ENG CAMERAMAN

R.I.P THE DEATH OF JOURNALISM Having dedicated over a decade of my career as a news camera operator and editor, I held deep respect for the industry and found genuine fulfillment in my dHaaily work. However, my perspective shifted dramatically during what I perceived as the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis unfolded, I began to experience growing disillusionment with my employer. The daily editorial conference calls became a source of frustration, as I observed what I felt was an excessive focus on COVID-related stories. In my view, the news leadership seemed to consistently push for coverage that I believed unnecessarily amplified fear and panic surrounding the pandemic. In my subsequent employment, I encountered what I interpreted as an alarming trend: an increasing number of seemingly healthy young and middle-aged individuals experiencing sudden, unexplained deaths. This observation led to an 18-month period of intense inner turmoil and a sense of powerlessness. I attempted to bring this issue to the attention of numerous journalists I had connected with over my years in the industry. However, I was consistently met with responses that suggested a reluctance to report on the matter, often citing job security concerns. The apparent reluctance to investigate what I viewed as potentially the most significant story of our time was deeply troubling to me. I perceived this as a failure of journalistic integrity and a manifestation of a herd mentality that I felt had become pervasive in Australian society. Only recently has this issue begun to receive attention in mainstream media, with senators, politicians, and health professionals openly discussing it. Nevertheless, my opinion remains unchanged: I believe that true, independent journalism has become a rarity in Australia and globally, with many media outlets seemingly adhering to a conformist mentality rather than pursuing rigorous, fact-based reporting.