intouch Magazine
- Jun 27, 2023

Award-winning Investigative Journalists in Newcastle for Special Event

Award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie will visit Newcastle on 28 July for a special Newcastle Writers Festival event to launch their respective books, which centre on the shocking downfall of decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith.

On June 1, after a costly and lengthy defamation case launched by Ben Roberts-Smith against The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, a Federal Court judge found that investigations by the journalists were correct in their reporting that Roberts-Smith committed war crimes.

Chris Masters (Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes, Allen & Unwin) and Nick McKenzie (Crossing the Line: The Inside Story of Murder, Lies and a Fallen Hero, Hachette Australia) will speak to festival director and former journalist Rosemarie Milsom about their investigations, which began in the battlefields of Afghanistan and led to the frontlines of the Federal Court.

Said Milsom: “Nick and Chris have exposed the dark side of Australia’s Afghanistan campaign and have demonstrated the impact of courageous and rigorous journalism. This is a not-to-be missed opportunity to listen to them speak about their extraordinary work and subsequent court victory”.

Chris Masters is one of Australia’s most successful and influential investigative journalists. He has won several Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley. He worked for ABC TV's Four Corners program from 1983 to 2010. His 1983 report on corruption in rugby league and in the NSW judiciary led to a Royal Commission and judicial reform. In 1985, he exposed the French Government’s involvement in the sinking of the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior. His 1987 exposure of corruption in Queensland led to a public inquiry and reform. He was the first Australian journalist to be embedded with special forces in Afghanistan.

Nick McKenzie is an investigative reporter for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He has also presented major investigations for Four Corners, 60 Minutes, and the Australian Financial Review. He has won 12 Walkley Awards and been named Journalist of the Year three times. His investigations span foreign affairs, defence, organised crime, and national security. His work has sparked national and state inquires, including Royal Commissions and parliamentary probes, prompted major corruption investigations in Australia, the US and Britain and led to significant legislative change.

Tickets are $35 and can be booked here https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/chrismasters-nickmckenzie-nwfevent/