Uncovering lies and corruption is an important role of the fourth estate, but to what extent can journalists find out what governments and corporations don’t want us to know?

Investigative reporter Richard Baker will be speaking to second-year journalism students at La Trobe University this afternoon, as part of the subject Dilemmas in Journalism.

Richard has worked with The Age’s investigative unit since 2005 and is an expert on using the Freedom of Information Act.

He has been responsible for breaking a number of the biggest stories of the past decade; including BHP Billiton’s link to the AWB Iraqi kickbacks scandal and China’s secret bid to buy uranium mines in Australia, and the RBA bank note scandal, which won him a Walkley award in 2011 (in collaboration with Nick McKenzie).

The lecture will take place in the Social Sciences building, room 232 at 3pm.

All students are welcome.