The Columnist's Targets and Independence

The podcast is on holiday right now so we are replaying some of our favourite episodes as part of a summer series.

Former Rear Window editor Joe Aston was one of the Australian Financial Review’s most loved and most feared columnists. He had people turning to the back page every morning before they had poured out their coffee. In October, after a twelve-year reign, he decided to call it a day.

The Fin spoke with Joe about his evolution from gossip columnist to campaigning journalist, his struggles along the way and how he held companies like Qantas and PwC to account.

We hope you enjoy this replay of our discussion.

Further reading:

• Joe's farewell column Rear Window’s style evolved (and its rigour improved), but my primary motivation never really changed, and that was to entertain.
• Richard Goyder's pantomime swan song The Qantas chairman has elected to take an excruciating route to the inevitable.
• Sobering thoughts from Rehab Riviera Resisting alcohol is almost the easiest part of early sobriety. Vastly more daunting is the reconstruction of one’s interpersonal skills.

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