ethics & philosophy

ideals, breaches, disappointments and inspirations

Feminist burnout: the toll of continually responding to the news cycle

Late last year, writer Tanya Ashworth contacted me for my answers to some questions she had about the effects of immersing oneself in the background media consumption required to write regularly about feminist issues: the drip-drip-drip of piece after piece of anti-women incident coverage and condescending/fatuous/abusively sexist op-eds. Yesterday she finally managed to get that article published, and my answers are in fine company – Clementine Ford, Van Badham, Lou Heinrich and Viv Smythe: optimism in the face of online abuse.

Friday Hoyden: Bree Newsome

After the murder of nine people at a Bible study group in a church in South Carolina, USA, in a white supremacist terrorist massacre specifically targeting black Americans, many people’s patience has run out with the display of racist symbols… Read More ›

Media Circus: Vegemite Chocolate edition

The very idea is undoubtedly an Abomination unto Nuggan, and Ed Milliband would probably make a mess of eating any. Bill Shorten will say something graceless, and the teaser for the SBS documentary will be epic.

What’s piqued your media interests lately?

Media Circus: Lest We Forget edition

The enduring lesson I learnt about ANZAC Day from the family members who served in either/both World Wars is that political incompetence costs lives, and that the sacrifices made by the dead are best honoured by the rest of us keeping a really close eye on our political class. I wish our mainstream media understood this ongoing need for vigilance better right now.

What’s piqued your media interests lately?