A former Media Watch presenter recently attempted to lecture Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges on what his role as a journalist should be, writes managing editorMichelle Pini.

IN MOST CLUBS, a level of exclusivity is implied and understood, even when not overtly enforced. You may be a guest at the Melbourne Cricket Club Members Dining Room, for instance, but show up without a jacket and tie and expulsion will be swift and unceremonious.

You can also travel to a Club Med resort and lounge by the pool undisturbed, but wander in without prepayment confirmation and, well, you know the drill.

The same is true for Club Media Mainstream. While its parameters are not as distinctly laid out, there are many unspoken rules and occasionally, members may break them, but only in very specific and predetermined cases.

For example, it was okay for journalistDavid Marrto be the lone voice of contention against the oft-unhinged tirades of the extreme Far-RightGerard Hendersonon Club Media MainstreamsInsidersprogram. This dissension was pre-approved and occurred in a controlled environment. It was acceptable.

But for any member of what is understood to be Club Medias brightest to speak out against the blatant mendacity of the Club itself, well, thats unacceptable.

This is the case for Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalistChris Hedges, who was due to be the guest-note speaker at the National Press Club this month. And then hewasnt.

Hedges, who was scheduled to give an address entitled'The Betrayal of Palestinian Journalists',hadthis to sayabout the last-minute cancellation:

Hedges went on:

Thus, it must have come to the Clubs attention that Hedges had been a bit too outspoken for their liking. This is unacceptable.

Sure, the worlds press had told endless lies about the genocide in Gaza. Yes, the Palestinians were dying in greater numbers than during the bubonic plague while the media turned the other way, but to announce to the world that Club Media Mainstream have abandoned their Gaza colleagues, even though they have? Outrageous!

The decision to cancel Chris Hedges address on Gaza has raised fresh questions about the Press Clubs commitment to free speech.

Hedges came to Australia, anyway, andgavethe Edward Said Memorial Lecture, instead. Just prior to his address, he was a guest on ABC'sLate Night Livewith the aforementioned David Marr.

It would not be unreasonable to describe Marrs interview style on this occasion as characterised by thinly veiled contempt, as he attempted to trap his guest withan embarrassing and clearly uninformed display, which only reinforced all of the points Hedges was making about Club Medias lack of journalistic integrity.

In a pompuous, outraged tone, Marr fired questions and accusations at Hedges with the intensity of a sub-machine gun, which went something like this:

Then, Marr had a problem with a statement about aReutersheadline, which Hedges had citedas evidence of the betrayal of Gaza by Western media.

Hedges had written that the headline of a Reuters report of a bombing of a Gaza hospital in which 20 people including sixjournalists were assassinated, repeated the Israeli line that their real target had been a Hamas camera:

Marr was clearly incensed that Hedges would have the gall to question the publication, insisting Reuters had fulfilled its journalistic role.

Marr said:

Hedges explained:

Marr continued, growing more agitated as hehuffed:

Hedges replied:

Marr also had a problem with Hedges' criticising furtherheadlines from CNN, Associated Press and others, referring to the same event with headlines such as,Israel army says 6 terrorists killed in Mondays strike on Gaza.

The National Press Club is receiving criticism after international journalist Chris Hedges complained it had bumped him off a speaking engagement.

Marr insisted:

Hedges repliedcalmly:

'I used to run a show called Media Watch. Its a unique show where we look at the sins of the media", said Marr, before launching into the following advice for Hedges:

Finally, Marr makes the comment that sums up all that is wrong with Club Media Mainstream:

Somehow, even as he suffered this absurd question, Hedges managed to remain calm and measured, responding simply with:

Marr wasinvitedto speak atan Honi SoitStudent Journalism Conference earlier this year, but when the publication withdrew a News Corp journalist's invitationdue to her stance on Palestine, Marr pulled out, admonishing them in an emailin which he statedit was not 'his idea of how a good newspaper should behave.'

In an interview withHoni Soit,Hedges was asked about his interaction with Marr:

Hedges replied:

Hedges continued:

And that is Club Media Mainstream in a nutshell.

Follow managing editorMichelle Pinion [email protected] Independent Australia on [email protected], X/Twitter@independentausand FacebookHERE.