CN Newsletter: October 6
Issue 4/2024: Julian Assange, Power Up Festival, Scala and the age of rebel cinema, Central News Podcasts
Happy Sunday!
To catch up on the latest news in politics, arts, and entertainment this week, just keep scrolling.
This week we’re bringing you a shorter instalment as UTS journalism students take a break during STUVAC.
In this edition, Central News brings you stories from across the globe, from the new heart of Sydney’s arts and culture scene where music is breathing new life into one of the city’s oldest surviving power stations, to London where the history of the Scala cinema at the centre of King’s Cross for 15 years is brought to light, and France where European parliamentarians have gathered to hear Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, speak on his conviction and detention.
We are pleased to celebrate the launch of Central News Podcasts which is now available to stream on Spotify! You can listen to the first episode ‘Danger in Dangar Place’ here.
UTS FASS students are invited to 'Journalists in the Pub' on October 9, and nominations are open for the UTS Media Awards 2025 to honour exceptional journalism.
Tidbit 🏔️
Mount Everest just got bigger. A study published by Nature Geoscience this week revealed that a phenomena known as ‘isostatic rebound’ has caused accelerated growth. The reason for this is the Arun River, running east of the mountain range, where a loss of landmass in the basin of the river is causing Everest to rise by approximately two millimetres per year as a result of the Earth ‘bouncing back’.
News 🗞️
Julian Assange a ‘political prisoner’
Four months after being released, founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has made his first public appearance in Strasbourg, France, taking part in a parliamentary hearing at the Council of Europe. His address came a day before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) commenced a plenary debate where a resolution was passed, declaring Assange a ‘political prisoner’. To catch up on all of the findings from PACE, take a look at Central News reporters Jessica D’Souza and Michaela Cullen’s story, who were in Strasbourg as the hearing commenced.
To watch Assange’s full speech click here.
The power and the passion
White Bay Power Station has transformed into a vibrant cultural and community hub, hosting the “best of the Inner West” at the Power Up Festival. The event showcased over 100 artists and 200 performers to celebrate local talent, including ARIA award-winning artist Josh Pyke, who grew up in the area. It wasn’t just established faces on stage though. The Power Up Festival also gave a platform to upcoming performers, including 20-year-old Jade Yee-Smith, as well as the Sydney Youth Orchestra. Craig Donarski, the festival’s curator, also emphasised the importance of recognising and presenting the creativity of Indigenous people, with art from the First Nations gallery the first thing visitors saw upon entry.
Scala: The rise and fall of a rebel cinema
Last month the Sydney Underground Film Festival closed with a screening of Scala!!!, a film that traces fifteen turbulent years of a countercultural cinema at the heart of London’s King’s Cross during the 80’s and 90’s. The film unearths the cinema’s rise and fall throughout its notorious past, where before its anti-authoritarian narrative brought about its demise in 1993, it was the central hub for screenings of controversial and daring films, amongst an atmosphere of sex, drugs, and rock, which felt more like a club than a cinema. Take a look at Audrey Man’s review of Scala!!! to relive the history of one of the world's most influential cinemas.
To watch the trailer for Scala!!! click here, or you can purchase the film here.
Central News Podcasts 🎧
Danger in Dangar Place
Content warning: references to drugs, alcohol, violence and adult themes.
In the first episode of the new CN Podcast, Rosa Griffith investigates the death of drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi, shot by Detective Sargent Roger Rogerson in 1981, which would lead to the uncovering of police involvement in illegal liquor trade, fixed odds betting and flourishing heroin market. The course of Sydney’s history of dark underbelly crime and corruption changed instantly, as three young women came forward with evidence, contradicting Rogerson’s version of events. These women, now in their sixties, provided crucial evidence unravelling Rogerson’s years of crime and corruption, however their names are now forgotten.
Listen to the full story on Spotify.
Upcoming Events 🎉
Journos in the Pub @ The Abercrombie, Chippendale
A reminder to UTS journalism students, don’t forget to book tickets for Journos in the Pub - Radio and Podcast Edition on October 9!
The event will be held on the ground floor of the Abercrombie Hotel from 6pm! We'll be chatting to a panel of industry professionals about their work in audio journalism, including Harry Sekulich from The Daily Aus and Tina Quinn ABC and Network 10. You'll get a chance to ask some questions and network! Also, there will be free pizzas for all! 🍕 Register for tickets below!
https://events.humanitix.com/cn-journalism-in-the-pub
UTS Media Awards 2025
Have you read, watched or listened to an excellent piece of journalism this year? Have you found a particular story that engaging, interesting or thought provoking?
If so, we encourage you to nominate the story in our 2024 Media Prize!
Following the success of the 2023 Media Prize, won by the ABC for their story ‘Razed’, the UTS Media Awards are back again, collating a new series of excellent journalism examples.
Nominate your story of choice in the form below: http://bit.ly/cnawards2025
We will calculate the top three stories, and then invite the writers to attend the award ceremony in March next year, giving students the opportunity to network with industry experts.
Until Next Week
You can keep up to date with the latest from Central News by following us @centralnewsuts via bit.ly/m/centralnews.
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