James Oaten and Michael Smith
Moderator: Peter Greste

Michael Smith was one of the last Australian journalists to leave China, an experience he recounts in his memoir, The Last Correspondent. James Oaten left India on an Australian repatriation flight earlier this year. They have both had to consider the question of a free press, often at risk to their person. Join them in a conversation with Peter Greste about the present and future challenges to a free media.

Michael Smith has been covering China for over 20 years and is currently the China correspondent for the Australian Financial Review. He lived and reported from China up until September 2020, when the Chinese government compelled the last Australian journalists to leave the country. He currently resides in Sydney with his partner.

James Oaten is the South Asia Correspondent for the ABC. He has covered the Covid-19 pandemic extensively, including the catastrophic second wave, the troubled vaccine rollout and the economic migrant crisis after the country was plunged into a six-week national lockdown last year.

Peter Greste is the UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication, Professor at the University of Queensland, press freedom advocate, founding director of the Alliance for Journalists' Freedom, journalist, author.