Shows
The Voices of War107. 2023 Wrap-Up: A Year of Insight and InquiryAs 2023 draws to a close, I want to take a moment in this special year-end episode to reflect on the enlightening journey we've embarked on together through 'The Voices Of War.' This year, we’ve traversed a wide array of topics, spanning more than 35 hours of interviews across 26 episodes, reaching over 100,000 downloads, and connecting with listeners in more than 150 countries.
Our conversations have taken us deep into the heart of current global conflicts, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, where we've attempted to unravel the complex layers of these protracted struggles. We've dived into the...
2023-12-2914 minThe Voices of War105. Professor Greg Barton - Terrorism, Jihadism, and Violent Extremism: Exploring the Roots and Impacts of Radicalisation
Today, I spoke with Professor Greg Barton, a prominent Australian academic with a distinguished career specialising in global Islamic politics and countering violent extremism. His expertise, particularly in the realm of Islamic thought, positions him as a leading authority on issues of terrorism, extremism, and the development of effective interventions. Author of several influential articles and books, Professor Barton offering deep insights into the convergence of religion, politics, and societal challenges.
This is Greg’s second appearance on the show. Last time he joined me was on Episode 81, where we discussed the process of radicalisation generally. On that occasion, we used t...
2023-11-241h 12The Voices of War104. Nadim Shehadi – Beyond Gaza: Unpacking the Middle East’s Entrenched Conflicts and Power Dynamics
Today, I spoke with Nadim Shehadi, a distinguished Lebanese economist and academic, who delved into the intricate mesh of Palestinian, Israeli, and broader Middle Eastern politics, economics, and conflicts. With a rich background that spans prestigious positions at the Fletcher School, Chatham House, and Oxford as well as personal experiences of previous wars in Lebanon and beyond, Nadim brings a nuanced perspective to the complexities and tragedies of the region.
Some of the key topics we covered are:
· Gaza Dynamics: Analysing recent events in Gaza, Nadim offers an expert take on the guerrilla warfare tactics of Hamas...
2023-11-151h 52The Voices of War103. Dr David Livingstone Smith - Dehumanisation in the Israel-Palestine War and its consequences
Today, I spoke with Dr David Livingstone Smith, who is a philosophy professor at the University of New England. He specialises in the study of dehumanisation and mass violence. David is the author of several award-winning books, including ‘Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others’ as well as ‘On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It’. David’s most recent book that is: 'Making Monsters, The Uncanny Power of Dehumanisation'. David joined me to provide his expert opinion on dehumanisation we are witnessing as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Key Topics Covered:
Dehumanisation and Its Roots...
2023-10-2957 minThe Voices of War102. Special Release: Chris Gunness - Scratching Beneath the Complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian ConflictMy guest today is Chris Gunness who is a seasoned journalist and diplomat with decades of experience reporting on and working in the Middle East. Chris began his career at the BBC in 1982, and for 23 years, he served in numerous capacities including reporter and foreign correspondent. In 2005, he transitioned to diplomacy, joining the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and later became the Spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). Post-UN, Chris founded the Myanmar Accountability Project in 2021, which brings criminal prosecutions against members of the Myanmar Junta and...
2023-10-2356 minThe Voices of War101. Professor Rashid Khalidi - Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Exploration of Root Causes and Geopolitical DynamicsIn today's episode, I am honoured to host Professor Rashid Khalidi, a distinguished scholar and the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. Known for his profound insights into Middle Eastern politics, Professor Khalidi is also the author of the ground-breaking book ‘100 Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017’. He joined me to discuss the intricate dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the geopolitics of the Middle East, and the role of international actors in shaping the region. Given the ongoing escalation of violence in Israel and across the Occupied Territories, the importance of nua...
2023-10-141h 27The Voices of War99. Special Release: Vlad Sakovich - The View from Russia: An In-Depth Conversation on Anti-War Activism under Putin’s RegimeIn this compelling episode, we explore the challenges and realities of anti-war activism in Russia with Moscow-based educator and activist, Vlad Sakovich. From the risks of questioning the regime to the complexities of fostering dialogue, Vlad provides a nuanced look into the intricacies of activism in a restrictive environment.
Brief Summary of Vlad Sakovich:
Vlad Sakovich is a Moscow-based educator, psychologist, and anti-war activist. Despite the risks associated with his work, Vlad has been deeply involved in grassroots dialogue initiatives and anti-war movements since the 2014 Donbas War and Crimea's annexation. He facilitates open forums for...
2023-09-231h 46The Voices of War98. Dr. Jonathan French Flint - Navigating the Ethical Maze of War: On Strategic Theory and Military EthicsIn today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Jonathan French Flint, an Inamori Research Associate at Case Western Reserve University with a focus on military ethics and strategic theory.
Dr. Flint has a background in teaching in the UK and has presented his work at a range of academic venues, including the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He has also made contributions to military ethics literature, notably with the International Committee of the Red Cross, and has appeared on the Canadian CTV Network as an expert discussing the war in Ukraine and broader issues...
2023-09-071h 57The Voices of War97. Yousuf Sediq – The War in Afghanistan: Exploring its Complexities, Absurdities, and Challenges with an Afghan Special Forces Commander
Today's episode is a compelling and insightful conversation with Yousuf Sediq, a former Afghan Special Forces Operator and the author of '5000 Days of War: The Firsthand Account of an Afghan Special Forces Operator.'
Yousuf's book is an honest and vivid portrayal of his experiences in the Afghan war, offering unparalleled insight through the eyes of a native Afghan who grew up under Taliban rule. Following the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Yousuf's journey took him from an interpreter for the Coalition Forces to becoming a squadron commander in the ultra-secret Task Force-241. He also played a ke...
2023-08-212h 23The Voices of War96. LTC Kevin Cutright - Empathy Unleashed: Transforming Military Decision-Making and Operational Effectiveness
In today's episode, my guest is Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Cutright, a prominent Associate Professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at the US Military Academy, West Point. Kevin's extensive in-the-field experiences have fuelled his exploration into the ethical aspects of military planning and conduct, the role of empathy, and the concept of moral injury.
We delve deep into the significance of empathy in military operations, a subject comprehensively covered in Kevin's newly published book, 'The Empathetic Soldier.' Not only relevant but his insights on empathy are also crucial for military personnel and those responsible for making war decisions.
Duri...
2023-08-061h 23The Voices of War94. Special Release: Dr Mike Martin - Cracks in Putin’s Autocracy: Dissent, Mutiny, and Shifting TidesToday, I spoke with Dr Mike Martin who is one of the go-to voices for insights and analysis of the war in Ukraine.
Mike has authored several books, amongst which is still one of my favourites on conflict titled ‘Why We Fight’. Mike also recently released a new book titled, ‘How to Fight a War’, that details why wars are won and why they are lost. The book is getting released in Australia on the 1st of July and can be ordered here.
Mike joins me today for an update on the war in Ukraine, especial...
2023-07-0532 minThe Voices of War93. Dr Neil Greenberg - Battlefield Minds: Understanding the Complexities of Military Mental Health
Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Neil Greenberg, an esteemed clinical and academic psychiatrist based at King's College London. With a remarkable 23 years of experience in the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Neil has provided psychiatric care and conducted extensive research in challenging environments, including Afghanistan and Iraq.
In addition to his invaluable practical experience, Neil has made significant contributions to the field of psychiatry, with over 120 published scientific papers and book chapters. He is widely recognised as an expert speaker on topics such as psychological well-being in the UK Armed Forces, traumatic stress management, and occupational mental hea...
2023-06-251h 12
Axons Unleashed#59 - We All Bleed Red with Vedran 'Maz' MaslicGet ready to be transported around the world with our latest episode of Axons Unleashed!
This globe-trotting guest covers a lot of ground: fleeing the Bosnian War as a child, playing in German schoolyards, joining the Australian Defence Force (where he met Luke and RT), and deploying to East Timor before finally returning back to Bosnia as a civvie. PHEEEEW 😮💨 All of this culminated in his eventual return to the ADF, where he currently serves.
This week the boys are joined by one of Luke’s longtime and very best frien...
2023-04-131h 03The Voices of War87. Special Release: Robert Hartley - From War Zone to Ketamine: A Veteran’s Journey Through Trauma and HealingPlease note that this entire episode is available on the public channel. To gain access to all other episodes, please subscribe at https://thevoicesofwar.supercast.com/
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Today, I spoke with Robert Hartley, who is a former Australian Army Officer who served for 12 years in the Artillery Corps before transitioning to a civilian career in the technology sector. During his time in the military, Robert deployed on exchange with the British Army on Operation Herrick XII (12) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. In his civilian life, Robert has worked for a number of technology companies, including...
2023-04-101h 55The Voices of War85. Dr Elizabeth Boulton - Tackling the Climate Change Hyperthreat: Plan E, Entangled Security and harnessing a Hyper-responseMy guest today is Dr Elizabeth Boulton, who is an eco-military theorist with Destination Safe Earth, and a research affiliate with the ‘Climate Change & (In)Security Project’ which is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR) and the British Army.
She joins me today to discuss her thinking behind the concepts of ‘Hyperthreat’, ‘Hyper-response’, and Plan E as a response to tackling climate change. Some of the topics we discussed are:
• Elizabeth’s background and journey towards a PhD
• Timothy Morton and the Hyperobject
• Conceptualising clim...
2023-03-131h 11The Voices of War79. Announcement of a significant change to The Voices Of WarTo make the show sustainable into the future, The Voices Of War is adopting a subscription model starting in January 2023. Key points:
This channel will air full episodes until the end of January to allow those who wish to subscribe time to transition to the new channel
From February, this current channel will air only the first half of each episode and each episode will be bookended with a notice and link to the subscriber-only channel
The current library on this channel will remain unchanged and access to all previous episodes will remain open
The subscription fee will b...
2022-12-2002 minThe Voices of War66. Dr Jessica Wolfendale - On torture, war crimes and moral responsibility - Part 2This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr Jessica Wolfendale, who is an author, ethics professor and expert on torture and war crimes. If you've missed Part 1 of this discussion, I suggest you listen to that first here.
Some of the topics we covered in Part 2 are:
The dispositional account and cognitive-affective personality system
Military culture and socialisation
Freedom and resentment
Moral ignorance is by no means an excuse
Integrating the victim’s perspective into military training
The power of reconciliation
Jessica’s future work on depictions of war crimes
During the chat, I made refe...
2022-09-0737 minThe Voices of War65. Dr Jessica Wolfendale - On torture, war crimes and moral responsibility - Part 1This is Part 1 of my conversation with Dr Jessica Wolfendale, who is an author, ethics professor and expert on torture and war crimes. She joined me to try and tackle the dichotomy of how to reconcile one’s perception of oneself with one’s actions, within the context of atrocities carried out in war.
She does this by asking questions such as, ‘How do good people commit atrocities, like torture, and how are their views on killing impacted?’ and ‘Does the military training process make excessive violence acceptable and permissible in certain contexts, such as war?’.
Jessica is...
2022-09-0442 minThe Voices of War64. John Spencer - On Ukraine, Urban Warfare and lessons learntToday, I spoke with John Spencer who is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, combat veteran, and internationally recognised expert and advisor on Urban Warfare and other military related topics. John currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies with the Madison Policy Forum and was until recently the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He is also the Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast.
John is also the author of the ‘Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender’, which is a short compilation of John’...
2022-08-211h 16The Voices of War63. Dr Ned Dobos - On the unaccounted costs of maintaining a militaryIf you'd like to help improve the show, please visit our Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/thevoicesofwar
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My guest today is Dr Ned Dobos, who is a Senior Lecturer in International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales in Canberra. He joined me to discuss his more-recent book, ‘Ethics, Security, and the War Machine: the True Cost of the Military’. Some of the topics we covered are:
Ned’s background and entry into military ethics
Explanation of Ned’s thesis, which asks whether justification of war necessarily justifies maintain...
2022-08-071h 12The Voices of War62. Abby Zeith and Ruben Stewart: International Humanitarian Law in Urban WarfareLink to rate or review the podcast: RateThisPodcast.com/thevoicesofwar
Our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thevoicesofwar
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My guests today are Abby Zeith and Ruben Stewart from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Abby is a Legal Adviser in ICRC’s Arms and Conduct of Hostilities Unit where her work focuses on urban warfare and the conduct of hostilities more generally.
Ruben is a Military and Armed Groups Advisor in the ICRC unit that manages relations and dialogue with arms carriers. He focuses on Non-State Armed Groups, battlefield be...
2022-07-241h 49The Voices of War61. Brigadier Mark Ascough - On Military IntelligenceToday, I’m speaking with Brigadier Mark Ascough, who is the current Director General of Intelligence at the Headquarters Joint Operations Command of the Australian Defence Force.
Brigadier Ascough joined me to talk about all things intelligence and how he sees the field evolve into the future. Some of the things we covered are:
Mark’s background and entry into the Army
Life as the J2, HQJOC
The role of ‘Intelligence’
Impact of the ‘Five Mores’
Challenges for future intelligence professionals
Dangers of bias in intelligence analysis
Moral courage in intelligence
Training for ethical challenges
Importance of understand...
2022-07-1059 minThe Voices of War60. Dr Tony Ingesson - On military sub-cultures and their impact on behaviourMy guest today in Dr Tony Ingesson, who is an Assistant Professor of Intelligence Analysis at the Department of Political Science at Lund University in Sweden. His current research interests are decision-making, organisational cultures and technological aspects related to intelligence and counterintelligence. For his PhD dissertation, Tony studied tactical decision-making in high-stress situations in several different military units conducting operations in wars ranging from WWII to the UN mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 90s.
He joins me today to discuss organisational culture, sub-cultures and their impact on group behaviour. Some of the topics we...
2022-06-261h 37The Voices of War58. Dr Mike Martin and LTGEN (Ret.) Arne Dalhaug - Update on the Russian invasion of UkraineToday, I spoke with Dr Mike Martin and retired LTGEN Arne Dalhaug, who have both provided regular commentary on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in regular and social media.
Mike is a former British Army Officer who subsequently completed his PhD studying war and conflict. He has published a number of books, including ‘An Intimate War’, still one of the go-to books on understanding Afghanistan, as well as ‘Why We Fight’, a book that explores root causes of human conflict and war.
Arne is a retired three-star general who was previously the Deputy Chief of Norwegia...
2022-06-131h 04The Voices of War57. John Gartner - Reflections on a lifetime of service in the Special ForcesToday, I spoke with John Gartner, whose career as a professional soldier and security adviser spans more than five decades. During that time, he served in the Australian SAS, Rhodesian SAS, Selous Scouts, South African National Intelligence Service and as a trainer for Sri Lankan Infantry and Special Forces units. He also provided security and close protection advice to a former Saudi Arabian oil minister as well as for the Brunei Royal Family.
John joins me today to discuss lessons learnt throughout his career, which is also captured in incredible detail in his memoir titled ‘The Fading Li...
2022-05-292h 02The Voices of War56. Andy Norman - Mental Immunity: Inoculating against conspiracies and disinformationMy guest today is Dr Andy Norman, who is the award-winning author of ‘Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think’.
His research illuminates the evolutionary origins of human reasoning, the norms that make dialogue fruitful, and the workings of the mind’s immune system. He champions the emerging science of mental immunity as the antidote to disinformation, propaganda, hate, and division.
Currently, Andy directs the Humanism Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University and is the founder of CIRCE, the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative.
Some of the topics we covere...
2022-05-151h 09The Voices of War55. Jason Pack - On the ’Global Enduring Disorder’My guest today is Jason Pack, who is the author of ‘Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder’. Jason is also a Senior Analyst for Emerging Challenges at the NATO Defense College Foundation in Rome where he leads a program titled ‘NATO and the Global Enduring Disorder’, which seeks to produce a range of content analysing our current era of geopolitics while proposing actionable solutions to our most pressing collective action challenges.
Jason is also the President of Libya-Analysis LLC, a boutique consultancy providing strategic advice to any organisations seeking to make sense of the latest political, economic, commercial...
2022-05-011h 22The Voices of War54. Duncan Spinner - The Fight for at-risk UkrainiansMy guest today is my good friend, Duncan Spinner. Since 2015, Duncan has been working in Ukraine and for four years was the OSCE Head of Operations for Luhansk.
Apart from sharing information on the current situation in Ukraine, this episode is also an appeal for your help in getting at-risk individuals out of harm’s way. As you’ll find out, Duncan and a small team of professionals are informally helping some of the most-vulnerable civilians whose lives are in grave danger. Please consider supporting the below GoFundMe page. Every donation helps save the lives of innocent Ukra...
2022-04-171h 15The Voices of War53. Dr Deane-Peter Baker: State Ethics vs Soldier MoralityToday, I spoke with Dr Deane-Peter Baker, a military ethicist, who is an Associate Professor of International and Political Studies in the School of Humanities and Social Science at UNSW Canberra, where he also is co-Convenor of the UNSW Canberra Future Operations Research Group.
Deane’s work focuses mainly on the ethics of armed conflict. His current area of focus is on ethics and special operations, and he is a regular consultant to Australia’s Special Operations Command as well as the Australian Defence Force more broadly.
He joins me to today to discuss one of h...
2022-04-101h 08The Voices of War50. Peter W Singer - On Ukrainian information warfare, social media dominance and the power of narrativeToday, I spoke with Dr Peter Warren Singer, who is a Strategist at New America, a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, and Founder & Managing Partner at Useful Fiction LLC. He is a New York Times Bestselling author with a multitude of accolades to his name.
His non-fiction books include ‘Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry’; ‘Children at War’; ‘Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century’; ‘Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know’ and most recently, ‘LikeWar: the Weaponization of Social Media’, which is the book we talked about today.
Pe...
2022-03-1849 minThe Voices of War47. Arne Dalhaug and Wolfgang Sporrer - On the War in UkraineThis episode was recorded at 1000h CET on 27 Feb 2022.
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Today, I spoke with Arne Dalhaug and Wolfgang Sporrer, both of whom I recently interviewed independently about the crisis in Ukraine (links with longer bios below). Arne is a retired three-star Norwegian Army officer, who also served as a senior officer in NATO and, more-recently, as a senior leader at the OSCE in Ukraine. Wolfgang is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School in Berlin and was recently the head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE in Ukraine.
They join m...
2022-02-271h 24The Voices of War46. Marc Garlasco - War through the eyes of a Pentagon Chief of High Value TargetingMy guest today is Marc Garlasco, who began his career as the Chief of High Value Targeting at the Pentagon between 1997 and 2003 where he led targeting teams during operations Iraqi Freedom, Desert Fox, and Allied Force. Marc later worked in senior roles at Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, and the Centre for Naval Analyses.
Throughout his time, he has worked in Afghanistan, Gaza, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, and other conflict zones. He is a co-author of the ICRC report on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, and a co-host of the excellent The Civilian Protection...
2022-02-201h 41The Voices of War45. Introducing 2022This is a short introduction to what's in store throughout 2022 on The Voices Of War. As you will hear, the show finally has a Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee page. Please take the time check out the links below and support us if you are able to do so. Every little bit helps to grow the show.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thevoicesofwar
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thevoicesofwar
Thank you and I hope you enjoy The Voices Of War throughout 2022.
Maz
2022-02-1611 minThe Voices of WarRepost: Shannon E. French - On ’The Code of the Warrior’ and Ethics of WarRepost of my chat with Shannon E. French, originally published on 02 Aug 21.
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My guest today is Professor Shannon E. French from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where she is also the Inamori Professor in Ethics, and the Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence. Prior to her current role, she taught for 11 years at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, where she was a tenured member of the Ethics department and Associate Chair of the division of Leadership, Ethics, and Law.
Shannon’s primary research field is military ethics, wi...
2022-01-161h 12The Voices of WarRe-post: David Livingstone Smith - On DehumanisationRepost of my chat with David Livingstone Smith originally published on 09 Aug 2021.
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My guest today is David Livingstone Smith, who is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of New England.
He has authored nine books with his more recent titles focusing on dehumanisation, race, and propaganda. His 2011 ‘Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others’ won the 2012 Anisfield-Wolf award for nonfiction. David’s most recent book ‘On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It’ was published by Oxford University Press in 2020, and his tenth book, ‘Making Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumaniza...
2021-12-281h 28The Voices of War19. David Livingstone Smith - On DehumanisationMy guest today is David Livingstone Smith, who is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of New England.
He has authored nine books with his more recent titles focusing on dehumanisation, race, and propaganda. His 2011 ‘Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others’ won the 2012 Anisfield-Wolf award for nonfiction. David’s most recent book ‘On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It’ was published by Oxford University Press in 2020, and his tenth book, ‘Making Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization’ will be published by Harvard University Press later this year.
David is an interdisciplinary...
2021-08-081h 28The Voices of War18. Shannon E French - On ’The Code of the Warrior’ and Ethics of WarMy guest today is Professor Shannon E. French from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where she is also the Inamori Professor in Ethics, and the Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence. Prior to her current role, she taught for 11 years at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, where she was a tenured member of the Ethics department and Associate Chair of the division of Leadership, Ethics, and Law.
Shannon’s primary research field is military ethics, with a special focus on conduct of war issues, ethical leadership, command climate, sacrifice and responsibility, warrior tr...
2021-08-011h 13The Voices of War16. Andrew Quilty - Perspectives of a Photo- and Investigative- JournalistMy guest today is one of Australia’s most-prominent photo/investigative journalists, Andrew Quilty. Andrew started his career in Sydney, then moved to New York City and eventually to Kabul, Afghanistan, after a two-week trip to photograph the Afghan cricket team turned into an odyssey now into its eighth year. He has worked in all but a handful of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, photographed for most of the world's premiere publications and won several accolades, including a World Press Photo Award, a Polk Award, several Picture of the Year International awards and the Gold Walkley, Australian journalism's highest honour.
Mor...
2021-07-181h 26