Journalism against autocracy: Putin, Trump and the future of news

The exiled founder of Russia's only independent television news channel Mikhail Zygar discusses how the state weaponised the legal system and disinformation to criminalise acts of journalism. Sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in absentia, Zygar now lives in the US, where journalism is coming under sustained attack from the Trump administration. In this year's A N Smith Lecture in Journalism, Zygar will discuss how these tools of disinformation are being exported and shared by autocrats, and how social media and YouTube can be used to counter these existential threats to journalism. 

About the speaker

Mikhail Zygar is a journalist, historian, and bestselling author, known for his work on Russian politics, propaganda, and authoritarianism. He was the founding editor-in-chief of TV Rain (Dozhd), Russia’s only independent news television channel, which became a critical voice against state censorship before he was forced into exile. Zygar is the author of several internationally acclaimed books, including All the Kremlin’s Men, a bestseller that provides an insider’s account of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle; The Empire Must Die, a deeply researched narrative on the fall of the Russian Empire and the revolutionary forces of the early 20th century; and War and Punishment, which was named one of The New Yorker’s best nonfiction books of 2023. His books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely used in academic and journalistic discussions on Russia.

Since relocating to the United States, Zygar has become a leading commentator on Russian affairs, regularly contributing op-eds to The New York Times, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Foreign Affairs, and The Washington Post. He is also a frequent guest on CNN, providing expert analysis on Russia and global politics. In 2018, he was a TED Fellow and delivered a TED Talk on history, propaganda and disinformation.

He has lectured at leading universities, including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, and Stanford. In 2024, he taught at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and in 2025, he will be joining Columbia University as a faculty member.

Zygar also appeared as an expert in the Netflix documentary Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War, a series that explores the history of nuclear weapons and the geopolitical conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. His insights contribute to the documentary’s examination of the Cold War, Russia’s role in global power struggles, and the lasting impact of nuclear politics.

His work continues to shape public and academic discourse on the challenges of democracy, media freedom, and historical memory.  In 2014, Zygar received the CPJ International Press Freedom Award.

About the A N Smith Lecture

The A N Smith lecture has a unique place in Australia’s cultural history. It is the oldest journalism lecture series in Australia, having commenced in 1936 after a bequest to the University of Melbourne from the family of Arthur Norman Smith, who was a founder of the Australian Journalists’ Association. The lecture is presented each year by a leading authority on an important aspect of journalism. Over its 80-plus year history, the lecture has been presented by personalities including journalists, politicians and even a Vice-Chancellor. Some of the more noteworthy were Graham Perkin (1974), Michelle Grattan (1988), Rupert Murdoch (1972), Kevin Rudd (2021), and Walter Robinson (2018). The Centre for Advancing Journalism is currently working on locating and archiving all A N Smith lectures.

Accessibility

This is an in person event and will be recorded; the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Theatre utilises a hearing aid loop. It is also wheelchair accessible: enter Arts West via Professor’s Walk using the southernmost automatic doors; via the ramp behind the main staircase proceed to the single elevator to the rear of the building by the toilets to the sub-basement (SB) level. Accessible bathrooms are available on the basement (B) and ground floors.

If you have any support requirements in order to participate fully, please contact us via scc-events@unimelb.edu.au.

Enquiries

Please send your enquiries to scc-events@unimelb.edu.au.