Reference :- Australia's position on the World Press Freedom Index might be in jeopardy .

Reference :-  The National Press Club in Canberra just cancelled an address by award winning journalist , war correspondent , and author of 17 books on geopolitics , Chris Hedges .  Then lied about it . 

 Dear Team at the National Press Club , 

 Here at The Sky Reply we greatly anticipated the advertised speech at the press club by world renowned journalist  , Chris Hedges .  After that embarrassing interview with international human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese , which revealed the shocking incompetence of the press club journalists , we figured you might have improved your act .   Clearly you did not , since you cancelled the presentation by Mr Hedges .  The cancellation itself was very disappointing , but not as disappointing as the lies you told about the cancellation .   Lies that were immediately obvious to anybody who did the most perfunctory research .     

That chap who has replaced Phillip Adams on the ABC wireless show , what's his name again ? David Marr ? ,  made a complete fool of himself trying to hide the lies and justify the cancellation .  

Anyway , boys and girls , when you tell lies you should make sure they are adequately concealed . At present Australia languishes at position 29 on the World Press Freedom Index ......below Namibia and South Africa .     This latest example of unjustifiable censorship ..... and did I mention blatant mendacity ?  ... may well push us further down the listing . 

Ken junior and the other lads at The Sky Reply are keen to know why Mr Hedges was cancelled . They quoted a line from a movie with Jack Nicholson  " You can't handle the truth ! " 

Is that true ?  Was Mr Hedges cancelled because it was felt that audiences would be unable to handle the truth ? 

Fortunately , other Australian media outlets did interview Mr Hedges , so the lads could hear his presentation and the interviews that followed .  They appeared to handle the truth quite well , and they are mere teenagers .  Sadly it has lowered their opinion of the National Press Club more than somewhat . 

Ken junior and the lads are of an age that predisposes them to concocting conspiracy theories . They reckon that some malignant lobbyists might have put the kibosh on Mr Hedge's appearance at the press club .   I tell them that they are being silly , there are no lobbyists like that in Australia . 

We look forward to hearing your apology , and perhaps there is still time to coax Mr Hedges back to your lectern before he departs the Antipodes .    It may help you recover at least  some degree of credibility . 

No need to thank me . 

Your comrade , 

Ken