It's rare to have a legal judgement that so factually lays out the panicked, confused and cowardly decision making processes that occur at the highest levels of a media company, especially when placed under pressure by an orchestrated lobbying campaign of pro-Israel activists.
But thanks to Antoinette Lattouf's decision to take her unfair dismissal fight all the way to the Federal Court that's exactly what we got. It was one of the most consequential and important legal decisions in recent years, both because it laid out exactly how lobbyists had been operating behind the scenes to try and silence journalists who were speaking the truth, and because it exposed huge problems with the way the ABC treats its staff, particularly its policing of their speech.
On this week's Lamestream podcast, we discussed the background to Antoinette's case and the ramifications for this landmark decision not just on the ABC but on the wider Australian media industry. In this week's newsletter, Scott goes deeper and unpacks exactly how pro-Israel lobbyists wielded their power inside the ABC, and the damage that has been done to the broadcaster as a result of its most senior managers caving to the pressure.
On the podcast we also discussed the biggest news story in the world – the war in Iran, and the fragile ceasefire that has taken hold this week. In particularly, we examined the Australian media's reluctance to accurately describe the war as illegal, and why that had worked to limit important political debate in Australia.
Whether it's analysis of vitally important global affairs, or breaking down what a court decision means for freedom of speech and the role of the media, we feel very privileged to be able to cover the key issues for you every week.
Thanks for your support.
👀 Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
✍ The long and troubling backstory to the Lattouf Trial By Scott Mitchell
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Killer Grabs
"Somebody came up with the idea of a paperclip, many years ago. 1817. And he became a very rich person." — US President Donald Trump.
In between discussing his illegal bombing of Iran and a proposed plan to introduce tax deductions for cars manufactured in the US, Trump demonstrated his weirdly specific knowledge about the history of paperclips. Kind of impressive he knows the exact year they were invented, to be honest.
"Ms Buttrose’s evidence under cross-examination was somewhat theatrical and difficult to follow at times" — Justice Darryl Rangiah, in his judgement on the Lattouf trial.
This was obvious to anyone watching the trial, except apparently to the seasoned media reporters who described it at the time as "confident" and "commanding". That couldn't possibly be because they felt more sympathy and solidarity with a figure like Buttrose than Antoinette Lattouf, could it? That Asher Keddie biopic has a lot to answer for
Lobbying, punishing staff: The long and troubling backstory to the Lattouf Trial
By Scott Mitchell
The ABC is treating Antoinette Lattouf's unlawful sacking like a temporary lapse in judgement. The broadcaster "regrets" that on this one occasion, it broke public trust and everything its charter stands for.
"I don't think there's any change that's needed," said the new managing director Hugh Marks, hours after the decision was handed down in the Lattouf trial.
It's been found the ABC unlawfully sacked someone to appease pro-Israel lobbyists who wanted to shield a foreign government from criticism or scrutiny as it slaughters tens of thousands of people. But in the view of today's ABC leadership, there is no need for the public to look into it any further.
"I think the process is clear, there is defined separation between the conduct of the organisation and external forces," Marks said.
