Latest news with #Project
Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Waleed Aly reveals pressure as Muslim host of The Project
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Project host Waleed Aly has spoken publicly for the first time about the intense pressures and challenges he encountered as the first Muslim man to front a major Australian television program. Speaking to a roundtable of former co-hosts on Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy, Aly opened up about the backlash he received as the first Muslim man to hold a prime-time hosting role in commercial TV — revealing he received death threats and required 24-hour security while hosting the show. 'I've never spoken about this publicly but (it was tough) having to deal with death threats and security out the front of my house – sometimes for 24 hours – having to explain to the kids why suddenly there's this guy driving us around as we go the zoo and not telling them why,' he said. Former co-hosts Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little, Waleed Aly, Pete Helliar and Dave Hughes reflected on their time on the show. Picture: Supplied 'That was very real. That was heavy stuff. So, I never thought about it that way (being the first Muslim on The Project) but I was forced to think about it … it was forced upon me.' The 16-year-old show came to an end after a period of declining ratings and to make room for a new current affairs and insight program 10 News+. Aly has been a co-host since the first episode aired and paid tribute to the 'audacious TV experiment' started by some 'outstandingly creative people'. 'I had been on the show every week (filing in, prior to being cast as a regular). I hadn't thought about it, it was just an extension of what I was doing. You go into commercial TV, and you realise everything becomes about personalities. 'I remember the moment when I was nominated for the Gold Logie, and it was me and Lee Lin Chin and there was a front-page story absolutely going (at) us, and only us … like, 'Why are these guys nominated?' 'I remember moments like that where I was like, 'Whoa, okay, this is a real thing. This is becoming real and it's all foisted upon you.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY The Project launched in 2009, and Friday's finale was the 4504th episode. It was first confirmed last week that the current affairs and entertainment panel program was wrapping up at the end of June, with stars including Harris and Aly leaving not only their roles on the show but also with Network 10. According to insiders as many as 100 jobs overall will be impacted by Ten's decision to drop the show, which was broadcast six nights a week and has production offices in both Melbourne and Sydney. Alongside Aly, Bickmore co-hosted from 2009 until 2022 yet confessed she 'never felt enough' on the show. 'You talked about feeling like an impostor before. I never have felt enough; I never felt enough on that show,' she said. 'It's a strange thing to say when it was a huge part of my life, and I loved it! I loved it. I don't know if it was me, my own insecurities, or people's projections. The final episode of The Project aired on Friday. Picture: Supplied. 'I'll never forget the moment the words were said to me 'why can't you be more like Waleed?' 'I knew what they meant. You were extraordinary (Waleed) and you arrived on the show and changed the game for commentary everywhere. You were extraordinary. But that wasn't my strength, nor should it have been, nor did I want that, nor did the show need that. 'But the problem was that when something good happens, it's hard to not want everybody to do that good thing, so we can get more of that goodness, and make it even better because we've struck gold! It was like … 'No, Waleed is Waleed!' I should never have been you, we needed to be ourselves, and so often I felt like I needed to be someone else. Something clicked in my head and I realised, I just need to be me.' Originally published as 'Death threats, 24 hour security': Waleed Aly reveals dark Project toll as first Muslim TV host
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GMA Network
a day ago
- General
- GMA Network
Kapuso Foundation distributes school arm chairs and teachers' desks to Rizal public school
The Kapuso Foundation has distributed 35 school arm chairs and teachers desks to Catmon Elementary School in Rodriguez Rizal. Together with McDonalds Philippines, the Kapuso Foundation extended help to the public elementary school after it withstood damage from two of last year's typhoons, Carina and Enteng. Apart from repainting the four Kapuso classrooms that the Kapuso Foundation donated following 2009's Ondoy, GMA's charitable institution partnered with McDonalds Philippines to donate and distribute 35 school arm chairs that have been repurposed from old restaurant furniture. The chairs are a product of McDonalds Philippines' Reclassified Project, where old but still usable furniture are repurposed and are made stronger to help address the lack of chairs in public schools in the country. They spruced up the chairs, repainted them, and made them stronger and more comfortable for the kids. For good measure, also donated teachers' desks. "Malaking tulong ang mga upuan. Itong mga binigay niyo ay mako-complete somehow ang mga kakulangan ng paaralan pagdating sa upuan," said Catmon Elementary School Principal Madonna Evangelio. — LA, GMA Integrated News
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
‘Kremlin' councils need to go: Jones
Resource Minister Shane Jones has called the Otago Regional Council "the Kremlin of the South Island" after an application to expand the Macraes gold mine ran into trouble. Mr Jones, who is also the regional development minister, said the council was full of "KGB green zealots" and the episode showed why regional councils needed to be scrapped. The Otago council's assessment of environmental effects — which recommended Oceana-Gold's application to expand its mine be declined in full — was "ideological scribbling". Any other investor or miner in New Zealand would now quickly conclude they had to join the fast-track application process, "which will enable these economic saboteurs to be marginalised", he said. Council chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson said "name-calling" was unhelpful and the council's views were evidence-based, not ideological. OceanaGold has been granted more time to prepare for a hearing for its proposed expansion at Macraes after the regional council said its application should be declined and the Waitaki district and Dunedin city councils also raised concerns. The regional council's view of the company's Macraes Phase 4 (MP4) Project was troubling, Mr Jones said. "It confirms the worst of my prejudices, that the regional council in the South Island, that the Otago Regional Council is the Kremlin of the South Island," he said. "These are the reasons why people should be backing me to disestablish regional councils in New Zealand. "Their role is as catchment boards and looking at the discharge and the allocation of water, water take. "I am astounded at a time where the economy is still recovering from the Covid experience, a record number of New Zealanders are moving to Australia, and we have these Politburo apparatchiks destroying hundreds of jobs, undermining scores of millions of dollars in the local economy. The ''nationally vulnerable'' moth Orocrambus sophistes, which lives in short tussock grasslands, was found at Golden Bar, one of three open pits about 55km north of Dunedin that OceanaGold has applied to expand. The regional council's recommending report highlighted the moth alongside the proposed expansion's actual and potential effects on surface water quality, aquatic ecology, natural inland and ephemeral wetlands, and lizard habitat. The effects would be ''significantly adverse'' and could not be avoided, minimised, remedied, offset or compensated for. It would also have significant adverse cumulative effects on cultural values, ''and it is not yet known if these can be managed by conditions'', the report said. Cr Robertson said the report was prepared by qualified professionals under the Resource Management Act. ''It is a technical, evidence-based assessment — not a political statement. ''Our staff are simply doing their jobs within the only under-and we have these Politburo apparatchiks destroying hundreds of jobs, undermining scores of millions of dollars in the local economy. ''For a dead moth. It's an ideological attempt to defeat mining. It truly is unbelievable. This is a part of New Zealand where no-one goes." ''There are some easy mitigative steps that can be taken, but the Kremlin and its KGB green zealots completely and utterly show me why regional councils need to be disestablished.'' law as it stands. ''Name-calling mines confidence in both central and local government.'' Regional councils across New Zealand welcomed ''meaningful dialogue'' on how to best deliver the services they were intended to — flood protection, biosecurity, civil defence, environmental management and public transport, she said. ''Here in Otago, we remain focused on our responsibility to protect the environment while supporting sustainable economic development. ''That balance is not ideological — it reflects the law, and we believe it reflects the values of our region: caring for both our environment and our livelihoods.'' A minute issued by independent commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen this week said the hearing for OceanaGold's proposed expansion had been postponed from next month to December at the mining company's request. The company's lawyers advised more time was required to consider the recommendations from the councils, he said. OceanaGold senior vice-president Alison Paul said adjourning the MP4 hearing, originally scheduled for next month, would give the company more time to prepare its evidence, including addressing all three councils' reports and recommendations.
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Project host confirms fate of ‘more than 50 staff' after show's dumping
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. As stars of The Project prepare for their final show on Friday night, Sarah Harris revealed sad details about its axing — saying 'she's old enough' to cope, but that more than 50 job losses will devastate more junior workers. Harris opened up about her uncertain future this week but stopped short of confirming one media report claiming Ten had not sacked her but offered her a role on the program that replaces The Project from Monday. Harris twice dodged the question when close buddy and ex Studio 10 colleague Joe Hildebrand put the question to her on his The Real Story Nova podcast on Thursday. Rather than respond, Harris confirmed this column's exclusive report that more than 50 people lost their jobs when The Project was axed. Dozens more casuals are said to have been impacted. 'More than 50 people have lost their jobs now. I can cop it. I'm old enough and ugly enough to deal with that but the kids who've lost their jobs … Lots of people behind the scenes who are about to have babies – who have scrimped and saved and bought their first place …' she said. Former Studio 10 hosts and good friends Sarah Harris and Joe Hildebrand. Picture: Drew Dennis Sarah Harris with Project co-host Waleed Aly, with their last show to air on Friday night. Harris opened the interview with the line 'Hello, I'm Sarah Harris and I'm open to any sort of employment. You can check me out on LinkedIn.' She later acknowledged it was a tough time in the TV industry, that a 'reckoning' is occurring, and that 'social media killed the TV star.' Industry sources claim that while dozens of behind-the-scenes production staff were given a couple weeks notice, a number of presenters were offered contract extensions to the end of the year. Harris and co-presenters Waleed Aly and Georgie Tunny are believed to have been offered brief extensions. The Project's Georgie Tunny took to Instagram promoting her Two Good Sports podcast with Abbey Gelmi. Tunny, who had been a star in the making on ABC Breakfast before jumping ship in 2021 to Foxtel and subsequently making the move to Ten following Carrie Bickmore's resignation from the Project in 2022, has spent recent days doubling down on promotions for two podcasts she's associated with. Tunny took to Instagram to promote a sporting podcast, Two Good Sports, which she co-hosts with Abbey Gelmi, as well as a second Taylor Swift-inspired podcast, Ready For It. Harris flatly didn't rule out the likelihood a podcast might be in her future. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY KARL PARTIES AS TODAY TANKS Are executives at Nine hiding Karl Stefanovic's report card from newish CEO Matt Stanton? One has to wonder, given claims this week Stanton has inked a new deal with Today show host Karl Stefanovic. Someone at Nine is surely pulling the wool over Stanton's eyes, for when last we checked – on Thursday – the Today show's rating were plummeting and for the past three years had achieved record figures. To put this in the plainest terms, here's a graph which shows Today has been cascading downwards since the departure of Lisa Wilkinson in 2017. Karl Stefanovic's mooted pay rise comes as ratings show Nine's Today show has been shedding audiences by the "ton" since the departure of co-host Lisa Wilkinson in 2017 - the show's highest rating May/June in nine years. Source: Supplied Karl Stefanovich at a book launch in Sydney on Tuesday night. Picture: Thomas Lisson Back in 2017, in the two-month period of May and June, Today reached an average of 445,043 viewers nationally. In the five capital cities that figure was 294,255. In 2025, for the same two-month period, Today reached 267,422 viewers nationally and 177,621 in the five capital cities. That represents a decline of 60 per cent over nine years and, without exception, Today's consistent loss to the stronger Sunrise on Seven. Nine years of losses to Seven in the breakfast TV slot. And if you look back further, one finds that with Stefanovic at the helm Today has lost convincingly every year to Seven's Sunrise since he was moved into the anchor's chair (undoubtably after charming one of the blokes in the top job at Nine) in 2005. There was only momentary blip is that devastating record. That was in the opening months of 2016 when Today, with Wilkinson seated next to Stefanovic, topped Sunrise. After that, his marriage unravelled along with the gains the duo had started to make on Seven after a decade. New Today show co-host Lisa Wilkinson on set with Karl Stefanovic in 2007. Yet Wilkinson, one of the most eloquent and best researched commercial TV breakfast anchors the nation has known, would be shown the door in 2017 following a pay parity dispute with management. Stefanovic would survive for another (almost) decade. Surely it proves nothing's fair in love and war and television ladies, nothing. And maybe less than nothing if reports prove true that for his two decades of successive ratings failures, Stefanovic has been handed a $200k payrise taking his salary to more than three times that of his female co-anchor, Sarah Abo. Stefanovic may be able to fool his blokey bosses at Nine (firstly David Gyngell, then Eddie McGuire, then Gyngell again, the Hugh Marks, then Mike Sneesby, then Stanton), but as the ratings amply prove, you can't fool an audience. That's who should and will always determine the net worth of a performer. It should he said that in this year's May/June period, Today has achieved figures lowever even than it did in 2019 – the year declared a disaster by Nine bosses following the installation of two women, sterling newsreaders Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight, at the program's helm. An experiment deemed a failure at Nine and killed off after a year. BIVIANO NEXT BIG MOVE? In the midst of the emotional turmoil and high drama that engulfed – and for a while threatened to capsize – the latest series of Real Housewives of Sydney, came a whisper Terry Biviano had struck upon an idea. Sources close to the Real Housewives of Sydney (RHOS) production have told this column that as Rome was burning around Biviano on the set of the reality show the one-time 'It' girl Biviano was hatching a plan to pitch a programming idea to the program's broadcaster, Foxtel. The concept, or so we heard, would see the Sydney WAG star in a reality show alongside some of her 'friends'. By 'friends' our insiders believed Biviano meant members of the Housewives' cast with whom she's still on speaking terms. Terry Biviano with the cast of Real Housewives of Sydney. Picture: Supplied Terry Biviano with husband, former NRL star Anthony Minichiello at Justin Hemmes' Silver Party in Sydney. Picture: Tom Parrish When last we checked, that extended to two members of the cast, vet Kate Adams and reinvented wellness spruiker Sally Obermeder. Not so much Krissy Marsh, Nicole Gazal-O'Neil and fashion retailer Victoria Montano, with whom Biviano reportedly had a public spat at an eastern suburbs party earlier this year. We're unable to confirm the current status of Biviano's relationship with the feisty Caroline Gaultier and the one with the parasol. We note Biviano has already road-tested the title Real Girlfriends of Sydney to her 70k Instagram followers. This tag accompanied a post showing the one-time shoe designer lunching with Sydney pals including fashion designer Rebecca Vallance. The wife of retired NRL player Anthony Minichiello seemed surprised by the talk when Sharpshooting reached out to her for comment this week. 'News to me,' she said via text from a mystery 'family holiday' location, just days after a regular reader spied her taking a turn around an airport in Copenhagen. Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano's Vaucluse home, which is still under construction. Source: Supplied The couple snapped up the property for more than $3 million in 2011. A Foxtel spokesman declined to be drawn on any discussions the broadcaster may have had with Biviano. So maybe it is just talk. In the unlikely event such a concept might appeal to Foxtel's soon-to-be-hired new head of content, not to mention the honchos at production partner Matchbox who, so we hear, are still assessing the cost of the toxic cast feud that almost sank the final episodes of RHOS season three, there could be an issue finding a suitable location. When last we checked, Biviano's still-under-construction house in Vaucluse was, well, still under construction. That was March, some 11 years after the owners acquired and started designing their dream pile in 2014. We're awaiting word on whether the exclusive suburb's most detested front yard fixture, a green port-a-loo on the Biviano/Minichiello site, might finally have been cleared away so the couple can at last take up residence and get on with the task of dreaming up schemes to pay it off. JOINING FORCES The name of departed ABC executive Chris Oliver-Taylor was on everyone's lips this week as the court's verdict on Antoinette Lattouf was finally handed down. The man the court found to be chiefly responsible for casual presenter Lattouf's sacking was no where to be seen on Wednesday however, having departed the ABC in February to take up a job as global director of digital content monetisation platform Totem Global. Oliver-Taylor has landed on his feet in a role that will include international business development and company expansion. Antoinette Lattouf leaves the Supreme Court on Wednesday after winning her case against the ABC. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short Antointette Lattouf and Jan Fran launch their new business Ette Media. It's not clear meanwhile where Lattouf had landed although we were interested to learn this week that she's signed to an influencer stable. Stage Addiction, a company we'd not heard of until this week, is promoting the self-described 'human Headline Hottie' with the inducement 'Get your people to call my people etc'. Also in the stable is Abbie Chatfield, Jess Eva and a bunch of dudes we wouldn't recognise from Adam. Meanwhile Lattouf has joined Lebanese-Australian journalist and sometime ABC contributor Jan Fran in a new media enterprise called Ette which is derived from the women's names, Antoinette and JEANETTE. TAJER TATTLE Seven Media's chief commercial officer, Henry Tajer, is due to wind up his role today after just six months in the chair. According to well-placed sources Tajer has set his sights on winning the top job at ad company ooh! media. In April that company announced that CEO Cath O'Connor was stepping down after O'Connor and the ooh! media board decided it was the right time for a leadership transition. That followed a static year in revenue at the company to February. Seven Media's commercial officer Henry Tajer who will finish up with the Network on Friday. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian There's chatter about former Nine Sales boss Michael Stephenson being a good replacement of Tajer. Picture: Supplied This column was unable to reach Tajer for comment yesterday. Sources claim Tajer had long lusted after the top job of Seven CEO Jeff Howard, something that may have contributed to his quickie departure. From radio comes chatter that former Nine sales boss Michael Stephenson would be a good fit for Tajer's soon-to-be vacant role. Stephenson left Nine last year to move the radio company ARN as chief operating officer. Many believe the role, as chief wrangler for a company that has tied its success to the Kyle & Jackie O show, is an ill-fit for the longtime TV executive. Originally published as Project host confirms fate of 'more than 50 staff' after show's dumping
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘When did people get so frightened of ideas': Inside the final days of The Project
'The conventional wisdom was that the show wouldn't last six months because on paper, it's bonkers,' he says. 'But what it had was a spirit and an irreverent attitude that felt of this country and of this place. It chimes with the Australian character in so many ways.' Loading In recent weeks, commentators have suggested the program's declining ratings – due largely to shifting viewer habits driven by technological change – were a result of it being 'too woke'. Such claims were rubbished by Steve Price, who told the Herald Sun that he was both a 'conservative old white guy' and The Project's longest-serving panel member. 'You're not usually talking about people who've spent their time watching the show before forming a view,' Aly says of its more vocal critics, 'so then it becomes something independent of what the show actually is – an avatar, basically. Then people react to that avatar, or to headlines about the show, rather than the show itself. But the response [from viewers] has been overwhelmingly lovely.' Privately, some producers believe the increasingly hostile tenor of public debate – underpinned by an assumption that anyone with an opinion contrary to one's own is not just misguided but morally deficient – contributed to the cancellation of The Project and ABC's Q+A. It's a theme that Langbroek picks up on during Tuesday's episode. 'It's very unusual to [broadcast] work live now, and increasingly so as more and more people have gotten scared about expressing themselves,' she says. 'When this show is gone, I can't think of where that will happen … when did people get so frightened of ideas?' Soon, the conversation shifts to a lighter topic. 'There's a definite 'school muck-up day' vibe,' says a techie as he munches on one of the homemade sausage rolls Langbroek brought in for the team. Behind the desk, Langbroek is throwing M&Ms at Taunton's face during a break. After she lands one in his mouth, Harris crosses off 'Kate throws a lolly in Sam's mouth' from that evening's Project bingo card, which a producer created to brighten the mood ahead of Friday's farewell. 'We've got a different card for every night,' Harris says, pointing to other items on Tuesday's list including 'Sam's hair needs fixing' and 'Kate references a conspiracy theory'.
