Australia: Media union condemns police demand for footage
MEAA warns that the police order could undermine the media’s obligation to protect sources.
Reports on Home Affairs chief are “symptomatic of widespread attacks on press freedom” in Australia
According to news reports, the Home Affairs Secretary supported the re-introduction of the D-notice system of media censorship and floated the idea of criminalising public interest journalism in certain circumstances.
Australia: MEAA welcomes defamation judgement on alleged war crimes in Afghanistan
MEAA said the verdict in favor of journalists “is an important affirmation of the role of journalism to investigate and report on serious matters of public interest.”
Australia: MEAA will not tolerate racist abuse
Stan Grant said he suffered years of racist abuse while fulfilling his work as a journalist in Australia.
World Press Freedom Day 2023: Australia going backwards on press freedom
MEAA urges the Australian government to implement a backlog of reforms related to national security laws, freedom of information, and defamation.
Australian television news and current affairs’ racial and cultural diversity report card is a fail
A new report highlights the need for greater racial and gender diversity in Australia’s newsrooms.
Australia: Climate protesters’ rights violated
Human rights advocates warn that new laws in some Australian states are targeting climate protesters for disproportionate punishment.
U.S. and Australian Press Clubs join in calling for the release of MEAA member Cheng Lei
U.S. and Australian press leaders are calling on Chinese authorities to conduct a fair, open and public trial for Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who has been in detention over the past 19 months.
Urgent action needed to rescue Australian journalism
A study commissioned by the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance highlighted the need for urgent government action to address the continuing threats facing public interest journalism.
Australia: Media union condemns targeting of journalists by police and protesters
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance has written to the police about at least four incidents where journalists were harassed and detained while covering a protest in Melbourne.
One year on from her arrest in China, colleagues call for release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei
Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been in detention for over a year already in Beijing after she was arrested on “suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas”.
Australia: Senate inquiry points the way for press freedom reform
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said the recommendations of a Senate inquiry would “curb the growing culture of government secrecy, stop the persecution of whistleblowers and prevent journalists being prosecuted for simply doing their jobs.”
Journalists’ union gives notice to quit Australian Press Council
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance hopes its decision to withdraw from the Australian Press Council will spark a discussion about media regulation.
Australia: ‘Facebook move reinforces need for a News Media Bargaining Code’
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance said Facebook is abusing its dominant position and is holding Australian news agencies, advertisers and consumers to ransom with its decision to block sharing of content from Australian news media outlets.