Discussion & Debate
A collection of Pursuit articles that drive and inform respectful public discourse on some of the world’s most challenging issues and events.
The problem of a same sex marriage exemption for civil celebrants
Australia is legalising same sex marriage; but a University of Melbourne experts says civil celebrants shouldn't be allowed to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
Why documentaries matter in an era of fake news
In an age where the line between truth and fiction is increasingly blurry, the term 'documentary' needs more protection, says a University of Melbourne expert.
Whose fake news?
We chat to Washington Post op-ed columnist Dana Milbank about fake news, Russian Hackers and the ethics of Wikileaks.
Why fake news is anything but new
Fake news is not new; news has been falsified from its earliest days when ballads conveyed it to the masses, says a University of Melbourne expert.
Fake news in the age of COVID-19
Fake news is now an everyday expression, but a University of Melbourne expert asks what is the impact of fake news in this strange new age of COVID-19?
Universities must stand firm as radically inclusive communities of knowledge
Universities are engines of social mobility, but their role as teacher of truths or challengers of beliefs is under threat, says University of Melbourne expert.
Is our democracy broken?
What could the future hold for Australia's democracy? The University of Melbourne's McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership looks for leaders tackling the future
Why investigative journalism matters more than ever
In this episode of the University of Melbourne's Eavesdrop on Experts podcast, Walter Robinson from the Boston Globe discusses investigative reporting.
Defining the power of public interest journalism
A University of Melbourne expert says the recent police raids on Australian journalists highlight the modern importance of public interest journalism.
How the toxic went mainstream
By use of social media, including memes, ideologies of hate are gaining currency. A University of Melbourne expert examines how hate speech became the everyday