Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945©

Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945©

More than ever, democratic leaders are facing demands to portray open, caring and responsive governance in the news media during crises. Traditionally, journalists have been the central focal point for leaders needing to present compassionate messages to the public. Yet this role has often been overlooked in the post-truth media age that has excluded journalists and emphasised politicised commentaries that are falsely disguised as legitimate news. More recently, scholar have been advocating for a historical approach in using the lessons of previous successes to develop positive communication models for present-day crises. Although often forgotten, Australian Prime Minister John Curtin elevated journalists’ roles to convey public appearances of being a caring leader, good neighbour and citizens’ friend during one of the nation’s most acute emergencies, the Second World War. This paper will focus on Curtin’s confidential news interviews, private film rehearsals and public broadcasts to present a compassionate ethos. As a former labour-oriented journalist, Curtin promoted his media image as a likeable, egalitarian leader and a close, professional colleague of the wartime news reporters. This paper is based on Habermas’ theory of the public sphere and Castells’ notion that democratic power is based on inclusive communication. Curtin’s journalism-oriented ethos remains apt for the increasing scholarship into leaders’ emotive performances to deliver personalised messages to public audiences in times of crisis.©