Opinion

Media Writer October 23, 2026 — 5:00am

October 23, 2026 — 5:00am

Tabloid tactics

7News Melbourne broke news of the harrowing attack on Helen Haines in its 6pm bulletin on Monday after she was rammed by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.

The report quickly thrust the nation’s top newsrooms into action to tell their own readers, listeners and viewers of the events surrounding the independent federal MP for Indi in Victoria, who has since lost both her legs.

After news broke of the attack on Helen Haines, the nation’s top newsrooms quickly sprung into action. Alex Ellinghausen, ABC

News Corp’s tabloids were lightning fast, getting their own version of events up across its numerous syndicated websites about 10 minutes later.

But how did they confirm the story so quickly?…