The cash for comment affair was an Australian scandal that broke in 1999 concerning paid advertising in radio that was presented to the audience in such a way as to sound like editorial commentary. John Laws, a shock jock radio presenter for Sydney talk back, was accused of misusing his authority as an announcer.[1] While the initial publicity had died down by the end of the year, it sparked major changes in the way the radio industry is conducted in Australia. This resulted in a second scandal in 2004, leading to the resignation of Australian Broadcasting Authority head David Flint, after he had been found to have been less than impartial in his role in original "cash for comment" investigations.
Some have pointed to the Broadcasting Services Act (1992), which has treated the media more as a business than a cultural institution, for a decline in the relevance of ethical standards in the Australian media industry.[2]
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