We Used to be Journos
Ette Media
We used to be journalists, but now we mostly just bitch about them. (Kidding. Kind of.) We also break down broken news.Episodes drop Wednesday and Saturday.Hosted by long-suffering journalists and even longer-suffering friends Jan Fran and Antoinette Lattouf, We Used to Be Journos pulls apart the week in media from people who know exactly how the machine runs because they worked inside it for decades.Every Wednesday, the pair sift through the headlines you saw and the forces you did not. Expect blunt media analysis, zooming in on dodgy editorial calls, anonymous sources doing gymnastics, and the occasional whiff of bigotry dressed up as balance. Consider it a guided tour of the newsroom sausage factory so you know what ended up on your plate.On Saturdays, the spin-off segment Only Jan hands the microphone to Walkley Award winner Jan Fran. One issue, one sharp monologue, foresincally researched, tightly argued, and, inconveniently for the powerful, quite funny.Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber here.If you want to see our mugs as we yap you can watch the episode in full here. Thanks to @jaidanielpyne for composing the music for our podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 1min
BBC’s baffling BAFTA censorship, Trump’s alien files + Jacinta Allan vs a journalist
They debate the BBC cutting a BAFTA speech calling for human rights while leaving a racial slur in the broadcast. They unpack politicians dodging accountability when reporters press on CFMEU corruption. They laugh at actors squirming over politics at film festivals. They flag Trump’s promise to release UFO files as a political distraction. They recommend deep investigations into Epstein and Palantir.
Feb 17, 2026 • 1h 2min
Attacks on Francesca Albanese and Grace Tame, Liberal leader’s immigration lines + media forces sexual assault survivor to go public
They compare two major media pile-ons and how misquotes and slow fact-checks fuel outrage. They unpack a newspaper’s treatment that pushed a First Nations commissioner to go public about sexual assault. They track a politician’s immigration rhetoric and warn how it can escalate into xenophobia. They map how media ecosystems magnify attacks and expose gendered double standards in public life.
Feb 10, 2026 • 1h 6min
Coverage of Herzog visit and protests, radio’s Bad Bunny racism + Karl Stefanovic hosts One Nation TWICE!
They dissect how media framed a high-profile state visit and the missing context around protests. They break down commercial radio’s racist reactions to Bad Bunny. They call out a mainstream TV presenter for cozying up to a far right audience. They highlight omissions in news coverage and point listeners toward a new independent policy outlet.
Feb 3, 2026 • 50min
Insider's look at the past two decades of Aussie media
Two journalists trace twenty years of Australian media change with stories about breaking into TV and the shift from print prestige to social platforms. They map how platform dependency and concentrated ownership hollow out local reporting. They weigh the rise of independent media and worry about AI flattening traffic and jobs while arguing for stronger public-interest news.
Jan 27, 2026 • 60min
Hate speech laws red flags, Australia Day poll tricks, Grok deepfakes + Beckham feud
In this episode, we look at the many red flags surrounding Labor’s new hate speech laws as well as the mainstream media’s strikingly uniform response to them. Jan provides an update on the sale of TikTok. Americans can stop worrying about China controlling their data and algorithms because a small group of pro-Trump billionaires has that covered now. Antoinette breaks down Australia Day polls and offers a toolkit for spotting agendas in the opaque polling world.There’s also a shout out to the women taking on pornographic deepfakes made by X’s Grok, plus an illuminating piece on the Beckham family feud, which Jan has a strange and (and unverified) theory about FINAL tickets to our live show can be bought here .Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber here.If you want to see our mugs as we yap you can watch the episode in full here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 20, 2026 • 56min
Narrative war over Iran's protests + Trump’s press sec blows up at journalist, InDaily SA muscles in on Murdoch
The podcast dives into Iran's protests, highlighting the struggle for narrative amidst internet blackouts and oppressive state media. It discusses various competing narratives, including the role of exiled figures and foreign interference. There's also a poignant moment as Trump's press secretary deflects a tough question, showcasing the ongoing battle journalists face. The hosts celebrate InDaily SA's efforts to challenge mainstream narratives, emphasizing the importance of responsible local reporting to hold power accountable.
Jan 13, 2026 • 36min
Randa Abdel-Fattah on the collapse of the Adelaide Writers’ Festival
In this episode, Jan Fran speaks with the woman at the centre of the collapse of the Adelaide Writers Festival, Palestinian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah. The conversation is blunt and urgent. They talk about censorship, lobby pressure on cultural institutions, what it means to keep speaking as a Palestinian Australian as media outlets launder bad faith attacks, and the focus drifts anywhere but Gaza. TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOW CAN BE BOUGHT HERE. SUPPORT ETTE MEDIA BY BECOMING A SUBSCRIBER HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 6, 2026 • 34min
Ask Us Anything: Our younger selves, future of media, Eurovision pressure, truth v hope
In a lively summer Q&A, the hosts share childhood dinosaur favorites and personal anecdotes. They reflect on their journeys to becoming truth-seekers and discuss media's role in unity amidst division. Insights on media literacy for young people and the uncertain future of mainstream outlets provide thought-provoking commentary. The pressure surrounding Eurovision and the balance of personal activism versus institutional change is explored. They also offer practical tips for dealing with despair and maintaining hope through community and action.
Dec 30, 2025 • 35min
Ask Us Anything: On cracks in our friendship, building community and finding joy in dark times
Part one of our summer special is your Q&A therapy session disguised as a podcast. We answer all your burning questions. We talk about twenty years of friendship, juggling being fledgling media moguls with sanity, staying clear-eyed in the chaos and navigating holiday conversations with problematic fam. Tickets to our live shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane can be bought here.Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber here.Follow The Antony Lowenstein Podcast here. If you want to see our mugs as we yap you can watch the episode in full here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 23, 2025 • 55min
Antony Loewenstein unpacks the Bondi terror attack
Antony Loewenstein, an award-winning journalist and author focused on Israel/Palestine, joins Jan Fran to discuss the Bondi terror attacks. He shares his emotional response and the importance of balancing grief with a critique of political narratives. Antony critiques Israeli leaders for their rapid politicization of events and explains how rising antisemitism connects to mainstream Jewish leadership's actions. He urges against silencing dissenting voices and emphasizes the need for ongoing dialogue and solidarity to combat oppression.
