Gerard Gleeson writes: I finally got around to renewing my subscription today after a couple of years as a squatter. For this contribution to Crikey profit you can thank Glenn Milne and his passionate, concise and erudite defence of the integrity of Australian journalism. If you can gurarantee another physical outburst next year I will renew for 2 years — 3 years if you can get Mayne takes a swing at him- and connect!

Terri Kohler writes: Couldn’t have been happier with Glenn Milne’s performance at the Walkleys. He stood up for all the people in the media who agree with his sentiment. About being a disgrace, that is. Your website is a sham, known throughout the media for its recycling of information collected by real journalists and its innacuracy. Did you think people were cheering for you, Stephen, when Glenn was dragged away? Not a chance. They were barracking for the hero of the hour, Mr Glenn Milne.

Martyn Riddle writes: Re. Madame Gucci. With Naomi sadly packing her bags, I wonder what thought she has given to future career options? Perhaps her hard hitting journalistic style would be useful as a stand-in for Kerry O’Brien on T he 7.30 Report (and maybe Kerry could do a stint on Today Tonight ). Alternatively, her investigative powers and attention to facts and detail might make her suitable to head up the next government enquiry now that Terence Cole’s work is done. Personally, I think her broad appeal to the masses and ability to create a PR circus out of nothing gives her the ideal credentials to stand for the lower house as an ALP candidate and give Kim a run for his money as leader – a Robson/Gillard dream ticket could be a lot of fun…

Mary Trewby writes: Re. “Beating the drums (yesterday, item 11). Seen last night dining in an African restaurant in Canberra – Carmen Lawrence, Duncan Kerr, Lindsay Tanner and Peter Garrett. Were they preparing to cannibalise their leader?” What’s Africa got to do with cannibalism?

Simon Dodshon writes: Tragic though it is that more service personnel have lost their lives, the fact that three warships are off the Fijian coast certainly shows that the “deputy sheriff” is on duty. Saying they are there to evacuate Aussies in case of a coup sounds like the old argument Ronnie Reagan used with his “medical students in danger” line just before he invaded Grenada and helped install a government favourable to the US back in ’83. I think intimidation of certain Fijians is a more likely reason for the Australian military presence. Lord Downer of Baghdad has been actively talking up a coup for weeks, while our cousins across the water have been actively working to find solutions to the current problems… what a contrast in diplomacy!

David Murtagh writes: You forgot to mention that the last episode of The Glass House also included a heap of comments about Kim Beazley being fat. I’d never have known he was a porker without being told … With such brilliant insights, they won’t be missed.

Peter Mecoles writes: Gary Muratore’s comment (yesterday, comments) about The Age headline is typical conspiracy theory stuff. I believe it is much more likely that management noticed the vulgar word “sucks” and had it replaced by the much preferred word “lags.” “Sucks” is not appropriate to The Age and I was frankly shocked to see it used.

Owen Powell writes: Re. “Ponting edges closer to the title of ‘second best ever'” (yesterday, item 27). Ponting is superb, but has he ever had to cope with a sticky? Perhaps comparative stats should be in published in two separate groups … pre- and post- the covering of pitches.

Michael Brougham writes: In reference to Victoria Collins’s Ashes grenade (yesterday, comments), the English Cricket Board determines the preparatory schedule for its cricket team. Short of a vast international conspiracy (which I can’t rule out, given the match-fixing scandals of the past and the fact that no-one except the ECB thought England’s pre-Ashes warm up was anything close to sufficient), I don’t think Cricket Australia can be held responsible for the English team’s lack of acclimatisation.

CBAA Vice President of TV, Andrew Brine writes: Re: AFL on Community TV Channels. Community Television (CTV) attracts nearly 3.8 million viewers nationally, with permanent licences in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. There are also temporary licences in Adelaide, Mt Gambier and Lismore. These stations are not networked, but work closely with each other and the CBAA to achieve positive outcomes for local audiences. The community television sector provides a platform for diverse community groups, including: youth; new and emerging communities; ethnic communities; senior citizens; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities; as well as religious, artistic and sporting groups. Far from self-interested motives, the CTV operates on the principles of diversity, independence, local content, and access. Community television has never been funded by the Federal Government, and instead relies on sale of airtime and sponsorship announcements for its survival. The possibility of national sports being made available on CTV in light of new anti-siphoning rules would be a wonderful addition to the sector, and would have to be balanced with the needs of under-represented local communities.

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