We are now in the third decade of the 21st Century, so what has happened in the last 10 years? Certainly, had it not been for WikiLeaks, 2010 itself might have gone down as another forgettable year for media in Australia and around the world, few examples of great journalism, no breathtaking, game-changing technical innovations, not even any great “end-of-an-era” events at which we could pause and take stock. Read More
Humour is a funny thing … and sometimes it’s not. Frequent high-profile blunders and controversial cases of misfired humour in the media have failed to remind us time-and-again how tricky humour – especially satire – can be. Now, ten years on from Channel Nine’s infamous “blackface incident”, have Australian broadcasters actually learned anything? … Read More
More and more women journalists and female crews are reporting from the front lines of conflicts . Once almost wholly the domain of men, war reporting now seems to be open to women, but how true is that? And while women can bring an expanded skillset to the job, are we actually seeing that on our news pages and TV screens? What can we do to redress failures in assigning and valuing women war reporters? Read More
Fijian coup leader, military dictator and then elected Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama wanted to be remembered as a man who implemented reform in his island nation of 800,000 people. But it was the very journalists he bullied who would be writing his legacy. More than 10 years have now passed since this article was first published, but has anything really changed in the Pacific islands state? Read More
There is often a fine line between reporting tragedy and making it. Society’s seemingly insatiable appetite to see, read and hear of fellow humans in trouble can lead journalists into thinking we’re just doing what the public wants. But how far can we intrude into the grief of victims and survivors? As Australia recovers from more horrific bushfires, we look back at 2009, which brought out the best and the worst in the media. Read More
Manipulation of the media by people who have power is not new, but is it getting more cunning and insidious? The seemingly endless conflict in Gaza in early 2009 showed how difficult life could be for journalists reporting from the front line of conflicts. It’s not just a matter of dodging bullets and shells but trying to avoid the shrapnel from public relations spin too. Read More
Journalism can be a dangerous business wherever it’s practised. Though experienced reporters get used to navigating foreign cultures and alien customs, sometimes the greatest dangers are hidden away from the front line. The case of Australian broadcaster Peter Lloyd brought home the need for journalists to take extra care of themselves wherever they are, even when the pressure seems to be off. Read More
In the often rocky relationship between journalists and governments, it is a sad truth that we are often liked best when we are at our worst, and disliked most when we are at our best. Few governments like a free and unrestrained media to criticise them, give voice to opposing views and expose corruption. In opposition, those same politicians support free media. So it is important journalists hold true to core principles. Read More
A decision by an Australian court that an accused paedophile must be set free because he could not get a fair trial sent a clear warning about the limits of campaigning journalism in free societies. While the media play a vital role in exposing crimes and corruption, we are just one of the four pillars holding up western democracies. Independent courts are another and it pays not to cross them without a very good reason. Read More
Finders keepers? A highly sensitive, controversial, confidential document found on a train seat or cafe table is every journalist’s dream, presenting the possibility of a scoop of a lifetime. But it’s not yours, right? Should you give it back unread or publish and be damned? The practical and ethical choices – and the consequences – should give us all pause for thought. Read More
