Nick Toscano is an award-winning investigative journalist specializing in business regulation and energy policy for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. His work consistently exposes systemic failures in corporate governance while making complex economic issues accessible to general audiences.
"Effective pitches demonstrate how systemic issues affect real people. Bring me documents, not just anecdotes."
Nick Toscano has established himself as a leading voice in Australian business and investigative journalism over his decade-long career. Beginning as a general reporter at The Age, he quickly gravitated toward complex stories involving corporate accountability and public policy. His early work on workplace relations and labor movements laid the groundwork for his later focus on energy markets and regulatory frameworks.
This policy analysis piece demonstrates Toscano’s ability to translate complex energy regulations into accessible public interest journalism. The article revealed how the Victorian government allowed energy retailers to reduce payments for solar panel owners, potentially affecting over 500,000 households. Toscano combined data from regulatory filings with interviews of solar industry stakeholders and energy economists to show the financial impact on middle-class families.
Methodologically, the piece stands out for its use of comparative tariff analysis across Australian states and historical pricing trends. The reporting led to immediate parliamentary questions about consumer protections in renewable energy transitions.
Though published in a lifestyle outlet, this retrospective analysis of Toscano’s most famous investigation showcases his cross-genre adaptability. The article details how Toscano and colleague Beau Donelly methodically verified Belle Gibson’s false cancer claims through medical records, financial audits, and insider testimonies.
What makes this work significant is its lasting impact on Australian media literacy. The exposure of Gibson’s fraud prompted nationwide discussions about fact-checking in influencer culture and led to strengthened consumer protection laws regarding health claims.
This collaborative investigation with 60 Minutes represents Toscano’s peak in corporate accountability reporting. The team uncovered systemic money laundering and visa fraud at Crown Casinos through leaked internal documents and undercover footage. Toscano’s contribution focused on financial trail analysis, connecting casino transactions to international crime networks.
The investigation’s impact was immediate and far-reaching, triggering multiple government inquiries and reforms in Australia’s gambling regulation framework. It exemplifies Toscano’s ability to handle sensitive documents and synthesize complex financial data into public-interest narratives.
Toscano consistently highlights how energy market changes affect everyday Australians. Pitches should focus on policy developments that intersect with household economics, particularly renewable energy transitions in regional communities. For example, his solar tariff analysis [Article 1] paired regulatory changes with case studies of suburban families, making technical content relatable.
Stories exposing misconduct in sectors like energy, gaming, or healthcare resonate strongly. Successful pitches will offer documented evidence of regulatory failures, similar to the Crown Casino investigation [Article 3]. Toscano prioritizes sources who can provide financial records or internal communications showing systemic issues.
While not his primary beat, Toscano maintains interest in misinformation trends, particularly health-related scams. The Belle Gibson case [Article 2] demonstrates his approach: combining digital forensics (social media analysis) with traditional investigative techniques. Pitches here should identify emerging fraud patterns with verifiable victim impacts.
Toscano received Australia’s highest journalism honor for his role in the "Crown Unmasked" investigation. The Walkley judges noted the report’s "exceptional public service through forensic financial analysis." This award places Toscano among elite investigative reporters, particularly in exposing corporate malfeasance within regulated industries.
Awarded for his early work on workplace safety violations in the mining sector, this recognition established Toscano’s reputation for rigorous documentation. The investigation combined whistleblower testimonies with safety inspection records to reveal systemic regulatory failures, leading to improved industry oversight.
"Great journalism doesn’t just expose wrongdoing—it maps the systems that allow harm to persist. Our work on Crown wasn’t about shocking headlines, but showing how financial structures enable criminal behavior."
Victorians with rooftop solar panels will have payments for sending power to the grid slashed or even terminated under a new move by the state government
How Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano Uncovered Belle Gibson's Story
Nick McKenzie, Nick Toscano and Grace Tobin
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 Business, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
