From the Crikey grapevine, the latest tips and rumours …

AFP raids Seven for Corby payoff. At least 20 federal police are currently at Seven headquarters on the hunt for any details about a payoff to Schapelle Corby. Seven’s believed to have secured an exclusive interview with her, but the network has consistently denied it. No wonder, given Indonesian authorities have threatened to send Corby back to the slammer if she takes cash for the interview.

A Seven insider tells Crikey there are at least 20 cops, and they say they could be there for 24 hours.”They’re going through hard drives, computers, paperwork, the lot,” our source said, before dashing off.

La Trobe goes to the bank? There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for nervous staff at La Trobe University, which is in a deep financial hole and in the middle of a massive consolidation of its teaching. Campus sources tell us the university’s council has approved a move to borrow from the banks to bridge the cashflow crisis and maintain current operations. Stay tuned …

Star subs out of work. We’re told Melbourne-based Star Media Group has outsourced several production jobs to Manila within the past month. It’s helped fuel speculation that the company is preparing to merge with Metro Media Publishing, a persistent rumour an MMP spokesman flatly denied to Crikey yesterday. Do you know what’s going on? Drop us a line or use the anonymous form on the website.

Opps, wrong Downer Jnr. A few weeks ago we got a tip that Downer Jnr could soon be off to London in a plum diplomatic post. We figured that meant Alexander Downer’s children, but alas, we got the wrong Downer! Downer Jnr of course refers to the former opposition leader and foreign minister Alexander Downer, who was announced as the next high commissioner to London (cutting short the tenure of Labor man Mike Rann) today. Downer’s father, Sir Alexander, held the post from 1963 to 1972.

*Heard anything that might interest Crikey? Send your tips to boss@crikey.com.au or use our guaranteed anonymous form