Mr Scott says that like its economy, Australia’s media market was built on a balance of public and private enterprises, but in commercial television, the age of media moguls is passing, with private equity now dominating.

"In newspapers, the Murdoch media empire has responded to the crisis of advertising by proposing to transform the online world in the same way that cable transformed television - by making consumers pay."

But what happens to quality journalism when its reach and audience are limited in this way; and what will Australians expect of the public broadcaster in the next decade?

As its Managing Director, Mark Scott has presided over a significant transformation of the ABC.  Before joining the ABC he had almost 12 years in senior editorial and executive positions with Fairfax Media.

The AN Smith Lecture in Journalism commemorates Arthur Norman Smith, a leading political journalist.  Over its 70 year history the lecture has attracted such distinguished speakers as: Rupert Murdoch, Bob Hawke, Michelle Grattan, Peter Beattie, Jon Faine, Maxine McKew and Michael Gawenda. It is considered the most prestigious lecture on journalism in Australia.

Who: Mark Scott, Managing Director, Australian Broadcasting Commission

What: AN Smith Lecture in Journalism 2009.  "The Fall of Rome: Media after Empire"

When: Wednesday 14 October 2009 at 6.30pm

Where: Basement Theatre, The Spot, New Economics and Commerce Building, 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton.

Free public tickets
Phone:  8344 6004.
Online: www:unimelb.edu.au/public_lectures/

Media are welcome to attend by prior arrangement.