Is truth already the first casualty?

Date: 24 January 2003

Is investigative journalism dead?

"The age of the war correspondent as hero is clearly over", concluded Phillip Knightley in the recent edition of his classic study, The First Casualty.

As the world awaits war, governments, their spin-doctors, propagandists and military commanders will intensify the shaping of national and global perceptions.

History suggests that lies, manipulation, news management, distortion, omission, slant and gullible coverage will be the order of the day.

Meanwhile, newspaper circulations are declining all over the Western world, viewing figures for news and current affairs are down, and there is general public contempt for journalists.

Is the media, particularly TV, in the business of mass production of ignorance? Is it possible that the more TV news we watch, the less we know?

To consider the state of news and current affairs reporting, on Saturday 15 February the Evatt Foundation will present a public seminar on 'The Death of Investigative Journalism and Who Killed It'?

Multi-award winning journalist and writer, Phillip Knightley, and distinguished Four Corners reporter, Chris Masters, will talk about what and who decides our news values, and the sea change occurring within the information industry.

This is a unique opportunity to hear two renowned practitioners of investigative journalism speaking on this strategic topic for the future of politics, culture and society.

The seminar will be chaired by Bruce Childs, the President of the Evatt Foundation, and it will be held at Sydney's Seymour Centre at the pre-dinner time of 6 pm to 7.30 pm.

The cost is $20 ($10 concession) and tickets can be purchased through the Evatt Foundation or the Seymour Centre.

This event is supported by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).

FURTHER INFORMATION:
See the article on the Evatt Foundation's website at: http://evatt.labor.net.au/events/10_20020309.html
Email: evatt@unsw.edu.au
Contact: Jeannette McHugh, phone 9387 3199; or Dr Christopher Sheil, phone 0419 43 6052
Address: Evatt Foundation, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052.

For further information

Contact:	Evatt Foundation
Union:	The Evatt Foundation
Phone:	+61 2 9385 2966
Contact Mobile:	0419 43 6052
Fax:	+61 2 9385 2967
Email:	evatt@unsw.edu.au
WWW:	http://evatt.labor.net.au/events/10_20020309.html

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