Nine Newspapers warns journalists from sharing personal views on Gaza Israel conflict

Nine Newspapers has warned its journalists against sharing their personal views on the Israel and Gaza conflict.

The nation’s journalists’ union and key figures from outlets including the ABC, the Guardian Australia and Nine newspapers have endorsed and distributed an open letter tasking journalists to apply the same “professional scepticism” to uncorroborated Israeli government information as it applies to the terrorist group Hamas.

In response, Nine’s editorial leadership team has banned any reporters who sign the letter from reporting on the conflict.

“The Israeli government is also an actor in this conflict, with mounting evidence it is committing war crimes and a documented history of sharing information,” the letter states.

It also seeks to water down reporting of the October 7 terrorist attack as a trigger point for the current conflict, calling the ongoing war a symptom of “Israel’s devastating bombing campaign and media blockade in Gaza.”

The Herald Sun understands the letter was endorsed on Thursday.

It was circulated and distributed widely to members on Friday via an online portal.

A screenshot of the letter sent to Age journalists about the Gaza-Israel conflict.

High-profile ABC presenters Jan Fran and Tony Armstrong have signed the petition.

Senior editors at Nine newspapers are said to be “abhorred” by this latest appeal.

The directive was authored by Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields, The Age editor Patrick Elliget, national editor David King and executive editor Tory Maguire.

The Age editor’s surname was misspelled as Elliot in the memo.

The journalists’ letter was condemned by the Australian/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council as “the latest salvo … by groups of activist journalists’’.