Melbourne Press Club

Journalists’ sources: free speech under attack

Journalists sources under attack, writes lawyer Justin Quill.

Dealing with the dangers of online threats

The prevalence of gender-based violence online for female journalists is all too common. In this month's column from the Dart Centre, Trina McLellan reveals some tips for protecting yourself from such threats, gleaned from working with journalists across the Asia-Pacific region.

In crisis or tragedy, let’s recognise media’s purpose and value

Dart Centre Asia Pacific chair Trina McLellan discusses the importance of journalists' work, and the key skills required in the field.

Chapter 1: The search for a well

Journalists were never great club people, not in the traditional sense. Instead, they liked their pubs.

Chapter 2: Lunch at $5 a head

In 1973 the club was going well. It was thought good to have a president who was well known, one who had the ability to attract top speakers. Pat Tennison managed to attract an impressive array of politicians, including Don Dunstan, Premier of South Australia; Rupert Hamer, Premier of Victoria; Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister; Don Chipp; Billy Snedden; and Bill Hayden.

Chapter 3. A remarkable editor

On 14 December, 1976, there was a lunch in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria that was to give new prestige to the Melbourne Press Club. The memory of Graham Perkin was very fresh in all our minds. Perkin, editor-in-chief of The Age, died suddenly of a heart attack on 16 October, 1975. He was 45.

Chapter 4. A Woman President

Freda Irving was the club's first woman president. We had no idea of her age, but when she took over in 1978 we discovered she was 75. She had started at The Herald under the patronage of Keith Murdoch in 1926.

Chapter 5. The club in crisis

Noel Tennison, like elder brother Pat, was one of the great pillars that supported the Press Club and kept it going. He was passionate about it. He kept every notice he received and spent countless hours hunting down new members.

Chapter 6. Lazarus rises

The year was 1995 and Jim Clarke was worried. The club could not go on the way it was. Everything had been tried — subsidised lunches, tearful appeals on notice boards, wild Christmas parties. However, he did have an idea. Why not get someone in charge who had real clout, someone with a high profile, someone who could steer real resources their way.

Chapter 7. A shovel for a Premier

Steve Harris was president for two years. He did not want to do a third. He said there was a sensitivity at The Age that the Herald & Weekly Times had taken over the Press Club. However, it was ironic that by this time Steve was back at The Age with the title of publisher and editor-in-chief. Better to share it around, so the new president was Mike Richards, number two at The Age, assistant publisher to Steve and also the finance director.

Search Results for "Informed Sources"

Journalists’ sources: free speech under attack

Dealing with the dangers of online threats

In crisis or tragedy, let’s recognise media’s purpose and value

Chapter 1: The search for a well

Chapter 2: Lunch at $5 a head

Chapter 3. A remarkable editor

Chapter 4. A Woman President

Chapter 5. The club in crisis

Chapter 6. Lazarus rises

Chapter 7. A shovel for a Premier

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