Letter

In response to Hedges Report: NPC cancels talk on our betrayal of Palestinian journalists

Chris Hedges and the National Press Club

I, and the political group I belong to, have sent emails to the chief executive of the National Press Club, strongly protesting the cancellation of the proposed talk by Chris Hedges at the NPC. The subject was to be the betrayal of Palestinian journalists by the media.

My protest concerned three elements:

– given that foreign journalists are forbidden from entering Gaza, this talk represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for them — and us — to hear about the treatment of Palestinian journalists at the hands of Israel.

– Chris Hedges is a highly experienced journalist, having reported from Gaza for seven years, and worked as foreign correspondent for The New York Times for 15 years, during which he was Middle East Bureau chief. A statement on the NPC website claims that it will “pursue other speakers on the matter”. I challenge them to find another speaker on this matter who has anything like Hedges’ experience.

– no reason has been given by the NPC as to why the talk was cancelled, save for a mention that it happened “when more details of the address were given”. I believe the reason can be inferred from this.

— Jill Dixon from Melbourne