Jason Arday and the media

We have a new episode of Double Take for your listening pleasure – journalist and University of Melbourne lecturer, Sami Shah joins CMT Co-Director Monica Attard to unpack the media treatment of the Jason Arday story. Professor Arday was appointed to Cambridge University but was the focus of considerable controversy after allegations that he had plagiarized parts of his PhD thesis and exaggerated his personal backstory. Media reporting of these issues was considerable, especially in the UK. But the reports flowed to Australia as well and social media discussion was prominent. Professor Arday died in August, and his death has triggered a degree of reflection by media about the way it deals with people it deems controversial, and reflection by institutions like universities, in how they deal with diversity.  

The conversation with Sami Shar straddles news media influence, social media power, the boundaries of responsible reporting, and where the limits lie in regulating harmful coverage, and how the issues raised by Arday's story play out too in the approach of news media organisations to diversity in hiring and treatment in the workplace.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.