A Middle Ground: Chris Masters
On Griffith University’s podcast, “A Middle Ground”, we speak with investigative journalist Chris Masters.
A Middle Ground
Cuttlefish Fight
The fight to save the rare breeding grounds of the giant cuttlefish on South Australia’s remote coastline.
Blackbirding
This radio documentary investigates a part of Australia’s history that many Australians do not know about – and what many are now dubbing the country’s secret slave trade. This story is about the ancestors of many modern day Australians. They were brought here against their will and forced to toil in the hot sun of a wide brown land far from home. They were more than 60,000 South Sea Islanders who in the latter half of the 19th century worked for a pittance on Queensland sugarcane and cotton farms.
Winner of the New York Festivals Radio Awards silver and bronze trophies.
A New Chapter for Stradbroke Island
For generations Stradbroke Island’s unspoilt sand dunes have made it a well-loved tourist destination. Those rolling dunes have also been the source of extensive sandmining operations under a range of mining companies since the 1940s. But that era is about to come to an end, causing a massive change to the local economy.
Boxing
This radio documentary investigates how two young men died after boxing matches in the space of five years in Queensland, raising questions about the safety of the sport. Queensland is the only state in Australia without formal regulations and legislation controlling combat sports such as boxing.
After the Boom
This radio documentary investigates what happens to mining towns such as Moranbah once the mining boom has come and gone.
Indigenous Diggers
This radio documentary investigates how Aboriginal people were legally excluded from serving in Australia’s armed forces, but that didn’t stop hundreds of them from lying about their heritage, so they could fight for their nation in many wars. They were equals on the battlefield, but when they returned, they were not given the recognition or entitlements that they deserved.
Logan’s Future
This radio documentary investigates the impact of reported “race riots” on the multicultural community of Logan in south-east Queensland.
Gay Surrogacy
This radio documentary investigates proposed changes to Queensland’s surrogacy laws, particularly how that would impact gay couples.
Justice System Fails Disabled Victims of Sexual Abuse
This investigative radio documentary that Nance Haxton produced, reported and mixed on her own, won the Walkley Award for Best Radio News and Current Affairs Reporting in 2012. It was also awarded a highly commended in the Association of International Broadcasters Awards in London and the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2012 Best Radio award for this investigation.
Siblings Share their Secrets
This radio documentary looks into the silent army of siblings of people with a disability. Their experiences are often not recognised even though they help care for the sibling throughout both of their lives. This is their story.
Samoa Rugby
This documentary investigates why Samoa is marginalised in international rugby competitions, despite the incredible talent on the island.
Cry Me a River
This radio documentary investigates the impact that drought packages had on the foodbowl of South Australia – the Riverland.
Mining Boom
What happens when a mining boom rips through regional communities? It’s not all good news, as this radio documentary investigates.
International Rules
A radio documentary investigating the collapse of the International Rules football competition between Ireland and Australia.
Operation Flinders
Walk through the rugged and remote Flinders Ranges with this group of marginalised young people who are given a chance to start their lives anew.
Homelessness
Radio documentary on an innovative approach to tackling homelessness in South Australia
Woomera Detention Centre Riots
This is one of my Walkley Award stories on the Woomera Detention Centre riots in August 2000. I filed this story from the top of the town’s petrol station.