The Palestine Liberation Organization in Australia is trying to thwart the takeover of Australia’s Fairfax newspaper group by a consortium headed by Canadian media magnate Conrad Black, who purchased the Jerusalem Post two years ago.
Ali Kazak, the PLO spokesman in Australia, mobilized opposition among Fairfax staff by charging that the newspapers would lose their “editorial independence” if Black took over.
He cited changes at the Jerusalem Post, Israel’s only English-language daily, from “being liberal and open to different views” to “being closed and right wing.”
Michael Danby, editor of the Australia/Israel Review, denounced the PLO’s efforts and claimed the Post is not closed to liberal viewpoints.
The Fairfax group owns major newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Age and the Australian Financial Review.
It also owns Sydney’s Sun-Herald, which the Australian Press Council recently censured for defaming the Jewish community.
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