The western media’s failure to report the reality of Gaza didn’t start on 7 October 2023. It’s always been like this. Here’s why journalists won’t tell you the truth about Palestine. (more…)
Category: Media
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Arms industry infiltrates National Press Club
More than a quarter of the National Press Club’s sponsors are part of the global arms industry or working on its behalf. (more…)
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Murdoch, the Dismissal and my job in Japan
Rupert Murdoch played a critical role in the Dismissal. He knew how to bring pressure on Kerr and provided strong support for Malcolm Fraser. (more…)
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US-China power shift: a G2 world – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Trump hints at changing great-power relationship. Plus: Beijing wresting control of the global narrative; Myanmar’s scam centre raids dismissed as a smokescreen; Prabowo considers declaring Soeharto a national hero; US approves South Korean nuclear-powered submarine; China’s modern women need new men. (more…)
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Revealed: Secret plans to introduce media censorship in Australia
Moves to restrict just what journalists can report on defence and intelligence matters are underway – and journalists need to get up to speed fast. (more…)
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When in doubt, blame China (every News Corp headline needs a villain)
If you only skimmed the headlines from News Corp, you’d be forgiven for thinking China was launching a krill-powered naval strike from Antarctica, staging an electric vehicle blitzkrieg across the outback and forcing Hyundai into some humiliating act of surrender. (more…)
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The press and the Dismissal – Part III
Television had come to the fore in elections during the Whitlam campaign of 1972 when increased funds were spent on advertising with slogans (“It’s time” was backed by a catchy jingle) and mainly short television grabs for the news. (more…)
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The press and the Dismissal – Part II
Following the Dismissal on 11 November 1975, the editors of the major newspapers understood the national mood was volatile. (more…)
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The press and the Dismissal – Part I
On the morning of 15 October 1975, most major newspapers advocated in their editorials that the Labor Government should go. (more…)
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Moral inadequacy in national leadership
“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do,” Voltaire (more…)
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The ABC and News Corp finally agree on something: China panic
Last week, a friend asked if I was worried about Chinese “nuclear threats”. (more…)
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Open letter to David Marr on his interview with Chris Hedges
Well-known journalist Chris Hedges, whose talk scheduled to be delivered at the National Press Club was suddenly cancelled, was confronted by the ABC’s Late Night Live host David Marr in an unexpectedly ferocious interview. One reader took exception to this. (more…)
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If you write, you must also act: Reflections on the limitations of writing
I’ve been thinking about failure a lot recently in the shadow of Gaza. About the failure of humans to prevent — yet again — the most serious of crimes. About the failure of politics. About the failure of international law. And about the failure of writing. (more…)
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Modi cancels ASEAN trip, avoids meeting Trump – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Trump says he spoke to Modi but India denies call took place. Plus: Japan’s new coalition a shift to the right; Timor Leste finally gets seat at regional table; Life worse than death on Myanmar scam farm; Prabowo – control, populism and diminished accountability; Sri Lanka suffers from world’s worst plastics spill. (more…)
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‘Pro-Trump propagandists’ take over Pentagon Press Corps after signing loyalty pledge
Critics called the department’s announcement “deeply weird and awful”, “so Orwellian”, and “real textbook fascism beginning to end”. (more…)
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China, US or us? Australia’s Upper Path in the global minerals race
The headlines are breathless: “China versus the world,” proclaimed The Australian, quoting some very important people from the sheriff’s office urging allies to “decouple” from Beijing and unite against China’s “takeover of global rare earth supply chains”. (more…)
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On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish
No political conflict contains as many journalistic minefields as that between Israel and Palestine. (more…)
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The Pope, the media and the ‘normalisation’ of Trump
As world media and leaders normalise US President Donald Trump’s erratic behaviour, Pope Leo XIV must resist and keep his distance. (more…)
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South Korea has missed the alternative media train
US alternative media is awash with stories on Israel and Gaza, Ukraine and Russia, and now Iran and Venezuela. (more…)
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Blame and frame: How Chinese Australians are counted when blamed, discounted when needed
We say we want to understand China. Then we glance past a million Chinese speakers at home and start counting somewhere else. (more…)
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Ceasefire sparks fresh calls for global media access to Gaza
Press groups are also demanding justice for the more than 200 journalists slaughtered in Palestinian territory over the past two years. (more…)
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Childhood on hold: Growing up too soon in Gaza and beyond
UNICEF has called Gaza the “most dangerous place in the world to be a child.” It estimates every single child in Gaza will need mental health support. (more…)
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Judge allows Kostakidis ‘antisemitism’ case to proceed
Justice Stephen McDonald told the court, in the course of a six-minute hearing on Thursday, that the contention the Zionist Federation of Australia had no case against journalist Mary Kostakidis had to be determined at trial, reports Joe Lauria. (more…)
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Price rally fuels surge in Southeast Asia gold businesses – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Beijing in 11-month gold-buying streak. Plus: Takaichi the most conservative leadership choice; US looks to delegate Taiwan defence; Prabowo holds massive military parade; South Korea’s Lee challenges US wartime control; China’s harsh times feed a spiritual economy. (more…)
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The Australian media is more concentrated than ever. Here are the three moments that got us here
In its announcement of the proposed merger with Southern Cross Media, Seven West described the deal as “consistent with Seven West’s stated strategic position of being in support of media consolidation in Australia”. (more…)
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Van Jones and the moral vacancy of American commentary on Gaza
The US pundit’s “dead Gaza baby” joke was not a slip of the tongue, but a window into a media culture that trivialises Palestinian suffering and deflects responsibility. (more…)
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Journos as heroes and villains – ‘The Hack’ reviewed – Part 2
The Hack is rare among films and television programs for showing journalists doing journalism to other journalists. (more…)
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Journos as heroes and villains – ‘The Hack’ reviewed – Part 1
In films and on the small screen, journalists are portrayed as heroes or villains. In The Hack they are both. Does this reflect the diminished, benighted standing journalists hold in society today or is it a step forward in showing the complexities of the work? (more…)
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Cancelling Chris Hedges: What price balance?
On its homepage you will read that “The National Press Club (NPC) is a vigorous champion of media freedom and a home away from home for journalists”. (more…)
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Statement on cancellation of Chris Hedges’ confirmed appearance at the National Press Club of Australia
AFOPA is responding to the statement published on 4 October 2025 by the National Press Club of Australia in relation to their cancellation of Chris Hedges’ confirmed appearance at the National Press Club on 20 October 2025. (more…)