Exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar says the Russia-Ukraine war is far from over. He believes Vladimir Putin is prolonging the conflict to fuel propaganda and silence critics. 

This week on The Yarn, we’re sharing Zygar’s 2025 AN Smith Lecture—Journalism Against Autocracy. Addressing a sold-out audience at Melbourne University, Zygar recounts covering Putin’s Russia for more than two decades. He also discusses attacks on press freedom, coming out as gay in a deeply homophobic society, and why his new home in the United States is giving him “déjà vu”. 

Exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar says the Russia-Ukraine war is far from over. He believes Vladimir Putin is prolonging the conflict to fuel propaganda and silence critics.&nbsp;
This week on The Yarn, we&rsquo;re sharing Zygar&rsquo;s 2025 AN Smith Lecture&mdash;Journalism Against Autocracy. Addressing a sold-out audience at Melbourne University, Zygar recounts covering Putin&rsquo;s Russia for more than two decades. He also discusses attacks on press freedom, coming out as gay in a deeply homophobic society, and why his new home in the United States is giving him &ldquo;d&eacute;j&agrave; vu&rdquo;.&nbsp;

The Yarn is a podcast showcasing work from The Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.  It features original reporting by students, content from The Citizen publication, as well as talks and events held by the Centre.  

The Yarn is a podcast showcasing work from The Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.&nbsp; It features original reporting by students, content from The Citizen publication, as well as talks and events held by the Centre.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Yarn

The Yarn is a podcast out of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.  It is mixed, produced and edited by students, and showcases student work at its best. 

 

 

The Yarn is a podcast out of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.&nbsp; It is mixed, produced and edited by students, and showcases student work at its best.&nbsp;
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Journalism Against Autocracy: Mikhail Zygar’s AN Smith Lecture

On this week’s episode of Passion Project, we’re entering the DIS-comfort zone.  

We’re investigating extreme hikers who rebel against modern life, elite athletes struggling with burnout, and others who push themselves to the absolute limit. 

This episode features reporting by Grace Viney, Berit Anna Rojer, Kezia Tan, and Rose Beattie. 

On this week&rsquo;s episode of Passion Project, we&rsquo;re entering the DIS-comfort zone. &nbsp;
We&rsquo;re investigating extreme hikers who rebel against modern life, elite athletes struggling with burnout, and others who push themselves to the absolute limit.&nbsp;
This episode features reporting by Grace Viney, Berit Anna Rojer, Kezia Tan, and Rose Beattie.&nbsp;

Passion Project: Discomfort Zone 

Nude movie screenings might sound perverse, but this one-of-a-kind experience has been selling out Melbourne cinemas. It's just one of the hyper niche interests we're exploring in this week's episode of Passion Projects — our new series about outliers, trailblazers, and the pastimes they love. 

This episode features reporting by Lachie Carroll, Cathy Yee, Mia Leys, Cassia Cunningham, and Rachel Ferro.

 

 

Nude&nbsp;movie screenings might sound perverse, but this one-of-a-kind experience has been selling out Melbourne cinemas. It's just one of the hyper niche interests we're exploring in this week's episode of Passion Projects &mdash; our new series about outliers, trailblazers, and the pastimes they love.&nbsp;
This episode features reporting by Lachie Carroll, Cathy Yee, Mia Leys, Cassia Cunningham, and Rachel Ferro.
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Passion Project: Outliers 

Today, we’re sharing a talk from Pulitzer Prize-winning war journalist Chris Hedges, who believes the Western media is complicit in the Gaza genocide. 

Chris spent two decades covering war zones in places like Iraq, Sarajevo, and Gaza. He’s also the author of more than a dozen books. His most recent is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine. 

In front of a live audience at the University of Melbourne, he discussed his wide-ranging career, the history of Israeli violence, and how the media manufactures consent for atrocities. 

 

Show Notes:

The Chris Hedges Report on Substack 

Today, we&rsquo;re sharing a talk from Pulitzer Prize-winning war journalist Chris Hedges, who believes the Western media is complicit in the Gaza genocide.&nbsp;
Chris spent two decades covering war zones in places like Iraq, Sarajevo, and Gaza. He&rsquo;s also the author of more than a dozen books. His most recent is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.&nbsp;
In front of a live audience at the University of Melbourne, he discussed his wide-ranging career, the history of Israeli violence, and how the media manufactures consent for atrocities.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Show Notes:
<a href="https://chrishedges.substack.com/">The Chris Hedges Report on Substack&nbsp;</a>

Journalism Against Autocracy: Mikhail Zygar’s AN Smith Lecture

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