Press club

• The ruling is a victory for the National Press Club and numerous press freedom organizations.
• The Press Club became involved in the Gutiérrez case six years ago, after inviting him to accept the John Aubuchon Press Freedom award on behalf of journalists in Mexico.
• Despite the appeals of the Press Club, the bishop of El Paso and numerous other advocates, Gutiérrez remained behind bars for nine months.
• The National Press Club Institute, represented by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, continues to press its Freedom of Information Act case seeking release of Department of Homeland Security documents and communications related to Gutiérrez.

• WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from National Press Club President Eileen O'Reilly on the passing of Bill Richardson whose long career in public service included significant time spent working for the release of hostages including journalists.
• "We were deeply saddened by the news of the death of former New Mexico Governor and Congressman Bill Richardson.
• Richardson was known for being responsive to journalists and transparent to his constituents as all public figures should be, Richardson visited the Press Club on many occasions, speaking on Dec. 9, 1992, March 2, 1999 and Jan. 13, 2023.
• Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists.

• The measure used is “CR4” – the market share of the top four firms.
• Average concentration across industry groups, Australia versus United States Market share of the top four firms, per cent Importantly, we find market concentration in Australia increasing over time.

Concentrated industries don’t welcome new entrants

• But we found that in highly concentrated industries the four largest firms rarely got dislodged from their top positions over the 14 years between 2007 and 2021.
• And those industries that experienced a rise in concentration over the seven years to 2014 recorded a decline in new firm entry over the following seven years.

Concentrated industries break rules more often

• Ranking Australian industries by their average concentration, we found the most concentrated had the most infringement notices and enforceable undertakings issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
• The airline industry, which is famously concentrated, has been hit with 12 such notices and enforceable undertakings over the past 30 years compared to only four for the accommodation industry.

Concentration means higher prices

• To explore the impact of market concentration on prices, we examined margins between retail and wholesale petrol prices in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and their relationship to the number of competing petrol stations within three kilometres.
• We found that where petrol stations faced less competition they tended to charge higher margins, and that when wholesale prices rose, they appeared to be quicker in passing on this cost to consumers to maintain margins.

Concentration is happening more quietly

• Whereas in the US large mergers have to be reported to regulators, in Australia mergers are more like marriages.
• In the US, it is estimated transactions too small to be reported account for 28–47% of the increase in concentration between 2022 and 2016.
• In Australia, there is a risk that many of these transactions are going undetected.
• At times overseas authorities knew about proposed transactions involving Australian companies before the Australian authorities.
• The government has announced a review of competition policy that will include a review of merger laws as well as non-compete clauses.
• Read more:
  1 in 5 Australian workers have non-compete clauses: new survey

  Dan Andrews is affiliated with the e61 Institute.

• WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by National Press Club President Eileen O'Reilly and National Press Club Journalism Institute President Gil Klein on the decision by Russian court to extend the pretrial period for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, for a second time.
• "Our anger over Evan Gershkovich's unjust detention has been heightened over the Russian court's decision, yet again, to extend his period of pretrial detention.
• "The National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute call on Russia to halt Evan's unjust detention and immediately release him from this sham of a trial without conditions.
• The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy.