In the past week it feels like there's been a shift in terms of the Australian media's coverage of Gaza. The willingness to constantly defer to the Israeli government and the avoidance of certain language deemed taboo by editors, examples we've highlighted on the Lamestream podcast, have moderated – a bit.
It could be due to the increasing scale of the humanitarian crisis inflicted by Israel, a change in the language used by the Prime Minister or a genuine attempt by news outlets reckon with their mistakes (we aren't totally convinced it's this one).
But at the same time as more politicians and more publications finally, and far too late, have started acknowledging the truth, there have been some woeful blunders. On this week's podcast we covered how Stella Prize winner Michelle de Kretser scorching speech about Australia's complicity in the war went unreported by The Guardian, the ABC, The Conversation and most other news outlets. It was an extraordinary oversight that betrayed de Kretser's powerful and brave words.
And in this week's newsletter Scott reports on the decision by the ABC to delete, without explanation, a video of Palestinian advocate Nasser Mashni from their website. The decision has stunned and confused ABC staff and raised serious and concerning questions about the organisation's adherence to its own editorial policies.
Later today Os will publish another story, looking at an extraordinary opinion piece published in The Age today that seemingly justifies the targeting of innocent civilians by Israel.
As is so often the case in the Australia media landscape it's one step forward, two steps back.
👀 Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
✍ Inside the ABC's decision to pull an interview with a Palestinian advocate
🏆 The Good Ones: The best journalism, opinion and entertainment for you to enjoy.
Killer Grabs
"Look you never say never." — Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, on whether he would challenge for the leadership of the party.
After the Nationals finally decided to hop back into bed with the Liberals, one of their most senior figures decided to kick off a round of leadership speculation. I'm starting to think that the Nationals are a false flag operation run by Labor HQ with the express purpose of destroying the Coalition's electability. Nothing else makes sense.
"The mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about." he said. — NSW great Benny Elias, on hearing the news that Queensland's captain had been photographed chinwagging with the referee ahead of State of Origin.
Elias went on to accuse Queensland of regularly "buttering up" referees to get favourable outcomes. Isn't Rugby League the best?
