By Peter Clarke March 11, 2013 Margo: My first journalism job was at The Courier Mail. One day I wrote a story about a disagreement in the Queensland National Liberal Coalition Cabinet about condom vending machines. My first paragraph quoted the then health minister Mike Ahern. My second said that his statement contradicted another minister, Lyne […]
@ShellyHorton1 on her Trending Tony Tweet
March 11, 2013
By Margo Kingston March 11, 2013 Shelley Horton (@ShellyHorton1) writes for the party pages of the Sun Herald. ‘I normally tweet about reality TV shows and new clubs,’ she told me today. Last night, she tweeted her personal response to Tony Abbott’s interview on 60 minutes, and to the love story, on a man’s care […]
To perform our democratic function we need and are entitled to the truth: Tony Fitzgerald
March 6, 2013
By Margo Kingston March 6, 2013 News of the accidental publication of secret documents from the Fitzgerald Royal Commission got me thinking about my hero in the context of recent examples of our corrupt and dishonest politics. Tony Fitzgerald exposed the corruption at the heart of the Bjelke-Petersen government and laid out a blueprint for ethical government. Southerners were smug, but […]
The new terrorists
March 3, 2013
By Margo Kingston November 22, 2001 Source: Webdiary EDITORS NOTE: I was going to write a piece about Morrison’s play this week to trap Gillard in Western Sydney with his asylum seeker ambush when I realised I already had, more than a decade ago. Looks like Abbott is copying his political father’s playbook to win […]
Manifesto for @NoFibs
March 1, 2013
By Margo Kingston March 1, 2013 It’s a funny feeling to be writing an introduction to the ebook of Still Not Happy, John!’, because after so many years in retirement I’m now back doing what I love – writing for and editing a citizen journalism website. Back then it was with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Webdiary, […]
Pity the poor journalist…
February 24, 2013
By Sally Baxter February 24. 2013 Source: SallyBaxter Pity the poor journalist. For every pompous hack filing his or her daily lecture to the nation, there are countless others trying to do more and more every day with less and less. At the same time, if they’re smart, they’re trying to get a handle on […]
Building Bridges
February 23, 2013
By Michael Taylor (TheAIMN) February 24, 2013 There is an old movie line I often recall: A life filled with activity suggests a life filled with purpose. I have no hesitation in borrowing that line in applying it is an apt portrayal of well-known Australian author and journalist; Margo Kingston. I’ve been a big fan of […]
Looking to past to prepare for future: Lessons of a Webdiary story
February 16, 2013
by Margo Kingston March 15 2006 Source: webdiary.com.au 18.02.2013: It seems I’m diving in again, so I’ve read about what happened last time. I decided to publish the past for anyone interested in the future of Australians for Honest Politics, as my beliefs about professionals partnering with citizens to do citizen journalism haven’t changed. This is […]
Grattan’s abrupt exit ends idealist’s dream
February 14, 2013
By Margo Kingston April 1, 1995 WHEN the managing director of The Canberra Times, Ian Meikle, told Michelle Grattan on Wednesday afternoon that she was sacked as editor of The Canberra Times and should leave the premises, he suggested a monetary settlement. Grattan refused. “I don’t want to salve their consciences,” she said privately later. […]
Independent media must take Fairfax’s place
February 11, 2013
By Margo Kingston Source: ABC The Drum June 25th 2012 So, it’s finally over. Although it has been coming for a long time, really. What happened last week was just the full stop. Decades of mismanagement and executive asset stripping now sees Fairfax on its knees, bending to Gina. And there is the real prospect […]
