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4 June 2010
Some background information on Fairfax journalist Paul McGeough
The Australian reports today on the background of high profile Fairfax journalist Paul McGeough who was on one of the boats of the flotilla engaged in the military/propaganda exercise against Israel. Some readers have objected to this sort of 'personal' background information being given out. Clever Virginia Trioli of ABC News Breakfast expressed her disapproval this morning, too.
To the contrary, I think, more information should be available to the public about journalists' lives, their connections, their associations - anything that has a bearing on their public life and on the credibility of their writing. McGeough's connections with Hamas and his Palestinian girlfriend is information that has a bearing on his reporting on the conflict of Israel with the unappeasable forever-manoeuvring radicals on the Gaza. We have a right to know what he thinks about a political organisation that will never compromise with the West while giving every indication that peace is their objective.
Politicians have to reveal whatever in their personal lives conflicts with their duties as representatives of the people. The analogy is a close one with the duties of a journalist who should attempt to report in an unbiased balanced manner, giving facts to the reading public and not their personal fancies. Analogically journalists have a duty to reveal their political allegiances and their political 'visions'. The fact they will resist to the last in fulfilling this obligation reveals just what a hypocritical lot they are - something we already knew a long time ago.
Comment: gerard@gerardcharleswilson.com
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