Manne steps down from Monthly board. Robert Manne announced this morning that he is stepping down from the board of The Monthly. Editor Ben Naparstek sent the following statement on behalf of the editorial board:

After more than five years as Chair of the Board of The Monthly, Robert Manne has decided to resign the post.

Instead, he will shortly begin a blog on The Monthly website which he wants to make clear will represent his personal views and not those of the magazine.

Manne will continue to write for the magazine on a regular basis.

In early September, he is publishing an analysis of The Australian, Bad News, the most recent edition of The Quarterly Essay.

Issued on behalf of the Editorial Board:

Robert Manne (former Chair) Ben Naparstek (editor), Morry Schwartz (proprietor), Chris Feik (publisher, Black Inc.)

Redundos hit Fairfax Community Network. A trio of well-regarded FCN western region sales managers were laid off this morning at the publisher’s Airport West offices as the share market pariah embarks on a new round of cost cutting.

The tenacious Frank Tenace, Ian Leckie and operations manager Frank Magnabosco were given the bad news, adding to the departures last week of Fairfax’s Melbourne recruitment head Brad Cowling and regional manager Norm Hollow. The reason?

A “company-wide restructure” to integrate Melbourne Publishing into FCN, whose revenue has been smashed by Antony Catalano’s upstart The Weekly Review. “The whole place is pretty much in turmoil,” one FCN insider confirmed to Crikey. — Andrew Crook

Front Page of Day. Spain’s La Vanguardia newspaper reports on the ongoing European debt crisis with its headline: “Germany and France try to take the reins of the crisis”.

The Department of Corrections. Fresh from ruffling the feathers of the UK’s elite in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, News Corp’s New York Post has now embarrassed American captains of industry in a story about black-market babies, no less. The Post was forced to apologise after incorrectly naming Tommy Hilfiger’s wife, Dee, as the better half of fellow cosmetics tycoon William Lauder:

Natural disasters cause APN to post first-half loss.

“APN News & Media Ltd has reported a first-half loss as the company faced a difficult publishing market impacted by earthquakes and floods. Shares in APN slumped five cents, or 5.6 per cent, to a record low 84 cents by 1011 AEST.” — The Australian

Senate to probe ABC cuts.

“A Senate inquiry will scrutinise the ABC’s recent decision to cut jobs and axe some television programs, which include The New Inventors, Collectors and Art Nation.” — TV Tonight

FA Cup opener to air live on Facebook.

“The opening game of the FA Cup is to be streamed live on Facebook, the first live football match to be broadcast on the social networking site.” — The Guardian

Nat Geo to premiere George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview.

“The National Geographic Channel is set to host the world premiere of George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 in Washington DC. The documentary, produced and directed by Peter Schnall, reveals exclusive, first-person insight into the former president’s experience following the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001.” — Fishbowl DC

Journalists value precise language, except when it comes to describing “minorities”.

“As journalists, we rely on details to enhance our stories. We “get the name of the dog” and try to be specific so we can offer clarity and tell the whole truth. But when it comes to stories involving race and ethnicity, we’re anything but specific.” — Poynter

Whistle-blowing doctor: My fight to speak the truth.

“English libel law was used to threaten me, but I had to speak out, says Peter Wilmshurst, the cardiologist sued for voicing safety concerns.” — New Scientist