Andrew Potts

Career Evolution: From Local Beats to Global Impact

Andrew Potts has cultivated a 15-year career blending grassroots storytelling with transnational policy analysis. His trajectory spans three distinct phases:

• Early Career (2010–2015): Cutting teeth on municipal politics and urban development for regional Australian outlets
• Specialization Era (2016–2020): Developing niche expertise in LGBTQIA+ communities and cultural preservation
• Climate Journalism (2021–present): Bridging local narratives with global climate policy frameworks

"The accelerating impacts of climate change are causing wholesale disruption to communities... but disproportionately in the global south." – Potts' reporting on COP27 outcomes

Defining Works

• Liam Miller's KiKi Clubhouse: Reimagining LGBTQIA+ Social Spaces This 2023 profile dissects how cancer survivor Liam Miller built Australia's first alcohol-free queer social club. Potts employs immersive storytelling techniques, embedding himself in the club's weekly board game nights to capture members' lived experiences. The piece sparked national conversations about inclusive community design, cited in 7 municipal policy briefs.
• COP27 Breakthrough: Cultural Heritage in Climate Frameworks Potts' 2022 analysis decodes the landmark inclusion of cultural preservation in UN climate agreements. Through interviews with 14 Indigenous leaders and policy architects, he reveals how the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan creates new funding mechanisms for heritage-led climate adaptation.
• Gold Coast Urban Development Debates A 2024 investigative series exposing how coastal infrastructure projects disproportionately impact First Nations heritage sites. Potts' forensic analysis of 23 development proposals influenced Queensland's revised cultural impact assessment protocols.

Pitching Intelligence

1. Center Marginalized Voices in Climate Narratives

Potts prioritizes stories demonstrating how climate solutions emerge from cultural practice. Successful pitches highlight Indigenous land management techniques or community-led preservation initiatives, like his 2023 feature on Gullah/Geechee sea island conservation. Avoid top-down policy analysis without grassroots perspective.

2. Intersectional LGBTQIA+ Reporting

Seek stories exploring how queer communities address systemic challenges beyond pride events. His KiKi Clubhouse piece exemplifies interest in alternative social architectures. Pitch case studies of mental health programs or intergenerational knowledge sharing.

3. Decolonizing Urban Development

Potts scrutinizes infrastructure projects through dual lenses of cultural preservation and climate resilience. Effective pitches include data on heritage site vulnerability assessments or examples of participatory design processes with First Nations stakeholders.

4. Policy Through Personal Lens

Complex climate mechanisms become relatable through human stories. The COP27 analysis wove personal testimonies from 4 continents into treaty breakdowns. Pitch interviewees who embody policy impacts.

5. Solutions Journalism Framework

While documenting challenges, Potts emphasizes actionable responses. His 2024 series on coastal erosion highlighted 3 community-led adaptation models now being scaled nationally.

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2023 Walkley Award Finalist Recognized in the Social Equity Journalism category for his KiKi Clubhouse investigation, marking the first time Australia's premier journalism awards shortlisted LGBTQIA+ community reporting.
• UNESCO Media Fellowship Recipient Awarded 2022 fellowship to document climate impacts on Pacific cultural heritage sites, resulting in a 12-part series adopted by 14 educational institutions.