New Catallaxy

The Age fires Michael Leunig for contradicting the covid narrative

Freedom of the press also apparently includes the right to suppress news you do not want anyone to hear. This, however, is astounding: The Age cartoonist Michael Leunig axed after anti-Dan Andrews cartoon. The story is from The Oz.

“Gay feels this type of cartoon is not in line with public sentiment, and The Age’s readership, who it does seem are largely in favour of the Andrews Covid narrative. But my job is to challenge the status quo, and that has always been the job of the cartoonist.”

Leunig cartoon

That is, Age readers refuse ever to see or read anything that contradicts what they already prefer to believe. It is obviously the editor’s responsibility to ensure this never happens. Leunig, however, has a different view.

“If what Gay says is right, I don’t much want to work for the sorts of readers who are so censorious. It seems that at The Age in particular, you can’t go near the Covid story except in a way that’s supportive of the Victorian government’s handling of it. And if you’re not supportive, that’s reason enough for you to be cancelled.”

Speaking of Dan Andrews, and also from The Oz. 

Johannes Leak Commentary page cartoon for 25-10-2021 Version: Commentary Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added) COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications. Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.

Good thing he doesn’t work for The Age.

Steve Kates

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17 responses to “The Age fires Michael Leunig for contradicting the covid narrative”

  1. Pete of Perth Avatar
    Pete of Perth

    A black pill moment for Leunig?

    2
  2. Goanna Avatar
    Goanna

    There’s blood in that syringe.

    2
  3. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    It wasn’t be long now before Pravda on the Yarra is no more. A completely self inflicted fatal wound.

    And yet, they never seem to learn.

    5
  4. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    No conservative was ever as censorious as the post-liberal “progressive”.

    5
  5. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    Also worthy of note that Peter Hitchens recently stopped writing for a publisher after they tried to censor him. I’m not aware of the details but he mentioned it in passing in a recent column.

    3
  6. bemused Avatar
    bemused

    I would never have expected that line of thought from Leunig. Will wonders never cease?

    4
  7. cuckoo Avatar
    cuckoo

    They nearly fired Leunig years ago over a cartoon that suggested it might be better for women to stay at home with their babies, rather than shipping them off to daycare in order to pursue their careers. Leunig is hard to classify. Probably everyone who knows his work can think of cartoons he has done with which they agree, and others with which they violently disagree.

    Likewise John Spooner who was one of the Age’s treasures until he started questioning the climate change myth and had to be let go.

    10
  8. bemused Avatar
    bemused

    I had to read this in Breitbart, but NZ intends to have two classes of citizen. I wonder when Chairman Dan intends to formally follow?

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/10/24/new-zealand-prime-minister-admits-she-wants-create-two-classes-citizens-based-vaccination-status/

    2
  9. Bruce Avatar
    Bruce

    Or, as Krishnamurti put it:

    ” It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”

    8
  10. OldOzzie Avatar
    OldOzzie

    Petition to reverse the ban on ivermectin

    https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN3364/

    Closes 27th

    1
  11. Alistair Crooks Avatar
    Alistair Crooks

    I think everyone is misunderstanding The Age’s concern over this cartoon. Sure its “anti-vax” but I’m betting what really got up the Age’s nose was that it is anti-China. Any reference to the Tiananmen Square “incident” would not go down well with the Age or its Belt and Road partners. That photograph is an absolute no-no.

    13
  12. Wally Dali Avatar
    Wally Dali

    Kevin’07 and some bird called Rigg have recently started a totes grassroots movement for a RRrrrroyal Commission into “The Murdoch Monopoly”.
    Were they getting ahead of themselves?

    1
  13. Wally Dali Avatar
    Wally Dali

    I’m also quite skeptical of any arrrtist who says “my job is to fight The Man”, or anything along the lines of “my job is to be commercially unviable”.
    Well, Leunig, you are employed by “the man” to help sell news content. By all means, take on Nein for making your position untenable, breach of contract, workplace bullying etc.
    But, look back upon “your job” as staying in the lane for your employer. Some are tighter than others.
    And, break out on your own, like Scott Adams of Dilbert fame has, or towards another feildof satire, South Park. . They’ve’s stuck their necks out more and grown in stature.

    1
  14. Kneel Avatar
    Kneel

    “…Peter Hitchens recently stopped writing for a publisher…”

    Perhaps we need an equivalent to sub-stack here?
    Where independent writers get their own individual subscribers, and live and die by their ability to “pull a crowd” as it were. A couple of big names, pre-paid to write whatever they want and draw people to want to look at the site in general.

  15. Bar Beach Swimmer Avatar
    Bar Beach Swimmer

    The first thing I thought when I saw that cartoon was that it is magnificent. (Earlier in the year, he drew another great cartoon that showed because of the health regime, his character slowly being made into a prisoner – beginning with fear, then being masked, then gagged, then in handcuffs, then on his knees and made to be obedient and finally, with mask, gag, handcuffs and on his knees, suffering from depression).

    I have a friend who loves Leunig – and the SMH – not sure how she’ll react; stay with the Herald and denounce Leunig or go the opposite. This most definitely has the potential to be a red pill for her!

    1
  16. 2dogs Avatar
    2dogs

    I can’t believe even Leunig would get cancelled. The censoriousness knows no bounds.

    Meme worthy.

    1
  17. 2dogs Avatar
    2dogs

    It now seems that there is nothing either Left wing or Right wing about the lockdown lovers.

    It is uncharitable and condescending elitism at its ugliest.

    2

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