What do you think?
Rate this book
On Series (Little Books, Big Ideas)
On Secrets
Little books, big ideas: On June 4, Federal Police raided the home of Walkley award-winning journalist Annika Smethurst, changing her life forever.
On June 4, Federal Police raided the home of Walkley award-winning journalist Annika Smethurst, changing her life forever.
Police claim they were investigating the publication of classified information, her employer called it a 'dangerous act of intimidation', Smethurst believes she was simply doing her job.
Smethurst became the accidental poster woman for press freedom as politicians debated the merits of police searching through her underwear drawer. In On Secrets she will discuss the impact this invasion has had on her life, and examine the importance of press freedom.
On June 4, Federal Police raided the home of Walkley award-winning journalist Annika Smethurst, changing her life forever.
Police claim they were investigating the publication of classified information, her employer called it a 'dangerous act of intimidation', Smethurst believes she was simply doing her job.
Smethurst became the accidental poster woman for press freedom as politicians debated the merits of police searching through her underwear drawer. In On Secrets she will discuss the impact this invasion has had on her life, and examine the importance of press freedom.
- GenresNonfiction
107 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2020
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 19, 2020
Annika Smethurst is a Walkley award-winning journalist, who the Federal Police believed had come in to possession of classified information, prompting a raid on her home and changing her life.
Smethurst became the reluctant poster child for the press freedom movement, not only in Australia, she garnered international recognition from Bono and Amal Clooney. Unfortunately, in Australia politicians thought it riotous to discuss the merits of police searching her underwear drawer (*insert eye roll*), rather than discussing the issue at the heart of the police raid. But sex sells, right?
A few things really stood out for me - how she felt like she needed to be accommodating to the people her were raiding her home and the feeling of being unsafe since her whereabouts were now know to all and sundry and the paranoia that she was being watched and/or listened in on; her comments on the difference between ‘news’ and what most people consider ‘news’ (I have this conversation (read: argument) with friends and family all the time and try to explain that what they are reading is not necessarily "news", by a journalist, who can confirm their source’s information, before running the story, but rather is an opinion piece, or observation by a “citizen journalist” and therefore has no factual basis, but I digress) and the importance of people understanding that press freedom is important to protect actual news that affects us, not the drudgery of fake news…. or worse (in my opinion), “celebrity news".
I think we all need to understand that freedom and protection for the media for real news is important and different to chasing a celebrity in a car, or promoting fake news and distorting a story by picking and choosing the facts as they are presented to us, and I found this little book to be an interesting read.
Smethurst became the reluctant poster child for the press freedom movement, not only in Australia, she garnered international recognition from Bono and Amal Clooney. Unfortunately, in Australia politicians thought it riotous to discuss the merits of police searching her underwear drawer (*insert eye roll*), rather than discussing the issue at the heart of the police raid. But sex sells, right?
A few things really stood out for me - how she felt like she needed to be accommodating to the people her were raiding her home and the feeling of being unsafe since her whereabouts were now know to all and sundry and the paranoia that she was being watched and/or listened in on; her comments on the difference between ‘news’ and what most people consider ‘news’ (I have this conversation (read: argument) with friends and family all the time and try to explain that what they are reading is not necessarily "news", by a journalist, who can confirm their source’s information, before running the story, but rather is an opinion piece, or observation by a “citizen journalist” and therefore has no factual basis, but I digress) and the importance of people understanding that press freedom is important to protect actual news that affects us, not the drudgery of fake news…. or worse (in my opinion), “celebrity news".
I think we all need to understand that freedom and protection for the media for real news is important and different to chasing a celebrity in a car, or promoting fake news and distorting a story by picking and choosing the facts as they are presented to us, and I found this little book to be an interesting read.
January 27, 2022
In this essay, journalist Annika Smethurst shares her experience and the aftermath of the June 2019 police raid of her home. A raid that made international headlines and her an unwitting poster woman for press freedom.
Police claim they were investigating the publication of classified information, her employer called it a 'dangerous act of intimidation', Smethurst believes she was doing her job. In April 2020 the High Court unanimously decided that the search warrant they had used was invalid.
She describes the scene inside her apartment so vividly it's both tense and comical to read. She contrasts her impulse to be helpful and hospitable with the realisation that these people were there to gather evidence for her prosecution. She's a great writer and a Walkley award-winning journalist, yet the experience rattled her. She left that apartment not long after - it was no longer home for her - and it caused her to question whether the job was worth it.
The essay reflects on the public misconceptions about what journalists do, and their own failure to explain their value to society. It also presents the history of Australia's secrecy laws, argues that they're out of date, examines the importance of press freedom and calls for systemic protections.
Police claim they were investigating the publication of classified information, her employer called it a 'dangerous act of intimidation', Smethurst believes she was doing her job. In April 2020 the High Court unanimously decided that the search warrant they had used was invalid.
She describes the scene inside her apartment so vividly it's both tense and comical to read. She contrasts her impulse to be helpful and hospitable with the realisation that these people were there to gather evidence for her prosecution. She's a great writer and a Walkley award-winning journalist, yet the experience rattled her. She left that apartment not long after - it was no longer home for her - and it caused her to question whether the job was worth it.
The essay reflects on the public misconceptions about what journalists do, and their own failure to explain their value to society. It also presents the history of Australia's secrecy laws, argues that they're out of date, examines the importance of press freedom and calls for systemic protections.
January 29, 2025
It's really compelling. Smethurst discusses the freedom of the media, protection of whistle-blowers, and the importance of public trust in the media through detailing her experience from when the AFP raided her home last year.
It's quite personal at times, and her anecdotes and comparisons (such as when she made an example of how other journalists have gotten into contact with whistleblowers, such as a red flag in a flowerpot) produce an in-depth analysis in the importance of the media in maintaining a transparent government.
She's also a really engaging writer, which is to be expected from a journalist.
It's quite personal at times, and her anecdotes and comparisons (such as when she made an example of how other journalists have gotten into contact with whistleblowers, such as a red flag in a flowerpot) produce an in-depth analysis in the importance of the media in maintaining a transparent government.
She's also a really engaging writer, which is to be expected from a journalist.
May 22, 2023
Clear and to the point - shines a light on the hypocrisy of politicians, irrespective of political stance, and gives the reader an insight into the psychological trauma experienced by those seeking to lay the facts before the public.
August 25, 2020
Its a compelling little book. Freedom for media, protection for whistle-blowers and the importance of public trust are all essential for integrity and transparency in government.
December 22, 2020
A short and sweet examination of journalism in Australia. Anyone who is vaguely interested in freedom of the press should start here.
March 1, 2023
A short and sweet essay on the value of the free press and whistleblowers.
Read
January 12, 2025deeply personal, rivetingly thought-provoking
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews