Peter Greste is former journalist, academic and director of the Alliance for Media Freedom.

Peter is best known for the 400 days he spent in an Egyptian prison on made-up terrorism charges along with several of his Al Jazeera colleagues. He was released in 2015 and meant to serve time in Australia, which the Australian government never enforced.

And yet Peter is so much more than just this highly covered experience – he was a seasoned foreign correspondent operating mostly from Africa and the Middle East, and an exceptional talent whose career was cut short by his experience in Egypt. As we discuss in our chat, it turns out terrorism charges – even bogus ones - make international travel a little tricky.

Peter has since become an academic and a leading advocate for media freedom speaking at international events and pushing for a Media Freedom Act in Australia. As we discuss, Australia does a terrible job in terms of its media freedom, and it’s getting worse. Peter wrote an amazing book on his experience in Egypt and on the global threats to journalism called The First Casualty, and in February this year filming wrapped for a movie based on Peter’s experience called The Correspondent.

Our conversation touches on…

📰 Peter’s thoughts on the latest threats on media freedom, notably Julian Assange’s recent guilty plea to espionage offences and the jailing of Australian whistleblower David McBride

🎥 His formative early newsroom experience at GMV6 in Shepparton and the book that inspired him to become a foreign correspondent

🏤 How a drink in a London bar and a cute girl led him to cover stories in war-torn Yugoslavia

🕵‍♂️ Peter’s view on how everything changed after 9/11 and why the media itself has become a battleground for ideas, often with very real-life consequences

🌍 His love of sub-saharan Africa and losing his esteemed colleague Kate Peyton, who was shot right next to him

🧘‍♂️ How exercise and Vipassana mediation helped Peter keep his sanity in prison and make peace with himself

🆓 And Peter’s thoughts on the threats to journalism freedom today