Local Facebook rival soars as boycott grow

CLIENT: LITT

OUTLET: THE AUSTRALIAN

A new Australian Facebook rival has spiked in popularity after Facebook blocked news from its platform, with more than 15,000 users signing up to LITT since Thursday, a membership surge of 50 per cent.

LITT co-founder Peter Salom says the last few days have seen unprecedented growth for his platfom, which is undergoing a national roll out and a capital raise with investors via Birchal equity crowdfunding.

“If you’re an Australian that loves your local community – move on from Facebook and start sharing everything you love about your suburb on LITT. Your fave café, bakery, undiscovered beach, or why your town is the best in Australia," Salom says.

‘I’m glad they got him’: Phil Liggett, the voice of cycling, on Lance Armstrong

CLIENT: DEMAND.FILM

OUTLET: SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

The 77-year-old, still sounding as bright and smooth as ever in lockdown outside London, is talking ahead of the release of a new documentary, Phil Liggett: The Voice of Cycling.

The documentary, directed by Eleanor Sharpe and Nickolas Bird, opens in cinemas on March 8 and shows sides to Liggett that will be news to many of his fans. His early ambition to be a zoologist. His time as an aspiring professional rider, who became a cycling journalist then organiser of Britain’s Milk Race before moving into TV commentary.

His passion – living part of the year in South Africa as well as travelling to Australia for the Tour Down Under – for raising funds to save the rhino. And, surprisingly, his love for model trains.

Australian rival to Facebook slams social media giant's 'bullying' tactics in banning news as local users 'tired of being pushed around' by big foreign tech flock to the start-up platform

CLIENT: LITT

OUTLET: DAILY MAIL

A home-grown social media network has surged in size after Facebook banned Australian media and users from posting news.

Brent Thompson and Peter Salom woke up on Friday morning to find users for their app Litt jumped by almost 40 per cent after Facebook's announcement. Like millions of Australians, they were outraged at Facebook's bullying tactics in response to the government's proposed law to force tech giants to pay for news.

The company has offered itself as a 'haven' for Australian news papers, news websites, TV networks, radio stations and magazines are 'essential to our democracy'.

Perth social media app Litt to launch in Australia after Facebook news ban

CLIENT: LITT

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

Two Perth men have created their own social media app called Litt and will roll it out across Australia to take on giants like Facebook and Instagram.

Founders of Litt, Brent Thompson and Peter Salom, have already poured a couple of million dollars into their social media platform and after trialing it in Perth are preparing to take it nationwide.

The pair believe its good timing too as Facebook made a drastic move on Thursday, banning users from seeing or sharing Australian news, in response to the government’s proposed law to force social media giants to pay for news content.

Mr Thompson predicted that the social media giant’s ban will be the final straw for many users and will see a mass exodus of Aussies deleting Facebook from their lives as they look for alternatives.

Victorian lockdown sees restaurants face Valentine’s losses of tens of thousands

CLIENT: CHAPEL STREET PRECINCT

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

Melbourne business owners have described the latest lockdown as “heartbreaking” after losing tens of thousands of dollars in income and stock set for bumper Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Will Newton’s restaurant on Melbourne’s famous Chapel St was made for the day considering it’s called Lover, but he was “blindsided” by the snap decision to impose a COVID-19 lockdown before its busiest night of the year. As a result, his restaurant lost $40,000 in income and between $5,000 and $10,000 in produce, including 500 oysters that went uneaten.

“We were fully booked for the whole weekend being that our name is Lover — it is our time to shine — and we were really looking forward to the extra income that was going to come from the Valentine’s surge,” he told news.com.au.

Dr Zac Reveals the Perfect Poo

CLIENT: DR ZAC TURNER

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

In his latest weekly column for news.com.au, Dr Zac Turner has revealed the perfect poo, and how to obtain it. Dr Zac discusses why people shouldn’t compare their own bowel movements to others, and why doing so can often scare themselves into thinking their own is irregular.

Dr Zac's weekly column has continued to be a success, with this column reaching the fourth most read article on the site and was given the number two spot on the homepage.

Lockdown breaking hearts across Melbourne

CLIENT: CHAPEL STREET PRECINCT

OUTLET: SBS NEWS

The hospitality sector of Victoria is bearing the brunt of another lockdown and it couldn't come at a worse time on the eve of Valentine's Day. For restaurants like Chapel Street's Lover, this has equated to a loss of $40,000 in income. Will Newton from Lover told SBS news he has 148 calls to make, begging diners to move their Valentines bookings a week forward in order to salvage an income.

The moment lockdown was called, DL COMMS hustled in order for Chapel Street to raise their concern over the devastating news. The above story led the bulletin, which was a great success.

Summer of Sorrow

CLIENT: NUTRI-GRAIN

OUTLET: STUDIO 10

Ironwoman Jordan Mercer joined Studio 10 to share surf safety awareness as bystander rescue drowning deaths increase over Summer. After a devastating number of drowning deaths on Australian beaches this Summer, surf lifesavers, NutriGrain Ironmen and Ironwomen and local surfers have come together to share surf safety tips for all beachgoers.

Australia's most advanced ATMs released - for cash loving people living in a digital world

CLIENT: BANKTECH

OUTLET: CHANNEL SEVEN NEWS SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | BRISBANE | PERTH | ADELAIDE

Australia’s most advanced ATMs are being rolled out across the country, featuring world first technology that will allow people who prefer cash, to operate in the digital world.

The past 12 months has seen digital payments taking centre stage due to COVID, to the demise of people who prefer cash. These new ATMs have inbuilt note acceptors that will bridge the gap, allowing features that have never been offered with Australian ATMs. The feature being launched this week is the ability to donate cash via the ATM to your favourite charity

Can you spot the rip in this picture? Hero lifesaver reveals the exact ways to avoid getting caught out in the water

CLIENT: NUTRI-GRAIN

OUTLET: DAILY MAIL

Hero lifeguard Scott Burgess revealed how to identify a rip but said the best way to avoid one is to stay between flags and only swim during the day. A rip might have deeper and darker water with fewer breaking waves, there may be seaweed or debris floating out to sea or sandy-coloured water that extends beyond the surf zone, he said.

Mr Burgess also said there were three factors contributing to the Australian's drowning so far this swimming season.

'If you're drinking don't go swimming, please don't swim at night, swim between the flags,' he warned.

'All three of those contributing factors have been in play when we've lost people recently.