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Caught in Conflict
Peter Greste, Cheng Lei & John Lyons
Sun
26
Sun 26 Oct 12:00 PM
Manning Clark Hall | Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre | Australian National University
Wheelchair
General Admission
60 Mins
October
It is becoming harder to report from hostile environments and under regimes that don’t respect free speech. Panellists Peter Greste, Cheng Lei and John Lyons have very different experiences of undertaking that task. Peter Greste in his memoir, and now major film, The Correspondent, depicts his career reporting from some of the world's most dangerous war zones – before being imprisoned in Egypt for 400 days. Business reporter Cheng Lei, author of A Memoir of Freedom, was falsely charged with espionage and discovered the extent of China's state security paranoia and powers to quash dissent through her three years' imprisonment in China. John Lyons (A Bunker in Kyiv) sheltered alongside Ukrainians as they resisted the first onslaughts of the Russian military. Join us for an unforgettable conversation, hosted by respected journalist and author, Karen Middleton. Panellists will share their stories and reflect on why media freedom is essential – but under more threat than ever.
Peter Greste is an Australian journalist, author, media freedom activist and academic. He began his career covering Latin America, the Middle East and Africa for the BBC and Al Jazeera. He made headlines in 2013, when police arrested him and two colleagues in Cairo on terrorism charges. The case was widely condemned as an attack on press freedom. Egypt eventually released Peter, and he went on to become a press freedom campaigner. His book, The Correspondent, explores his case and the wider ‘war on journalism’.
Cheng Lei is a Chinese Australian journalist working for Sky News. In 2020 while Australia-China relations hit bottom, she was incarcerated for over three years by the Chinese Government on charges of leaking state secrets. Diplomatic efforts led to her release in October, 2023. She was born in China and came to Australia at the age of 10 in 1985. Originally pressured to work in finance, she changed careers to journalism after five years. From 2002 to 2020, she reported on the Chinese economy for CNBC Asia and China Central Television. She received the Press Freedom Award from the Australian Press Council in 2024. Lei's A Memoir of Freedom was published in June 2025.
John Lyons is an acclaimed journalist and the Global Affairs Editor at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). With over three decades of experience in international journalism, Lyons has reported from some of the world's most turbulent regions, including the Middle East and Ukraine. His insightful reporting has earned him numerous awards, including four prestigious Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism and has twice been named Australian Journalist of the Year. Lyons is known for his deep analysis and compelling storytelling, bringing the human aspects of global conflicts to the forefront. He is the author of Balcony Over Jerusalem, an account of his time in the Middle East covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. His latest work, based on his three trips to cover the Ukraine War, offers a poignant look into the lives of everyday civilians caught in the crossfire, showcasing their resilience and spirit.
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Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.
Peter Greste is an Australian journalist, author, media freedom activist and academic. He began his career covering Latin America, the Middle East and Africa for the BBC and Al Jazeera. He made headlines in 2013, when police arrested him and two colleagues in Cairo on terrorism charges. The case was widely condemned as an attack on press freedom. Egypt eventually released Peter, and he went on to become a press freedom campaigner. His book, The Correspondent, explores his case and the wider ‘war on journalism’.
Cheng Lei is a Chinese Australian journalist working for Sky News. In 2020 while Australia-China relations hit bottom, she was incarcerated for over three years by the Chinese Government on charges of leaking state secrets. Diplomatic efforts led to her release in October, 2023. She was born in China and came to Australia at the age of 10 in 1985. Originally pressured to work in finance, she changed careers to journalism after five years. From 2002 to 2020, she reported on the Chinese economy for CNBC Asia and China Central Television. She received the Press Freedom Award from the Australian Press Council in 2024. Lei's A Memoir of Freedom was published in June 2025.
John Lyons is an acclaimed journalist and the Global Affairs Editor at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). With over three decades of experience in international journalism, Lyons has reported from some of the world's most turbulent regions, including the Middle East and Ukraine. His insightful reporting has earned him numerous awards, including four prestigious Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism and has twice been named Australian Journalist of the Year. Lyons is known for his deep analysis and compelling storytelling, bringing the human aspects of global conflicts to the forefront. He is the author of Balcony Over Jerusalem, an account of his time in the Middle East covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. His latest work, based on his three trips to cover the Ukraine War, offers a poignant look into the lives of everyday civilians caught in the crossfire, showcasing their resilience and spirit.
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Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.