Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard will examine the relationship between politics and the media in a public lecture hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advanced Journalism.

In a political career spanning more than three decades, including almost 12 years as Prime Minister, John Howard has had an often turbulent relationship with the media. In that time, Mr Howard never commented publicly on the way the media reports on political issues or more specifically, how the media reported on his government and on him personally.

Mr Howard will provide unique and valuable insights into the relationship between the media and politics. How has the 24-hour cycle of news changed the nature of politics and the political process? What is the nature of the relationship between politicians and journalists? What, in Mr Howard’s view, are the strengths and weaknesses of the way the media covers politics?

Mr Howard will also examine the stresses the media places on politicians and governments and the role of the media in a liberal democracy.

The lecture will be held on Tuesday, August 4 from 6.00pm at the University of Melbourne.

Unfortunately, the event is booked out.

The lecture will however, be streamed live on the night at http://live.unimelb.edu.au/.  It will also be made as a video downloading one week after the lecture date.