Advocacy & Action - Alliance for Journalists' Freedom

I’m relieved for Julian Assange. I’m also deeply concerned

Julian Assange is out of prison after agreeing to plead guilty to violating the US Espionage Act. He is expected to be freed after appearing in a US courtroom on the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday. It is worth pausing for a moment to consider all that Assange has been through and to pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, Interviews, News

Peter Greste on the latest blow against whistleblowers

Our Executive Director, Peter Greste, spoke to the 7am podcast about the government's prosecution of ATO Whistleblower, Richard Boyle. The SA Court of Appeal has rejected his argument that he should be protected by existing whistleblowing provisions. This leaves him defenceless for shining a light on poor practises within the ATO. While unlikely, the government can still drop this prosecution.…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, Feature, News

AJF wins Thomson Reuters Foundation TrustLaw Impact Award

We're so proud to have won at the #TrustLawAwards for our crucial work using legal pro bono to drive change. We partnered with lawfirm Allens to review Australian secrecy laws. We submitted our findings as part of the Attorney-General’s Department Review of Secrecy Provisions consulation process. Our submission can be read here. The review developed 11 recommendations to guide future…

Peter Greste In Advocacy & Action, News

Gaza is the worst of it, but across the world, journalism is under unprecedented assault.

If we criminalise, dismiss or sideline journalism that tells inconvenient truths, we will destroy our capacity for sensible public debate. As I write, the grim count of journalists killed in Gaza since last October has reached 97. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) puts the number slightly higher at 108. In the first 50 days of the conflict, journalists were being killed…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, Media Releases

Opening statement to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor

Peter Greste appeared before the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor's (INSLM) review of Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code this week. He delivered the AJF's opening statement: Thank you for this opportunity to make a submission to your inquiry, and appear in person to discuss the issues in more depth. I am the Executive Director of the Alliance for…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, News

Meta’s refusal to pay for news will directly impact Australian journalism

Having access to quality, unbiased news is extremely important, as both a sign of media freedom and to keep the public properly informed. However, with Facebook’s parent company, Meta’s, refusal to pay for news content on its sites in Australia, ending its deals with publishers this year, Australian journalism stands to lose a valuable stream of income as well as…

Peter Greste In Advocacy & Action, Media Releases, News

Australia’s secrecy laws include 875 offences. Reforms are welcome, but don’t go far enough for press freedom

In 2019, the New York Times declared that “Australia may well be the world’s most secretive democracy”. The Times published the piece shortly after the Australian Federal Police raided journalists from two news organisations, searching for evidence of sources for stories that were embarrassing to the government. Four years on, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus today released a comprehensive review of secrecy…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, Interviews, News

David McBride changes plea to guilty following order from Court

David McBride's lawyer, Mark Davis, spoke to Radio National this morning to discuss the concerning developments in his current case. His team were denied the opportunity to present evidence to the court which forced David to alter his plea to guilty. The Alliance for Journalists Freedom is highly concerned with the development of this case. As advocates for press freedom…

Peter Greste In Advocacy & Action, Interviews, News

National security requires strong journalism and whistleblowing

It’s more than eight years since the heady days that followed my release from Egypt on terrorism charges back in 2015. At the time, I was hugely relieved to be at home, in a country that seemed committed to media freedom. You’ll appreciate that after Egypt, that mattered a lot to me. As the dust settled, I began to think…

AJF In Advocacy & Action, News, Research

Future of Journalism report

Download the AJF Future of Journalism Report here.Thanks to the generosity of the Jibb Foundation, AJF has spent the last year speaking with experts around the world on the Future of Journalism. What will the media landscape look like in 10-15 years? What are the main challenges we face and how can we overcome them? How can governments better legislate…