We, the undersigned, are writing to voice our support for Ms Cheng Lei. We have known her variously as a friend, colleague, mentor, journalist or fellow Australian. For those who know here personally, in every sense we know her to be a caring, professional, competent, and respected journalist.
We are writing to voice our concern at her arrest for “suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas”, and her ongoing detention which began August 13, 2020. We are confident she has done nothing wrong and hold grave concerns for her health, safety and care during her ongoing detention.
We are concerned about the chilling affect her arrest has on the practice of journalism, which has never been more critical. Cheng Lei has, in her career, earned respect of her colleagues for her straightforward business reporting. This was informed by her Bachelor of Commerce, received at the University of Queensland and then her admission as a Certified Practicing Accountant certified by CPA Australia. Her work in the field of business journalism lead to her being appointed a Global Alumni Ambassador for Australia by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
We are concerned about the wellbeing of her beloved children, aged 10 and 12. They have been separated from her for well over a year now and she’s had no contact with them since her arrest.
We stand with Cheng Lei as a journalist and Australian citizen.
We are seeking compassion and reason from the Chinese Government in dealing with her case.
We are calling for her immediate release and her return home to Australia to be reunited with her children.
Signed,
Jane Worthington
Director, IFJ Asia-Pacific
Peter Greste
UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication at UQ, and Spokesman, Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom
Marcus Strom
Federal President (Media) Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
David Crowe
SMH Political Editor and Press Gallery President
Annelise Nielsen
Washington Correspondent Sky News Australia and former colleague
Lucy Hornby
Former China Correspondent and friend
Jack Barton
Former Colleague and friend
Tadek Markowski
Friend and former CGTN colleague
Joey Catanzaro
Crime Reporter 7News, former colleague, friend
Rachel Rubel
News Presenter, friend and former colleague
Jeff Moody
International News Anchor, Former CGTN Anchor, colleague, and friend
Clint Deloatch
News Anchor and former colleague
Erica Pitzi
Former CGTN Journalist, friend and colleague
John Reid
Cameraman and former colleague
Lisa Oake
Former CNBC Journalist
Maud Watine
Camera operator and former colleague
Shweta Bajaj
Former Colleague, journalist & Documentary Filmmaker
Nick Coyle
Deputy Chairman CAP Resources Company LTD
Richard Bestic
Former UK Correspondent CGTN, former colleague
Christine Schiffner
Freelance Journalist, Former CGTN Director of Newsgathering
Emily Angwin
News Anchor Al Jazeera, friend and former colleague
John Jirik
Former Colleague CCTV, CGTN
Moira Coops
Makeup Artist
Stephanie Freid
Freelance Journalist and former colleague
Roya Shadravan
CGTN International Desk Editor, former colleague
Lourda Sexton
Former colleague
Andy Duffy
Former colleague
Karen Middleton
Chief Political Correspondent, The Saturday Paper
Laura Tingle
ABC Chief Political Correspondent
Kate McClymont
Investigative Journalist, Sydney Morning Herald
Rowan Callick
Former China Correspondent and industry fellow
Amy Remeikis
The Guardian Political Reporter
David Speers
ABC
Michelle Grattan
Journalist
Richard McGregor
Senior Fellow Lowy Institute
Phil Coorey
Australian Financial Review
Katharine Murphy
Political Editor The Guardian
Andrew Bolt
The Bolt Report, Sky News Australia
Michael Rowland
Presenter, ABC News Breakfast
Mark Kenny
Host, Democracy Sausage, Columnist, Professor.
Niki Savva
Columnist The Age and SMH
Malcolm Farr
Freelance political reporter, fellow journalist
Chris Uhlmann
Political Editor Nine News
Peter Stefanovic
Host First Edition, Sky News Australia
Adam Creighton
Washington Correspondent, The Australian
Annika Smethurst
State Political Editor – The Age
Miranda Devine
Journalist NY Post and Daily Telegraph
James Morrow
Daily Telegraph Federal Political Editor
Tim Lester
US Correspondent Seven Network
Marisa Wikramanayake
Victorian President MEAA Media Section and freelance journalist
Peter Ryan
ABC Business
Michael Janda
ABC Business Reporter
Mike Amor
Seven Network Melbourne
Kylie Purcell
Investments Editor Finder, former colleague
Joe Kelly
The Australian
Shauna Black
Black Stump Media
Fran Molloy
Freelance journalist
Meghan Horihan
Producer
Jane Canaway
Freelance journalist
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