The Correspondent - by Peter Greste (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In a world where the first casualty of war is truth, journalists are increasingly at risk of becoming part of the battlefield. Peter Greste's career as a foreign correspondent has taken him to some of the most serious conflicts, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. Reporting from the frontline in some of the world's most dangerous countries was part of his job. But when he was charged with threatening national security and incarcerated in an Egyptian prison in 2014, he found himself in the middle of a fight - not just for his own release, but for press freedom around the world. On foreign soil and facing a sham trial, Greste endured solitary confinement and detention for 400 days. Based on extensive interviews and research, Greste's gripping story was originally published as The First Casualty. Retitled to tie in with the major new film, The Correspondent, this updated edition provides a first-hand insight into the challenges facing Western media in the face of terrorism - from Trump's phony war on ' fake news' and the repression of Putin's Russia, to the war zones in Ukraine and Gaza. Peter Greste's story is a vital reminder of the ongoing importance of investigative journalism, particularly in war zones. Also featuring a Foreword by Carmel Travers, producer of The Correspondent film, starring Richard Roxburgh as Peter Greste.

Review Quotes

'Extrapolating from his experiences, [Greste] parallels his ordeal with, and takes up the burden of, others struggling in defence of truth, justice, and freedom of expression.' Australian Book Review

'With trust in media at an all-time low, Greste's memoir highlights the importance of a free, independent press not only at home but across the globe.' The Adelaide Review

About the Author

Professor Peter Greste is an award-winning foreign correspondent who spent 25 years working for the BBC, Reuters and Al Jazeera in some of the world's most volatile places. From Afghanistan to Latin American, Africa and the Middle East, he reported from the frontlines and beyond, although he is best known for becoming a headline himself, when he and two of his colleagues were arrested in Cairo while working for Al Jazeera, and charged with terrorism offences. He has since become a vocal campaigner and advocate for media freedom - a stance that has earned him awards from Britain's Royal Television Society, the Walkley Foundation, the RSL's ANZAC Peace Prize, the Australian Human Rights Commission's Human Rights Medal, and the International Association of Press Clubs' Freedom of Speech Award. He has written about his experiences in Egypt and what he regards as the global war on journalism in his book, The First Casualty. Peter is Executive Director of the advocacy group Alliance for Journalists' Freedom and Professor of Journalism at Macquarie University. He lives in Brisbane.