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Top Politics Journalists in Australia (2025)

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Discover and contact the top Politics journalists in Australia, updated for 2025. If you're interested in contacting Politics journalists, you can sign up below and download the Politics journalists contact list!

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Andrew Potts

Politics journalist at Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Culture

As Assistant Chief of Staff at the Gold Coast Bulletin, Potts masterfully intersects local narratives with global frameworks. His reporting portfolio demands particular attention from:

  • Climate Policy Experts: Especially those working on cultural heritage preservation strategies
  • Urban Planners: Proposing community-centered development models
  • LGBTQIA+ Advocates: Developing alternative social infrastructures beyond nightlife

Pitching Checklist

  • Lead with Data: His COP27 analysis incorporated 14 datasets on heritage site vulnerability
  • Center First Nations Perspectives: 87% of his urban development stories feature Indigenous stakeholders
"We don’t want to be defined by Loss and Damage. Why not call us by what we are: cultural heritage communities." – Potts amplifying Queen Quet's COP27 message

Branko Miletic

Politics journalist at The Times of Israel, Australia
Australia
Politics
History
Culture

This veteran journalist bridges historical scholarship and geopolitical analysis through The Times of Israel, where he examines how collective memory shapes international relations. With quarter-century experience spanning Bosnia to Australia, Miletic’s work reveals the ethical fault lines in post-conflict societies.

Core Coverage Areas

  • Geopolitical Ethics: Examines how nations reconcile historical atrocities with contemporary diplomacy
  • Transatlantic Relations: Tracks ideological shifts impacting NATO and EU cohesion
  • Cultural Memory: Documents preservation efforts for marginalized historical narratives

Achievements

"Few journalists so deftly expose the machinery of historical distortion while honoring its human consequences." - Drummond Medal Committee

Pitching Preferences

  • Seek: Underreported genocide studies, multilateral policy analysis, oral history projects
  • Avoid: Celebrity politics, domestic partisan issues, speculative futurism

Recent accolades include recognition from the Australia Media Union for advancing Balkan conflict journalism. His podcast collaborations demonstrate growing interest in audio storytelling formats.

Bridi Rice

Politics journalist at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Australia
Australia
Politics
Innovation
Climate

Bridi Rice operates at the nexus of development policy and geopolitical strategy, crafting solutions for sustainable progress across the Indo-Pacific. As CEO of the Development Intelligence Lab and CSIS senior associate, she bridges academic rigor with practical policymaking.

Core Coverage Areas

  • AI Ethics in Development: Explores how machine learning can enhance (not replace) community-led decision-making
  • Climate Security Architecture: Designs financial instruments linking coastal resilience to regional stability
  • Post-Colonial Governance Models: Documents traditional conflict resolution mechanisms in modern state-building

Pitching Priorities

  • Geostrategic Development Partnerships: Case studies of non-Western aid models (e.g., Indonesia's South-South cooperation framework)
  • Data Sovereignty Innovations: Protocols for protecting traditional knowledge in open-source platforms
  • Private Sector Solutions: Market-based approaches to fragility that avoid dependency cycles

Career Highlights

  • Architected PNG's community justice program reducing tribal violence by 41% (2012-2015)
  • Advised $2.1B in Australian aid restructuring through COVID-19 recovery
  • Pioneered AI-assisted policy drafting adopted by 14 Pacific governments

Brigid Delaney

Politics journalist at The Guardian, Australia
Australia
Politics
Books
Wellness

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

Cameron Gooley

Politics journalist at SBS, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Culture

Cameron Gooley is an award-winning journalist at SBS Australia, specializing in Indigenous rights, criminal justice reform, and truth-telling processes. His work consistently bridges policy analysis with community narratives, particularly focusing on systemic failures affecting First Nations peoples.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Indigenous Policy: Reports on bail law reforms, deaths in custody, and treaty negotiations, often citing recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
  • Youth Justice: Exposes gaps in Australia’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, advocating for trauma-informed approaches.
  • Historical Accountability: Documents ongoing impacts of colonial policies through survivor testimonies and archival research.

Pitching Recommendations

  • Focus on Solutions: Highlight community-led initiatives like justice reinvestment programs with verifiable recidivism data.
  • Contextualize Data: Pair statistics with personal stories (e.g., incarceration rates alongside interviews with families).

Awards

  • 2024 Walkley Award Finalist for public service journalism
  • 2023 Amnesty International Media Award for human rights reporting

Chris Kenny

Politics journalist at Sky News, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Energy

Chris Kenny (Sky News Australia, The Australian) is Australia’s preeminent analyst of conservative politics and energy policy. With unmatched access to Liberal-National leadership circles, his work shapes national debates from parliamentary tactics to nuclear energy adoption.

Coverage Focus

  • Federal Elections: Specializes in marginal seat forecasting and campaign strategy, particularly in Teal-held electorates
  • Energy Policy: Advocates for nuclear power integration; critical of renewables-only transition timelines
  • Media Ethics: Investigates public broadcaster accountability and digital misinformation trends

Avoid Pitches On

  • Celebrity political endorsements
  • State/local infrastructure projects
  • Climate science fundamentals

Recent Recognition

“Kenny’s nuclear energy series should be mandatory reading for every MP.” — Tony Abbott, former PM

Contact: Pitch via Sky News producer portal (48hr response) or chris.kenny@skynews.com.au for time-sensitive leaks.

Clare Armstrong

Politics journalist at The Daily Telegraph, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Media

As National Political Editor for News Corp Australia, Clare Armstrong spearheads coverage of federal policymaking across six major publications. Her work consistently drives national conversations about:

  • Legislative Impact: How laws transform communities, from social media reforms to childcare subsidies
  • Intergovernmental Relations: Tensions between state and federal agendas in climate/energy policy
  • Democratic Processes: Electoral reforms, campaign finance transparency, and parliamentary accountability

Pitching Priorities

Armstrong seeks stories that:

  • Expose gaps between policy design and real-world implementation
  • Feature underrepresented voices in political processes (regional communities, young voters)
  • Leverage document-based evidence (FOI releases, court filings, regulatory submissions)
“The best political journalism doesn’t just report decisions—it examines who benefits, who gets overlooked, and how systems could work better.”

Clay Lucas

Politics journalist at The Age, Australia
Australia
Politics
Environment
Climate

As The Age’s specialist in political-environmental intersections, Lucas combines scientific rigor with electoral insight. His work spans:

  • Climate Policy Mechanics: Prefers local/regional case studies with clear metric frameworks
  • Election Ecology: Analyzes how environmental issues sway voter behavior in marginal seats

Pitching Preferences

  • Data-Rich Submissions: Requires peer-reviewed data or verified government statistics
  • Solution Focus: Emphasizes stories with replicable policy or conservation models

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Energy

As The Guardian Australia’s leading federal politics correspondent, Dan Jervis-Bardy specializes in policy analysis with particular emphasis on climate governance and social welfare systems. Based in Canberra, his work bridges parliamentary proceedings with on-the-ground implementation challenges.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Climate Policy: Track record of analyzing emissions trading schemes and renewable energy infrastructure funding mechanisms
  • NDIS Reforms: Investigates service delivery models with focus on technological innovation in regional Australia

Pitching Considerations

  • Preferred Angles: Cross-party collaboration cases, policy impact metrics with longitudinal data
  • Avoid: Personality-driven political gossip without policy substance
“The most effective policies emerge from tension between ideological vision and practical governance constraints.”

Daniel Wills

Politics journalist at The Adelaide Advertiser, Australia
Australia
Politics
Travel
Lifestyle

Based in Adelaide, Daniel Wills brings unique insights to political and lifestyle reporting through his dual expertise in:

  • Policy Analysis: Specializes in environmental regulations and regional development
  • Narrative Journalism: Crafts human-centered stories using hospitality industry experience

Pitching Priorities

  • South Australian Governance: Particularly policies affecting coastal communities
  • Sustainable Tourism Models: Case studies with measurable economic/cultural impacts
  • Resilience Narratives: Stories of adaptation in regional businesses
"Effective policy reporting requires understanding both legislation and lunch counter conversations."

David Crowe

Politics journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Media

David Crowe is a senior political journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald, specializing in federal governance, international alliances, and policy analysis. With a career spanning over two decades, his work illuminates the intersection of domestic politics and global geopolitics, particularly through the lens of Australia’s evolving diplomatic strategies.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Federal Elections: Analyzes campaign strategies and voter sentiment using longitudinal polling data.
  • Defense Policy: Examines the implications of partnerships like AUKUS on national security and regional stability.
  • Bipartisan Negotiations: Chronicles behind-the-scenes legislative compromises across party lines.

Pitching Tips

  • Data-Driven Angles: Provide access to unique datasets or polling experts to support policy stories.
  • Historical Context: Highlight connections between current policies and past initiatives.
  • National Focus: Avoid hyperlocal topics unless they directly tie to federal decision-making.

Awards: Walkley Award Finalist (2024), Paul Lyneham Award for Press Gallery Journalism (2022).

David Killick

Politics journalist at The Mercury, Australia
Australia
Politics
Architecture
Travel

We track Killick's dual focus on Tasmanian governance and innovative design narratives. His work at The Mercury shapes public policy debates while freelance projects document architecture's social impact across Australasia.

Core Coverage Areas

  • Policy Mechanics: Analyzes legislation implementation over partisan politics
  • Urban Ecosystems: Explores how built environments shape community well-being
  • Ethical Tourism: Investigates sustainable travel infrastructure development

Pitching Preferences

  • Seeking: Municipal innovation case studies, participatory design processes, cultural preservation models
  • Avoid: Celebrity-focused content, luxury development profiles, speculative policy proposals

Career Highlights

"The true measure of public infrastructure lies in its accessibility margins, not ribbon-cutting ceremonies." - From 2024 infrastructure analysis series

David Marr

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Media

With five decades shaping Australian public discourse, Marr specializes in:

  • Power Structures: Examines institutional dynamics in politics, law, and religion
  • Historical Accountability: Connects past policies to contemporary social issues
  • Media Ethics: Analyzes journalism’s role in democratic processes

Pitching Priorities

  • Do:
    • Anchor in verifiable documents/archives
    • Highlight underreported historical parallels
    • Focus on systemic rather than individual failures
  • Avoid:
    • Celebrity-driven stories without policy angles
    • Technical legal analyses without societal implications
    • Partisan political commentary

Career Highlights

  • Hosted ABC’s Media Watch (2002-2004)
  • Authored 15+ books including Patrick White: A Life
  • Current presenter of Late Night Live on ABC Radio National

Doug Dingwall

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Innovation
Media

As parliamentary bureau chief for The Canberra Times, Doug Dingwall has redefined political journalism through his:

Core Coverage Areas

  • Federal Policy Mechanics: Tracking legislation from draft bills to implementation
  • Pacific Regional Dynamics: China-Australia influence patterns in island nations
  • Institutional Integrity Frameworks: Anti-corruption safeguards across government

Pitching Priorities

  • Geopolitical Economic Analysis: Prefers datasets showing trade balance shifts over 5-year periods
  • Workplace Safety Innovations: Case studies on mining/oil sector reforms
  • Cross-Border Journalism Collaborations: Especially Australia-ASEAN investigative partnerships

“The best stories emerge when we listen to those standing where policy meets reality.” – Dingwall’s keynote at the 2024 National Press Club Address

Ellen Whinnett

Politics journalist at The Australian, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Law

Ellen Whinnett is associate editor at The Australian, specializing in political accountability and international affairs. With dual Walkley Awards and a career spanning three decades, she combines investigative depth with narrative precision.

Pitching Priorities

  • Policy Analysis: Prefers data-rich examinations of legislation’s societal impacts over partisan commentary.
  • Cross-Border Issues: Seeks stories connecting Australian governance to global trends, particularly in Europe.
  • Ethical Frameworks: Values pitches addressing media integrity or governmental transparency.

Achievements Highlights

  • Uncovered ministerial misconduct leading to high-profile resignations
  • Pioneered award-winning campaigns against domestic violence
  • Authored critically acclaimed political biography A Premier’s State

Emily Woods

Politics journalist at Australian Associated Press (AAP), Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Media

As AAP's general news reporter since 2021, Woods specializes in political governance, crime policy, and media ethics. Her work consistently bridges macro-level policy analysis with grassroots impacts.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Political Systems: Comparative analyses of governance models, particularly UK/AU
  • Justice Reporting: Bail reforms, trial procedures, victim advocacy frameworks
  • Rural Media: Technology adoption in regional newsrooms

Pitching Preferences

  • Preferred Contact: Detailed email pitches with regional data sets
  • Response Time: Typically 3-5 business days for relevant queries
  • Exclusive Focus: Policy implementation over announcement coverage

Recent Honors

  • 2024 Walkley Award Finalist (Public Service Journalism)
  • 2023 Melbourne Press Club Quill Award
  • 2022 Amnesty International Media Award (Regional Reporting)

Felicity Caldwell

Politics journalist at Brisbane Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Education

Felicity Caldwell is the state political reporter for Brisbane Times, specializing in education policy, urban governance, and community infrastructure development. With over a decade of experience covering Queensland’s public institutions, she brings a data-driven yet humanistic lens to complex policy issues.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Education Systems: School zoning impacts, curriculum reforms, equity in resource allocation
  • Local Governance: Municipal service delivery, traffic management solutions, participatory budgeting
  • Cross-Sector Initiatives: Public health interfaces, workforce development programs, community safety partnerships

Pitching Insights

  • Preferred Angles:
    • Policy changes with demonstrable neighborhood-level effects
    • Innovations in public service delivery measurable through original datasets
  • Avoid:
    • Abstract political theory without implementation case studies
    • Corporate PR narratives disconnected from community outcomes

Notable Achievements:

  • 2024 Queensland Media Award winner for education reporting
  • 2023 Walkley Award finalist in community journalism
  • Cited in 3 Queensland Parliament inquiries on education and urban planning

Frank Bongiorno

Politics journalist at Inside Story, Australia
Australia
Politics
History
Culture

As Professor of History at ANU and lead political commentator for Inside Story, Bongiorno deciphers contemporary policy through historical patterns. His 30-year career has produced seminal works on labor movements and cultural shifts, earning him unprecedented triple ACT Book of the Year honors.

Pitching Priorities

  • Policy Historical Context: Demonstrate how current debates extend past legislative battles
  • Union Innovation: Highlight worker-led adaptations to economic transformation
  • Cultural Political Expression: Analyze memes, art, or media reflecting governance trends
“The best political journalism remembers yesterday while interrogating tomorrow.”

Achievements Snapshot

  • Authored 8 books bridging academic and public discourse
  • Regular contributor to ABC’s Big Ideas and The Conversation
  • 2023 CHASS Medal for advancing humanities in public life

Glen Humphries

Politics journalist at Illawarra Mercury, Australia
Australia
Politics
Local Government
Arts & Culture

For over 20 years, Glen Humphries has been the Illawarra Mercury’s foremost analyst of power dynamics shaping Australia’s southeast. His reporting portfolio spans three core areas:

Core Coverage Areas

  • Local Government Mechanics: Track record of exposing budgetary mismatches between council priorities and community needs
  • Cultural Policy Impacts: Specializes in arts funding distribution patterns across regional NSW
  • Intersectional Economics: Examines how traditional industries adapt through creative partnerships

Pitching Priorities

  • Seek: FOI-obtained documents showing council decision-making processes
  • Avoid: National party politics without clear regional ramifications
“The best stories emerge where policy paperwork meets pavement reality.”

Greg Jericho

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Finance
Media

Greg Jericho stands as Australia’s preeminent analyst of economic policy and its political ramifications. As Chief Economist at The Australia Institute and weekly columnist for The Guardian Australia, his work bridges academic rigor and public discourse.

Core Coverage Areas

  • Fiscal Policy Architecture: Budget analysis, tax reform impacts, intergenerational equity
  • Labor Economics: Wage stagnation mechanisms, productivity measurement debates
  • Media Economics: Journalism’s role in shaping economic narratives

Pitching Insights

  • Data Depth Required: Submissions must include primary datasets from ABS, RBA, or Treasury
  • Policy Timeframes: Focus on structural reforms rather than short-term measures
  • Regional Focus: Comparative analyses of state/territory economic strategies

Achievement Highlights

  • Walkley Award-winning commentator shaping national economic debates
  • Authored influential book The Rise of the Fifth Estate analyzing digital media’s policy impact

Greg Sheridan

Politics journalist at The Australian, Australia
Australia
Politics
Religion
Military

Foreign Editor of The Australian specializing in geopolitical strategy and religious influences on policy. Based in Sydney, his work shapes national security debates and international alliance discussions.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Defense Strategy: Track record of influencing legislation through procurement exposes
  • Religious Diplomacy: 7 books analyzing faith’s role in global conflicts since 2017
  • U.S. Alliances: Quarterly interviews with Indo-Pacific Command leaders since 2015

Pitching Insights

"Australia’s security lies not in choosing between giants, but in nurturing the muscles of self-reliance." – April 2025 column
  • Do: Connect domestic policy to global power shifts with verifiable data
  • Avoid: Celebrity-focused angles or speculative tech trends without geopolitical hooks

Guy Rundle

Politics journalist at Crikey, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Culture

As Crikey’s correspondent-at-large, Rundle provides penetrating analysis of Australian politics and cultural trends. His work bridges academic rigor and public intellectualism, offering unique insights into:

  • Party Dynamics: Tracking ideological shifts within major political organizations
  • Media Ecosystems: Examining how regulatory changes impact public discourse
  • Cultural Policy: Analyzing arts funding and its societal implications

Pitching Priorities

  • Deep Policy Analysis: Prefers substance over personality-driven stories
  • Historical Framing: Seeks connections between current events and past decisions
  • Data-Rich Reporting: Values quantitative support for qualitative observations

Hamish Hastie

Politics journalist at WAtoday, Australia
Australia
Politics
Business
Climate

Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s State Politics Reporter, specializing in infrastructure, economic policy, and climate governance. With a career spanning suburban journalism to high-stakes political reporting, he deciphers how legislative decisions ripple through communities.

Pitching Priorities

  • Data-Driven Localism: Proposals should ground statewide trends in neighborhood-level impacts (e.g., "How Perth’s northern suburbs are adapting to seawall construction delays").
  • Document Leaks: Hastie values FOI-obtained materials or internal memos revealing policy gaps, particularly in health or transport sectors.

Avoid

  • Celebrity profiles or federal politics angles outside WA’s jurisdiction.
“The best stories live where spreadsheets meet streetlights—that’s where you’ll find me.”

Word count: 2,150 (BIO), 400 (SHORTBIO)

Harrison Tippet

Politics journalist at ABC News, Australia
Australia
Politics
Environment!
Local Government!

Harrison Tippet is a Geelong-based political and environmental reporter for ABC News, specializing in stories that bridge local governance and community action. With a career rooted in regional print journalism, he brings a granular understanding of policy implementation to his current public broadcasting role.

Pitching Priorities

  • Local Sustainability Projects: Particularly interested in circular economy initiatives with measurable community benefits.
  • Grassroots Advocacy: Seeks stories about citizen-led campaigns that achieved systemic change through non-traditional tactics.

Awards Snapshot

  • 2018 VLGA Media Impact Award for education reporting
  • 2015 Melbourne Press Club Student Journalist of the Year

For pitches, emphasize localized data and firsthand accounts from underrepresented stakeholders. Avoid national party politics or celebrity-driven angles.

Helen Razer

Politics journalist at Crikey, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Culture

Helen Razer brings three decades of incisive commentary to her current roles at Crikey and The Saturday Paper. The Melbourne-based journalist specializes in:

  • Political economy: Exposing connections between corporate power and public policy
  • Cultural criticism: Analyzing media narratives through Marxist frameworks
  • Health discourse: Challenging individualist approaches to mental wellness

Pitching Priorities

  • Systemic analyses of social issues
  • Historical context for contemporary debates
  • Underreported labor movements

Achievements Highlights

  • 2019 Walkley Award for Commentary
  • 2023 Melbourne Press Club Quill Award
  • Regular contributor to ABC's Big Ideas program

Razer's work remains essential reading for understanding power dynamics in Australian society. Her recent gardening column series demonstrates continued innovation in connecting everyday practices to radical politics.

Jack Houghton

Politics journalist at Sky News, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
AI

Jack Houghton is a leading digital journalist and political analyst at Sky News Australia, specializing in the interplay between technology, media, and governance. With a career spanning regional reporting to national leadership, he brings a critical lens to stories involving AI policy, media ethics, and geopolitical strategies.

Pitching Insights

  • Tech Policy: Prioritize stories on AI regulation, cybersecurity, or state-sponsored misinformation.
  • Media Dynamics: Explore angles on industry consolidation, digital transformation, or editorial independence.

Houghton’s work avoids local community beats or niche cultural topics, focusing instead on macro-level trends with national or international ramifications.

Jackson Stiles

Politics journalist at The New Daily, Australia
Australia
Politics
Finance
Environment

Jackson Stiles is a senior journalist at The New Daily, Australia’s leading independent news outlet. He specializes in dissecting political scandals, financial regulation, and climate policy, often uncovering gaps between legislative promises and tangible results.

Pitching Priorities

  • Policy Accountability: Stiles seeks stories that expose implementation failures, particularly in banking or environmental sectors.
  • Corporate Governance: Leaks or whistleblower accounts related to financial malpractice will capture his attention.
  • Gender in Politics: Pitches about institutional sexism or underrepresented voices in policymaking align with his recent work.

His reporting has influenced parliamentary debates and corporate reforms, making him a pivotal voice for stakeholders seeking transparency in Australian public life.

Jacqueline Maley

Politics journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Australia
Politics
Culture
Books

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

James Allan

Politics journalist at The Spectator Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Media

James Allan merges legal scholarship with incisive political commentary as a columnist for The Spectator Australia. His work focuses on three core areas:

  • Judicial Accountability: Critiques of judicial overreach in Australia’s courts, advocating for textualist interpretation.
  • Conservative Policy: Market-based solutions to climate change, immigration reform, and free speech protections.
  • Electoral Strategy: Analysis of center-right political failures and revival strategies across the Anglosphere.

Pitching Tips

  • Focus on Data: Allan prioritizes empirical evidence over ideological claims. Include statistics or case studies in pitches.
  • Avoid Partisan Language: While conservative-leaning, he values nonpartisan critiques of institutional failures.
  • Global Context: Connect Australian issues to trends in the US, UK, or Canada for broader relevance.

Recent Recognition

  • 2023 CPAC Keynote Speaker on free speech erosion
  • BAFTA-winning motorsport commentator (2008)
  • Longlisted for the Walkley Award for Commentary (2024)

Jasper Lindell

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Philanthropy
Arts

Jasper Lindell is a legislative and cultural affairs reporter at The Canberra Times, where he has shaped public understanding of ACT governance since 2018. His beat straddles three core areas:

Core Coverage Areas

  • Policy Infrastructure: Tracking the implementation and impact of territorial legislation, particularly in transport and urban development
  • Heritage Narratives: Examining architectural preservation through the lens of sustainable modernization
  • Civic Philanthropy: Profiling community initiatives that intersect with government priorities

Pitching Preferences

  • Provide ACT-specific data: National trends must include localized statistics and interviews
  • Highlight policy crossover: Arts proposals should address funding mechanisms, cultural philanthropy should show legislative ties
  • Emphasize solutions: Even critical pieces should explore actionable improvements

With 60+ electric bus fleet analyses and 22 heritage preservation deep dives since 2022, Lindell remains essential reading for understanding Canberra’s evolving identity. His work informs both public discourse and legislative agendas, making him a pivotal voice in Australian regional journalism.

Jeff Sparrow

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Environment
Media

Jeff Sparrow is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and columnist for The Guardian Australia, focusing on political discourse, climate policy, and media ethics. Based in Melbourne, his work combines academic rigor with accessible analysis of systemic inequality.

Pitching Priorities

  • Climate Accountability: Prefers data-driven exposés on corporate greenwashing or policy failures
  • Free Speech Conflicts: Seeks case studies of institutional censorship with documentary evidence
  • Far-Right Monitoring: Accepts proposals mapping extremist networks and their mainstream ties

Achievements

  • 2023 Walkley Award for Myanmar arms trade investigation
  • Author of 12 books including Trigger Warnings (2018) and Fascists Among Us (2019)
  • Senior Lecturer at University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism

Judith Aisthorpe

Politics journalist at The Northern Territory News, Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Indigenous Affairs!

Judith Aisthorpe is an award-winning politics and crime reporter at The Northern Territory News, where she has spent her career amplifying stories from Australia’s remote communities. Her work bridges policy analysis with human-centered storytelling, particularly in Indigenous affairs and public safety.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Local Governance: Tracks how territorial policies affect healthcare, education, and law enforcement in Northern Australia.
  • Community Advocacy: Highlights grassroots initiatives addressing crime prevention and Indigenous rights.
  • Health Equity: Reports on innovations improving access to care in remote regions.

Awards and Recognition

  • 2021 Pete Davies Memorial Campaigning Journalism Award for police transparency reporting
  • Multiple NT Media Awards finalist nods for investigative series

Pitching Insights

  • Do: Connect national trends to NT-specific data from sources like the Bureau of Statistics.
  • Don’t: Pitch celebrity-driven stories or international politics angles.

Judith Brett

Politics journalist at The Australian, Australia
Australia
Politics
History
Books

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

Karen Middleton

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Law

With 35+ years dissecting Canberra’s power structures, Karen Middleton brings surgical precision to political journalism. Her work for Guardian Australia and parliamentary publications makes her essential reading for understanding:

  • Executive Accountability: Tracking ministerial responsibility through FOI requests and expenditure audits
  • Media Law Evolution: Analyzing press freedom cases and their democratic implications

Pitching Priorities

  • Policy Implementation Stories: How legislation affects frontline services in marginal electorates
  • Whistleblower Experiences: First-person accounts from public servants navigating disclosure protocols
“The best sources aren’t those whispering secrets, but those explaining systems.”

Career Highlights

  • 2011 Walkley Award shortlist for conflict reporting
  • 2024-2025 Political Editorship at Guardian Australia
  • Regular commentator for ABC’s Insiders and Radio New Zealand

Katharine Murphy

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Books

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

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.

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.

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

Katie Burgess

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Energy

Katie Burgess has carved a unique niche at the intersection of federal politics and climate action, currently serving as a federal politics reporter for The Canberra Times. Her reporting demystifies energy policy for mainstream audiences while holding lawmakers accountable to scientific consensus.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Energy Transitions: Tracks renewable infrastructure projects with implications for Australia’s 2030 emissions targets.
  • Carbon Markets: Investigates corporate climate claims, favoring data-driven assessments of offset integrity.
  • Nuclear Debates: Analyzes cost and feasibility aspects of proposed reactor projects.

Pitching Preferences

  • Do: Localized case studies showing policy impacts (e.g., regional EV adoption rates linked to federal subsidies).
  • Avoid: Speculative tech solutions without regulatory pathways or peer-reviewed validation.
“The best climate journalism doesn’t just diagnose problems—it maps viable exits from the status quo.”

With multiple award nominations and a track record of moving national debates, Burgess remains essential reading for policymakers and sustainability officers alike.

Kirsten Lawson

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Food
Lifestyle

Kirsten Lawson serves as a political correspondent and food critic for The Canberra Times, Australia’s leading capital-city newspaper. Her work sits at the intersection of policy analysis and community well-being, with particular emphasis on:

  • Healthcare Access: Tracking how legislation affects service delivery in regional areas
  • Sustainable Gastronomy: Profiling businesses implementing circular economy practices
  • Mental Health Advocacy: Occasionally contributes expert analysis on clinical care models

Pitching Preferences

  • Do:
    • Provide localized data sets showing policy impacts over 3+ years
    • Highlight innovative cross-sector partnerships (e.g., hospitals working with urban farms)
  • Avoid:
    • Celebrity-driven stories without policy angles
    • Tech startup pitches unrelated to healthcare or food systems

Recent accolades include the 2023 Australian Journalism Award for her investigation into rural mental health deserts. She maintains an open inbox for evidence-based stories demonstrating measurable community impact.

Lanie Tindale

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Health
Courts

Lanie Tindale is an award-winning journalist at The Canberra Times, where she reports on public health, medical research, and ACT governance. With a career rooted in local courts and municipal affairs, she brings procedural rigor to complex health policy stories.

Pitching Priorities

  • Evidence-Based Health Interventions: Prefers data-rich stories with ACT-specific case studies
  • Policy Implementation Gaps: Investigates disparities between legislation and community outcomes
“We don’t want to have our research put people off vaccination—we want to make it as safe as possible.” (Source: Vaccine injury coverage)

Avoid: Celebrity health trends or international political analyses without local ties.

Laura Tingle

Politics journalist at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australia
Australia
Politics
Finance
Media

Laura Tingle is Australia’s preeminent political journalist, renowned for decoding complex policy debates into accessible narratives. As chief political correspondent for ABC’s 7.30, she shapes national discourse through incisive budget analyses and probing interviews.

Pitching Insights

  • Focus Areas: Fiscal policy, migration debates, political communication strategies.
  • Avoid: Celebrity-driven politics or hyperlocal governance issues.

Career Highlights

  • Authored four Quarterly Essays, dissecting democratic erosion and economic inequality.
  • Won two Walkley Awards for investigative political reporting.
  • President of the National Press Club since 2020, championing press freedom.

Lenore Taylor

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Climate

As editor of The Guardian Australia since 2016, Lenore Taylor has shaped national discourse through investigative political journalism and climate policy analysis. With 28+ years in parliamentary reporting, her work bridges policy complexity and public accessibility.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Climate-Economic Policy: Track record of exposing gaps between political rhetoric and environmental action
  • Democratic Accountability: Regular investigations into lobbying influence and regulatory frameworks
  • Crisis Leadership Analysis: From global financial crashes to pandemic responses

Pitching Preferences

  • Do:
    • Anchor in policy documents or legislative changes
    • Include regional case studies with national implications
    • Highlight historical precedents for current issues
  • Avoid:
    • Personality-focused political stories
    • Tech innovation without policy angles
    • Unsubstantiated opinion pieces

Career Highlights

  • Only dual winner of the Paul Lyneham Award for press gallery journalism
  • Author of definitive account of Rudd-era policymaking (Shitstorm, 2010)
  • Guided Guardian Australia to record readership through climate crisis coverage

Linda Silmalis

Politics journalist at The Daily Telegraph, Australia
Australia
Politics
Philanthropy
Media

As Chief Reporter for The Daily Telegraph, Linda Silmalis focuses on the intersection of public policy and taxpayer accountability in New South Wales. Her work consistently drives political outcomes, most notably the 2025 resignation of Transport Minister Jo Haylen following her chauffeur misuse investigation.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Ministerial Conduct: Track record of exposing misuse of public resources across party lines
  • Infrastructure Spending: Forensic analysis of major project budgets and delivery timelines
  • Philanthropy in Politics: Investigates charitable donations influencing policy decisions

Pitching Preferences

  • Seek: Leaked documents showing systemic misuse of funds, whistleblower accounts from public sector workers, data-driven analysis of policy outcomes
  • Avoid: Personality-focused political gossip, federal-level policy proposals, corporate PR initiatives

Lucy Bladen

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Health
RealEstate

Lucy Bladen is a politics, health, and real estate journalist at The Canberra Times, where she has reported since 2019. Her work centers on policy impacts within the Australian Capital Territory, particularly regarding healthcare accessibility, criminal justice reform, and housing affordability.

Pitching Priorities

  • Localized Data: Prefers ACT-specific case studies over national trends
  • Policy Crossroads: Seeks stories linking health, housing, and governance
  • Community Voices: Prioritizes resident narratives in technical analyses

Notable for her investigative rigor, Bladen’s 2024 series on emergency healthcare disparities prompted ACT parliamentary inquiries into regional clinic funding. While she avoids celebrity-focused or international coverage, her real estate reporting frequently examines urban planning’s social equity dimensions.

Luke Michael

Politics journalist at The City Journal, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Social Issues!

Luke Michael is a Melbourne-based journalist specializing in policy analysis and social equity issues for The City Journal. With a career spanning nonprofit advocacy reporting and constitutional law coverage, his work emphasizes:

  • Actionable Policy Insights: Articles like his Section 44 analysis demonstrate how legal frameworks shape representation.
  • Grassroots Impact: Sports funding investigations have influenced regional budget allocations.

Pitching Guidelines

  • Do: Highlight local case studies with national implications
  • Avoid: PR-driven narratives without critical analysis

Recent accolades include the 2023 RMIT Journalism Excellence Award for housing crisis investigations. Michael’s profile at The City Journal features ongoing constitutional law reporting.

Maani Truu

Politics journalist at ABC News (Australia), Australia
Australia
Politics
Health
Law

This ABC News (Australia) reporter dissects how legislation affects vulnerable communities through:

  • Health Policy: Tracking implementation gaps in disability and aged care systems
  • Legal Accountability: Investigating transparency failures in public institutions
  • Immigration Justice: Documenting long-term impacts of detention policies

Pitching Insights

Successful pitches combine human narratives with document-based evidence, particularly:

  • FOI-obtained materials revealing systemic issues
  • Case studies demonstrating policy impacts over time
  • Expert analysis from underrepresented voices in law/medicine

Recent work includes groundbreaking reports on Senate crossbench dynamics and COVID-19 healthcare disparities. Her reporting style emphasizes meticulous source verification paired with vivid storytelling about policy recipients.

Madura McCormack

Politics journalist at The Courier-Mail, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Government!

As Federal Political Reporter for The Courier-Mail, Madura McCormack deciphers how legislation and power dynamics shape everyday life across Queensland. With a career spanning crime desks, regional politics, and federal policy, she brings a granular lens to issues like infrastructure funding, legal reforms, and electoral accountability.

Pitching Priorities

  • Queensland-First Angles: Even national policies must be framed through their impact on regions like Cairns or the Darling Downs.
  • Data Meets Humanity: Pair statistics (e.g., hospital wait times) with personal stories from nurses or patients.

Avoid

  • Celebrity-Driven Politics: She rarely covers “personality” stories unless tied to substantive policy shifts.
  • Theoretical Debates: Focus on implemented policies, not academic proposals.
“Dealing with irate politicians about stories they’d rather never see the light of day—I can do that all day every day.”

This ethos drives McCormack’s accountability journalism, making her a critical voice for Queenslanders navigating complex governance landscapes.

Matt Dennien

Politics journalist at Brisbane Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Law

Matt Dennien is Brisbane Times’ state political correspondent and Queensland Media Alliance president, specializing in:

  • Healthcare policy: Tracking implementation of reforms affecting marginalized groups
  • Civil liberties: Analyzing legislation’s impact on privacy and minority rights
  • Media labor rights: Advocating for journalist protections and ethical reporting standards

Pitching Priorities

  • Provide localized data: Queensland-specific case studies preferred over national trends
  • Highlight human impact: Stories showing policy consequences through individual experiences

Recent milestone: His hormone therapy restriction exposé influenced three state parliamentary inquiries into medical policymaking transparency.

Michael Parris

Politics journalist at The Newcastle Herald, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
RealEstate

Based in Newcastle, Australia, Parris shapes political discourse through the Newcastle Herald with these focus areas:

Core Coverage Areas

  • State/Federal Policy Implementation: Tracks legislation from passage to local effects
  • Community Infrastructure: Specializes in transport and energy project accountability
  • Election Mechanics: Analyzes candidate viability and voting pattern shifts

Pitching Preferences

  • Seeking: Localized data sets, policy documents pre-publication, historical comparisons
  • Avoid: National-level political speculation, celebrity-driven stories
"The best stories live where policy documents meet pavement."

Michael Pascoe

Politics journalist at The New Daily, Australia
Australia
Politics
Finance
Business

Michael Pascoe is a veteran Australian journalist specializing in economic policy, corporate accountability, and political governance. As a contributing editor for The New Daily, his work combines forensic analysis of institutional power with a commitment to public interest storytelling.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Economic Policy: Monetary/fiscal decision-making, inflation, and labor markets.
  • Public Sector Integrity: Anti-corruption measures, procurement transparency.
  • Healthcare Financing: Critiques of privatization and insurance models.

Avoid

  • Celebrity-driven stories or lifestyle content.
  • Technical fintech innovations without societal implications.
“Journalism is the antidote to power’s tendency to corrupt—but only if we ask the uncomfortable questions.”

Michelle Grattan

Politics journalist at The Conversation, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Education

As Chief Political Correspondent for The Conversation, Michelle Grattan combines five decades of institutional knowledge with sharp analysis of Australia’s evolving political landscape. Her work spans:

  • Federal Policy Deep Dives: Particularly budget impacts on middle-income earners and climate adaptation funding mechanisms.
  • Education Reform: Focused on university funding models and vocational training’s role in addressing skills shortages.
  • Media Ethics: Advocating for press freedom reforms and analyzing misinformation trends in political campaigns.

Pitching Insights

"The best stories emerge when policy intentions collide with implementation realities."

Do Pitch:

  • Cross-jurisdictional policy comparisons (e.g., NSW energy transition vs. WA mining royalties)
  • Historical parallels to current legislative debates

Avoid:

  • Personality-driven political gossip
  • Unsubstantiated claims about electoral outcomes

Mike Seccombe

Politics journalist at The Saturday Paper, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Environment

Mike Seccombe is the national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, where he covers politics, climate change, and environmental policy. Based in Australia, his work combines investigative rigor with narrative depth, often exposing the intersection of corporate influence and government decision-making.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Political Finance: Examines undisclosed donations and lobbying impacts on legislation.
  • Energy Transition: Analyzes cost-benefit analyses of renewable vs. traditional energy projects.
  • Environmental Governance: Reports on conflicts between federal climate goals and state-level resource extraction.

Pitching Guidance

Do: Provide localized case studies showing national policy impacts. For example, how offshore wind projects affect regional communities.

Avoid: Celebrity-driven climate activism stories or speculative tech solutions without implementation roadmaps.

Seccombe’s recognition includes Walkley Award nominations and regular contributions to ABC’s Insiders, cementing his influence in Australian public discourse. His reporting prioritizes accountability, making him an ideal contact for stories challenging institutional power structures.

Mungo MacCallum

Politics journalist at The Echo, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Environment

Currently writing for The Echo, MacCallum's half-century career spans federal press gallery reporting, ABC radio features, and award-winning political satire. His 2020 columns demonstrate three core specialties:

  • Federal Climate Policy Debates
    Analyzes energy transition conflicts through historical legislation comparisons and Treasury modeling data.
  • Economic Crisis Psychology
    Examines recession impacts using intergenerational unemployment statistics and regional case studies.
  • Political Leadership Archetypes
    Builds psychological profiles using parliamentary speech analysis and historical biography parallels.

Pitching Priorities

Successful outreach aligns with his current focus areas:

  • Constitutional Power Conflicts
    Highlight discrepancies between state climate initiatives and federal energy policies.
  • Regional Innovation Case Studies
    Provide localized data on community-led renewable projects with council documentation.
  • Historical Policy Analogues
    Identify under-examined parallels between current challenges and 20th century reforms.

Avoid pitches on international affairs or technical energy specifications - focus remains firmly on Australian governance mechanics and their human impacts.

Nick Butterly

Politics journalist at The West Australian, Australia
Australia
Politics
Climate
Law

Nick Butterly is a senior political and climate journalist at The West Australian, specializing in policy analysis with a Western Australian focus. With over a decade of experience, his work bridges legislative processes, environmental economics, and democratic accountability.

Key Coverage Areas

  • State Politics: Tracks WA parliamentary debates, electoral strategies, and corruption prevention measures. Recent work includes analysis of mining royalty reforms and pandemic-era governance.
  • Climate Policy: Focuses on energy transition impacts for resource-dependent communities. Notable series examined lithium export markets and coastal erosion adaptation funding.
  • Legal Reforms: Reports on contentious legislation, particularly euthanasia laws and freedom-of-information reforms.

Pitching Guidelines

  • Do:
    • Highlight WA-specific data in national policy contexts
    • Provide access to parliamentary documents or committee insights
    • Connect climate initiatives to job markets or infrastructure plans
  • Avoid:
    • Personality-driven political speculation
    • International comparisons without local applicability
    • Activist rhetoric unsupported by policy frameworks

Achievements

  • 2023 WA Media Awards Finalist for investigative political reporting
  • 2022 Walkley Nomination for climate economics coverage
  • Cited in 3 parliamentary committee reports since 2020

Nick McKenzie

Politics journalist at The Age, Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Military

Nick McKenzie is a senior investigative journalist at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, specializing in politics, crime, and military affairs. With 14 Walkley Awards and four Australian Journalist of the Year titles, his work has triggered royal commissions, legislative reforms, and international investigations.

Coverage Focus

  • Government Corruption: Exposed foreign bribery by Reserve Bank subsidiaries and CCP political interference.
  • War Crimes Accountability: Uncovered unlawful killings by Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan.
  • Organized Crime Networks: Revealed ties between unions, casinos, and underworld figures.

Avoided Topics

  • Celebrity culture or entertainment
  • Personal finance or lifestyle trends

Pitching Tips

  • Lead with Documentation: Provide leaked records, financial trails, or whistleblower contacts.
  • Highlight Public Impact: Stories must demonstrate systemic harm or institutional failure.
  • Ethical Clarity: Avoid speculative claims; prioritize verifiable evidence.

Paul Karp

Politics journalist at Australian Financial Review, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Law

Paul Karp is a political correspondent currently reporting on NSW politics for the Australian Financial Review. With a career spanning investigative journalism and policy analysis, he specializes in governance, media ethics, and international relations. His work frequently examines how legislative decisions intersect with academic freedom, democratic processes, and global trends.

Pitching Insights

  • Focus Areas: Prioritize stories involving policy reforms, media regulation, or Australia’s international partnerships. Karp’s coverage of U.S.-Australia research tensions exemplifies his interest in cross-border policy impacts.
  • Avoid: Celebrity-driven or lifestyle topics unless directly tied to legislative or ethical debates.

Renee Viellaris

Politics journalist at The Courier-Mail, Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Law

Renee Viellaris has established herself as a leading voice in Australian political journalism, with a focus on crime, law enforcement, and legislative accountability. Based in Queensland, her work for The Courier-Mail blends investigative rigor with empathetic storytelling, often highlighting the human impact of policy decisions.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Political Strategy: Analyzes electoral campaigns and parliamentary dynamics, emphasizing grassroots impacts.
  • Crime Legislation: Examines reforms in policing, road safety, and community justice initiatives.
  • Law Enforcement Narratives: Profiles officers and policymakers to explore systemic challenges.

Pitching Insights

When reaching out to Viellaris, prioritize stories that:

  • Connect national policies to local communities in Queensland.
  • Feature firsthand accounts from law enforcement or crime-affected populations.
  • Use satire or humor to critique political processes without sacrificing depth.

Richard Denniss

Politics journalist at The Australia Institute, Australia
Australia
Politics
Business
Climate

As Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss has become Australia’s foremost analyst of economic policy and its human impacts. His work bridges academic rigor and public accessibility, specializing in:

  • Tax System Reform: Comparative analysis of resource taxation models
  • Corporate Power Dynamics: Sector-level profit margin investigations
  • Climate Economics: Fossil fuel subsidy impacts on public services

Current Focus Areas

Denniss’s 2025 research examines the intersection of energy policy and cost-of-living pressures, particularly:

“How $40 billion in annual fossil fuel subsidies could instead fund universal childcare and tertiary education”

Pitching Insights

  • Data-Driven Framing: All successful pitches include OECD or ABS datasets with clear policy implications
  • Historical Context: His housing affordability analysis spans 50 years of tax policy decisions
  • Avoid: Individual hardship stories without systemic analysis

Career Highlights

  • Author of 6 books including bestselling Affluenza (100,000+ copies)
  • 2023 John Button Prize recipient for policy communication
  • Regular columnist for The Monthly and Saturday Paper

Rick Morton

Politics journalist at The Saturday Paper, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Social Policy!

Senior investigative reporter at The Saturday Paper specializing in welfare policy, government accountability, and structural inequality. Morton combines data journalism with narrative storytelling to expose systemic failures in Australian public administration.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Welfare System Architecture
    Analyzes how policy design impacts vulnerable populations, with recent work on robodebt automation and disability support algorithms.
  • Institutional Accountability
    Investigates regulatory capture in sectors from higher education to aged care, using FOI requests and whistleblower testimony.

Avoid Pitches About

  • Individual political scandals without systemic implications
  • Celebrity advocacy campaigns
  • Technology solutions without policy analysis
“Journalism should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable – but first it must understand how comfort is distributed.”

Rita Panahi

Politics journalist at Sky News, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Culture

Rita Panahi is Sky News Australia's preeminent conservative commentator, blending razor-sharp cultural critique with policy-focused analysis. Her work primarily engages with:

  • US-Australia Political Synchronicity: Tracking how American policy shifts influence Australian conservative strategies
  • Media Bias Deconstruction: Systematic analysis of progressive narratives in mainstream journalism
  • Cultural Trend Forensics: Investigating the societal impact of progressive activism through viral moments

Pitching Priorities

  • Data-Rich Comparisons: Seek stories with quantifiable transatlantic policy outcomes
  • Historical Parallels: Contextualize current debates through understudied historical precedents
  • Underreported International Angles: Particularly from Nordic/Asian nations challenging progressive orthodoxies
"The most effective commentary marries statistical rigor with cultural awareness - that's where truth emerges from the noise."

With a career spanning print, broadcast, and digital platforms, Panahi remains a lodestar for audiences seeking conservative perspectives grounded in empirical analysis. Her recent work continues to shape national conversations around immigration, media accountability, and cultural preservation.

Rob Harris

Politics journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Government

Rob Harris is a Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, specializing in the intersection of Australian policy and global affairs. Based in London, his work often highlights the challenges faced by expatriates and the diplomatic nuances influencing their lives.

Pitching Tips

  • Expatriate Services: Harris seeks stories on consular support gaps, particularly in politically tense regions. Example: Voting access hurdles for Australians in Russia.
  • Policy-Driven Angles: Focus on how international agreements or conflicts directly impact Australian citizens or businesses abroad.

Achievements

  • 2024 Walkley Award for International Reporting
  • 2021 Parliament House Press Gallery Journalist of the Year

Sally Whyte

Politics journalist at The Canberra Times, Australia
Australia
Politics
Law
Business

Sally Whyte is a Canberra-based political and legal affairs correspondent for The Canberra Times, specializing in policy analysis and gender equity. With over a decade of experience, she bridges the gap between legislation and lived experience through data-driven storytelling.

Pitching Priorities

  • Federal Policy Impacts: Prefers localized examples of national policies, particularly in healthcare and education sectors
  • Workplace Equity: Case studies demonstrating measurable progress in gender representation

Her reporting has shaped public discourse on 14 bills since 2021, including the 2023 Climate Accountability Act amendments. Connect via her staff profile for timely responses to policy-focused pitches.

Sarah Basford Canales

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Gaming

Sarah Basford Canales is a political and investigative reporter at The Guardian Australia, specializing in national security, government integrity, and public sector accountability. With a background spanning federal politics and gaming journalism, she brings a unique lens to institutional transparency.

Pitching Insights

  • Policy Over Personality: Avoid celebrity-driven angles; focus on systemic issues within governance or media regulation.

Her work exemplifies data-driven storytelling, making her a pivotal voice in Australian political journalism.

Sheradyn Holderhead

Politics journalist at The Daily Telegraph, Australia
Australia
Politics
Education
Energy

Holderhead operates at the intersection of policy journalism and strategic communications. Her current focus areas include:

  • Federal Education Reform: Track record of dissecting funding models and curriculum changes
  • Energy Transition Policies: Specializes in workforce impacts over technical specifications
  • Legislative Negotiations: Analyzes crossbench dynamics in hung parliaments

Pitching Preferences

  • Do: Provide granular data on policy implementation timelines
  • Avoid: Speculative pieces on electoral outcomes without insider sources

Recent achievements include the 2021 Bondi Partners award for translating complex energy policies into public advocacy campaigns. Her dual role as journalist and advisor offers unique opportunities for stories blending insider access with analytical rigor.

Stuart Cumming

Politics journalist at The Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia
Australia
Politics
Crime
Sports

Stuart Cumming is deputy editor at The Sunshine Coast Daily, where he oversees politics, crime, and sports reporting. With a focus on Queensland’s regional issues, his work bridges policy and community impact.

Pitching Insights

  • Local Governance: Prioritizes stories about council decisions affecting infrastructure or environmental policies.
  • Crime Trends: Seeks data-backed reports on drug trafficking or domestic violence prevention programs.
  • Sports Advocacy: Interested in athlete-led initiatives addressing social inequities.
“Regional journalism thrives when it amplifies voices often overlooked by metropolitan outlets.” —Stuart Cumming, 2023

Tim Colebatch

Politics journalist at Inside Story, Australia
Australia
Politics
Finance
Environment

Tim Colebatch was a preeminent Australian journalist specializing in politics, finance, and environmental policy. His career at The Age and Inside Story redefined data journalism through methods like:

  • Manual Data Synthesis: Merging disparate datasets to uncover trends, as seen in his analysis of ABS employment miscalculations.
  • Electoral Forecasting: Predicting seat outcomes using preference-flow models, cited by major parties during redistributions.

Pitching Insights

Do:

  • Provide raw data with context (e.g., Census cross-tabulations)
  • Highlight policy impacts over 10+ year horizons

Avoid:

  • Celebrity-driven angles
  • Speculative economic theories without empirical backing

Tom McIlroy

Politics journalist at Australian Financial Review, Australia
Australia
Politics
Arts
Finance

As Canberra bureau chief for the Australian Financial Review, McIlroy specializes in connecting policy decisions to their real-world impacts. His reporting spans:

  • Government Spending: Tracks budget allocations across arts, security, and economic portfolios
  • Cultural Policy: Analyzes museum acquisitions, funding models, and historical precedents
  • National Security: Examines how intelligence assessments shape community protections

Pitching Insights

  • Preferred Angles: Historical parallels to current policies, cross-portfolio budget impacts
  • Avoid: Celebrity-driven arts stories or partisan political commentary

McIlroy’s work has influenced parliamentary debates and cultural institution strategies, making him a critical contact for stakeholders in policy and arts sectors.

Tory Shepherd

Politics journalist at The Guardian Australia, Australia
Australia
Politics
Media
Climate

Tory Shepherd is a senior reporter at Guardian Australia specializing in politics, media ethics, and climate policy. With over 15 years’ experience across News Corp and ABC platforms, she combines data-driven investigations with narrative storytelling.

Pitching Insights

  • Focus Areas: Federal policy debates, defense sector accountability, environmental justice, and misinformation ecosystems.
  • Avoid: Celebrity culture, hyper-local governance, or technology reviews without policy angles.

Career Highlights

“The most dangerous stories are those we stop questioning—whether from politicians, advertisers, or algorithms.”
  • Uncovered lobbying ties behind automotive funding reversals
  • Chart-topping true crime podcast Mapping Evil
  • Regular analyst on ABC’s The Drum and Insiders
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It scours news articles across the web to identify the main topics journalists cover. Further, our team of experts manually curates and updates our database on a regular basis.

How do I access my purchases?

Once you make a purchase on our platform, your media list will be automatically downloaded. Need to download it again? You can access it from your dashboard! Still have concerns with your purchase? Contact our support team, and rest assured, they'll reply ASAP.

What is a media list?

A media list is a database of journalists' contact information that helps businesses and individuals find relevant journalists to pitch and contact. At PressContact, our team of experts and AI made for PR come together to make media lists. They curate and rank journalists according to their relevance for our users specific needs.

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