First of all, here's what we have for you this week:
- Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
- The ABC's new push to silence its journalists — By Scott Mitchell
- The Good Ones: The best journalism, opinion and entertainment for you to enjoy.
One of the biggest, unresolved debates in the modern era of journalism is over a pretty simple question: To what extent should journalists be allowed to express an opinion?
It's an issue that predates the sanctions, censures and sackings that journalists opposing Israel's genocide in Gaza have experienced, but one that has certainly become more acute over the past 18 months.
One aspect of the debate that has become more clear is the double standards that apply across the industry. Journalists who express progressive views, or who criticise conservative politicians and news outlets, or publicly express support for Palestinians are much, much more likely to be punished than those who express opinions in the opposite direction.
Scott's exclusive story about the ABC employee turned "whistleblower" who volunteered for the far-right Advance Australian campaign organisation is one such example. Not only was the ABC apparently oblivious to the situation, but The Australia newspaper, who regularly attacks ABC staff for any public utterance they make, championed him – without mentioning his political background.
We would love to hear any ideas or feedback at all, whether it's about the look and feel of it, what you want to read more about from us or how often you'd like to hear from us.
Today, Scott has another story central to this debate. It's about a renewed push by ABC management to gag what journalists can say in public. After losing the case brought against the broadcaster by Antoinette Lattouf, there were big, unanswered questions about how management would seek to control political opinions expressed by staff.
Now we know some of their plans.
Killer Grabs
"Three of News Corp’s top daily Australian tabloids lost subscribers across the 2025 financial year, contributing to the company’s poor local results." — Calum Jaspan, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald
According to Jaspan's reporting, the entire stable of News Corp's Australian papers have fewer than 900,000 subscribers across print and online. In a country of over 27 million.
The ABC's Logie-winning comedy series Fisk has more viewers per episode than the total number of News Corp subscribers.
Remind me why every institution from the government, to the ABC, to arts institutions, to universities completely melt-down whenever they write a story?
(PS. Help Lamestream overtake News Corp's readership by encouraging your friends to subscribe!).
"He was removed from the process after the discovery of an anti-war social media post relating to conflict in Gaza." — Caroline Wilson, on why former Port Adelaide boss Keith Thomas was ruled out of the top job at Melbourne.
The bizarre private school-dominated world of the AFL never ceases to amaze. An accomplished, well regarded administrator was shut out of the process to lead the Melbourne Demons because of an "anti-war" social media post?
And what exactly was the post?
"I remain deeply disturbed by the events unfolding in Gaza."
What a joke.
"I’ll re-write the headline: 'COMEDIAN PERFORMS COMEDY'." — Tom Gleeson, reacting to a news story about the producers of the Logies being displeased about his on-stage remarks.
Tom Gleeson thinks the Logies are a joke. That was the entire basis of his successful 2019 campaign to win a Gold Logie. Everytime he gets invited back he makes it clear exactly how much of a joke he thinks the Logies are.
If you don't want him making fun of your ceremony... don't invite him.
The ABC's new push to silence its journalists
By Scott Mitchell
The leadership of the ABC will soon reveal a new policy governing what "public comments" its journalists are allowed to make. Lamestream understands that, although it has yet to be presented to staff, a draft formulation is circulating at the highest levels of the broadcaster – and the policy will cover far more than the social media policy it is set to replace.
The broadcaster’s existing social media policy, which governed what staff could say online and how they could be reprimanded or terminated for it, was sensationally dumped just hours after Federal Court Judge Justice Darryl Rangiah found the ABC had unlawfully terminated Antoinette Lattouf for her political opinions.
