Earlier this week, The Daily Advertiser was one of many newspapers to join an unprecedented campaign to defend growing threats to freedom of the press in Australia.
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The front page of Monday's DA, and 13 other Australian Community Media (ACM) daily newspapers, were symbolically censored to highlight the need to fight for the public's right to know in the face of increasing attempts by government and government agencies to suppress information, prosecute whistleblowers and criminalise legitimate public interest journalism.
Other leading newspapers across Australia did the same.
The front page of mostly blacked out text was an illustration of the heavily redacted documents journalists often receive in response to freedom of information requests.
Australia's Right to Know, a coalition of leading media organisations and industry groups including ACM, has launched a website, yourrighttoknow.com.au, to illustrate the dangers of increasing federal government secrecy, and to urge Australians to stand up for their right to know.
The newspapers and local news websites of ACM in every state and territory will carry the #righttoknow message over coming weeks to highlight the media's vital role in keeping voters and taxpayers informed.
The media coalition says more than 60 pieces of legislation introduced over the past two decades have effectively criminalised journalism and penalised whistleblowing, even in cases where wrongdoing has been exposed or important information about government decisions has been revealed.
The #righttoknow seeks legislative changes that would force the government to weigh the public interest before applying for search warrants and launching prosecutions against journalists and offer effective protection for those who speak out against government secrecy.
Nationals Member for Riverina, and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack weighed in on the campaign, as did Wagga mayor Greg Conkey and the city's state MP, Joe McGirr.
The campaign has certainly got the nation talking and I encourage you to join the discussion.
You can do so via social media using #righttoknow or by sending a letter to the editor directly to us at the DA. We'd love to know your thoughts.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great week.
Andrew - deputy editor
