A reflection on Palestine, Australian media and who gets to shape the story

Over recent years there has been an increased focus on ‘diversity and inclusion’ in Australian newsrooms, however what are the limitations of this in the context of Israel’s attacks on Gaza?

Drawing on her lived experience of losing her grandmother in an IDF strike in southern Lebanon in 2006, journalist Nour Haydar reflected on her time in the industry and provided insight into how journalists can improve practices when it comes to reporting on state violence.

In what ways can workplaces better engage with the people who are directly affected by violence? How can organisations empower journalists to report with rigour and authenticity on events that they have unique and valuable insight into? What do terms like credibility, objectivity and impartiality mean in the modern and diverse newsroom?

Nour Haydar is co-host and senior producer of Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast Full Story. Prior to joining Guardian Australia in 2024, Nour was a federal political reporter with ABC News at Parliament House in Canberra, and a fill-in presenter on ABC News Breakfast.

The AN Smith lecture has a unique place in Australia’s cultural history. It is the oldest journalism lecture series in Australia, having commenced in 1936 after a bequest to the University of Melbourne from the family of Arthur Norman Smith, who was a founder of the Australian Journalists’ Association. The lecture is presented each year by a leading authority on an important aspect of journalism. Over its 80-plus year history, the lecture has been presented by personalities including journalists, politicians and even a Vice-Chancellor. Some of the more noteworthy were Graham Perkin (1974), Michelle Grattan (1988), Rupert Murdoch (1972), Kevin Rudd (2021), and Walter Robinson (2018). The Centre for Advancing Journalism is currently working on locating and archiving all AN Smith lectures.

00:00 Introduction by Prof Jennifer Balint, Dean of the Faculty of Arts
05:28 Presentation by Nour Haydar
52:09 Q&A chaired by Associate Professor Dodd, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism