Senior Journalist
Investigative Unit
Fairfax Media
Investigative journalism in the era of fake news
Investigative journalism holds power to account by exposing public matters that are otherwise concealed. Thoroughly researched investigations and reports uncover corruption, review policies of government or other corporations, or draw attention to social, economic, political or cultural trends. Scandals are revealed and investigations sparked, often resulting in social change.
Investigative journalists spend months or years researching a single topic to deeply investigate a single issue of public interest, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. Investigative reporting depends on material gathered through the reporter’s own initiative rather than information provided by authorities.
Meanwhile ‘fake news’ is a type of propaganda spreading deliberate misinformation or hoaxes by traditional print and broadcast news media or online social media. Fake news undermines serious media coverage and makes it more difficult for journalists to cover significant news stories. Fake news is considered as one of the greatest threats to free debate and democracy.
Nick McKenzie is a highly acclaimed and awarded Australian investigative newspaper and broadcast journalist and author. He is considered one of the most influential journalists in Australia. He works for Fairfax Media and his investigations regularly appear in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review. He also presents special investigations for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s television program, Four Corners. His work has covered an incredibly diverse range of issues, sparking national and state inquiries and driving social change.
His journalism has included major exposés of corruption and the abuse of power in government and policing agencies, failings in the criminal justice system, corporate corruption, human rights abuses, the abuse of disabled Australians in care homes, abuse scandals in religious organisations, the exploitation of migrant workers and doping and match fixing in sport. He also reports on international affairs, national security and terrorism, immigration, organised crime, defence issues and federal and state politics.
His presentation will explore investigative journalism in Australia in the era of fake news
Nick McKenzie is an Australian investigative newspaper and broadcast journalist, and author. http://nickmckenzie.com.au/
He works for Fairfax Media and his investigations regularly appear in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review. He also presents special investigations for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s television program, Four Corners.
His career began as a cadet journalist at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, before joining the ABC investigative unit in 2003.
Since then, his work has covered an incredibly diverse range of issues, sparking national and state inquiries and driving social change.
His journalism has included major exposes of corruption and the abuse of power in government and policing agencies, failings in the criminal justice system, corporate corruption, human rights abuses, the abuse of disabled Australians in care homes, abuse scandals in religious organisations, the exploitation of migrant workers and doping and match fixing in sport.
He also reports on international affairs, national security and terrorism, immigration, organised crime, defence issues and federal and state politics.
Nick McKenzie has won Australia’s highest award, the Walkley, seven times.
He is the most decorated journalist in the history of the Melbourne Press Club Quill awards and has twice won the press club’s highest award, the Gold Quill.
In 2015, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and was also named the RMIT University Alumni of the Year. He has also been awarded the prestigious George Munster Award for Independent Journalism.