The Latest Breaking News from Louise Adler

In this adapted extract from What’s the Big Idea? Louise Adler looks at the failure of Australian cultural leaders shying from risk and artistic vision – and letting the tail wag the dog

“Bothsidesism” is a term of disparagement against a form of journalism that presents “both sides” of an issue without any regard for their relative evidentiary merits.

This week, Ukrainian writer Maria Tumarkin announced her withdrawal from Adelaide Writers’ Week, along with fellow Ukrainians Olesya Khromeychuk and Kateryna Babkina. (Tumarkin writes that she doesn’t support calls for resignations, cancellations, or boycotts of the event.)

Ukrainian authors who have chosen to withdraw from Adelaide Writers' Week have opened up on their reasons, with one saying she could not participate in "any kind of event that gives voice" to doubts about her nation's sovereignty.

Ukrainian authors who had been scheduled to appear at Adelaide Writers' Week have withdrawn from the festival amid ongoing controversy over public comments another guest made about Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The organisers of the 2023 Adelaide Writers’ Week, which starts on March 4, are under pressure to withdraw invitations to two Palestinian writers: one for her views about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the other for his views on Israel and Zionism.

Adelaide Writers' Week defends a decision to schedule an author who has been vocal against Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the event is about debating different views.