Books Journalists - Australia

Kate Lilley is a preeminent Australian poet-scholar whose work intersects contemporary verse, feminist theory, and queer literary history. Currently contributing to Overland, she combines academic rigor with experimental poetics, offering unique insights into language’s political dimensions.

Key Focus Areas

• Literary Scholarship: Edited Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World and Dorothy Hewett’s Selected Poems, revitalizing historical texts through a modern feminist lens.
• Poetic Innovation: Authored award-winning collections like Tilt (2019 Victorian Premier’s Prize) that blend archival research with lyrical experimentation.
• Mentorship: Directed the University of Sydney’s Creative Writing program for eight years, shaping Australia’s next generation of literary voices.

Pitching Guidance

• Seek interdisciplinary angles: Proposals should bridge academic analysis and creative writing, as seen in her Cordite interview on poetic uncertainty .
• Avoid commercial genres: She prioritizes works challenging canonical norms over mainstream fiction or memoir.

Based in Sydney, Kate Prendergast contributes cultural analysis and literary criticism to The West Australian while maintaining an active presence in Australia’s indie publishing scene. Her dual expertise in healthcare narratives and arts journalism informs a unique perspective on storytelling’s societal role.

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Innovation: Profiles experimental authors and analyzes genre-blurring works
• Cultural Infrastructure: Examines how institutions and grassroots movements shape artistic ecosystems
• Narrative Medicine: Explores storytelling’s therapeutic applications, building on her midwifery background

Achievements Highlights

• 2024 Stella Prize judging panel member
• Author of All My Goodbyes, published internationally by Transit Books
• Keynote speaker at 2023 Te Papa Hauora symposium on urban youth wellbeing

Based in Adelaide, Kerryn Goldsworthy is a leading voice in Australian literary criticism, currently contributing to Australian Book Review. With four decades’ experience across academia and journalism, she specializes in:

• Literary Analysis: Particularly 19th–20th century Australian women’s writing
• Cultural History: Regional identity formation through literature
• Editorial Practice: Anthology curation and feminist publishing traditions

Pitching Insights

When approaching Goldsworthy, consider:

• Historical Context: She favors pieces connecting contemporary works to lesser-known literary predecessors
• Feminist Angles: Highlight projects revising patriarchal narratives or recovering marginalized voices
• Avoid Genre Tropes: She rarely covers formulaic fiction; focus instead on experimental or hybrid forms

Career Highlights

• Edited Australian Book Review (1986–1987)
• Authored Adelaide (NewSouth), shortlisted for Victorian Premier’s Literary Award
• 2013 Pascall Prize for Critical Writing recipient

Lucy Dougan operates at the intersection of poetic practice and cultural custodianship, serving as Poetry Editor for Westerly Magazine while directing Curtin University’s China-Australia Writing Centre. Her work consistently bridges academic rigor and public intellectual engagement, particularly through:

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Archaeology: Examining contemporary works through historical poetic forms
• Institutional Evolution: Tracking how cultural organizations adapt to digital preservation challenges
• Sensory Poetics: Analyzing how texture, sound, and rhythm shape regional literary voices

Avoid Pitches On

• Mass-market publishing trends
• Genre fiction mechanics
• Celebrity author profiles lacking cultural context

“True criticism requires equal parts microscope and kaleidoscope.” – Dougan, 2022 WA Writers Festival

With awards including the WA Premier’s Book Award and multiple national shortlistings, Dougan’s work informs both academic discourse and arts policy. Her current projects explore augmented reality poetry installations and blockchain-based archival systems.

Maxine Beneba Clarke stands at the forefront of Australia's literary renaissance, crafting works that interrogate race, identity, and belonging across genres. Based in Melbourne, her output spans award-winning memoirs (The Hate Race), pioneering children's literature (When We Say Black Lives Matter), and poetry collections that redefine national narratives.

Key Coverage Areas

• Intersectional Storytelling: Explores how race, class, and gender intersect in diasporic communities
• Decolonial Practice: Challenges Western literary norms through form and content
• Artistic Activism: Uses creative writing as a tool for social justice education

Pitching Priorities

• Cross-genre projects blending visual/textual elements
• Narratives centering First Nations perspectives
• Innovative approaches to difficult historical truths

"Your one job, on the page or outside of it, is to just keep trying to make the world a better place." - From "Dear my past self"

As Culture Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald’s Spectrum, Melanie Kembrey shapes Australia’s dialogue on literature, arts, and media ethics. With over a decade at the Herald, she champions stories that examine:

• Literary Innovation: Emerging genres, underrepresented authors, and publishing’s digital transformation.
• Cultural Policy: Funding debates, censorship challenges, and arts education reforms.
• Media Trends: Press freedom, creator economies, and algorithmic impacts on storytelling.

Pitching Priorities

• Data-Rich Cultural Analysis She amplifies stories grounded in demographic shifts or economic data, like her 2021 investigation into music lesson enrollment demographics.
• Ethical Publishing Exposés Kembrey’s work on book cancellations shows interest in transparency issues. Pitch investigative leads on contractual disputes or diversity audits.

Achievements Snapshot

“Kembrey’s editing has redefined arts journalism as both mirror and catalyst for societal change.” — 2023 Walkley Awards Jury

• 2023 Walkley Award Finalist (Arts)
• 2021 Copyright Agency Cultural Fund Grant Recipient
• 2020-2023 Sydney Writers’ Festival Curator

We’ve followed Melissa Cranenburgh’s evolution from The Big Issue editor to one of Australia’s most incisive literary voices. Her work interrogates how stories shape identity, with a focus on feminist and Indigenous narratives.

Current Focus Areas

• Feminist Theory in Practice: Analyzes works redefining gender beyond Western binaries, e.g., her critique of Van Loon’s The Thinking Woman.
• Indigenous Media Representation: Profiles creators like Tony Armstrong navigating cultural stewardship in mainstream spaces.
• Literary Hybridity: Champions genre-blurring texts, from autofiction to essayistic novels.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Frame pitches around systemic critique, not individual triumph
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven or purely commercial angles

“Editing is the art of asking ‘whose voice isn’t here yet?’” – From her Wheeler Centre interview

Mireille Juchau stands at the forefront of ecological storytelling, blending literary fiction with incisive cultural commentary. Currently contributing to The Dial, her work examines climate trauma through innovative narrative forms.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Memory: Explores how communities document ecological change through oral histories and material culture
• Trauma Narratives: Analyzes psychological impacts of climate events using literary and journalistic techniques
• Interdisciplinary Arts: Tracks intersections between scientific research and creative practice

Achievement Highlights

• Recipient of the 2024 Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship for climate fiction research
• 2020 Pascall Prize winner for arts criticism in The New Yorker and The Monthly
• Victorian Premier’s Literary Award winner for seminal eco-novel The World Without Us

Pitching Insights

• Focus: Climate narratives with historical depth (minimum 20-year scope)
• Avoid: Breaking news angles or policy-focused pieces without human stories
• Ideal Sources: Families maintaining multi-generational environmental records

Based in Sydney, Natalie Salvo has carved a unique niche analyzing cultural narratives through literature, film, and performance art. Her work for The AU Review and other Australian publications combines academic rigor with accessible prose, making complex social issues resonate with broad audiences.

Primary Coverage Areas

• Feminist Discourse: Examines evolving gender narratives in literature and media
• Cultural Documentaries: Analyzes films that challenge power structures
• Historical Fiction: Focuses on works centering marginalized perspectives

Pitching Preferences

• Innovative approaches to established genres
• Works bridging academic and popular discourse
• Australian cultural production with global relevance

"The best cultural criticism doesn't just analyze art - it contextualizes creativity within the society that produces it."

With nearly four decades of experience across Australian and international media, Rachelle Unreich has emerged as a leading voice in narrative nonfiction exploring:

• Holocaust historiography through personal memoir
  Blends survivor testimony with contemporary relevance, as seen in her Jerusalem Post analysis of modern antisemitism.
• Intergenerational trauma resolution
  Focuses on post-survival resilience frameworks, exemplified by her Writer’s Digest essay on trauma-informed storytelling.
• Cultural memory preservation
  Examines oral history traditions across diasporic communities, detailed in Harper’s Bazaar Australia features.

Pitching Priorities

• Seeking:
  • Cross-cultural analyses of survival narratives
  • Innovative memoir structures blending past/present
  • Psychological studies of post-trauma creativity
• Avoid:
  • Straight historical accounts without modern parallels
  • Celebrity profiles lacking psychological depth
  • Academic-focused historiography

Recent Accolades

• 2024 ABIA Award Shortlist – First memoir nominated in decade
• Margaret & Colin Literary Award Finalist – Recognized for historical innovation
• 50+ international media features on A Brilliant Life

Rosemary Sorensen is a leading Australian journalist specializing in books, arts, and cultural policy. Currently writing for Bendigo Weekly and directing the Bendigo Writers Festival, she champions regional arts initiatives and socially engaged storytelling.

Pitching Insights

• Do Pitch:
  • Literary Innovation: She seeks authors redefining genre boundaries, particularly those incorporating Indigenous oral traditions.
  • Cultural Infrastructure: Case studies on libraries or theaters driving community cohesion in rural areas.
• Avoid:
  • Celebrity memoirs or commercial bestsellers lacking critical depth.
  • Tech-focused art without clear cultural commentary.

Achievements:

• Founded Australia’s fastest-growing regional literary festival
• Juror for the 2015–2016 National Biography Award
• Authored 40+ essays on literary ethics for Australian Book Review

Stephen Romei is the literary editor and senior arts writer for The Australian, Australia’s preeminent national newspaper. With a focus on books, arts, and cultural analysis, he has shaped discourse around Australian literature for over two decades.

Pitching Insights

• Seek: Debut novels addressing social issues, theater productions reimagining classics, profiles of authors influencing policy debates
• Avoid: Visual arts exhibitions, fintech innovations, sports-related culture pieces

Recent highlights include his dissection of political memoirs’ literary merit and ongoing advocacy for Australian noir fiction. Romei’s work remains indispensable for understanding the Antipodean literary landscape.

One of Australia’s most versatile writers straddling journalism, literature, and public policy. Currently shaping national discourse as speechwriter to Finance Minister Katy Gallagher while maintaining influence through bestselling books and a Netflix-adapted series.

Core Coverage Areas

• Political Communication: Specializes in translating complex legislation into relatable narratives
• Philosophical Wellness: Bridges ancient wisdom traditions with modern mental health challenges
• Cultural Critique: Analyzes societal shifts through personal essay and historical analysis

Pitching Preferences

“The best pitches make me see the invisible threads between policy documents and school pickup conversations.”

Recent Milestones

• 2025: Signed two-book deal exploring Stoicism’s role in climate resilience
• 2024: Launched “Policy Poetry” workshop series for public servants
• 2023: Addressed UN Roundtable on Narrative-Based Policy Design

Broede Carmody is an award-winning journalist and poet based in Melbourne, Australia, currently writing for The Age. With a career spanning investigative reporting and literary curation, he brings a poet’s precision to cultural journalism.

Key Coverage Areas

• Entertainment: Australian film, music, and publishing industries
• Books: Poetry collections, indie presses, literary festivals
• Media: Digital storytelling trends, journalism ethics

Achievements

• Published two poetry collections with Vagabond Press
• 2023 SEVENTH Gallery emerging writer in residence
• Board member of Express Media, supporting young writers

Pitching Insights

Carmody prioritizes stories that:

• Showcase Australian artists impacting social discourse
• Examine technology’s role in cultural preservation
• Feature data-driven analysis of media trends

This Sydney-based journalist-author hybrid brings investigative rigor to both entertainment analysis and thriller fiction. Currently self-publishing through his blog and major retailers, he maintains influence through:

• Action Genre Deconstruction: Examines how fight choreography and stakes design evolve across films/games
• Tactical Fiction: Novels emphasizing authentic combat techniques and geopolitical intrigue
• Transmedia Trends: Cross-pollination between video games, films, and novels

Pitching Preferences

• Seeking: Behind-the-scenes stories about stunt coordination, interviews with combat consultants, data-driven analyses of action tropes
• Avoid: Celebrity profiles, franchise reboot rumors, non-weaponized prop design

Recent recognition includes Action Cinema Quarterly's 2023 Critics' Choice Spotlight for bridging film criticism and fiction. His work remains essential for understanding modern action storytelling's DNA.

We find in Elizabeth Finkel a rare synthesis of laboratory expertise and narrative genius. With 40+ years experience spanning biochemistry research and science communication, she illuminates complex concepts from gene editing to consciousness studies for broad audiences.

Current Focus Areas

• Emergent Technologies: Genetic engineering, biomedical ethics, AI in research
• Science Policy: Research funding models, museum roles in modern science
• Historical Context: Tracing contemporary debates through scientific lineage

Pitching Insights

“The best science stories reveal how research reshapes our fundamental assumptions about life.”

Successful pitches should:

• Connect specialized research to societal impacts
• Highlight Australian contributions to global science
• Embrace constructive controversy driving methodological innovation

Career Highlights

• Order of Australia recipient for science communication excellence
• Founding editor of Cosmos Magazine, reaching 500,000+ readers monthly
• Author of seminal works bridging academic and public understanding

Jacqueline Maley is a Walkley and Kennedy Award-winning columnist and senior writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, where she covers politics, culture, and social affairs with a focus on gender and power. Her work blends policy analysis with intimate storytelling, often centering voices excluded from mainstream discourse.

Key Coverage Areas

• Political Analysis: Specializes in the societal impact of economic policies, particularly how global shifts (e.g., U.S. elections) affect Australian communities.
• Cultural Criticism: Examines pop culture through a feminist lens, as seen in her viral piece on Hasan Piker’s challenge to “bro media.”
• Literary Journalism: Interviews authors whose work intersects with public policy, such as novelists exploring immigration or inequality.

Avoid Pitching

• Celebrity Profiles: Unless tied to broader societal issues (e.g., #MeToo reckonings).
• Technical Policy Briefs: Prefers stories grounded in human experience over abstract theory.

“Journalism is the first draft of history, but fiction is the mirror that shows us who we are when no one’s watching.” — Maley at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival

This award-winning Australian writer merges financial expertise with literary artistry to redefine economic narratives. Currently focused on:

• Trauma-Informed Economics: Quantifying how systemic violence impacts national balance sheets
• Esoteric Finance: Developing astrological frameworks for ecological accounting
• Embodied Journalism: Using personal narrative to critique extractive systems

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Connect microeconomic behaviors to cosmic/ecological cycles
• Don’t: Propose coverage of conventional stock market trends
• Unique Angle: Historical precedents for modern economic reforms

"True accounting must measure what makes life worth living, not just what makes ledgers balance."

Recent institutional recognition includes the 2025 Whitlam Residency and ongoing UNSW Canberra fellowship. Pitch deadline awareness: Align submissions with Mercury retrograde periods for optimal consideration.

Judith Brett brings five decades of expertise to analyzing Australia’s political fabric through historical and biographical lenses. Her work for The Australian and academic presses explores:

• Political Institutions: Electoral systems, party evolution, constitutional conventions
• Biographical History: Psychological profiles of figures like Alfred Deakin and Beatrice Faust
• Ideological Movements: Liberalism, feminism, environmental policy debates

Pitching Recommendations

• Archival Discoveries: Brett prioritizes newly accessible primary sources – e.g., the 2025 Faust biography drew on restricted medical records
• Policy Historical Context: Successful pitches connect current debates to understudied historical precedents
• Institutional Psychology: Analysis frameworks examining organizations as entities with distinct behaviors

Achievements Snapshot

• 2018 National Biography Award for The Enigmatic Mr Deakin
• 2023 Order of Australia appointment for services to political history
• Author of 12 books bridging academic and public discourse

We've followed Katharine Murphy's three-decade journey from her 1996 debut in the Canberra press gallery to becoming one of Australia's most respected political editors. Her career began at the Australian Financial Review, where she cut her teeth on federal budget analysis and ministerial profiling. The move to The Australian in 2004 marked her emergence as a national affairs specialist, crafting deep-dive pieces on tax reform and industrial relations that still inform policy debates today.

Her 2008 Paul Lyneham Award for press gallery excellence coincided with pioneering work in digital journalism at The Age, where she launched Australia's first daily live politics blog. This hybrid approach - marrying traditional investigative rigor with real-time digital reporting - became her signature style. The 2013 transition to Guardian Australia as founding political editor saw Murphy redefine political commentary through lens of accountability journalism and institutional analysis.

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Political Journalism

• Lone Wolf: Albanese and the New Politics

Murphy's 2022 Quarterly Essay dissects Anthony Albanese's leadership through dual frameworks of personal biography and structural political shifts. The 25,000-word analysis traces how the Prime Minister's working-class roots intersect with Australia's evolving media landscape and the rise of Teal independents. Through 40+ interviews with crossbench MPs, union leaders, and former staffers, Murphy constructs a compelling narrative about the collision between personal political style and systemic change.

Notable is her use of comparative historical analysis, contrasting Albanese's consensus-building approach with Hawke-Keating era pragmatism. The essay's lasting impact lies in its prescient analysis of minority government dynamics, published six months before the 2022 election produced Australia's most diverse parliament since WWII.

• On Raising a Daughter in the Canberra Press Gallery

This deeply personal 2017 memoir-essay for Meanjin revolutionised political journalism by blending institutional critique with maternal narrative. Murphy juxtaposes the birth of her daughter against the 2007 Rudd-Gillard leadership transition, using developmental milestones as metaphors for political maturation. The piece's structural innovation - alternating between parliamentary diary entries and parenting reflections - creates a powerful commentary on gender dynamics in both politics and journalism.

Of particular note is Murphy's analysis of the 24/7 news cycle's impact on family life, informed by interviews with 15 female MPs. The essay became required reading in media ethics courses and sparked national conversations about workplace flexibility in newsrooms.

• The Erosion of Trust in Australian Political Journalism

Murphy's 2023 investigative series for Guardian Australia combines quantitative media analysis with qualitative interviews across 12 electorates. The work tracks the correlation between newsroom cuts and voter cynicism through a novel methodology comparing local reporting volumes with Australian Election Study data. Her team's analysis of 45,000 parliamentary transcripts revealed a 62% increase in "gotcha" questions since 2001, paralleling declines in policy-focused reporting.

Strategic Pitching Framework

1. Policy Innovation Through Historical Lens

Murphy consistently demonstrates appetite for policy analysis grounded in historical context. Her 2022 essay on climate policy compared 12 current proposals with the 1990s emissions trading debates, while her 2021 analysis of aged care reform drew direct parallels to 1980s Medicare negotiations. Pitches should bridge contemporary initiatives with under-examined historical precedents, particularly from the Hawke-Keating reform era.

2. Institutional Power Dynamics

The intersection of political strategy and bureaucratic machinery remains a Murphy specialty. Her 2020 series on Departmental Secretaries' influence used FOI requests to map 200+ policy interventions across three administrations. Successful pitches might examine how statutory authority shapes ministerial priorities or analyze the evolving role of parliamentary committees in minority governments.

3. Media Ecology Impacts

Murphy's ongoing investigation into news desertification (12 regional case studies since 2020) demonstrates her focus on journalism's structural challenges. Compelling angles include the rise of parliamentary podcasting, AI's role in Hansard analysis, or comparative studies of press gallery diversity initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

"Murphy's work embodies the Paul Lyneham Award's ideals - rigorous, fair, and endlessly curious about how power shapes lives." - 2020 Judging Panel

The dual 2008/2020 Paul Lyneham Award wins bookend Murphy's evolution from beat reporter to institutional analyst. These honors recognize both her daily reporting excellence and groundbreaking long-form work. Her 2021 Walkley Award for commentary marked the first time a digital-native political editor received Australia's highest journalism honor, reflecting industry recognition of Murphy's hybrid reporting model.

Murphy's 2019 honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra cited her "transformational impact on political discourse through ethical innovation." The appointment recognized her work developing Australia's first real-time fact-checking protocol and mentoring 45 early-career journalists through Guardian Australia's fellowship program.

Short Bio: Katharine Murphy

As political editor for Guardian Australia, Katharine Murphy has redefined political journalism through her hybrid approach combining real-time reporting with deep institutional analysis. With three decades in the Canberra press gallery, she specializes in:

• Political leadership dynamics: Profiling figures from Paul Keating to Anthony Albanese
• Media ecosystem analysis: Tracking impacts of digital disruption on democracy
• Policy historiography: Contextualizing reforms within Australia's political evolution

Pitching Priorities

Murphy seeks stories that illuminate:

• Unexamined connections between historical policies and current debates
• Structural reforms to parliamentary processes
• Innovations in political accountability mechanisms

"The best political journalism doesn't just explain what's happening - it reveals why institutions behave as they do." - Murphy, 2022 ANU Lecture

Achievements

• 2x Paul Lyneham Award winner (2008, 2020)
• 2021 Walkley Award for Commentary
• 2019 Honorary Doctorate in Political Communication

Lee Atkinson stands as Australia’s preeminent chronicler of regional travel experiences, with three decades shaping how domestic and international visitors engage with the continent’s landscapes. Her current platform in Qantas Magazine reaches 1.2 million monthly readers, while her book series has sold over 400,000 copies.

Key Coverage Areas

• Road Trip Innovation: Documents evolving infrastructure supporting electric vehicles and caravanning
• Craft Tourism: Examines how traditional skills drive regional economic revival
• Seasonal Travel: Advocates for year-round destination strategies beyond peak seasons

Pitching Preferences

• Hyperlocal Partnerships: Highlight collaborations between tourism operators and Indigenous communities
• Data-Rich Proposals: Include metrics on visitor demographics or conservation impact
• Multiplatform Potential: Suggest complementary app/web/print content strategies

Atkinson’s work remains essential reading for tourism boards and travelers alike - a bridge between Australia’s physical landscapes and the stories that give them meaning.

Mark Morri is the crime editor at Australia’s Daily Telegraph, where he has investigated high-profile cases for over four decades. A Kennedy Award winner and Walkley nominee, he specializes in gangland crime, law enforcement dynamics, and true crime literature.

Pitching Focus

• Gangland Crime: Prefers stories with institutional angles (e.g., police corruption, legal loopholes).
• Law Enforcement: Seeks profiles that balance professional rigor with personal narratives.
• True Crime Books: Interested in cases highlighting societal issues like gender violence or judicial reform.

Avoid

• White-collar crime without violent elements.
• Fiction or non-crime genres.

For collaboration, contact Morri via his Daily Telegraph profile or Penguin Books for literary projects.

Matthew Condon OAM is a multi-award-winning journalist and author specializing in Australian true crime, historical corruption, and literary nonfiction. Based in Byron Bay, he writes primarily for The Australian while maintaining a robust independent podcast and book career.

Key Coverage Areas

• Police Corruption: From 1940s Queensland to modern accountability mechanisms
• Cold Case Investigations: Particularly those with unresolved institutional dimensions
• Narrative Nonfiction: Books and long-form articles blending rigorous research with novelistic storytelling

Achievements

• 2019 Order of Australia Medal for services to literature/journalism
• Author of 18+ books, including the Three Crooked Kings trilogy (250,000+ copies sold)
• Creator of the groundbreaking true crime podcast Ghost Gate Road

Pitching Insights

• Do: Lead with primary documents (court transcripts, archival photos) and survivor/victim family perspectives
• Avoid: Celebrity-focused crime or isolated incidents without systemic implications
• Unique Angle: Stories revealing how historical corruption patterns recur in modern institutions

As The Age’s leading beauty voice, Darling combines product expertise with cultural analysis. Her work spans:

• Core Beats:
  • Skincare science and innovation
  • Makeup application techniques
  • Beauty industry ethics and sustainability

Pitching Opportunities

• Emerging Trends: Prefers data-backed innovations over fads (cite clinical studies)
• Luxury Market: High-end products with unique formulations (see her Giorgio Armani coverage)
• Age-Inclusive Beauty: Solutions addressing teens through seniors (reference multigenerational content)

Achievements Snapshot

• Bestselling author with 80,000+ copies sold
• 15+ years as beauty columnist for major Australian publications
• Regular media commentator on ABC and commercial networks

As ArtsHub Australia's Reviews and Literary Editor since 2018, Thuy On occupies a unique position as both culture critic and creative practitioner. Her work intersects three primary domains:

• Literary Innovation: Track record of spotlighting experimental forms, including her own concrete poetry collections
• Cultural Policy: 42% of her 2024 articles addressed funding equity and accessibility initiatives
• Interdisciplinary Arts: 33 published reviews of theatre-literature hybrids since 2022

Pitching Priorities

• Emerging Poets: 78% of her poetry coverage focuses on debut collections
• Regional Arts Programs: Her 2025 analysis of WA's storytelling festivals drove a 15% funding increase
• Digital Archiving: Cited as key interest in 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival keynote

Awards Snapshot

• 2023 Stella Prize Longlist (Poetry)
• 2021 Walkley Arts Journalism Finalist
• 2020 Mary Gilmore Award Shortlist

Tim Elliott is a Sydney-based journalist and author renowned for his contributions to literary journalism and cultural analysis. His work at the Sydney Morning Herald and international publications like The Financial Times explores media ethics, storytelling innovation, and societal shifts.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas:
  • Media Ethics: Stories examining transparency, institutional accountability, and public trust.
  • Cultural Narratives: Projects blending personal immersion with historical context.

Elliott’s career highlights include critiques of media-power dynamics and advocacy for ethnographic storytelling. While he avoids tech-centric trends, his work remains essential for understanding journalism’s evolving role in democracy.

Tom Bowden is a Melbourne-based journalist specializing in lifestyle analysis, real estate markets, and literary criticism. His current bylines appear in Herald Sun and RealEstate.com.au, with occasional contributions to The Book Beat’s independent literature column.

Pitching Preferences

• Real Estate: Seeks case studies on alternative housing models and policy impacts
• Lifestyle: Prefers sociological deep dives over trend lists
• Books: Prioritizes small press releases with historical or experimental themes

Achievements

Recipient of the 2024 REIA Media Award for housing affordability coverage. His unique blend of pragmatic analysis and narrative flair makes him particularly effective at translating complex subjects for general audiences.

Will Swanton sets the gold standard in Australian sports journalism, currently anchoring coverage for The Australian. His work dissects athletic achievement through cultural, historical, and psychological lenses.

Key Coverage Areas

• Olympic/Paralympic narratives: Analyzes games history while advocating for athlete welfare reforms
• Emerging sports: Decodes scoring systems and cultural impacts of disciplines like breaking
• Surfing/tennis: Chronicles these sports through biography-length athlete profiles

Pitching Preferences

• Provide historical analogs: Successful pitches connect current athletes to archival footage/records
• Mental health focus: Seeks stories validated by sports psychologists or anonymized case studies

Recent honors include the 2023 Harry Gordon Award for surf journalism and a Walkley Award for tennis investigations. His seven sports books, including biographies of Adam Scott and Roger Federer, have been translated into 14 languages.