No news isn’t good news

Thousands of Australian journalists have lost their jobs in recent years as traditional newsrooms cut staff after advertising revenues collapsed in the face of internet competition.

W.W.Whistleblowing

The traditional divide between journalism and espionage has blurred, as has the boundary between the protection of national security, and the cover up of nefarious practices of politicians, tycoons, and bureaucrats.

The government, rather than Google, could subsidise good journalism

Google and Facebook could soon be forced to pay local commercial media organisations for sharing their content on digital platforms. Making these massive digital platforms pay Australian news publishers might be good politics, but it is odd economics.

Actions speak louder than words

The detention of Australian journalist Cheng Lei gives lie to Chinese President Xi’s supposed ‘reform and opening up’ agenda.

Could the new ‘tech tax’ save journalism?

Australia could be the first country to support journalism by diverting profits from Facebook and Google using competition law.

Holding politicians to account

As the pandemic deepens the long-term financial woes of the news media in both Australia and the United States, it has also proved a timely reminder of the vital work of political journalism in democracies:

In praise of democracy’s detectives

The news for journalism in the past decade has been decidedly glum but investigative journalism – the highest form of the craft – is actually in a healthy state.

Defining the power of public interest journalism

The recent police raids on Australian journalists are a cause of concern for many, but they also highlight the far-reaching impact of public interest journalism.

How ‘access journalism’ undermines real investigations

An allegation is not necessarily a story, nor is a “link to something” automatically evidence. There needs to be larger conversation about what constitutes proper public evidence, proper reliable sources and transparency

Journalism, international affairs and the new information order

The world still needs good journalism but the gatekeeping role which journalists and editors once played is in ruins.

Wanted: a trustworthy keeper of the truth

In this era of ‘fake news’, social media memes and declining budgets for traditional news sources, is there anyone left to act as a guardian of the truth in the reporting of contentious issues or current events?