30 March 2021

Mr Nicholas Craft Standing Committee on Environment and Communications Department of the Senate PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Attention: Nicholas Craft By email: [email protected]

Private & Confidential

Dear Mr Craft

Re: Inquiry into Media Diversity in Australia

We refer to your email dated 16 March 2021 which attached Anthony Klan’s submission on Media Diversity in Australia. Nine denies the allegations contained in Mr Klan’s submissions, and in particular, Nine vehemently denies any allegation that Nine receives payment in return for favourable coverage or conversely payment for protecting individuals or companies from damaging media coverage. Nine maintains strong editorial independence across all of its platforms. Nine’s news, whether it be delivered by television, radio, print or online, is subject to the following standards which require editorial independence, disclosure of commercial arrangements, impartiality and accuracy: - Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice; - Commercial Radio Code of Practice; and - Australian Press Council Standards of Practice When Nine acquired the Fairfax publications (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, The Brisbane Times, WA Today), Nine agreed to commit to the Fairfax Media Charter of Editorial Independence at a Nine Board and Management level. This was confirmed in the materials publicly released by Fairfax as part of the scheme of arrangement under which Nine acquired Fairfax in 2018. There is no physical document which needs to be signed, to establish this commitment. This is something which I am instructed we have communicated to Mr Klan previously, and which he has failed to disclose in his submissions. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any further information or would like to discuss this matter. Yours sincerely Penelope Hobart

Penelope Hobart Executive Counsel Direct: Email: