Some stand to benefit from the deluge of fake news from the war, while others could pay dearly. On Nov. 21, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, answered her mobile phone during a press briefing. The microphone picked up the person on the other end saying, “Be sure not to say anything about Continue reading »
Media
A year ago, Mussa Hijazi, a stone-throwing young teenager of the first Intifada who became a long-serving Canberra lawyer, laid out three options on how the conflict in Gaza would end. In reverse order, they were: Israel accepts that it needs to sit down with Hamas, or whoever is in charge, and negotiate on matters Continue reading »
Julian Assange may no longer be behind bars, but his conviction casts a shadow over press freedom and the safety of journalists everywhere—a wrong Assange and his supporters world-wide are determined to set right by overturning his wrongful conviction via a presidential pardon from Joe Biden. In a remarkable bipartisan effort this month, Republican Congressman Continue reading »
From the Committee to Protect Journalists: “The Israel-Gaza war has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists since Israel declared war on Hamas following its attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. As of November 26, 2024, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 137 journalists and media workers were among the more than tens of thousands killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Continue reading »
I’d like to think that ABC News’ revamped online iteration is like an ancient Aunty’s death rattle. Surely, its demise must follow. To aim its first screen (front page?) at the broadcaster’s mostly intelligent consumers is an insult. It’s appallingly inept. The new look was introduced several weeks ago, and despite complaints that must have Continue reading »
"The UK's news environment [risks] fracturing irreparably along social, regional and economic lines... The implications for our society and democracy would be grim.”
Forty four years ago today as I am writing this (17/11/80) the harbinger of Donald Trump appeared in The New Yorker magazine. TV critic George W.S. Trow wrote a long essay (which later became a book) titled ‘Within the context of no context,’ giving notice to the world of what we now see unfolding across Continue reading »
Historically, many of its members have waged and/or supported wars in the name of democracy. Democracy has been held up as the beacon of good governance and ethical behaviour in a good versus bad, or democracy versus authoritarian, perceptual dichotomy; the struggle for dominance of which is viewed in Manichean terms. The idea perpetrated is Continue reading »
I audibly gasped when Andrew Podger referred to Israel’s response in Gaza as a “lack of care” in a recent P&I article. Hardly a balanced use of words. Andrew Podger’s article (19th November) expresses his views on bias and imbalance within P&I, particularly on the issue of Palestine-Israel. I noted John Menadue’s firm response but Continue reading »
Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, when asked about disgraced former shock jock, Alan Jones, has replied, ”Alan Who?” Despite the former broadcaster at one time being featured prominently on Ms Rinehart’s companies website. ”A beloved national treasure like myself meets... Read More ›