Peter Greste made international headlines when he was imprisoned for 400 days in Cairo, while on temporary assignment in Egypt for Al Jazeera.
Accused of news reporting which was damaging to national security in December 2013, Greste and two other Al Jazeera English journalists, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were arrested by Egyptian authorities.
In June 2014, Greste was found guilty by the court, and sentenced to seven years’ jail. In February 2015, a month after his retrial, Greste was deported and returned to Australia.
The award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent, Peter Greste has reported on political events from all corners of the globe and for 25 years, Peter has covered conflicts and catastrophes, accepting the personal danger that comes with a life committed to bringing stories to the world.
It is clear in the last decade or so the rules have changed regarding free speech and journalism with more than 1500 journalists loosing their lives in the line of duty since 9/11. Trust in the media has been lost. Fake news is prevalent. And journalism has become a dangerous game.
In his thought-provoking book The First Casualty: From the frontlines of the global war on journalism, Peter Greste looks at how the role of the media has changed in the global War on Terror – and the urgency with which we need to support impartial, balanced and accurate reporting in a war where there are no frontlines and no clear battlegrounds. At the same time he also details what he went through while in prison in Egypt for 400 days in 2013-2014.
Part memoir, part history The First Casualty is a thought-provoking new book by one of Australia’s finest foreign correspondents widely renowned for his courage, integrity and fervent campaigning for press freedom everywhere.
Now Peter Greste will be touring with events scheduled in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Kyneton, Melbourne, and Geelong.
Join Peter as he discusses his extremely timely, enlightening and passionate account and unpicks the extent to which modern investigative journalism is under threat.
When & Where: The High Ground, Geelong Library and Heritage Centre – October 19 from 7pm.
More info here.
