Publisher Morry Schwartz says anti—Israel journalist petition is not a “blueprint for impartial reporting”

Morry Schwartz says a petition signed by more than 250 journalists calling for Israel to be treated the same as terror group Hamas moves ‘well beyond balance in their coverage of the war.’

Melbourne publisher Morry Schwartz. Aaron Francis: The Australian

Morry Schwartz says the recent petition signed by more than 250 Australian journalists calling for Israel to be treated the same as ­terrorist group Hamas when dealing with unverified information moves “well beyond balance in their coverage of the war”.

Mr Schwartz is the publisher of progressive outlets The Monthly, The Saturday Paper and the 7am podcast.

“I’m willing to accept that some of those who signed the letter may have done so in good faith. They did this as a response to the horror of war. I do not, however, believe the letter represents a blueprint for impartial reporting. It appears to call for balance but then calls for reporters to move well beyond balance in their coverage of the war,” Mr Schwartz said.

A number of high-profile and award-winning contributors to his publications have signed the letter endorsed by the journalist’s union, the MEAA, including The Monthly’s contributing editor Rachel Withers.

Senior reporter and recent Walkley Award winner Rick Morton is a supporter of the petition, which was passed at an in-person meeting of the MEAA national committee last week.

“The letter is asking journalists to be actual journalists,” Morton posted on X.

Mr Schwartz – whose Jewish parents survived the Holocaust – is confident his news organisations will continue to cover the conflict with integrity.

“As proprietor I do not intervene in the editorial matters of my publications,” he said. “I do, however, believe strongly that robust editorial principles have been established in them all, and that they have reported the Israel-Hamas war with the highest level of balance and accuracy. I’m confident that they will continue to do so.”

The Guardian Australia is yet to comment on whether it will follow the lead of the Nine newspapers, where management have told staff of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald any signatory will no longer be involved in the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Australian understands that the motion about the anti-­Israel letter failed at house committee votes in both newsrooms last week.

The MEAA has since written to Nine members stating that it has contacted management “calling on them to refrain from targeting staff”.

The ABC’s news director Justin Stevens circulated an all-staff email on Friday following the release of the petition which has been signed by presenters Benjamin Law, Jan Fran and Tony Armstrong, to remind journalists that participating in the MEAA campaign may mean their impartiality and the trust and credibility of the ABC may be queried. “Signing this petition may bring into question your ability to cover the story ­impartially,” Mr Stevens said.