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Examples

By Michael Lund

The copyright to much of my work as a journalist remains with the news organisations for which I worked and so I'm not able to reproduce the stories on this website.

However, some of my work has made it onto the web so here are a few links. (Some of the ABC audio may have been removed.)

If you would like to see further examples of my text, audio and visual work then please contact me so we can make arrangements.

The Punch

What next for Facebook after its nightmare week?: A look at the problems of online social network websites faced with abuse and vandalism on tribute pages set up for two young Queenslanders killed in tragic circumstances. This was an edited version of a piece I wrote for The Courier-Mail and was my debut article on News Ltd's comment and opinion website.

The Courier-Mail

Is it time to abolish state governments?: With health and the running of our hospitals now the latest state service looking to be controlled from Canberra is it time again to debate the end of our state governments? Some say the middle tier of government is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Noise pollution from neighbours is bad for your health: If you think that "thump, thump" from the neighbour's sub-woofer is driving you crazy then you could be right. It's not only annoying, it's also damaging people's mental and physical health. Those who suffer from noisy neighbours say authorities are not doing enough, and tougher legislation is needed to deal with the problem.

Delay on ABC switch to digital radio in Brisbane: Just months away from the slow roll out of digital radio in Australia, the ABC announced it would not be ready for the May switch-on. The commercial stations will get the lead on the new technology broadcasting. That's if you can buy a digital radio receiver in time.

Mortgage hopes rest on Reserve Bank of Australia: After years of interest rate increases all the observers were pointing to a drop in interest rates. But what would that mean for to those with a mortgage? Should they stay on a variable loan or switch to something else?

Setting up shop again not as easy as ABC: When the ABC closed down the studios in Toowong it marked both confirmation of a cancer cluster on the Queensland site, and the start of the search for a new headquarters for the national broadcaster. So after almost two years of searching there is no permanent home for the ABC in Brisbane. Perhaps it needs a few suggestions from a former employee.

Airline profits are in the bag: Is it me or is it getting harder to board an airline these days? Personal frustrations and observations of how the airline industry appears to be copying with tighter security and rising fuel prices. This Perspective piece was also reported in the travel section where it picked up quite a few comments.

Gladiators, are you ready for Origin III: Watching a State of Origin game on television is nothing compared to the real thing. This is a personal account of what it was like to be in the crowd at Game II in Brisbane, a father-in-law on one side and two young children in front.

FuelWatch 'doesn't add up': I've followed the fuel price debate for years and this story emerged from speaking to the people who've been supplying fuel price figures to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission inquiry.

History of the chocolate Easter egg: It was so hard researching the history of chocolate for this piece, trying to establish the first link between chocolate and an egg for Easter eggs. Of course there were some samples to help me along.

Footy's more than meat pies: A merger of food and football for this article where three of Queensland's top chefs matched a personal dish with three of Queensland's top rugby league players.

Desperate for breath of life: Amy Evans believes she has less than a year to live unless she get's a lung transplant. It's the only treatment for a little known disease known as LAM that affects only young women. There is no cure, and there's too few people opting to donate their organs.

Music for the love of country: Country music claims to be one of the most popular music styles in Queensland yet it hardly gets any air-play on commercial radio stations. On the eve of the 2008 Tamworth country music awards this story takes a look at who's listening to the music.

Whale of a dilemma: The stoush over Japan's whaling expeditions in the Southern Ocean could see the country withdraw from the International Whaling Commission. But one academic thinks there is a way out of the stalemate if Australia brokers a compromise with Japan.

Rewriting the workplace rules: What is and isn't acceptable in the workplace is constantly shifting ground. But the new generation of workplace taboos is threatening chaos within businesses that refuse to set firm ground rules, experts warn.

Lost in transition: About 34-million bags are mishandled each year by airlines across the globe, and while the majority are returned within days, what happens to the rest? A look at the problems of lost luggage in the airline industry.

Sky the limit for Brisbane: A profile of one of the fastest growing cities in the world to preview a public forum discussion as part of the Our Future, Your Say forum at the Brisbane Customs House.

The making of civil liberties: A look back at the protests in Brisbane that led to the formation of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, now celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Friends like these: The new social networking websites are the place to be for politicians, but just how do they work? It's a place where your friends can mean everything.

ABC

ABC journalists recognised at Walkley awards: This is how ABC News reported the 2002 Walkley Awards in which I was Highly Commended. (This is the ABC's own announcement of the results ABC wins Walkleys.)

Brisbane faces another day of high fire danger (No longer available online): One of many reports I've done over the years about bush fires. The report was a finalist in the Queensland Media Awards.

Veterans' campaign: One of a number of reports that focused on the plight of those who were injured during their time in the Australian defence force, and were now forced to live on a pension they claimed wasn't enough.

Child pornography and paedophiles on the Internet: Queensland Police had taken the hunt for paedophiles to the Internet with investigators posing as youngsters in the hope they could capture the perverts.

Wannabe war heroes: Each ANZAC Day a team of undercover veterans is out in force to capture the phoney war heroes who wear medals they never earned or are not entitled to wear.

Can the Lions make it four in a row?: I have contributed to a number of ABC news and current affairs programs. This was for the AM program on the start of the new AFL season.

ABC TV Australian Story

Double Bind: Twice the same man was found guilty by a jury of killing a Queensland toddler and twice the verdict was overturned, the second time because of the ancient double jeopardy rule. The debate still rages over whether or not to scrap that rule.

With This Ring: The tragic accident, emotional rescue and painful recovery of Gayle Shann who lost one arm and the use of her other in an accident on the Queensland cattle property she shares with husband Mac. This popular episode was voted one of the top three My Favourite Australian Storys of all time.

Eye of a Needle: The story of a Queensland man who went from drop-out to the head of a multi-million dollar medial equipment company, a success he puts down to a near family tragedy and a religious vision. The program was a finalist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes and the Queensland Media Awards.

Brisbane Institute

The problem of problem gambling - (No longer available online): A feature story based on a two-part series on gambling I did for ABC local radio.

BBC

The West - Michael Lund: This was my first story to appear online and it was one of the first text and video streaming stories to appear on the BBC's then new website.