Crossroads and flashpoints

The past fortnight has brought a series of flashpoints – both in Australia and abroad – that remind us how closely journalism, politics, and social justice remain intertwined.

An internal BBC review has found that a documentary on Gaza, which featured the son of a Hamas official, breached the broadcaster’s editorial accuracy standards and will be further investigated by UK media watchdog Ofcom. Australian press covering Anthony Albanese’s visit to Beijing faced tight restrictions.

Back home, one of the most controversial developments of the week came with the release of the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism. The plan, initially framed as a response to a rise in antisemitic incidents, explicitly targets public broadcasters and universities. Its proposals have ignited debate about free speech, state overreach, and the weaponisation of anti-racism. The Albanese government finds itself at a crossroads as calls grow for a more inclusive, transparent approach that recognises Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and antisemitism without reinforcing a hierarchy of harm. The CMT will monitor these developments closely.

In this newsletter, Derek examines ACMA’s decision to reject Free TV Australia’s updated industry code. Kieran analyses X and Canadian activist Chris Elston’s win against the eSafety Commission. And following Kevin Kallaugher’s abrupt dismissal from The Baltimore Sun, I discuss the increasing challenges faced by political cartoonists.

Read our newsletter here: Broadcast bans, online wins and cartoonist losses | Issue 12/2025

References 
‘BBC Gaza documentary breached guidelines, review finds’: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwqpdy00w2o 

‘“China has a different system”: PM responds after Australian journalists confronted in Beijing’: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/chinese-authorities-intercept-australian-journalists-ahead-of-albanese-meeting-with-xi/9fiy1r2c6 

Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism: https://www.aseca.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/2025-aseca-plan.pdf