Former The Australian journalist Rick Morton joins The Saturday Paper as senior reporter
Rick Morton, a former social affairs writer at The Australian, has been appointed senior reporter at Schwartz Media’s The Saturday Paper.
Morton has written two articles for the paper already, the first of which was an investigation into research suggesting that Murdoch media, specifically The Australian, was fuelling far-right recruitment.
G’day! After a four month sabbatical I thought I better do some real work again. Stoked to be the new senior reporter with the @SatPaper where I will be able to keep breaking stories and dig a little deeper. https://t.co/kCav2pIJ1E
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) September 6, 2019
Morton said he won’t be leaving social affairs reporting behind in his new role.
“I’m stoked to be joining The Saturday Paper team which already has a reputation for thoughtful and daring reporting and analysis. It will allow me to join my two favourite things: breaking news in policy and writing (hopefully) with clarity about the major animating themes and debates each week,” he told Mumbrella.
“I have a particular interest in social policy which I’ve covered for the better part of a decade now and I won’t be leaving that interest behind. My remit is broad, however, and I will be digging into issues across the spectrum of national affairs and others like science and culture. I really can’t wait to get started.”
His first piece for The Saturday Paper, titled ‘Murdoch media fuels far-right recruitment’, sparked backlash from News Corp, with columnist Nick Cater calling it a “vile anti-Murdoch hate speech dog whistle”.
Morton responded with: “Nick Cater, well known for his accuracy that definitely doesn’t get his employer sued for $570k, is back with his above average attention to detail. And he believes in dog whistles now.”
Nick Cater, well known for his accuracy that definitely doesn’t get his employer sued for $570k, is back with his above average attention to detail. And he believes in dog whistles now. pic.twitter.com/3yY52ny54w
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) August 14, 2019
The Australian responded to the article with one of its own written by associate editor John Ferguson,’Victoria University rejects false ‘far-right’ report‘. Morton forecasted its publication, taking to Twitter to write: “The only abiding shame is that they [The Australian] do not have the academic research to write the denial they would like (because they don’t have sources good enough to get it). But the spirit to press on under such adversity is beautiful.”
The only abiding shame is that they do not have the academic research to write the denial they would like (because they don't have sources good enough to get it). But the spirit to press on under such adversity is beautiful.
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) August 14, 2019
Morton’s pushback against his former employer began in May, when he told students at the University of Technology that: “It’s not always a Murdoch line; it’s just that Murdoch hires editors who are very much like him.” Soon thereafter, Morton left the newspaper after seven years, one of a string of exits.
Columnist and sketch writer James Jeffrey left after 16 years to become a speechwriter for Labor leader Anthony Albanese, and investigative reporter Anthony Klan departed after 15 years. Business reporter Ben Butler, now at The Guardian, and football writer Ray Gatt also left.
Funnily enough, just got an email from The Oz which is a little out of date. Pamela left last YEAR if I recall correctly. Klan in May. pic.twitter.com/xMPXFVpV4R
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) August 16, 2019
Morton, who is also the author of the memoir One Hundred Years of Dirt, published last year, will join editor Maddison Connaughton and editor in chief Erik Jensen at The Saturday Paper.
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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Maddison Connaughton
Murdoch Media
Rick Morton
Schwartz Media
The Australian
The Saturday Paper
Well it’s true. I once once got my hair cut by a women who used to work for an animal shelter. She got so fed up from the extreme left Marjory there she couldn’t even eat meat for lunch without harassment. So it happens on both sides. Both are not good though…. When an origination is as mono-politically aligned as The Australian, there is a danger that it will be hard to remove the stigma when the masses think another way.
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7 years under Murdoch and he’s suddenly realised there’s something seriously rotten at play? Give us a break
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@Tim Burrows please give us the ability to edit comments. The spelling is atrocious but I guess there is no way to fix it?
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Good move I say! The right wing propaganda we push out makes me sick at times.
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Marjory has alos cut my hair, but it was evenly cut on both the left and the right … hope that clears that up.
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If you’re a sales dynamo, call me. RC
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