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McClymont tells journalists to ‘look behind the spin’ and challenge authority

Kate McClymont dinkusInvestigative journalist and Gold Walkley winner, Kate McClymont has challenged Australia’s journalists to “to look behind the spin” and continue questioning authority as the best way of ensuring continued press freedom in Australia.

McClymont told the Walkey Foundation’s annual Press Freedom dinner in Sydney last night that press freedom in Australia was under threat from powerful business interests, such as Gina Rinehart and Nathan Tinkler, who were using the courts in an attempt to intimidate journalists and their publishers.

“Litigations can have the unfortunate effect of making other media players gun-shy. Journalists and their bosses become wary of ‘litigious’ people and are often reluctant to take them on,” said McClymont referencing current court action by mining magnate Gina Rinehart against journalists Steve Pennells and Adele Ferguson who is attempting to use subpoenas to compel them to reveal their sources.

“The best way to ensure we have genuine freedom of the press in this country is for you to remember you are the custodians of a great legacy.

“You have a responsibility to look behind the spin, the press releases and the deals, so … members of the public can have faith that we did not look the other way.”

McClymont’s speech, which can be read in full on The Sydney Morning Herald website, comes as the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance announced released its annual press freedom report.

The report Power, Protection & Principles: The State of Press Freedom in Australia 2013, released on World Press Freedom Day, ranked Australia 26th on the Reporters Without Borders’ 2013 Press Freedom Index well behind New Zealand which is 8th, Sweden which is 10th and Canada which is 20th.

MEAA federal secretary Christopher Warren said in the wake of the report he has written to all State Attorneys-General to urge them to implement reforms to protect journalists, as the Western Australian Supreme Court prepares to hear the court case involve Pennells and Ferguson next week.

“So far in 2013, at least seven Media Alliance members have been called on to reveal their confidential sources. The court actions have, for the most part, been launched by wealthy and powerful Australians showing a disregard to journalists’ ethical responsibilities,” said Warren.

“The actions have also highlighted the lack of uniformity in the shield laws design to protect journalists and their confidential sources and many legal jurisdictions seek to impose limits to the concept of journalist privilege.”

The journalists’ union said the report demonstrated that more needs to be done to protect press freedom in Australia.

“To do nothing means Australia will slide further on the press freedom index,” said Warren. “If that happens, it will take a mighty effort to turn the slide around.”

Nic Christensen

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