Chris Masters (writer)

Masters has written four books. His first Inside Story, published in 1992, told of the stories behind some of his Four Corners programs. His second, Not for Publication, published in 2002, again dealt with his television work. His third book was called Jonestown and finally a book about the Australian soldier called Uncommon Soldier. Masters' work also played a key role in bringing down Ben Roberts-Smith.

In 2002, Masters profiled radio personality Alan Jones for an episode of Four Corners, and then went on to write a biography titled Jonestown: The Power and the Myth of Alan Jones. On 29 June 2006, ABC Enterprises decided to cancel publication of Masters' manuscript; ABC Enterprises director Robyn Watts stated that publication was being withdrawn because it would "almost certainly result in commercial loss, which would be irresponsible". This was widely believed to be a veiled reference to the fact that Jones's lawyers had threatened an expensive defamation lawsuit if the book reached publication.^[10] ABC program Media Watch reported that the decision to cancel publication had been made not by ABC Enterprises but by the ABC Board. Many ABC personalities have criticised the Board's decision, and indeed wrote a petition against it, with signatories including Richard Glover and Phillip Adams.

Mike Carlton, a Sydney radio broadcaster and rival to Jones, suggested on 2UE during his show of 5 July 2006 that the book might detail homosexual encounters on Jones's part,^[11] and Jones's lawyers had told the ABC that Masters' materials were "replete with false and inappropriate sexual innuendo".^[12] Indeed, in Jonestown, Masters advances the theory that Jones's attempt to deny his sexuality is a defining feature of his personality, and that it provides an explanation for many aspects of his behaviour, including, for example, his interest in mentoring young male athletes. His explanation of much about Jones by reference to his sexuality left Masters open to charges of homophobia,^[13] which friendly commentators (in an ironic effort to defend Jones's reputation) have exploited.^{[example needed]}

The ABC's refusal to publish the book did not delay it for long; Masters had little difficulty in finding publishers willing to take it on, and Allen & Unwin released it in October 2006. Lengthy excerpts were also published in The Sydney Morning Herald.^[14]

With investigative help from Nick McKenzie and sustained support by Nine Network, Masters spent more than seven years investigating and reporting on Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith. Roberts-Smith filed defamation suits against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times after they reported he had murdered Afghans during multiple deployments to the country from 2006 to 2012.^[15][16] Roberts-Smith lost the case, with evidence clearly corroborating the work done by Masters and McKenzie.^[17]

In 2023, Masters published his full account of Robert-Smith's story in his book Flawed Hero.^[18] It was shortlisted for the 2024 Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction.^[19]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2020)

• Inside Story (1992)
• Not for Publication (2002)
• Jonestown: The Power and the Myth of Alan Jones (2006)
• Uncommon Soldier: Brave, Compassionate and Tough, the Making of Australia's Modern Diggers (2013)
• No Front Line: Australia's Special Forces at War in Afghanistan (2017)
• Sticking to Our Guns: A Troubled Past Produces a Superb Weapon. Canberra: Australian Strategic Policy Institute. 2019.
• Flawed Hero: Truth, lies and war crimes (2023)^[18]

• Masters, Chris (March 2009). "Hidden Treasures: Forty-Three Years at the ABC". The Monthly. 43: 28–35.

No front line

• Pope, Alistair (January–February 2018). "With friends like this ..." Books, Arts & Life. Quadrant. 62 (1–2 [543]): 75–77.