To The Australian - Journalists need to be cautious when assessing arguments

To The Age        Chris Zappone is no doubt right to warn against various acts of misinformation and disinformation that taint discussion in public forums ("When the language of democracy is hijacked", 25/11), but his assertion that often the most vocal defenders of intellectual liberty and freedom from censorship are really opponents of "sensible debate" looks well over the top. So does the claim that there is a "linguistic sham growing and invading our national conversations." Journalists need to be cautious when assessing arguments, yes, but they also need to be fully committed themselves to free speech and to defending those who in various contexts genuinely honour that principle.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave