Why is the government trying to further restrict Freedom of Information laws? The proposed changes include the introduction of fees for FOI requests, a 40 hour time cap on processing a request and widening the definition of cabinet papers, which cannot be requested under the transparency law. What impact could these changes have on journalism in Australia? 

Does reporting on extreme views fan the flames or is it an important way of understanding the society we live in? Reporting of protest actions last weekend in Australian cities has drawn criticism from all sides. 

News broke this week of the death of Australian broadcaster Michael Charlton. He was the first ever famous face on ABC TV,  launching this broadcast onto the airwaves in 1958. How different in investigative journalism on TV now than it was in 1961 when he was the first host on ABC's Four Corners. 

Guest: William Summers, freelance journalist and FOI expert 

You can binge more episodes of the MediaLand podcast, with media insiders Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

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