The changing face of crime

Candid Conversations with John Silvester

Hosted by Prof Vin Massaro

Australia’s longest-serving crime reporter, John Silvester (“Sly”), brings more than four decades of experience covering Melbourne’s criminal underworld, corruption and some of the nation’s most notorious cases.

John has spent decades documenting how crime evolves. While the personalities, violence and egos remain remarkably familiar, the methods have changed  dramatically - from traditional turf wars to sophisticated syndicates, cybercrime and international cartel networks.

In this Candid Conversation, John will reflect on the role of journalism in exposing crime, the ethics of telling true stories, the people and cases that have stayed with him – and the Changing Face of Crime:

• Shift to Global and Corporate Networks: Organised crime has moved well beyond traditional street-level extortion, increasingly infiltrating major infrastructure, construction and public works, while exploiting complex international money-laundering networks.
• Digital and Cyber Operations: Criminal enterprises are increasingly using encrypted communications, online fraud and global digital networks, replacing some of the old face-to-face dealings once conducted in back alleys, pubs and pool halls.
• Offshore Cartels and Proxy Crimes: Local law enforcement is confronting increasingly decentralised operations, with offshore syndicates directing local young offenders to carry out arson, tobacco-store attacks, extortion and other crimes.
• The Constant Human Element: Despite the changing technology and tactics, Silvester argues that the psychology of crime remains much the same. Greed, stupidity and inflated egos continue to drive criminals — and often contribute to their downfall.

John Silvester is Australia's longest-serving crime reporter, covering the beat since the late 1970s. He has won four Walkley Awards, the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award, nine Melbourne Press Club Quills, nine Victorian Law Foundation Awards, a Ned Kelly Award for true crime writing, a Ned Kelly lifetime achievement award, an ASEAN Fellowship to study crime and corruption in South East Asia, and has been elevated to The Australian Media Hall of Fame.

John narrated and co-wrote true-crime documentaries produced and directed by Terry Carlyon, including the Logie-winning ABC documentary, Conviction, on the murder of Jill Meagher. He has written or co-authored over 30 books including the Chopper and Underbelly series, later adapted to film and television.

John appeared in one Underbelly movie as himself but was asked to quietly remove himself from the set for overacting. He writes the award-winning 'Naked City' column for The Age, presents the true-crime podcast of the same name, and appears weekly on the top-rated 3AW breakfast program as 'Sly of the Underworld'.

John fought world champion Barry Michael to a draw in a charity boxing match which many experts still refer to as The Bloodbath of Blackburn.

Expect compelling stories, colourful characters and plenty of insight from a journalist who believes the golden rule is simple: be right and assume nothing.