PwC's media industry expert Megan Brownlow casts her eye over how election night coverage panned out, the winners and losers and the politician with brightest future as a well-paid media commentator.
Best on-the-night election coverage:
ABC TV – great panel, beautiful graphics, good crosses.
When the environment fails to provide real news or results, it’s great to have an Annabel Crabb to offer erudite commentary on the level of inflation/deflation of the polling stations’ balloons…and what that means.
Best lead-up coverage:
Sky News with special commendation to Paul Murray and his town hall broadcasts from around Australia, Cooma to Cairns. A great way to bring the important marginal seats and regional Aussies into the frame. Paul’s everyman approach is highly likable.
Least edifying exchange:
Queensland Senator James McGrath and broadcaster Alan Jones regarding the removal of Tony Abbott as Prime Minister on the Seven Network’s coverage:
Jones: “There were a lot of bed-wetters in the Liberal Party and you were the captain of the bed-wetters.”
McGrath, exploding: “I don’t care what you think! You’re the bed-wetter. You’re a prostitute, you’re a grub!”
Most agile opportunism:
Seven News/Yahoo7 posting the exchange online minutes after it took place.
Worst diversity optics:
Seven’s long line-up of white men. Who knew we’d ever be grateful for the occasional presence of Jacqui Lambie?
Biggest guns wheeled in to be on-air panelists:
Peter Costello, Kim Beazley, Laurie Oakes and Amanda Vanstone on the Nine Network’s coverage. Their deep historic knowledge and relaxed presentation styles provided gravitas and substance.
Best election victory speech in the absence of a victory:
Federal Greens leader Senator Richard Di Natale claiming a great success having retained their one lower house seat.
Best on-the-night tally room:
Australian Electoral Commission vtr.aec.gov.au. Great UX, up-to-the-minute, clean colour scheme (purple, mauve, grey and white).
Highly commended online tool:
The ABC's online ad spend tracker. Regular updates on what the two major parties were spending on advertising, but only captured television, radio and print.
Politician most deserving of a future as a well-paid media commentator:
Penny Wong
Politician most likely to be offered a future as a well-paid media commentator:
Scott Morrison
In the lead-up, best tweet:
Prime Media Group director Cass O’Connor admitting she answered the phone to a robocall of Malcolm Turnbull and greeted him as if he was a human (to be fair, she does know him).
In the lead-up, best revenge:
The ABC’s Leigh Sales calling out and publishing the nasty trolls who emerge after any political interview.
At the coverage’s end, best revenge:
The ABC’s Leigh Sales saying: “Suck on that, Kerry O’Brien”. Clearly enjoying some light-hearted relief after a marathon seven-hour broadcast.
In the lead-up, best timed press release:
Free TV’s, 'Election advertising blackout a joke’. Reasonably pointing out the unfairness that from midnight Wednesday before election day, the Broadcasting Services Act forbids paid political advertising on television and radio. Online advertising is not captured under this rule.
Most improved commentator:
Mark Latham on Radio 2UE’s breakfast show with John Stanley and Gary Linnell. Sounded very sensible, thoughtful and sane. Phew.
Check out the rest of our electon coverage, including immediate reaction to the voting deadlock, newspaper front pages, analysis of major parties' election campaigns and the best and worst political ads.