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Kenny Douglas was a St Kilda man who died in 2005. He lived on the streets and had done so for twenty odd years though the Sacred Heart Mission cared for him latterly.

The thing about Kenny was that everyone knew him and nobody (except the odd curmudgeon of a publican) objected to him. He was looked after by the Acland and Fitzroy Street traders, was well-loved by the locals and his past was a source of endless speculation and fascination.

Kenny was nicknamed 'Scoop' because of his colourful career in journalism. Just what that career entailed is a bit harder to pin down. Some of the stories about Kenny are:

• that he was a cameraman who worked with Neil Davis in South East Asia
• that he covered the Vietnam war as a photographer
• that he worked with Graham Kennedy, and that he wrote for The Sun newspaper.

Who knows? Every time you speak to one of the local traders you get a better story, for example, there's the one about Kenny having enough dirt to bring down the most powerful media baron in the world, which in turn killed Kenny's career and lead to a life on the streets.

In this spirit of the resistant truth and humane, ordinary story telling, we are proud to announce the inaugural Kenny 'Scoop' Douglas Lecture on Journalism.

Ever wondered where the real stories are? Ever had the feeling that the 'truth' in media terms is now a question of wonky semantics? Ever felt short-changed by the fact that all Australian newspapers are now owned by the same boring gits who you wouldn't buy a drink for down the pub, let alone put up with their vapid yet hectoring opinions all night? Ever felt no-one's asking the right questions - or, at least, the unexpected ones?

The Scoop aims to open up the debate about journalism beyond the claims of selling newspapers/advertising space/souls/book tours. There's no political agenda here, left or right, just the desire to figure out if journalistic courage and conviction is an oxymoron. Or not.

WHO WILL BE TAKING THE INAUGURAL KENNY 'SCOOP' DOUGLAS LECTURE ON JOURNALISM?

Latest news: We are thrilled to announce that Walkley Award-winning journalist, former spin doctor and founder of alternative news e-zine crikey.com.au, Stephen Mayne has agreed to give the inaugural Kenny 'Scoop' Douglas Memorial Lecture on Journalism.

Where: Theatreworks, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda
When: Thursday, 27th April, 7pm to 8pm
Cost: FREE!

Pictured: Kenny 'Scoop' Douglas and friend

If you don't know what Crikey is, log on to www.crikey.com.au and sign up for a free two-week subscription to the most addictive alternative news in the country.