Letter
No place for journalism at the National Press Club?
Why would the National Press Club decide to withdraw an offer for acclaimed journalist Chris Lyn Hedges to speak about his extensive experience reporting from and about the Middle East, the media’s role in a democracy and specifically how it has contributed to legitimising Israel’s genocide?
The decision was made, according to chief executive Maurice Reilly, “when more details of the address were made available”. This is deeply shocking: a journalist of Hedge’s calibre is cancelled because his message is unpalatable?
Balanced truth with the opportunity to lie, creates plausible deniability. This is why many are increasingly seeing the mainstream media as enablers of genocide.
My three decades in public broadcasting showed me exactly how this arises. Our role needs to be examined – first and foremost by us. The Press Club ought to be the most democratic space to have such a discussion.
Our Western bias, which we regard as neutral and impartial, has prevented us from interrogating our role in supporting and enabling the destruction of nations and displacement of many millions of people. None has spawned the live coverage of atrocities coming out of Gaza. If this crisis won’t shock us into questioning our role, nothing will.
— Mary Kostakidis from Sydney