Anthony Klan.
Independent journalist Anthony Klan has won a seat on the board of the Copyright Agency in his second attempt, this time not having to fight the influence of his own union.
In a six-way contest, Klan with 219 votes (29.24% of the total), has been elected as an author member director on the board of the collecting agency.
"I am excited to be able to advocate for journalists and authors, having been appointed Author Director of the Copyright Agency,” Klan, who runs the Klaxon, told AdNews.
“Over many years, journalists have raised serious concerns about royalty payments having dried up.
“Over $120 million is collected each year in royalties. I will be undertaking a forensic review to ascertain where the funds are flowing.
“I look forward to working constructively with the Copyright Agency board and management to ensure journalists and authors receive their full entitlements, and that anything impeding this is brought to light.
“I would like to thank all those who supported me and I look forward to advocating on behalf of all journalists and authors."
Klan’s first attempt at the Copyright Agency board three years ago was blocked by his own union, the MEAA ( Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance), which endorsed investigative journalist Adele Ferguson, also a union member, ensuring her election
Ferguson romped it in but soon resigned, citing extra work as the chair of the Walkley Foundation.
The Copyright Agency board ignored Klan’s second place in the voting and picked an outsider, someone who hadn't then faced an election, journalist academic Matthew Ricketson.
Ricketson wasn’t far behind Klan in the current poll, 194, representing 25.9% of the vote.
The MEAA this time didn’t endorse a candidate but emailed its members, many of them also registered as author members at the Copyright Agency, to inform them two union members -- Klan and Ricketson -- were standing.
Between Klan and Ricketson, they covered more than half the votes cast, showing the power of the MEAA’s member communication.
The other big member body involved with the Copyright Agency is the Australia Society of Authors, which founded the collecting agency 50 years ago.
The Australian Society of Authors already has the ability to appoint two representatives to the Copyright Agency board.
Two authors did well in the vote. Speculative fiction writer Eugen Bacon got 117 votes (15.62%) and children’s author Julia Lawrinson 116 votes (15.49%)
Together, their combined votes would have left Klan in second place. However, the Australian Society of Authors in the recent past hasn’t fielded an endorsed candidate.
That body, taking a leaf from the union playbook, could point out to its 3,000 members which candidates were members or not. That may or may not make a difference to the outcome.
The other two candidates: Gaby Naher with 81 votes (10.81%); James Phalan 22 votes (2.94%).
DISCLOSURE: Chris Pash was a board director of the Copyright Agency (2016-2019) and is a former board director and chair of the Australian Society of Authors (2010-2020).
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