MWM’s milestone Gala illuminates the bright future of fearless independent media

In a misinformation landscape engineered by the legacy media, independents are stepping up to fill the space.

Michael West Media hosted a 10-year anniversary gala event to celebrate a decade of independent media and to raise funds for the legal battles the organisation has endured in recent times. After a legal battle with mining giant BHP over a wage theft scandal with the potential to become a class action, the evening was charged with purpose. It was motivated by the urgent need to defend fearless journalism in an increasingly hostile environment.

In a political climate that is growing more authoritarian in its relationship with truth-telling, and amid a financially beleaguered mainstream media that often prioritises collaboration with power and money over objective fact, Australia’s independent media sector stands as a vital bulwark. It protects the erosion of public freedom and sets the pace in a rapidly changing news environment. The gala brought this reality into sharp focus.

The room was filled with a multi-generational crowd of hundreds — activists, a former Australian of the Year, legal and healthcare professionals, friends, family, and journalism pioneers. Many in attendance had themselves been sidelined by former employers for choosing to tell uncomfortable truths. Legendary figures such as Brian Toohey — one of the first major Australian journalists sacked for exposing the business dealings of his employer (Fairfax) and the Packer family — independent stalwarts Wendy Bacon and 🔥Margo Kingston💧, plus award-winning cartoonists Fiona Katauskas and Cathy Wilcox were present. Their presence served as a living reminder of a time when journalistic independence often came at significant personal cost.

Michael West spoke candidly about his own experience being told his services were no longer required at the Nine papers, alongside veteran commentator Michael Pascoe. These are two journalists the mainstream papers cannot pretend they have successfully replaced, who took their tradecraft into a new venture. West described how he took everything he had built and launched Michael West Media, diving headfirst into the unknown. He brought his long-time colleague Michael Pascoe along for the journey. What began as a bold individual leap has grown into one of the most respected independent outlets in the country.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to practice serious journalism in Australia today. Crackdowns on public freedoms, the growing alliance between political and business elites, and the influence of foreign interests have created a chilling effect. Reporting on issues such as the crimes and horrors unfolding in Gaza, the power of the Israeli lobby in Australia, or the gross neglect and persecution of ordinary Australians by large foreign-owned multinationals now carries real professional and personal risk. Many journalists in the room were doing their jobs under conditions of tension and uncertainty. It is hard not to feel concerned about the mounting cost of telling the truth in this environment.

The key speaker of the night, Dr Mohammed Mustafa was joined by his colleague Doctor Matiu Bush, and brought both gravity and inspiration to the gathering. A Palestinian-Australian emergency doctor who had completed two tours in Gaza, Dr Mustafa delivered a powerful and deeply moving account of what he witnessed. Tears filled the elegant room overlooking Sydney Harbour as he described the abject horror of broken children and civilians caught in the conflict. He spoke of fragile lives extinguished while he risked his own life working in conditions that could only be described as hell on earth.

For those in the room who had been marginalised, attacked, or exhausted by the constant battle to tell the truth amid clouds of misinformation and institutional resistance, Dr Mustafa’s testimony was profoundly moving. It served as a stark reminder of why many had chosen this difficult path in the first place. His words acted as a searing motivator to continue the work despite the risks. In a particularly powerful moment, when asked what was needed to help end the suffering of the Palestinian people, Dr Mustafa referenced the story of Moses and the staff he used to part the sea and lead his people to safety. “The truth,” he said, “is like the staff that parts the sea.” He urged everyone present to keep doing their work. It was a clear and emotional call to action.

Others have followed the path that Michael West helped pioneer. Former Australian journalist Anthony Klan launched The Klaxon in 2019, while Declassified Australia was founded shortly afterwards by Walkley-winning journalist Peter Cronau and Antony Loewenstein. Those present, were joined by representatives of the new wave such as Ette Media, Dan Ilic from A Rational Fear, Fourth Estate and The Shot. The Substack ecosystem has brought forward yet another wave of independent voices, including Cheek Media, Deepcut News, Bogan Intelligentsia, and many more. Together they represent a growing, vibrant alternative to the shrinking mainstream.

The legacy media environment, by contrast, continues to collapse under the weight of its own contradictions. After years of subjectively reporting on the most important issues — often to the detriment of the public and national interest — trust has eroded significantly. Contrarian or minimising coverage of the 2019–2020 bushfires, the 2022 floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic damaged credibility. Headlines that downplayed climate science or attacked public health measures during a global crisis left many Australians disillusioned. The response to events in Gaza further exposed the moral chasm, with many legacy outlets appearing to favour official narratives over independent verification.

Print circulation has plummeted, newsrooms have been repeatedly downsized through layoffs and restructures, and younger audiences have largely abandoned traditional platforms. Sixty percent of Australians aged 18–24 have never used newspapers as a source of news. Social media, creators, and independent outlets now play a much larger role in how people — especially younger people — consume information.

MWM’s Kim Wingerei spoke to the reality of this shift by highlighting the increased numbers migrating to independent platforms like MWM, “We’ve experienced solid growth in readers and viewers over the last few years. We regularly have well over half a million monthly visits to our website, and in June this year, our YouTube videos reached 1.2 million eyeballs.” A similar trend is being enjoyed by other publications.

MWM’s 10-year milestone demonstrates that independent media is not merely surviving but actively growing in relevance. Through community support, direct reader funding, and a commitment to public interest journalism, these outlets are filling the gaps left by legacy institutions. Dr Mohammed Mustafa’s closing message captured the spirit of the evening perfectly. The truth remains the most powerful tool available — capable of parting seas of misinformation, fear, and institutional resistance.

In an uncertain and often hostile information landscape, the work of independent journalists and outlets like Michael West Media offers something increasingly rare: accountability, courage, and hope that serious journalism can still thrive when it is supported directly by the public it serves.