Best of 2025 - How media coverage helps normalise the far right
Media coverage does more than report on the far right. Through language choices, sensationalism and false balance, journalism can help shift racist politics into the mainstream.
Recent articles in Media
15 January 2026
Best of 2025 - US-China power shift: a G2 world – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Trump hints at changing great-power relationship. Plus: Beijing wresting control of the global narrative; Myanmar’s scam centre raids dismissed as a smokescreen; Prabowo considers declaring Soeharto a national hero; US approves South Korean nuclear-powered submarine; China’s modern women need new men.
14 January 2026
Best of 2025 - The ABC and News Corp finally agree on something: China panic
Last week, a friend asked if I was worried about Chinese “nuclear threats.
14 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Open letter to David Marr on his interview with Chris Hedges
Well-known journalist Chris Hedges, whose talk scheduled to be delivered at the National Press Club was suddenly cancelled, was confronted by the ABC's Late Night Live host David Marr in an unexpectedly ferocious interview. One reader took exception to this.
13 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Modi cancels ASEAN trip, avoids meeting Trump – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Trump says he spoke to Modi but India denies call took place. Plus: Japan’s new coalition a shift to the right; Timor Leste finally gets seat at regional table; Life worse than death on Myanmar scam farm; Prabowo – control, populism and diminished accountability; Sri Lanka suffers from world’s worst plastics spill.
13 January 2026
Best of 2025 - China, US or us? Australia’s Upper Path in the global minerals race
The headlines are breathless: “China versus the world,” proclaimed The Australian, quoting some very important people from the sheriff's office urging allies to decouple from Beijing and unite against China's takeover of global rare earth supply chains.
13 January 2026
Best of 2025 - On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish
No political conflict contains as many journalistic minefields as that between Israel and Palestine.
13 January 2026
Best of 2025 - The Pope, the media and the 'normalisation' of Trump
As world media and leaders normalise US President Donald Trump’s erratic behaviour, Pope Leo XIV must resist and keep his distance.
12 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Blame and frame: How Chinese Australians are counted when blamed, discounted when needed
We say we want to understand China. Then we glance past a million Chinese speakers at home and start counting somewhere else.
11 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Journos as heroes and villains - 'The Hack' reviewed - Part 1
In films and on the small screen, journalists are portrayed as heroes or villains. In The Hack they are both. Does this reflect the diminished, benighted standing journalists hold in society today or is it a step forward in showing the complexities of the work?
10 January 2026
Best of 2025 - New revelations of the Murdoch empire’s underbelly – From The Hack’s real-life journalist
This is the humblest day of my life, declared Rupert Murdoch to a parliamentary committee on 19 July 2011.
8 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Blaming China won’t keep the lights on – or pay the power bill
Sky News is back on the beat with a familiar headline: “The $20,000-per-person climate tax: Cost of Australia's green agenda to become astonishingly clear this week when new emissions targets are set.”
7 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Why key leaders attended China’s military parade – Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Nations “must adapt” to new power politics. Plus: Raid “will hurt” South Korea’s US investments; Trump’s strategic shift towards Pakistan; What’s next after Nepal’s 8 September massacre; Thailand gets its first minority government; Why India has the world’s biggest diaspora.
Catch up on other sections
More from Media
7 January 2026
Best of 2025 - Rupert Murdoch’s greatest scoop
22 December 2025
What Australia’s teen social media ban could mean for reading
8 November 2025
Murdoch, the Dismissal and my job in Japan
31 October 2025
Open letter to David Marr on his interview with Chris Hedges
