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Truth, Power and a Free Press

Understand how a free press is essential to a thriving democracy.

Location

Lower floor

Hear stories from some of Australia’s most respected journalists including Chris Masters, Adele Ferguson and Jenny Brockie about the challenges they've faced reporting the truth.  

Discover the way technology has changed to report the news, from the printing press used by Sir Henry Parkes through to betacams and floppy disks. 

See iconic objects of Australia's media history, including Peter Greste's Egyptian prison uniform and the protective body armour worn by war photographer Neil Davis.

A section of the exhibition


A woman listens to an audio device in an exhibition surrounded by glass panels with papers in them.


Four video screens with a person sitting on a stool on each screen. The words integrity, resilience and duty appear above them.

Plan your visit

Interviews play on large video screens in the centre of the room. A news ticker with red lighting runs continuously along one wall in the space.

This is a dimly lit exhibition.

There are interactive touch screens and audio tracks to listen to.

This exhibition discusses investigative journalism covering war, sexual abuse, racial discrimination and offshore detention. It also tells stories of journalists who have experienced imprisonment and harassment. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the exhibition contains images of people who have died.