Jock Cheetham: Who is Gagging the Media?

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I’m excited to share this full talk from Jock Cheetham — Who is Gagging the Media? Jock, a veteran journalist-turned-academic, delivers a passionate, evidence-rich lecture on the global squeeze on press freedom and what it means here in Australia. He draws stark parallels between actions taken by superpowers — the US treatment of Julian Assange and China’s detention of Yang Hengjun — and points to worrying moves closer to home and regionally, such as Singapore’s new laws. Jock explains why whistleblowers are silenced, how surveillance, legal pressure and economic leverage are used to muzzle reporting, and why ordinary citizens should care. He weaves personal experience from his Fairfax and ABC days with his teaching role at Charles Sturt University and his work creating the Bathurst Multicultural Storytelling Festival. This talk is both a clear-eyed assessment and a rallying call to protect independent journalism. Please watch, share and join the conversation — our media and democracy depend on it.

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Full talk — Jock Cheetham: Who is Gagging the Media?

I’m the uploader and absolutely thrilled to bring you this recording of Jock Cheetham’s talk. A journalist since 1991, Jock draws on decades at Fairfax, work broadcast on the ABC, and his teaching at Charles Sturt University to lay out a sharp, readable argument about how press freedom is being constrained — globally and locally.

What you’ll hear: case studies (Julian Assange, Yang Hengjun), the implications of Singapore’s recent laws, how whistleblowers are targeted, and the tools used to silence reporting: legal action, surveillance, economic pressure and reputational attacks. Jock mixes forensic detail with storytelling — he explains why press freedom isn’t an abstract value but a practical necessity for everyday Australians.

Why it matters: when journalists and whistleblowers are gagged, corruption and abuse of power flourish. This talk is a reminder that defending independent journalism takes more than outrage — it takes attention, solidarity and action.

If this resonated with you, please like, share and subscribe. Drop a comment below — what do you think is the biggest threat to free media right now? Have you experienced censorship or pressure in your line of work? I’ll read every comment and pass notable points back to Jock where possible.

About Jock: former Fairfax reporter, senior lecturer at Charles Sturt University (Bathurst), founder of the Bathurst Multicultural Storytelling Festival. He’s been involved in media development in Timor-Leste and writes regularly about press freedom.

Support independent reporting: share widely, engage respectfully in the comments, and help keep this conversation alive. Thanks for watching!

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