On the frontline

Welcome to this fortnight’s newsletter. A lot has been happening on the media frontline.

The Guardian, in partnership with researchers from the University of Cambridge, has introduced Secure Messaging, an encrypted and anonymous messaging platform within the Guardian news app. Based on Cambridge’s CoverDrop technology, it even conceals that communication is happening at all. The open-source code for the technology will allow other news organisations to adopt the system for whistleblower safety.

Meanwhile, Australia’s media landscape is facing continued disruption. Network 10 has announced job cuts across its Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth newsrooms as part of broader restructuring and cost-cutting efforts. Staff were told they must relocate to Sydney or Melbourne or face redundancy. This happened just weeks after the cancellation of 'The Project' following a 16-year run.  Similarly, the ABC has axed Q+A after 18 years, reflecting a wider shift in how newsrooms are rethinking content formats and audience engagement.

These changes come as public trust and consumption habits are in flux. A staggering 69% of Australians admit to news avoidance, citing negative emotional impact or distrust, while 57% identify online influencers as major sources of misinformation. In this newsletter, Michael takes a closer look at findings from the 2025 Digital News Report, focusing on public comfort with AI use in news.

As correspondents face growing risks while reporting on conflicts around the world – with Australian journalists recently struck by rubber bullets in Los Angeles – Simon explores a pressing legal question: should there be stronger institutional protections for public interest reporting in crisis zones?

Following discussions of "deliberate information warfare" between India and Pakistan, Tamara examines the rise of ‘slopaganda’, AI-generated disinformation crafted to manipulate political and social discourse.

And in light of the Erin Patterson triple murder trial and recent legal warnings issued to several news outlets and influencers for breaching suppression orders, Derek explores the growing friction between digital creators and the justice system.

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