ABC Friends Ballarat, in partnership with ABC Alumni and Ballarat Libraries, welcomes Eric Beecher to launch his recently revised edition of The Men Who Killed The News.
Eric Beecher is an experienced journalist who worked at the Melbourne Age, the Observer in London and the Washington Post; he was the youngest ever editor at the Sydney Morning Herald. Eric is a published author; he was Chair of the Wheeler Centre for nine years. Eric owns Private Media which publishes Crickey and The Mandarin.
Prue Bentley, Ballarat identity and ABC Statewide Drive host, is a broadcaster with nearly two decades working as a reporter, radio host, editor and team leader at the ABC across multiple states. She loves her job because it allows her to interview some of the most interesting and accomplished people in the country, while also being connected to real people in the Victorian community.
The Men Who Killed The News describes the way big business has in many cases “bought” the news media and controlled the narrative with immense political and social implications. Eric Beecher tells us, “Public interest journalism is under threat from a collapsing business model, an erosion of trust, a deeply partisan world and ... now ... from the imminent threat of AI. What can be done? Does it matter? How can any of us respond?”
David Mac Phail, spokesperson for Ballarat ABC Friends, laments the loss of regional publications and the rising power of social media platforms that may not publish any original journalism and allow the dissemination of false and provocative material. David says that, “If we can’t trust our media it becomes difficult to trust governments and democracy is threatened.”
This event is the second of a series of events celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ABC Friends.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase at this event from Collins Booksellers – Ballarat Bridge Mall.
This event is brought to you by ABC Friends Ballarat, ABC Alumni and Ballarat Libraries.
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