Antoinette Lattouf

Antoinette Lattouf (أنطوانيت لطوف) is an Australian journalist, host, author and diversity advocate. She has worked at Network Ten, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), SBS, Southern Cross Austereo, Triple J, and as a social commentator for various online and broadcast publications. She is also known for her work as a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald. She was the subject of a high-profile unfair dismissal case against the ABC in 2023–2024, with the Fair Work Commission finding in her favour in June 2024.

Early life and education
Lattouf's parents came to Australia as refugees from Lebanon in the 1970s. She was born in 1983 in Auburn, New South Wales. She attended various public schools in Western Sydney and studied Communications (Social Inquiry) at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Career
Lattouf has worked at Network Ten, ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Austereo, Triple J, and as a social commentator for various online and broadcast publications. She is also known for her work as a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.

In 2019, a comment made by Kerri-Anne Kennerley to Lattouf on Studio 10 was criticised by feminists and media commentators who accused Kennerley of 'slut-shaming'. Kennerley had asked Lattouf "Did you forget your pants today?" in reference to a playsuit Lattouf was wearing. Kennerley later suggested Lattouf was 'thirsty' a few minutes after the Studio 10 panel had discussed the word as a synonym for 'horny'.

In 2020 Lattouf spoke out about bullying and racism she experienced whilst working at SBS at the start of her career.

From early 2022, Lattouf has been a permanent co-host of the daily LiSTNR podcast The Briefing.

ABC dismissal case
In December 2023, Lattouf began presenting ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program as a fill-in host for Sarah Macdonald. Subsequently, she posted on social media a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report alleging that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war during the Israel-Palestinian conflict. A coordinated campaign by a pro-Israel lobbying group called "Lawyers for Israel" pressured ABC management, including ABC chair Ita Buttrose, to sack Lattouf, and attacked her Jewish lawyer, Josh Bornstein, as a traitor. Leaked messages from a Lawyers for Israel WhatsApp group chat revealed Sydney lawyer Nicky Stein suggesting targeting Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, despite no actionable offence against the ABC. The ABC dismissed Lattouf on 20 December 2023, citing her social media post referencing the HRW report as the reason. The ABC had itself covered the release of the same HRW report. Al Jazeera noted that Lattouf was among a growing number of journalists worldwide dismissed for expressing views supporting Palestine or calling for an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza. Lattouf responded to her dismissal by stating she believed it was unlawful and not a victory for journalism or critical, fair thinking. Lattouf's dismissal led ABC members of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) to pass a vote of no-confidence in ABC's managing director, David Anderson, on 22 January. The MEAA motion criticised ABC leadership for failing to protect the broadcaster's independence and staff when attacked.

Lattouf lodged an unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission (FWC), asserting that her dismissal was due to expressing a political opinion and that her race was a contributing factor. Mediation efforts at the FWC failed. In its submission to the FWC on 15 January, the ABC stated that Lattouf was warned about posting controversial topics prior to her dismissal and argued that she could not make an unlawful termination application as she was not technically sacked. The case was featured on the ABC's Media Watch program on 5 February 2024. Host Paul Barry criticised the ABC's actions as indicative of weakness and incompetence for not properly handling the situation and not supporting Lattouf for her remaining two shifts. Lattouf requested the FWC to release emails related to her dismissal, which had been mentioned in the leaked WhatsApp messages. The FWC refused her request on 16 February. On 3 June 2024, the FWC found that Lattouf was unfairly dismissed by the ABC.

Other activities
Lattouf co-founded Media Diversity Australia (MDA) in 2017, a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to increase cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia's news media. The MDA's advisory board members include Stan Grant, Waleed Aly, Hugh Riminton, Monica Attard, Talal Yassine and Tim Soutphommasane. In 2020 MDA released their report in regards to the lack of diversity in Australian television news and current affairs. Lattouf was a co-author of Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories, Australian-first research led by MDA and conducted by Macquarie University, University of Sydney, Deakin University and Western Sydney University with partners Google and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

Her first book How to Lose Friends and Influence White people was published by the Penguin Random House in 2022. That same year, Lattouf delivered her first TEDx Sydney talk.

Recognition and awards

 * 2019: Listed in the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence
 * 2021: Women's Agenda Leadership Award
 * 2021: B&T Women in Media Champion of Change

Personal life
Lattouf is married and has two daughters.

Lattouf advocates for more support and awareness for perinatal mental health after struggling with post natal depression and sharing her journey in a Marie Claire article.

She is also an ambassador for the Australian Thyroid Foundation after a Studio 10 viewer noticed a lump on her neck and contacted Network 10. As a result, Lattouf had surgery to remove the lump and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.