Anyone hacked a phone? Me too! “Have you hacked a phone voicemail account in pursuit of a story? Me too. I’d like to hear from you.” So asks one anonymous freelance journalist in Sydney who’s seeking fellow crooks to write a feature story for a “national magazine” through the online source finder SourceBottle. Journalists use the website to crowd source talent for stories, but there’s never been a request quite like this:

“I am seeking Australian journalists who have participated in the act of intercepting phonecalls or voicemail messages in pursuit of a story. (Yes, this is the same behaviour that led to the News Of The World scandal in the UK earlier this year.)

“I am seeking interviews with other journalists who have either participated in phone hacking, or been party to this act during the course of their work at any Australian media outlet.

“Your anonymity is assured. I will share some of my information and experiences with you once I have verified your identity and reputation.”

No doubt anonymity is assured. But what of the guilty author of the piece? — Jason Whittaker

Nine Perth won’t join the dots. We were alerted that Nine News in Perth displayed its logo without its iconic dots in its broadcast last night. Channel Nine in Perth isn’t owned by Nine, but Bruce Gordon’s WIN. Cock-up? Conspiracy? A new logo for Nine (or its WIN affiliates)? We report, you decide …

Front page of the day. Today’s UK Independent front page proclaims the importance of two key global summits:

The Department of Corrections. We’re not sure if Huffington Post matriarch Arianna Huffington will be too pleased with this error by South Florida newspaper the Sun Sentinel:

Today’s correction

Original December 6 headline

ACMA censures shock jock Chris Smith

“Sydney talk station Radio 2GB breached radio’s code of practice when afternoon host Chris Smith asked listeners during a quiz how many asylum seekers were buried at a funeral.” — The Australian

ABC hopes to keep Monday news line-up for longer

“Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes has scoffed at suggestions staff are enjoying long holidays, pointing out that many are stood down and forced to re-apply for their jobs next year. He told TV Tonight the problem stems from budgets, with Four Corners the most expensive to keep running.” — TV Tonight

Cricket in HD a Gem for viewers

“The Nine Network has successfully applied to the Federal Government for an exemption which will allow it to screen Australian Test cricket matches between New Zealand and India on its high definition channel Gem when the main channel breaks away for news.” — Media Spy

WSJ ed: rivals’ hacking coverage ‘abysmally conflicted’

“Robert Thomson, the Journal’s managing editor, delivered the keynote address at Columbia Journalism School’s annual Knight-Bagehot dinner. Thomson, who is one of Murdoch’s closest friends, took the opportunity to accuse the Journal’s competitors of advancing their own agendas in their hacking coverage but defended his reporters against charges of doing the same.” — Forbes

Chinese state TV unveils global expansion plan

“China’s state broadcaster is launching a major expansion in pursuit of an international audience, increasing its overseas staff fivefold by the end of next year and almost tenfold by 2016.” — The Guardian