Paul McGeough
Encyclopedia
Paul McGeough is an Irish Australian journalist
and senior foreign correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald
, specialising in Middle Eastern affairs.
In 2001, when covering events in Afghanistan with the Northern Alliance
, he and French journalist Véronique Reyberotte survived an attack by the Taliban which killed journalists Volker Handloik
, Johanne Sutton
, and Pierre Billaud
. He was awarded the 2003 Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership
in recognition of acts of courage and bravery in the practice of journalism.
, reporting for The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times from aboard the MV Samoud (also known as the MV Challenger I). When Israeli forces boarded the flotilla's vessels on 31 May, McGeough and Herald photographer Kate Geraghty
were among those detained. In an audio transmission sent shortly before the MV Samoud was intercepted, he said:
The following day, Fairfax confirmed that McGeough had, along with Geraghty, been detained by Israel in the city of Beersheba
. According to the Heralds editor Peter Fray, McGeough turned down the option of being deported immediately, in return for signing a form in which he would have admitted entering Israel illegally. When meeting with Australian and Irish consular officials in Beersheba's Ela prison, McGeough told them that he intended to challenge attempts by Israeli authorities to deport him.
However, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
and the Herald confirmed on 3 June that both McGeough and Geraghty had been taken to Ben Gurion International Airport
in Tel Aviv
to be deported. McGeough said that he had left "on legal advice that we will be able to appeal our deportation in absentia
".
Speaking to the Herald from Istanbul, McGeough described his treatment as "an absolute disrespect by Israel", accusing Israeli authorities of "a total disrespect to the fundamentals of democracy, and the fundamentals of the rights of journalists under the Geneva Convention".
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and senior foreign correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
, specialising in Middle Eastern affairs.
In 2001, when covering events in Afghanistan with the Northern Alliance
Northern Alliance
The Afghan Northern Alliance is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.Northern Alliance may also refer to:*Northern Alliance , a Canadian white supremacist group...
, he and French journalist Véronique Reyberotte survived an attack by the Taliban which killed journalists Volker Handloik
Volker Handloik
Volker Handloik was a German freelance journalist and reporter. Born in Rostock, Germany, he worked for the Hamburg-based Stern for 10 years and also did some correspondence for newspapers, journals, and magazines such as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz, Berliner...
, Johanne Sutton
Johanne Sutton
Johanne Sutton was a French radio reporter and journalist. Graduating from the École supérieure de journalisme de Lille in 1990, she began working for Radio France International in 1991...
, and Pierre Billaud
Pierre Billaud
Pierre Billaud was a French radio reporter and journalist. He started his career on Radio France then joined Radio Tele Luxembourg as international reporter. He covered the conflicts of Algeria, Israel, Palestine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo...
. He was awarded the 2003 Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership
Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership
The Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership is an Australian award that recognises outstanding acts of courage and bravery in the practice of journalism. The inaugural award, for Excellence in News Leadership, was made in 1997...
in recognition of acts of courage and bravery in the practice of journalism.
Detainment in Israel
In 2010, McGeough travelled on a Gaza-bound flotillaGaza flotilla raid
The Gaza flotilla raid was a military operation by Israel against six ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" on 31 May 2010 in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea...
, reporting for The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times from aboard the MV Samoud (also known as the MV Challenger I). When Israeli forces boarded the flotilla's vessels on 31 May, McGeough and Herald photographer Kate Geraghty
Kate Geraghty
Kate Geraghty is an Australian photojournalist, for The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age.Geraghty started her photographic profession at Albury-Wodonga's The Border Mail in 1997. Then she freelanced in Cambodia and Australia...
were among those detained. In an audio transmission sent shortly before the MV Samoud was intercepted, he said:
"At 4.20(am local time) (11.20am Sydney time) we realised all communications on the boat were jammed, 4.22 (am) – we see two zodiacs moving in, pressing through. Two more zodiacs. Now there are five of them astern of us. There's white wakes on black water. Search lights on one of the cargo ships and from the Turkish ferry are picking up the zodiacs now."
The following day, Fairfax confirmed that McGeough had, along with Geraghty, been detained by Israel in the city of Beersheba
Beersheba
Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300....
. According to the Heralds editor Peter Fray, McGeough turned down the option of being deported immediately, in return for signing a form in which he would have admitted entering Israel illegally. When meeting with Australian and Irish consular officials in Beersheba's Ela prison, McGeough told them that he intended to challenge attempts by Israeli authorities to deport him.
However, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
and the Herald confirmed on 3 June that both McGeough and Geraghty had been taken to Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport , also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag , is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel, handling 12,160,339 passengers in 2010...
in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
to be deported. McGeough said that he had left "on legal advice that we will be able to appeal our deportation in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
".
Speaking to the Herald from Istanbul, McGeough described his treatment as "an absolute disrespect by Israel", accusing Israeli authorities of "a total disrespect to the fundamentals of democracy, and the fundamentals of the rights of journalists under the Geneva Convention".
Awards
- 2003 Walkley Award for Journalism LeadershipWalkley Award for Journalism LeadershipThe Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership is an Australian award that recognises outstanding acts of courage and bravery in the practice of journalism. The inaugural award, for Excellence in News Leadership, was made in 1997...
- 2010 Douglas Stewart award and Book of the Year for "Kill Khalid" at the 2010 New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsNew South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsThe New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities...
Works
- Infernal Triangle Conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and The Levant - Eyewitness reports from the September 11 decade, Allen & Unwin, 2011, ISBN 9781742375632
- Kill Khalid: Mossad's failed hit ... and the rise of Hamas, Allen & Unwin, 2009, ISBN 9781741756005
- to Baghdad : despatches from the frontline in the War on Terror, Allen & Unwin, 2003, ISBN 9781741140255
- In Baghdad: a reporter's war, Allen & Unwin, 2003, ISBN 9781741142198
- Mission impossible: the sheiks, the U.S. and the future of Iraq, Black Inc., 2004, ISBN 9781863951654
Reviews
- Kill Khalid (Foreign Affairs): "gem of leave-no-stone-unturned reporting".
- Kill Khalid (Washington Post): "... timely and thorough examination of Hamas, highlighting the ways in which Israel has intentionally and unintentionally aided its rise."
External links
- "Q and A: Paul McGeough", Columbia Journalism Review, Katia Bachko, 11 February 2009
- "Paul McGeough reads from Kill Khalid", Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, 24 March 2009 - "Paul McGeough’s ‘Kill Khalid’", WBUR: On Point 29 July 2009