Feature

Global organisation Human Rights Watch has criticised Australia's poorly defined national security laws and critical lack of press freedom legislation in their recent annual report. The Age describe this in a recent article, which can be read here. Australia begins 2020 in 21st position on RSF's World Press Freedom Index, having slipped two places since 2018.  Recommendations from the two…

China, sitting at 177 of 180 on RSF's global press freedom index, is not known for its liberal treatment of journalists. Major news organisations are creating specific roles for covering China remotely. Further details in Axios here.

The CPJ have released their report on journalists imprisoned, missing and killed around the world in 2019. China tops the list this year, eclipsing Turkey, with 48 journalists detained throughout the year. Read the Forbes article here.

The CIVICUS Monitor, a global assessor of democratic freedoms made up of various human rights centres, recently published findings about the downgrading of Australia's democracy, from 'open' to 'narrowed' after raids on journalists, prosecution of whistleblowers and other civil freedom issues that have come to the fore this year. Australia needs a Media Freedom Act to ensure we can strengthen…

Saving regional and rural media is going to be a growing conversation in Australia. Here is one example… Photo credit: Unsplash

The New York Times published a piece by Mark Zuckerberg this week, in which he reinforces the critical role journalism plays in a healthy democracy. "I believe deeply in the social good that journalism provides. Today, it’s more important than ever: We need the news to scrutinize the powerful, reliably document major events and uncover new truths. This makes our…

Larry King has called on the Morrison government to bring in legislative reforms in line with the AJF's call for a Media Freedom Act, in a recent interview with The Australian. “A strong media is essential to the progress of a country and the wellbeing of a country.” King said. King, who is a titan of the US Media Industry,…

This article was originally published in The Australian. In the debates on press freedom, a lot of the media’s critics tend to dismiss journalists as pleading for special privileges. “No one is above (the law), ­including me or anyone else, any journalist or anyone else,” Scott Morrison said, anticipating the Right to Know coalition’s campaign calling for legislative changes to…

The Saturday Paper (5th October) published a comprehensive look at how national security laws are impeding journalism. AJF co-founder and spokesperson Peter Greste was asked to contribute. You can view the piece here.   Photo credit: AAP/Lucas Coch