With so many open channels now available for the public to share breaking news without the assistance of traditional media outlets, what is the future of journalism?  Do journalists still play a pivotal role in reporting on major events such as politics, terrorism, oil spills, plane crashes and natural disasters?  Are these events over-reported and over-sensationalised?  Do policy issues get lost in wedge politics and sound-bites? Has the relentless demand for 24 hour news both trivialised and catastrophised our current affairs?

Join ABC NewsRadio’s Marius Benson and Editor in Chief of Quest Community Newspapers Neil Melloy in conversation with former Minister, Rod Welford as they discuss the line between prepared and panicked in reporting crises.

Marius Benson
A Walkley Award winner, Marius Benson began his working life as a journalist reporting on the dismissal of the Whitlam Government for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. Since then, he has worked in all media, both nationally and internationally – including term as the ABC’s correspondent in South Africa reporting on the transition from apartheid to democracy. Marius is currently the National Political Editor for ABC NewsRadio.

Neil Melloy
Neil Melloy is the Editor in Chief of Quest Community Newspapers. Neil started his career in the news business as a copyboy on Brisbane’s Daily Sun in 1982 and has worked for a diverse range of publications since. Neil joined The Telegraph as a reporter in 1984 before moving on to extend his career in the UK. Upon arrival back in Australia, Neil took on positions at The Sunday Mail and Sunshine Coast Extra, prior to his appointment chief of staff at The Courier Mail in 2004. In January 2007 Neil became launch editor of Brisbane’s mX before his appointment as executive editor of The Courier-Mail in late 2008.