Gender-affirming surgeries can cost tens of thousands of dollars. None of it is covered by Medicare. 
 
This week on The Yarn, reporter August Mikleus shares his investigation into the years-long fight for public funding, and what happens when trans patients are forced to front the costs themselves.  

 

Show Notes:

August Mikleus ’ reporting for The Citizen.

Gender-affirming surgeries can cost tens of thousands of dollars. None of it is covered by Medicare.&nbsp; &nbsp; This week on The Yarn, reporter August Mikleus shares his investigation into the years-long fight for public funding, and what happens when trans patients are forced to front the costs themselves. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Show Notes:
<a href="https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/the-wait-for-application-1754-will-gender-affirming-surgeries-ever-go-on-medicare">August Mikleus &rsquo; reporting for The Citizen.</a>

The Wait for Gender-Affirming Healthcare 

In this episode of The Yarn, everybody is trying to stay in touch with somebody who has died. A family who turned their house into a hospital, a granddaughter burning money for her grandfather, a woman who says the dead can be booked by the hour, and a stargazer chasing light from stars that no longer exist. 

Stories by Isaure Duruy, Ruiying Tang, Olivia Wright and Jiali Hong. Hosted by Preeshita Shah. 

In this episode of The Yarn, everybody is trying to stay in touch with somebody who has died. A family who turned their house into a hospital, a granddaughter burning money for her grandfather, a woman who says the dead can be booked by the hour, and a stargazer chasing light from stars that no longer exist.&nbsp;
Stories by Isaure Duruy, Ruiying Tang, Olivia Wright and Jiali Hong. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.&nbsp;

The Hereafter

In this episode, we're joined by Craig Silverman, one of the world's leading experts on online disinformation, who says the era of tech companies funding fact-checking is over. 

Craig has spent more than two decades reporting on how our information environment gets manipulated, from a blog tracking newspaper corrections in 2004, to investigations into the digital environment for BuzzFeed News and ProPublica. He now runs Indicator, a small independent newsroom investigating digital deception.

We talk about the liar's dividend, why only using detection tools won't save journalists, and why investigative journalism may not necessarily be the best journalism. 

Craig Silverman in conversation with the Centre for Advancing Journalism's cadet Preeshita Shah and lecturers Mell Chun and Silvia Montaño-Niño. 

In this episode, we're joined by Craig Silverman, one of the world's leading experts on online disinformation, who says the era of tech companies funding fact-checking is over.&nbsp;
Craig has spent more than two decades reporting on how our information environment gets manipulated, from a blog tracking newspaper corrections in 2004, to investigations into the digital environment for BuzzFeed News and ProPublica. He now runs Indicator, a small independent newsroom investigating digital deception.
We talk about the liar's dividend, why only using detection tools won't save journalists, and why investigative journalism may not necessarily be the best journalism.&nbsp;
Craig Silverman in conversation with the Centre for Advancing Journalism's cadet Preeshita Shah and lecturers Mell Chun and Silvia Monta&ntilde;o-Ni&ntilde;o.&nbsp;

Craig Silverman: Industrialised Deception and the Truth Crisis

In this episode of The Yarn, we meet people who broke new ground without setting out to. The team behind Victoria's first golden kelp restoration project, a sailor who raced a yacht through the roughest water on the planet, and the first woman on the fireground in her region. 

Stories by Theoné van der Merwe, Bea Chirnside and Eamon Leggett. Hosted by Preeshita Shah. 

In this episode of The Yarn, we meet people who broke new ground without setting out to. The team behind Victoria's first golden kelp restoration project, a sailor who raced a yacht through the roughest water on the planet, and the first woman on the fireground in her region.&nbsp;
Stories by&nbsp;Theon&eacute;&nbsp;van der Merwe, Bea&nbsp;Chirnside&nbsp;and Eamon Leggett. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.&nbsp;

Firsts: Breaking Ground

In this episode of The Yarn, we meet people whose lives turned on a single first. A boy who became a Beyblade champion, a man whose first night at a soccer club became twenty-five years, and a journalist who chased her first byline from Fiji to Melbourne. 

Stories by Erielle Sudario, Sihan Ren and Yixin Zhang. Hosted by Preeshita Shah. 

In this episode of The Yarn, we meet people whose lives turned on a single first. A boy who became a Beyblade champion, a man whose first night at a soccer club became twenty-five years, and a journalist who chased her first byline from Fiji to Melbourne.&nbsp;
Stories by Erielle Sudario, Sihan&nbsp;Ren&nbsp;and Yixin Zhang. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.&nbsp;

Firsts: Small Beginnings

In this episode of The Yarn, the watching comes with a verdict. Cameras keeping guard over a wildlife sanctuary, an app that tracks a delivery rider's every stop, footballers waiting on selection, and women who change how they move through the city just to avoid being watched. 

Stories by Alexandra Nevill, Ruonan Yang, Harry Robertson and Sophie Sewell. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.

In this episode of The Yarn, the watching comes with a verdict. Cameras keeping guard over a wildlife sanctuary, an app that tracks a delivery rider's every stop, footballers waiting on&nbsp;selection, and women who change how they move through the city just to avoid being watched.&nbsp;
Stories by Alexandra Nevill, Ruonan Yang, Harry Robertson and Sophie Sewell. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.

Somebody's Watching: The Algo Knows

This is the second episode in our three-part series, Somebody's Watching - and it's about Love, and Other Surveillance. In this episode, nobody is performing. But they're being watched anyway. And some of the watching arrives dressed as love, fear, or judgement. Sometimes, a chaotic blend of all. We meet a woman who was outed by a photograph, we step into a self-defence class where women practise watching back, and we are introduced to a mother who can tell you what time her daughter woke up from an ocean away. We also see what it feels like when the watching stops.

Stories by Xue Xue, Mercy Cornwell, Fan Chu and Xinnan Wang. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.

 

Music credits:

In Xue Xue's story, music was from Pixabay Music, used under the Pixabay Content Licence.

In Mercy Cornwell's story, music was from the Free Music Archive, by artists Jake Hunter, Soularflair, and the Independent Music Licensing Collective.

In Xinnan Wang's story, music was from Purple Planet.

 

This is the second episode in our three-part series, Somebody's Watching - and it's about Love, and Other Surveillance. In this episode, nobody is performing. But they're being watched anyway. And some of the watching arrives dressed as love, fear, or judgement. Sometimes, a chaotic blend of all. We meet a woman who was outed by a photograph, we step into a self-defence class where women practise watching back, and we are introduced to a mother who can tell you what time her daughter woke up from an ocean away. We also see what it feels like when the watching stops.
Stories by Xue Xue, Mercy Cornwell, Fan Chu and Xinnan Wang. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.
&nbsp;
Music credits:
In Xue Xue's story, music was from Pixabay Music, used under the Pixabay Content Licence.
In Mercy Cornwell's story, music was from the Free Music Archive, by artists Jake Hunter, Soularflair, and the Independent Music Licensing Collective.
In Xinnan Wang's story, music was from Purple Planet.
&nbsp;

Somebody's Watching: Love, & Other Surveillance

This is the first episode in our new three-part series, Somebody's Watching - and it’s about Screentime.  In this episode, we meet people who perform for the screen. But in the economy of attention, both performers and watchers are being surveilled.  We meet a streamer who games in front of thousands, we visit a cafe built on viral dessert pastry stuffed with pistachio and wrapped in marshmallow, and we are introduced a cat who has learned to high five for the camera.  We also are shown how we can be seduced into loving this surveillance, by a decade of our own data, gift-wrapped and handed back to us. 

Stories by Hope Kloppenburg, Yuyao Zhao, Megan Nicole Yin and Siena Kinkela.  Hosted by Preeshita Shah.

This is the first episode in our new three-part series, Somebody's Watching - and it&rsquo;s about Screentime.&nbsp; In this episode, we meet people who perform for the screen. But in the economy of attention, both performers and watchers are being surveilled.&nbsp; We meet a streamer who games in front of thousands, we visit a cafe built on viral dessert pastry stuffed with pistachio and wrapped in marshmallow, and we are introduced a cat who has learned to high five for the camera.&nbsp; We also are shown how we can be seduced into loving this surveillance, by a decade of our own data, gift-wrapped and handed back to us.&nbsp;
Stories by Hope Kloppenburg, Yuyao Zhao, Megan Nicole Yin and Siena Kinkela.&nbsp; Hosted by Preeshita Shah.

Somebody's Watching:  Screentime! 

On Chinese social media, political influencers risk censorship with every post.  

On today’s episode of The Yarn, we speak to feminist content creators from China and Australia about their differing experiences, both online and in real life.  

  This episode was created by Rachel Liu, Jinghe Huang, Yufei Li, and Zijun Qi. 

On Chinese social media, political influencers risk censorship with every post. &nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s episode of The Yarn, we speak to feminist content creators from China and Australia about their differing experiences, both online and in real life. &nbsp;
&nbsp; This episode was created by Rachel Liu, Jinghe Huang, Yufei Li, and Zijun Qi.&nbsp;

Posting Against the Patriarchy

Food can provide far more than just sustenance. For many, meals are a pivotal link to memory, identity, and belonging.  

On today’s episode of The Yarn, our reporters explore the transformative power of food. They speak to a gardener growing Chinese vegetables in Australia, a baker building community through a cake club, and others who turn to food for multifaceted nourishment. 

This episode was created by Kunfan Bai, Zhenxi Zeng, Zhoujun Cai, Qianrui Lu, and Ruiying Tang. 

Food can provide far more than just sustenance. For many, meals are a pivotal link to memory, identity, and belonging. &nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s episode of The Yarn, our reporters explore the transformative power of food. They speak to a gardener growing Chinese vegetables in Australia, a baker building community through a cake club, and others who turn to food for multifaceted nourishment.&nbsp;
This episode was created by Kunfan Bai, Zhenxi Zeng, Zhoujun Cai, Qianrui Lu, and Ruiying Tang.&nbsp;

Food for Thought

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

Pacific  newsrooms are in crisis. US funding cuts, the rise of artificial intelligence, and constraints on press freedom are just some of the threats to the region’s journalists.   

On this week's episode of News Bites, Louisa Lim discusses the future of Pacific media with Solomon Islands journalist Dorothy Wickham and Fijian journalist Shayal Devi.

Pacific&nbsp; newsrooms are in crisis. US funding cuts, the rise of artificial intelligence, and constraints on press freedom are just&nbsp;some&nbsp;of the threats to the region&rsquo;s journalists.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
On this week's episode of News Bites, Louisa Lim discusses the future of Pacific media with Solomon Islands journalist Dorothy Wickham and Fijian journalist Shayal Devi.

News Bites: The Future of Pacific Journalism 

Who do you think of when you think of an Australian pioneer?  Maybe Fanny Finch, the first woman to vote in Australia, who was also a woman of colour.  Or perhaps Rosaleen Norton, also known as the Witch of King's Cross. These are the trailblazers whose stories Dr Corey Martin is telling in her podcast, Maiden Australia. In this episode of News Bites, she discusses feminist approaches to storytelling and how podcasting can amplify marginalised voices. 

 

Show Notes 

Maiden Australia

Who do you think of when you think of an Australian pioneer?&nbsp; Maybe Fanny Finch, the first woman to vote in Australia, who was also a woman of colour.&nbsp; Or perhaps Rosaleen Norton, also known as the Witch of King's Cross. These are the trailblazers whose stories Dr Corey Martin is telling in her podcast, Maiden Australia. In this episode of News Bites, she discusses feminist approaches to storytelling and how podcasting can amplify marginalised voices.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Show Notes&nbsp;
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/maiden-australia/id1796767082">Maiden Australia</a>

 News Bites: Amplifying Untold Stories

We’re continuing our centenary celebrations by revisiting highlights from our News Bites series. Over the last three years, we’ve featured more than 40 of Australia’s top journalism experts.  These include newspaper editors, podcasters, war journalists, and our very own staff. Today you’ll hear some of their top tips for aspiring journalists, from making your first pitch to covering conflict zones.  

Thanks to Jeff Sparrow, Bernadette Nunn, Louisa Lim, and Sami Shah for conducting the interviews and organising News Bites events.

Show notes:
News Bites playlist

We&rsquo;re continuing our centenary celebrations by revisiting highlights from our News Bites series. Over the last three years, we&rsquo;ve featured more than 40 of Australia&rsquo;s top journalism experts.&nbsp; These include newspaper editors, podcasters, war journalists, and our very own staff. Today you&rsquo;ll hear some of their top tips for aspiring journalists, from making your first pitch to covering conflict zones.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Thanks to Jeff Sparrow, Bernadette Nunn, Louisa Lim, and Sami Shah for conducting the interviews and organising News Bites events.
Show notes: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-yarn/playlists/news-bites">News Bites playlist</a>

Three Years of News Bites

Intimidated, lucky, chaotic: this is the emotional rollercoaster of the first days working in a newsroom. This episode is our survival guide to starting out in journalism, as delivered by three of our graduates. Gwen Liu from the Ballarat Courier, Harry Sekulich from the Daily Aus, and freelancer Wing Kuang speak to Senior Tutor Bernadette Nunn about how to survive and thrive when starting out in journalism. "The only way to do better is just by doing," says Harry, while Gwen's advice is simple, "you need courage, you need to be brave."

Intimidated, lucky, chaotic: this is the emotional rollercoaster of the first days working in a newsroom. This episode is our survival guide to starting out in journalism, as delivered by three of our graduates. Gwen Liu from the Ballarat Courier, Harry Sekulich from the Daily Aus, and freelancer Wing Kuang speak to Senior Tutor Bernadette Nunn about how to survive and thrive when starting out in journalism. "The only way to do better is just by doing," says Harry, while Gwen's advice is simple, "you need courage, you need to be brave."

News Bites: Journalism Survival Guide

This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.   

Today’s guest is Silvia Montaña-Niño. Silvia is a new CAJ lecturer and was a journalist at El Espectador, one of Columbia’s most important newspapers.  

At the start of her career, Columbia was besieged by guerilla warfare and death squads. Drug lords like Pablo Escobar waged brutal campaigns of terrorism. Targets included politicians, the judiciary, and journalists.  

Silvia spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about reporting amidst this chaos. They also discussed her current research into global fact checking and misinformation. 

This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.   
Today’s guest is Silvia Montaña-Niño. Silvia is a new CAJ lecturer and was a journalist at El Espectador, one of Columbia’s most important newspapers.  
At the start of her career, Columbia was besieged by guerilla warfare and death squads. Drug lords like Pablo Escobar waged brutal campaigns of terrorism. Targets included politicians, the judiciary, and journalists.  
Silvia spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about reporting amidst this chaos. They also discussed her current research into global fact checking and misinformation.

News Bites: Threats to Journalism with Silvia Montaña-Niño

Today’s News Bites guest is journalist and CAJ Lecturer Dr Caroline James-Garrod. Caroline got her start as a cadet at Leader Community Newspapers in Melbourne. Since then, she’s had an expansive career working across the country and abroad. 

She’s also seen major industry upheavals, from the rise of the 24/7 online news cycle to the era of mass job cuts. These shifts have left many journalists with too much work and not enough time, an issue Caroline researched as part of her PhD on time poverty. 

For News Bites, Caroline spoke with senior tutor Bernadette Nun. She shared advice for starting a career in community news and navigating an industry where jobs are scarce and time is precious.



Shownotes

''No time to think': Overloaded journalists trim practices to save time', Australian Journalism Review

'No bandwidth to think is the cost of being time poor', Pursuit

Today’s News Bites guest is journalist and CAJ Lecturer Dr Caroline James-Garrod. Caroline got her start as a cadet at Leader Community Newspapers in Melbourne. Since then, she’s had an expansive career working across the country and abroad. 
She’s also seen major industry upheavals, from the rise of the 24/7 online news cycle to the era of mass job cuts. These shifts have left many journalists with too much work and not enough time, an issue Caroline researched as part of her PhD on time poverty. 
For News Bites, Caroline spoke with senior tutor Bernadette Nun. She shared advice for starting a career in community news and navigating an industry where jobs are scarce and time is precious.
 
Shownotes
<a href="https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/ajr_00135_7">''No time to think': Overloaded journalists trim practices to save time', Australian Journalism Review</a>
<a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/no-bandwidth-to-think-is-the-cost-of-being-time-poor">'No bandwidth to think is the cost of being time poor', Pursuit</a>

News Bites: Racing the Clock with Dr Caroline James-Garrod

This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.  

Today’s guest is Khalid Amiri, who was a prominent news presenter for the Afghan state broadcaster RTA. He’s known for his courageous reporting and outspoken criticism of the Taliban.  

After Kabul fell in August 2021, Khalid and his family fled to Australia, where he’s pursuing a Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. 

He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about the challenging but critical role that journalists play in conflict zones.

This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.  
Today’s guest is Khalid Amiri, who was a prominent news presenter for the Afghan state broadcaster RTA. He’s known for his courageous reporting and outspoken criticism of the Taliban.  
After Kabul fell in August 2021, Khalid and his family fled to Australia, where he’s pursuing a Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. 
He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about the challenging but critical role that journalists play in conflict zones.

News Bites:  Journalism in Times of Crisis with Khalid Amiri

For Australian whistleblowers, the truth often comes at price. 

The Human Rights Law Centre says federal whistleblowing laws have failed to protect a single person since their inception, and those who speak out risk exorbitant fines or even jail time. 

Today, you’ll hear from a panel of experts who say reforms are long overdue: Kieran Pender (an expert in legal frameworks for whistleblower protections), Karen Percy (a veteran journalist and leader in media advocacy), and Rick Morton (an investigative journalist who writes for the Saturday paper).  

For Australian whistleblowers, the truth often comes at price. 
The Human Rights Law Centre says federal whistleblowing laws have failed to protect a single person since their inception, and those who speak out risk exorbitant fines or even jail time. 
Today, you’ll hear from a panel of experts who say reforms are long overdue: Kieran Pender (an expert in legal frameworks for whistleblower protections), Karen Percy (a veteran journalist and leader in media advocacy), and Rick Morton (an investigative journalist who writes for the Saturday paper).

News Bites: Protect, not Punish

Marker 01

Marker 02

Today we're returning to our News Bites series which spotlights the work of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism. 

This week’s guest is podcaster, PhD candidate, and former journalism student Dylan Bird. You might recognise his voice from Triple R’s Future Perfect program, which Dylan hosts. He also works behind the scenes on the CAJ podcast Masterclass.  

On top of this, he’s currently completing a PhD about how podcasts can maintain democracy. 

He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about producing audio stories, hosting live radio, and the political potential of podcasting.  



Shownotes:

Big Cats in the Bush

Democratic listening: News podcasts, trust and political participation in Australia

Today we're returning to our News Bites series which spotlights the work of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism. 
This week’s guest is podcaster, PhD candidate, and former journalism student Dylan Bird. You might recognise his voice from Triple R’s Future Perfect program, which Dylan hosts. He also works behind the scenes on the CAJ podcast Masterclass.  
On top of this, he’s currently completing a PhD about how podcasts can maintain democracy. 
He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about producing audio stories, hosting live radio, and the political potential of podcasting.  
 
Shownotes:
<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/offtrack/big-cats-in-the-bush/5125262">Big Cats in the Bush</a>
<a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.129189668950542?casa_token=_knXmfCaq0AAAAAA%3ATBxUXjzXLJ3_L2Nrxdic0BMAOvEF1YBxtyFvxaJVabauixhP3nUIyz6nOgbC2dHLP86HwaWXvEQSWfRd">Democratic listening: News podcasts, trust and political participation in Australia</a>

News Bites: Dylan Bird on Building a Career in Audio

Today, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites — a series of live interviews showcasing the work of local journalists.  

This week’s guest is Erik Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media. 

Erik’s career has been multipronged.  He began working as a music critic when he was only fifteen. After high school, he went on to join the Sydney Morning Herald and won a Walkley Award. 

Later, he became the founding editor of the Saturday Paper. Since 2018, he's also overseen the Monthly and Schwartz media’s podcasts like 7am — the most popular news podcast in Australia.  

On top of this, he’s released a poetry collection and written an award-winning biography of the artist Adam Cullen. The latter was adapted into the film Acute Misfortune, which is on Netflix. 

For News Bites, he spoke to Senior Lecturer Louisa Lim about podcasting, editorial decisions, and crucial skills for storytellers. 

Today, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites — a series of live interviews showcasing the work of local journalists.  
This week’s guest is Erik Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media. 
Erik’s career has been multipronged.  He began working as a music critic when he was only fifteen. After high school, he went on to join the Sydney Morning Herald and won a Walkley Award. 
Later, he became the founding editor of the Saturday Paper. Since 2018, he's also overseen the Monthly and Schwartz media’s podcasts like 7am — the most popular news podcast in Australia.  
On top of this, he’s released a poetry collection and written an award-winning biography of the artist Adam Cullen. The latter was adapted into the film Acute Misfortune, which is on Netflix. 
For News Bites, he spoke to Senior Lecturer Louisa Lim about podcasting, editorial decisions, and crucial skills for storytellers.

News Bites: Erik Jensen, Editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media

The Yarn is an award-winning 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 an award-winning 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;
&nbsp;
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The Yarn

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