Welcome to The Bug‘s new occasional column by our Media Glass House researchers examining the contribution of photographers, picture editors, and photographs themselves to the hardcopy and online news diet of Australian media consumers.

Has anyone notice it’s a big few weeks ahead for the nation’s horse racing industry?

Most Aussies would know that the Melbourne Cup is looming. The first Tuesday in November is still marked by lots of people attending lunchtime booze-ups, becoming instant horseflesh experts, and taking the afternoon off after getting pissed and betting squillions on what is perhaps the hardest race of the year for which to pick a winner.

A great national tradition no doubt despite the growing group of neigh-sayers embracing the Nup to the Cup campaign to protest what they see as the cruelty dished out to the gee-gees some of whom do suffer physical ailments such as fractured legs as a result of racing, but only until an authorised and well-armed vet can arrive at their side in a ute with large portable screens in the back.

Of course the Murdoch media’s on course efforts make it hard to miss the fact that we are entering peak horse racing frenzy with heaps of coverage in the “news” pages of its metro turdbloids about the major spring racing events in their respective markets.

There was a time, our MGH teams recall fondly, when page three of a metro newspaper was reserved for actual news stories that were big, but not maybe big enough for the front page.

By that old rule today’s edition of Melbourne’s Herald-Sun suggests that a fashion parade on Royal Oaks Day coming up at Flemington racecourse is genuinely big news. (below)

The “exclusive” news story – perhaps that should be News story – gives breathless details of the “celebrity” guests expected on the day such as “international style icon and television personality Dorit Kemsley” (No, we don’t know who she is either.) who features in a big photo in what in reality is just a page three advert for the Victoria Racing Club.

In Sydney The Daily Telegraph takes a different approach, well sort of.

It gives NSW Racing and the Royal Randwick course a page-three advertisement – sorry that should be a page three News story – complete with a big stage photo plugging an upcoming stakes day sponsored by a bottled booze maker. (below)

The News story even talks up the sale of tickets to the upcoming race day which no doubt would encourage those who haven’t yet shelled out to go, to do so soon, or miss out on mixing with all the beautiful people featured in the photo.

On Thursday, Brisbane’s Murdoch turdbloid The Courier-Mail was less subtle. (below)

It ran an advertisement, sorry, it ran a story on page seven about a big local race day next weekend including a large photo featuring an attractive presumed racegoer.

The story also talked up ticket sales and even included a website address where they could be bought.

Vital information, apparently, in a News story but a cheap and blatant commercial plus in a genuine new story.

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Speaking of The Courier-Mail our MGH researchers were drawn to a glowing profile in today’s edition reporting on how well LNP Premier David Crisafulli has done in his first year in office.

Of course the opposition Labor Party and its leader Steven Miles was mentioned too.

But the photo of Mr Miles was deliberately less than flattering. (below) But as we all know, gratuitous denigration of Labor identities by News is not news to anybody.

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