Currently contributing investigative features to Tasmanian Inquirer and producing documentary podcasts for Schwartz Media’s 7am, Manning specializes in:
Awarded the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for his bushfire crisis investigation Body Count, Manning combines forensic financial analysis with narrative storytelling. Avoid pitches involving celebrity culture or consumer technology.
Paddy Manning has cultivated a 25-year career as a journalist and author, marked by meticulous investigations into power structures. Beginning at The Australian and Australian Financial Review, Manning honed his skills in corporate and political reporting before transitioning to long-form narrative journalism at outlets like Crikey, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the ABC. His 2022 biography The Successor: The High-Stakes Life of Lachlan Murdoch exemplifies his signature approach: blending financial acumen with psychological profiling of influential figures.
This 45-minute audio documentary analyzes Lachlan Murdoch’s consolidation of power following Rupert Murdoch’s retirement. Manning traces Lachlan’s strategic mergers in Australian regional media, contrasting them with his father’s expansionist tactics. The piece reveals how Lachlan’s stewardship prioritizes ideological alignment over profit growth, particularly through case studies of Sky News Australia’s editorial shifts.
In this climate reporting tour de force, Manning connects Tasmania’s rising rates of Ross River virus to warming temperatures enabling mosquito habitat expansion. The episode combines epidemiological data with firsthand accounts from Launceston healthcare workers, arguing for climate policy as public health infrastructure.
Manning’s scoop on Senator Lambie’s environmental policy shift reveals how crossbench politicians are leveraging scientific consensus on marine ecosystems. The article details behind-the-scenes negotiations between Lambie’s team and the Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association, highlighting Manning’s access to both political and industry sources.
Manning consistently explores how corporate decisions affect ecological systems. Pitches should connect boardroom strategies to measurable environmental outcomes, as seen in his analysis of News Corp’s climate reporting policies. For example, a story linking mining conglomerates’ lobbying efforts to specific changes in biodiversity legislation would align with his Tasmanian Inquirer work.
His Jacqui Lambie coverage demonstrates interest in politicians evolving their platforms based on local environmental concerns. Successful pitches might examine how Queensland’s renewable energy projects are reshaping National Party alliances, providing access to regional stakeholders and policy drafters.
With Murdoch biography research spanning decades, Manning welcomes pitches comparing current media mergers to 20th-century antitrust cases. A data-rich proposal comparing Nine Entertainment’s market share growth to 1980s News Corp expansions would leverage his expertise in longitudinal media analysis.
“Manning’s work redefines corporate biography as social history.” – 2021 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Jury
The 2021 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Nonfiction recognized Body Count, Manning’s investigation into Australia’s bushfire crisis and climate policy failures. The judging panel particularly noted his innovative use of insurance claim data to map disaster capitalism trends.
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:
