Timely reminder of mainstream media's propaganda

April 30, 2025

John Menadue’s article on 30 April, in response to The Australian’s disgraceful excuse for journalism on the matter of Israel’s destruction of Palestine, is a timely reminder of just how much propaganda masquerading as news Australians are exposed to.

In its distorted and inflammatory coverage of a “Vote for Humanity” event at ANU on 27 April at which Menadue spoke, The Australian has helped perpetuate the carnage in Gaza and the oppression of Palestinian people.

Just as the practice of medicine itself (and much, much more) is under direct attack in Gaza, with more than 1000 healthcare workers killed, so too is the work of those who report on it. More than 170 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. One might have expected our mainstream media to care about that, but their coverage of it has been scant.

As another speaker at the same ANU event, I witnessed no hint whatsoever of anti-Jewish feeling from the speakers or audience. On the contrary, there is a growing awareness that peace is needed for all, and genocide cannot bring that. There is a desperate need for media outlets in Australia to question the use of the increasingly abused term “antisemitism” to silence dissent.

History will judge those who, as in the 1930s, failed to condemn policies that subject a whole population to unspeakable cruelty. But that’s little comfort to those cowering from Israel’s terror right now.

When our media attack people of such impeccable credentials as Menadue, rather than seek to understand and present his views, they’re getting desperate. May his creation, Pearls and Irritations, continue to play the extremely important role it has in reporting what other outlets won’t.