What are the ethical rules for journalists in reporting disasters?

When is an invasion of privacy warranted?

What is the point of the media’s coverage of disasters?

These are some of the concerns that are relevant for the media in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires, the Victorian and Queensland floods, and earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan.

In response to Tim Costello’s address on the ethics of disaster reporting, to be held on 20 April, a panel of senior journalists will address these questions and others on Thursday 28 April at 6.30pm.

The panellists are:

Jonathan Green, editor of ABC’s The Drum and Honorary Associate of La Trobe’s journalism program;
Jo Chandler, senior writer at The Age; and
Wilson da Silva, editor-in-chief of COSMOS Magazine.

Michael Gawenda, Director of the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advanced Journalism, will moderate the discussion.

It will be held at the Basement Theatre, The Spot (New Economics & Commerce Building) at the University of Melbourne (Address: 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton).

Registrations are essential. For more information and to register, visit the event’s website or contact the Centre for Advanced Journalism.

Centre for Advanced Journalism:
Faculty of Arts
The University of Melbourne
T: +61 3 8344 7637
E: caj-info@unimelb.edu.au