ON THE FRIDAY afternoon before a Sunday appearance on the ABC’s Insiders couch, Barrie Cassidy emails the three panel members with a rough list of topics to be discussed. The note comes with an attachment of newspaper articles and transcripts. I used to skim the background material on a Saturday night while watching the football, or a DVD, to make sure I hadn’t missed anything during the week.

The context of Barrie’s care package has changed now that I am a former print journalist. Much of the information is genuine news to me because I don’t pay as much attention during the week. I trust my friends in the media won’t take this the wrong way. I just don’t have the time to follow every inconsequential detail of Australian politics when I am working on a book and a documentary.