Journalists speak out on lack of support networks and protection in the industry
By Thea Inverarity
Walkley winning journalists discussed the impact of the job and subsequent lack of protection on their mental health, at the Kaleide Theatre in Melbourne, last night.
Caroline Wilson, former chief football columnist at The Age, said editors have a responsibility to look after their journalists.
“It is as much about the emotional support as the financial,” she said.
“On a more visceral level, you need editors who don’t care so much about fraternising with the top end of town,” said Wilson.
Grant McArthur, Health Editor for the Herald Sun, said the reportage he covers keeps him awake at night.
“You’re acting as a counsellor as much as a journalist,” he said. “There are no protections, you are left out there floating on the breeze”.
Louise Milligan, investigative reporter for the ABC, recalled the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse and the Pell case she reported on.
“We need legislation to protect media, it is really, really important,” she said.
According to Milligan, the Crown failed to intervene during sexist questioning in court, but later apologised if she felt lonely on the stand.
“It’s just layers and layers and layers of sadness,” she said. “I thought I was ok but the next day I couldn’t move.”
In response to protecting her anonymous sources, Milligan said “we have to strengthen the journalist privilege – in the hands of the wrong judge it is potentially tyranny”.
Lisa Martin, reporter for The Guardian, said a good editor provides financial support.
“It’s someone who is willing to write you a check for $20,000 to get a lawyer,” she said.
Martin said there should be greater protections for whistle-blowers as well as journalists.
“They are brave people calling out people for wrong-doing. Their lives are significantly affected for speaking truth to power,” she said.
Louisa Graham, CEO of the Walkley Foundation, discussed grants for students to publish stories and the importance of this for a journalistic eco system. The foundation is at the centre of the industry and independently funded to invest in the next generation of journalists. Credit: Michealine Gaye
Award-winning journalists’ calls to strengthen journalistic privileges
By Isabella Podwinski
Walkley award winners were amongst a panel of journalists at RMIT University’s Kaleide theatre last night who called for action on press freedom and safeguards to protect journalists and whistleblowers.
Amid the panel was ABC investigative reporter, Louise Milligan, who was almost prosecuted for her reportage on disgraced Cardinal George Pell, over allegations of child sex abuse during his time as Melbourne’s Archbishop in the 1990s.
“We need legislation to protect media [in Australia],” she said. “It’s really, really important”.
The comments come after the recent AFP raid on the home of News Corp journalist, Annika Smethurst, who is being investigated for her report into communication between the defence and home affairs ministries and the Australian Signals Directorate.
Press freedom and freedom of speech are not constitutionally guaranteed in Australia but the High Court has recognised an implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution.
Australians are also allowed to access government documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) which was implemented to enhance transparency.
But according to a month-long investigation by Guardian Australia this year, issues regarding FOI laws were identified and include lengthy delays, understaffing of FOI teams and refusal of requests.
Lisa Martin, a reporter at The Guardian also shared that she “expected to be raided” after exposing former Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, for misuse of his ministerial powers in saving two foreign au pairs from deportation in 2015.
She called for greater protections for whistleblowers and agreed that recent events like the raids on Smethurst and the ABC’s Sydney office have made it harder for people to come forward.
“It has a chilling effect,” she said. “These are brave people who are calling out wrongdoing… their lives suffer and are significantly affected by speaking and speaking truth to power”.
From left to right: Caroline Wilson, Grant McArthur, Lisa Martin, Lauren Molan, Zena Chamas and Louise Milligan in conversation about the price they pay for careers in journalism, last night at the Kaleide Theatre in Melbourne. Credit: Isabella Podwinski
Senior Journalists sit to discuss quality journalism at The Walkley’s ‘What price you pay: a conversation about why journalism matters’ public event
By Michealine Gaye
Last night at The Walkley Foundation’s ‘What price would you pay’ discussion panel hosted at RMIT’s own Kaleide Theatre; senior journalists highlighted the price they pay for quality journalism.
Guest on the panel Lisa Martin who is a journalist with The Guardian Australia set the tone for the night redefining what quality journalism meant to her.
“Quality journalism is about telling stories that are in the public interests, that creates social change, that speaks truth to power,” she said.
Also, on the panel with her was Zena Chamas (cross-platform journalist), Grant McArthur (Walkley Award-winning health editor), Louise Milligan (Walkley Award-winning journalist), Caroline Wilson (The Age journalist) and moderator Lauren Molan.
The audience consisted of predominantly RMIT’s Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) students as well as some alumni from previous years.
After sharing some of the hard experiences they have had in the past whilst doing their job, Louise Milligan emphasised it wasn’t only about the dangers of the job and telling stories in the public interest, but the onus was on journalists to do their work to the maximum.
“If we are going to maintain our integrity as a profession, we have to be able to say that we did everything to do the right thing by people,” she said.
“I think the other thing that can help to protect us is absolute rigour in our job. It’s fact-checking. It’s having the back up of legal support,” she said.
Caroline Wilson was on the other side of the table emphasizing the point of other journalists supporting each other.
“I don’t think the danger is quality journalists in journalism,” she said.
“I think we all need to be supportive of each other,” she said.
The night ended after a Q and A with the members of the audience.
From left to right: Caroline Wilson, Grant McArthur, Lisa Martin, Lauren Molan and Zena Chamas
Guest panellists at The Walkley Foundation’s ‘What Price would you pay: A conversation about why journalism matters. The empty seat was later taken by Louise Milligan who joined later in the evening. Credit: Michealine Gaye
Caroline Wilson and Louise Milligan discuss the price they’ve paid reporting on powerful male-dominated communities at the Walkley’s public event, ‘What Price Would You Pay?’
By Zahrah Ahmad
Last night, at the Walkley foundation’s event, ‘What Price Would You Pay?’ investigative journalist, Louise Milligan and senior sports journalist, Caroline Wilson described the challenges they’ve faced as females reporting on male-dominated communities.
“I think the price I paid was unpopularity, which is something I’m quite used to,” Wilson said.
Wilson has been openly criticised for her relentlessness when it comes to breaking high-profile stories, and last night she expressed how deep the abuse went.
“My youngest daughter in this situation being really threatened on social media, tyres let down, media releases coming out on a regular basis saying I was wrong, that I was inaccurate,” Wilson said.
As a female journalist dismantling the inner workings of the biggest Australian sports league, Wilson experienced backlash from football supporters and media figures who believed she was destroying football players’ lives.
Milligan is well versed with the sexism many female journalists face, but the “cult”-like community of the AFL was still a surprise to her.
When asked by the moderator, Lauren Molan, of the challenges Milligan has faced, the “appalling sexism” she claims to have endured as a witness on George Pell’s trial came to mind.
“I know he[Robert Richter] went in there thinking he was going to smash me, he was so raring for a fight, and he didn’t,” Milligan said.
“And when he didn’t, he did not know what to do,” Milligan continued.
Milligan has fought to uncover the secrets of the Catholic Church and last night she described the “shark-infested” environment that nearly pushed her over the edge.
“The distortion that went on was unbelievable,” Milligan said as she described her cross-examination.
For Wilson and Milligan, quality journalism has come at a personal price.
“I couldn’t move, I couldn’t get out of bed, I just felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” Milligan described the aftermath of the trial.
Similar to Milligan, Wilson feels she’s been personally attacked.
“It got to a point where I just pressed delete,” Wilson described the death threats and online abuse.
“Do not get obsessed with what people are saying about you on any form of social media,” Wilson said.
Both Wilson and Milligan described the importance of good editors who can provide the emotional support needed to tackle stories like those they have covered.
“AFL CEOs have torn me apart in front of editors and chief and on one occasion they defend you and on another they are silent,” said Wilson.
But the described “trauma and stress” gave Milligan “profound empathy” for the victims of Pell’s abuse.
Louise Milligan among other journalists at the Walkley event, ‘What Price Would You Pay?’, at Kaleide Theatre RMIT, discuss the challenges they’ve faced in their careers. Credit: Michealine Gaye
The importance of diversity in the Australian media
By Sharnin Hill
Zena Chamas represents the new face of Australian journalism. In the increasingly difficult political landscape of the Australian media, journalists are the first point of information for the people.
Now more than ever, there is a push for more diverse voices in journalism. Chamas, a young woman born to immigrant parents, with a commitment to social change, is this voice.
In a Walkley event held at RMIT last night, a panel of journalists discussed the challenges of the profession. This event is a part of the Walkley “What Price Would You Pay,” campaign, advocating that “independent, quality journalism matters”.
When asked about the most frightening moment she has experienced as a journalist, Chamas described meeting with the leader of an alt-right group. The man, who she did not name, initially agreed to meet Chamas for an interview, however upon meeting her, refused to be interviewed.
“He said, I’m not speaking with you, you’re one of them,” she said. “When he agreed to speak with me he didn’t know I was from immigrant parents, then when he saw I was he refused to speak with me”.
Stories such as these show why Chamas’ place in Australian media is important. Her experience highlights the importance of balanced media, which can influence the public. Misinformation spread by the media aids stigmatisation, while a lack of diverse voices leads to a lack of objectivity.
Following the recent stabbing incident in Sydney, many journalists were quick to steer the narrative towards terrorism. Sky News journalist Laura Jayes received criticism for her comments on the incident, with many branding her as Islamaphobic.
However, Jayes was well supported by the Australian media, having the story reported on in The Australian. When commenting on the criticism she received, Jayes said, “they made that link. It was their own personal bias, not mine. It says more about them than it does me”.
However, as was emphasised at the panel on Thursday, journalists are the first point of information for the general public, and increasingly there is a push for more diverse voices in the Australian media, in order to create fair and balanced news.
Zena Chamas said it was important to her that journalism was “providing a voice to the voiceless”.
Zena Chamas (centre) at the Walkley What Price Would You Pay? Panel. Credit: Michealine Gaye
Social Media
