Written by Kotori Tayama-Gannon

New women’s health treatments to be added to PBS  

The Australian government has announced plans to add more contraceptive, endometriosis, and IVF drugs to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in an effort to reduce costs for patients and improve accessibility. The women’s health initiative under the Albanese government will include several medications, including ‘Slinda’ – a first-of-its-kind contraceptive pill, ‘Ryeqo’ – a treatment for endometriosis, and ‘Pergoveris’ – a fertility medication. 

Without subsidies, these treatments can cost up to $250, $2,700, and more than $3,500 per year, respectively, despite widespread need. The move is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of Australian women and significantly reduce treatment costs as healthcare expenses continue to rise. 

AI concerns increase for journalists 

A recent survey has revealed that artificial intelligence and the rapid advancement of technology are among the top concerns for journalists, with 88 per cent fearing AI’s impact on journalistic integrity.  

As newsrooms struggle to keep pace with a fast-changing media landscape, job losses tied to AI integration have increased, particularly for those unable to adapt. Meanwhile, social media’s evolving role in both news dissemination and combating misinformation has placed additional strain on smaller editorial teams. 

Disinformation remains a pressing threat, eroding trust in journalism as fake news spreads rapidly online. With growing political polarisation and the rise of echo chambers, public confidence in the media continues to decline. 

As a general election approaches, these challenges underscore the urgent need to strike a balance between technological progress, journalistic accuracy, and public trust. 

Nine joins Warner Bro’s as advertising partner for Max 

Nine has been appointed as the exclusive advertising sales partner for Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming platform, which is set to launch in Australia on March 31st.  

The new service will offer three tiers, including an advertising-supported option to maximise its commercial value and generate revenue.  

As part of its strategy, Warner Bros. Discovery is shifting much of its HBO and Warner Bros. content to Max as the central hub, with popular shows like The White Lotus making a permanent move. This means these shows will be removed from other streaming services, including Binge, along with fan favourites such as Euphoria and The Last of Us.  

To retain its 1.3 million subscribers, Foxtel has signed a deal with Max to offer free access to the ads tier, ensuring users who favour HBO content don’t cancel for the new service. 

Turning a misprint into a golden marketing opportunity 

In February, Better Beer, co-founded by Australian social media personalities The Inspired Unemployed, discovered that 70,000 cartons of their Zero Carb beer had been printed with upside-down labels.  

After realising the scale of the misprint and assuring customers the beer was safe to drink, they turned the mistake into a marketing opportunity. A social media campaign was launched encouraging users to share photos of their upside-down cans for a chance to win an SUV.  

Not only did this strategy spark a wave of creative user-generated content, it reinforced brand loyalty through ownership of the issue, authenticity and customer engagement.