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Antoinette Lattouf on beating the ABC in court

Jul 9, 2025
Guest
Antoinette Lattouf
Antoinette Lattouf, co-founder of Ette Media and a journalist, shares her remarkable journey of fighting back after being wrongfully terminated by ABC for a Human Rights Watch post on Gaza. The Federal Court's ruling in her favor has sparked discussions about media independence and lobbying influences in journalism. Lattouf candidly addresses the moral dilemmas journalists face and the need for more robust protections against censorship. Her victory not only vindicates her but also prompts a reevaluation of social media policies within major broadcasting organizations.
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INSIGHT

How Powerful Lobbyists Silenced an ABC Journalist and Why It Matters

Antoinette Lattouf fought back after being unlawfully fired from ABC for sharing a Human Rights Watch post on Gaza, with the Federal Court ruling that senior ABC executives acted under pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists.

She revealed how these lobby groups orchestrated email campaigns and threats, influencing the ABC's decision and exposing serious governance and impartiality failures within the public broadcaster.

Lattouf highlights the broader impact on journalism where journalists' social media and reporting on Gaza face intense surveillance and suppression, pushing many to leave traditional newsrooms for independent media.

Her battle underscores the urgent need for media institutions to resist external lobbying to maintain integrity and protect journalists' rights to political opinion.

ANECDOTE

Fired After Lobbyists' Pressure

  • Antoinette Lattouf was abruptly fired from ABC local radio on day three of her five-day contract.
  • The firing followed an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists pressuring the company due to her views on Gaza.
INSIGHT

Fight for Public Benefit

  • This case raised serious questions about ABC's independence and resistance to external political pressures.
  • Lattouf saw her fight as about public benefit and holding powerful institutions accountable, beyond just her own case.
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