MEAA’s Paul Murphy on public interest journalism and ‘fake news’

‘Powerful interests are not being held to sufficient scrutiny and account.’

MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy’s speech at the 2017 Walkley Awards described the challenges faced by journalists in Australia, citing ‘disgraceful attacks’ on media professionals by politicians, the fake news proliferating on social media, and the veil of secrecy cloaking Operation Sovereign Borders.

‘No one in this room needs convincing of the importance of public interest journalism to a functioning democracy,’ Murphy said. 

‘Over the last five years around 2500 journalist jobs have disappeared in this country – either through direct redundancies, or vacant positions simply not being replaced.’

Murphy said the continuing collapse of traditional business models funded by advertising, combined with the rise of platforms spreading content that masquerades as news, presents a major challenge for journalism and democracy, and that the situation is exacerbated by attacks on journalists by politicians.

‘Led by President Trump, and gleefully repeated by politicians around the world, including here in Australia, reputable and critical coverage is labelled as “fake news”. While actual fake news continues to proliferate on social media platforms.’

In reference to the detention of Iranian journalist Behrooz Boochani, Murphy described the serious barriers which hamper public interest journalism in Australia.

‘The continuing veil of secrecy around Operation Sovereign Borders, and the efforts to prevent journalists gaining access to Manus Island and Nauru is a national shame.

‘This was exacerbated dramatically last week with the detention of Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani in a clear effort by PNG Police to prevent him reporting on the operation to relocate asylum seekers on Manus Island. Behrouz is our journalist colleague.

‘His reporting from Manus has been in the finest traditions of our profession and last week we wrote to both Malcolm Turnbull and the PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, seeking guarantees of his safety to continue his reporting unimpeded.’

In spite of these challenges, Murphy praised the quality of Australian journalism and its ability to serve communities.

‘…as tonight shows, Australia continues to produce journalism of the highest quality. And increasingly the opportunities provided by new platforms are being used by traditional media companies, and many welcome new entrants, to engage and inform our communities in ways not conceivable only a few years ago.’

See also: Walkley Award winners report here.

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