From it" tsloi,the;ferritory also saw numerous, often transitory 'throw-away'newspapers. .re rvider The most important of these was the weekly Darwin sun, which began pubrication rhe in March ioooh*tnem Territory :. city, Newspapers, n.d.; 1-12). r's often Thg history . of the Northern Territory press is poorly documented. Information in various secondary sources is incompiete and sometimes .:11 as an contradictory. Dougras Lockwood's The Front Door: Darwin, rg69-1969 (196g) :e slogan, gi;;;--th. most detailed published history of Darwin's newspapers, but ::ir.ersary this orty rniit tt" late 1960s. other jounralists' accounts, such ur "rt"idr .ltrageous ii,-, Bowditch,s w;rp";;i;; iin xortt, Tares of the Northern Territory.(1993), are generally impressionistic and uneven. Three brief ,.t.'SeniOr historical sulveys by Alan oavis (i01t), darbaru lu-., Kirkpatrick . Klown (n.d.), together 1r.Jj1rJ'noa with the Northem Tenitory Library,s annotated'lisi of ,re*spapers .:i1es, and magazines and Q'{orthem Territory Newspapeis, n.d.), all on the ribrafis JI1'.! iS a website, provide ':-itorians-" the only oveliews.

;ir unique References arrive Aikman, A. 2013, 'l1r 'communiry Siderined by Anti-Bush Agenda,, The Austrarian, :rice. Australian i4 September. Bureau of circulation (ABC), circulation figures, www.adnews.corn.au/files/dmf,le/ .;. Darwin ABC_circulation_Aug20 I 3.pdf. ,. but with Bowditch, J. 1993, whispers From the North. Tales of the Northern krritory,Nofthem Territory .:s Darwin Universiry Prcss, Darwin. ^.t Brian, B. 2001, 'The Nofihem Delirra Tenitory,s one Big Union: The Rise and Fall of the Noth Australian workers' g72" phD Union, 1g11-1 thesis, Northern rerritory university. Centralian Advocate, l9 September 196g.

No. 150 -February 2014 59 Cowley, K. 1985, 'The News Limited Way', in Doing the Impossible: The Northern Territory News, Northem Territory News, Darwin' Davis, A. 2011, 'History of Newspapers in the Northem Territory', http://artsandmuseums.nt.gov. aglnorthem-territory-1ibrary/colliction..._territory-newspapers/history-of-newspapers-in-the- northern-territory. Donovan, P. 1988, Alice Springs: Its History & the People Wo Made it, Alice Springs Town Council, Alice Springs. I James, B. n.d., 'Hirtoii"ullntroduction to Northem Territory Newspapers', http://artsandmuseums. y/collections...y-newspapers/historical-introduction-to- nt.gov.aulnorthem-territory-librar II noihern_territory-re*spupers (an earlier and longer version of this used in 2011 is no longer accessible on the website). Joly, {. 2008, .Bowditch, James (Jim)', in D. Carment, C. Edward, B. James, R. Maynard, A. powell and H.J. Wilson, Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography, rev. edn, Charles Darwin University Press, Darwin. Kirkpatrick, R. n.d., 'itirtory of Northem Territory Regional Newspapers', http://artsandmuseums. A nt.gov.aulnorthern-territory-1ibrary/collections/northern-territory-newspapers/history-of-nt- F regional-newspapers. ru Lockiood, D. 1968, The Front Door: Darwin, 1868'1969, Rigby, Adelaide' at North Australian,25 May 1889. North Australian Workers Union n.d., 'Trade Union Entry - Australian Trade Union Archives', 11' n.d., wwwatua.org.au,/biogs/AlE0666b.htm. l1' Northern Standard,3l May 1946. n Northern Tbrritory News, 8 February 1952,9 February 1987. re http://artsandmuseums. Northem Territory Newspapers n.d., Department of Arts and Museums, 71 nt.gov.ar,r/northem-territoryJibrary/collections/northem-territory-newspapers. frt .Only 2013, www.ntnews.com.au/news/only-in-theterritory. in the Territory, CC ABi TV 2011, The 7.30 Report, www.abc.net.aul7.30lcontentl201lls3139724.htm. be An unfinished Autobiography, ANU Press, canberra. whitington, D. 1977, strive to Fair: In 1924. syndicate Stephen Hamilton is a University Fellow in the School of Creative Arts and Humanities at Charles in your p Darwin University. and aw'a[ was inde, Darwin University. David Carment is Emeritus Professor of History at Charles apart fror pages' rel events. T silent, u'e and seem For rr ran a sec and edite, advertiser women's industrial Federatiot spheres a values. S trajectorie in the US told here, perhaps rr the omissi relegation

Media lnternational Australia

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