Misha Ketchell is editor and executive director of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand, where he oversees one of the world’s most influential academic journalism platforms. With a career spanning investigative reporting, media policy, and startup leadership, he specializes in:
Pitch Priorities:
“The best stories emerge where academic rigor meets real-world impact.”
Focus on evidence-based solutions to media sustainability challenges, particularly those involving cross-sector collaboration or technological innovation. Avoid consumer tech trends or celebrity-driven narratives.
Misha Ketchell stands as a pivotal figure in Australia’s media landscape, with a career spanning over 25 years dedicated to advancing public-interest journalism. As editor and executive director of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand, he has championed evidence-based reporting while navigating the complexities of modern media ecosystems. His work reflects a deep commitment to rebuilding trust in journalism through innovation and collaboration with experts.
This 2023 manifesto outlines Ketchell’s vision for media survival in the digital age. Through case studies of the News Media Bargaining Code, it analyzes the power dynamics between tech platforms and publishers. The article’s significance lies in its prescriptive approach, advocating for regulatory frameworks that protect public-interest journalism while acknowledging platform economics. Ketchell employs a rare combination of policy analysis and operational insights from The Conversation’s own sustainability strategies.
Published during Australia’s 2025 federal election cycle, this piece demonstrates Ketchell’s ability to translate media theory into civic action. By tracking voter engagement with fact-checking initiatives, it reveals how algorithmic curation impacts democratic participation. The methodology combines The Conversation’s reader analytics with nationwide polling data, offering newsrooms actionable insights for combating misinformation.
Presented at the 2024 International Journalism Festival, this keynote address dissects the “post-expertise” era. Ketchell argues for transparent collaboration between journalists and academics, using The Conversation’s contributor network as a case study. The work has influenced global initiatives like the Reuters Institute’s Expert Voices Project.
Ketchell prioritizes stories that bridge academic research and media policy. A successful 2024 pitch from Melbourne University’s Centre for Advancing Journalism led to a six-part series on AI content moderation. When approaching him, highlight how your expertise informs regulatory debates or platform governance.
With his experience launching multiple media ventures, Ketchell seeks innovative revenue models beyond advertising. The 2023 “Future of Media” series featured a case study on South Africa’s The Outlier, which combined data journalism with community-funded investigations. Pitches should address scalability and audience engagement metrics.
As demonstrated in his 2024 festival speech, Ketchell values quantifiable approaches to trust-building. A recent collaboration with the Australian National University measured the impact of byline transparency on reader retention. Include verifiable data on credibility indicators when proposing stories.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Media, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
