That is the third instalment of a Crikey sequence, Movers and Shakers.
After a protracted yr of change in Australian media, Crikey surveyed greater than 200 of the nation’s largest media figures — from journalists to editors to defamation attorneys to lecturers — to choose their brains about our trade. What they shared has fashioned the spine of a multi-part sequence that goals to carry a mirror as much as the trade and asks it to mirror on itself. In at this time’s instalment we reveal what respondents stated was the final nice piece of journalism they’d learn.
Of the roughly 200 individuals we contacted for this sequence, about one in 4 acquired again to us. It was an imperfect checklist (if we missed you, tell us for subsequent yr) however included individuals from the next shops: 9’s main metropolitan mastheads in addition to individuals in its broadcast divisions, The Australian Monetary Assessment, Community Ten, Seven, SBS, the ABC, 2GB, Sky Information Australia, Guardian Australia, the Information Corp newspapers, The Dialog, Each day Mail Australia, Australian Related Press, Apple Information, Mamamia, Pedestrian and Schwartz Media.
We additionally included journalism lecturers, media attorneys and trade physique executives, in addition to individuals from smaller shops like The Nightly, Quillette, Unmade, Capital Transient, the Koori Mail, About Time, The Each day Aus, Girls’s Agenda, IndigenousX, Mumbrella, 6 Information Australia and naturally Crikey. Greater than 50 individuals generously provided us their insightful, searing and typically cheeky ideas on the state of the trade.
What’s the final nice piece of journalism you learn?
Misha Ketchell, editor of The Dialog Australia: I used to be completely floored by Sarah Krasnostein’s Walkley-winning article concerning the trial of Malka Leifer for sexual abuse in The Month-to-month. Sarah’s piece adopted nice work uncovering the story by others, significantly the sensible Belinda Hawkins on the ABC, however she pulled it collectively right into a meditation on disgrace and trauma and the justice system that I merely couldn’t put down. It was a chunk worthy of the best writers of literary non-fiction, individuals like Helen Garner, Janet Malcolm, Joan Didion and Chloe Hooper.
Myriam Robin, editor of The Australian Monetary Assessment’s Rear Window: Alan Jones’ arrest has had me revisiting David Leser’s impactful Good Weekend profile of the person (revealed 1998) in addition to Chris Masters’ extraordinary Jonestown (revealed 2006). Each are extraordinary items of journalism that seize each the horror and the glory of the Alan Jones phenomenon.
Nick McKenzie, investigative journalist at The Age: Stand out items for me this yr have been Linton Besser’s work on strata points and residence house owners getting rorted, Kate McClymont’s Alan Jones exposé, and Stan’s investigative journo doco How To Poison A Planet as a result of it was an excellent instance of print journalism spinning into TV doco land.
Karen Barlow, chief political correspondent at The Saturday Paper: “‘He’d go the grope’: Alan Jones accused of indecently assaulting younger males” [Kate McClymont, The Sydney Morning Herald, December 2023]
Paul Barry, former host of ABC’s Media Watch: Kate McClymont’s revelations about Alan Jones have been an impressive piece of labor. Loopy that she wasn’t nominated for yet one more Walkley for this. However one other nice piece of labor was Al Jazeera’s Gaza warfare crimes documentary primarily based on evaluation of social media posts from IDF troopers. A devastating piece of labor, and sensible to supply the data this manner.
Dean Levitan, media lawyer at MinterEllison: Kate McClymont’s investigation of Alan Jones was distinctive.
Paul Bongiorno, political journalist: Kate McClymont’s bombshell revelations of the alleged legal behaviour of broadcaster Alan Jones as a sexual predator. Brave and thorough as subsequent occasions present.
Janine Perrett, journalist, broadcaster and commentator: It is vitally laborious to call one as there are such a lot of from The New York Instances that always astound me. Right here not a lot however something by Kate McClymont. It’s the much less celebrated ones that I like the place she has a razor-sharp wit about hardened crims with some fantastic throwaway strains. However for the final nice Australian piece it was most likely her story about Richard White, the founding father of Wisetech. Her easy courtroom story a few private authorized dispute introduced down one of many largest businessmen in Australia and put each monetary journalist to disgrace.
Kishor Napier-Raman, CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald: Domestically, I feel the work accomplished by my colleague Kate McClymont and others taking down billionaire WiseTech CEO Richard White was a masterclass in following a yarn. Past that, I assumed the NYT’s Astead Herndon’s podcasting/evaluation across the US election was every little thing marketing campaign/political journalism must be. I used to be additionally gripped by this New Yorker story on British nurse Lucy Letby who was convicted of killing seven infants. Lots extra, that is simply prime of thoughts.
Louise Milligan, reporter at ABC’s 4 Corners: I discover it laborious to slim it down to 1 piece, however outdoors the ABC, I feel the work of Kate McClymont on Alan Jones and Rick Morton’s physique of labor has been wonderful. By way of precise writing, I all the time discover Erik Jensen’s op-eds in The Saturday Paper really sparkle.
Sue Chrysanthou SC, barrister: My current focus has been a quest to search out the proper pecan pie recipe. The pie was superb, so The New York Instances‘ pie-making suggestions is the newest nice journalism I’ve learn.
Johan Lidberg, head of journalism at Monash College: ‘Constructing Unhealthy’ — Nick McKenzie and group exposing bikie gang and organised crime infiltration of the CFMEU. It is a piece of journalism within the lengthy [history of] Australian investigative/public curiosity journalism holding energy to account that must be accomplished by regulators. E.g. Alleged Afghan warfare crimes by defence drive members, the banks, the finance advisory trade, the Catholic and different church buildings and not-for-profit organisations, [and] public workplaces like parliaments. With out investigative journalism, a lot abuse of energy would go unexposed in Australia.
Bridie Jabour, affiliate editor (audio/visible) at Guardian Australia: I really feel like I learn at the least one piece of nice journalism each week, so I’m going to say the final story that actually caught with me. It was an interview accomplished by Rafqa Touma with Helen O’Sullivan, a Queensland lady who was volunteering within the West Financial institution when she witnessed her colleague shot useless by Israeli forces. The small particulars of the story, and the sensitivity and thoughtfulness with which Rafqa dealt with her topic, have been extraordinary. It was a narrative that gave us perception into the warfare, but in addition into an peculiar human being.
Gabrielle Jackson, deputy editor at Guardian Australia: I learn nice journalism on a regular basis! However this lengthy learn had me pondering for longer than others in current months. It’s so a lot a couple of man’s story. Rafqa Touma is such a star! And he or she simply gained her first Walkley for “Leaving Gaza”.
Margaret Simons, journalist and writer: There have been a couple of. 9 on the CFMEU was undeniably highly effective and essential; Sarah Krasnostein on the Leifer trial managed to inform me new issues about this case though I assumed I knew it properly already; the Gaza interactive by The Guardian in Australia group; Guardian once more for “Buried Lives”. I may go on. Regardless of every little thing there’s plenty of good work being accomplished.
Gina Rushton, editor of Crikey: I went again and re-read Chris Knaus’ work on homelessness deaths for Guardian Australia when it was nominated for the Walkley. I reckon it ought to have gained the beat reporting gong that night time.
Peter Hitchener, 9 Information Melbourne presenter: For reliably wonderful stories, my favorite journalist is Nick McKenzie, whose investigations, revealed in The Age, are excellent.
Peter Bartlett, companion at MinterEllison: Australia could be very fortunate to have high quality reporters breaking nice tales. Tales that the general public has a proper to know. If I had to decide on one piece of journalism, it must be the CFMEU revelations revealed by The Age, SMH, AFR and 9 Community. The superb Nick McKenzie, joined by Ben Schneiders (The Age), David Marin-Guzman (AFR), Reid Butler (9) and others. These have been courageous gutsy tales by high quality reporters. These tales have been worthy winners of the 2024 Gold Walkley. It was very pleasing to listen to Nick recognising the contribution of the 9 Community in-house attorneys, on the Walkley Awards dinner.
Eric Beecher, chairman of Personal Media (writer of Crikey): “How the Ivy League Broke America” by David Brooks, The Atlantic, December version. A brilliantly argued and deeply researched expose of the present state of America — “The meritocracy is a huge system of extrinsic rewards.”
Morry Schwartz, founding father of Schwartz Media: “Fascist bedfellows” by Elle Hardy within the December situation of The Month-to-month (on the time of writing, this has gone to press).
Jordan Baker, chief reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald: I learn nice journalism every single day. The work popping out of Syria proper now could be extraordinary. I’ve simply devoured a chunk from The Instances concerning the rescues within the jails deep beneath the town of Sednaya. My colleagues Kate McClymont and Harriet Alexander have simply revealed a unprecedented piece on an alleged fraudster. And I used to be captivated every week or so in the past by a New York Instances piece concerning the unintentional mix-up of two IVF infants.
Joseph Friedman, managing director of About Time: The NYT’s John Department’s extraordinary multimedia characteristic, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”. Not a current piece, however one I re-read not too long ago. Wonderful mixture of investigating, storytelling, and multimedia. Plus something Konrad Marshall writes.
Joe Aston, former Rear Window columnist: Neil Chenoweth’s current sequence of articles on Mineral Sources founder Chris Ellison within the AFR are gold normal.
Edmund Tadros, skilled providers editor at The Australian Monetary Assessment: My colleague Neil Chenoweth’s sequence on the actions of MinRes founder Chris Ellison. It was a very long time coming and the developments within the saga are unimaginable. Combines Neil’s capacity to forensically work by a posh subject, write it with a way of humanity and wit, whereas he retains uncovering ever-more unimaginable element.
Alan Kohler, founding father of Eureka Report: Neil Chenoweth’s work within the Monetary Assessment exposing Mineral Sources’ founder Chris Ellison’s tax evasion.
Michael Pascoe, journalist: Neil Chenoweth’s Mineral Sources protection.
Lisa Davies, CEO of AAP: Whereas he wouldn’t contemplate himself a journalist, I simply completed Lech Blaine’s e-book, Australian Gospel. I’d argue it’s a meticulous piece of long-form journalism about his life and the household he grew up in. It’s inventive non-fiction, however an unimaginable work of investigative journalism, with detailed and wide-ranging interviews forming the premise of compelling storytelling.
Leo Puglisi, founding father of 6 Information Australia: Actually loved this piece from Anthony Segaert within the SMH — an excellent fascinating and detailed take a look at one thing that’s unbelievably underreported (native authorities elections).
Peter Lalor, Cricket Et Al: I is perhaps anticipated to say this, given he’s considered one of my closest pals and we’re in cahoots, however Gideon Haigh’s interview with the match officers who have been there the day Phillip Hughes was struck was a unprecedented piece of journalism. First, it was that intuition to pause and communicate to a gaggle of individuals no one had ever bothered to ask, second it was the flexibility to inform the story in such a compelling and clever method. He has no rival. Aside from that I are inclined to learn plenty of long-form journalism within the New Yorker and a bit in The New York Instances, the previous retains that craft alive.
Marc Dodd, editor of 9.com.au: “Cricket’s first responders”: Gideon Haigh on the untold story of the loss of life of Phillip Hughes on Cricket Et Al. We’re fortunate in Australia to have entry to 2 of one of the best sports activities writers on the earth. This, by Haigh, to mark 10 years for the reason that loss of life of Hughes, captured the emotion of that week in an insightful approach, from a unique and untold perspective. I like what they’re doing with their new enterprise too.
Gerard Whateley, sports activities broadcaster: Peter Lalor and Gideon Haigh wrote sensible and poignant items on the ten yr anniversary reflecting on the day Phillip Hughes was struck and killed in a Sheffield Protect match. The have been revealed on the substack Cricket Et Al. “Cricket’s darkest day” and “Cricket’s first responders”. One superbly researched with devastating element. The opposite a granular account of how occasions on the fateful day transpired.
Peter Cronau, journalist: If “nice” journalism contains the implications of the piece, then Seymour Hersh’s 2023 revelation of latest proof of who was behind the Nord Stream Pipeline bombing is to me a robust candidate. Whereas further proof has emerged, Hersh’s authentic piece nonetheless stands. It suggests to us that it’s not simply related world views, or a coincidence of pursuits, not even enticements, that serve in isolation to carry America’s navy and intelligence alliances collectively. Hersh reveals one other issue apparently at play — that’s the specter of direct intervention towards its allies by the US, uncovered right here within the sabotage of the pipeline with a ensuing vital influence on Germany’s economic system. Behind diplomatic smiles and handshakes, it has been revelatory to see that intimidation additionally performs an element.
Eliza Sorman Nilsson, head of content material at Mamamia: It was a narrative that so many individuals subscribed to The Sunday Instances to learn. It’s the proper collision of the zeitgeist assembly the information cycle. Right here was the primary time we acquired to see an actual behind-the-scenes take a look at Ballerina Farm’s Hannah Neeleman, whose shiny movies have seeped into … individuals’s algorithms and have spearheaded the tradwife fascination. The article was expertly reported and superbly written but it surely was the influence and ripples it precipitated that for me exhibits the ability of journalism. Podcasts analysed the piece, it launched 1000’s of opinions. It challenged. It sparked dialog. It made individuals assume in another way. That is what journalism is all about.
Alex Bruce-Smith, head of editorial at Pedestrian: Does cultural criticism depend? I’m a sucker for items that make me rethink the human situation, and Ryan Broderick’s essay for GQ concerning the unthawing of tradition in 2024 had so many strains I needed to underline in a purple pen, if I wasn’t studying it on my cellphone. (Extremely suggest subscribing to his Rubbish Day substack.)
Nick Feik, freelancer and former editor of The Month-to-month: Rick Morton’s our bodies of labor on robodebt, the NDIS and the NACC have all been excellent.
Neil Griffiths, outgoing managing editor of Mumbrella: There are such a lot of I may checklist off in 2024 alone, however the music fan in me has to offer the nod to The New York Instances’ characteristic on The Remedy frontman, Robert Smith, final month. A captivating and detailed piece on one of many all-time icons.
Sally Neighbour, former EP of ABC’s 4 Corners and 7:30: As chair of the Walkley judging board, I’ve been lucky within the final couple of months to have learn various excellent Australian journalism. David Leser’s gut-wrenchingly private reflections on the warfare in Gaza. Annabel Crabb’s distinctive and typically hilarious commentary on points from the Bruce Lehrmann trial to the self-entitlement of Australia’s male political class. Sarah Krasnostein’s wrenching lengthy learn on the Malka Leifer case. The bottom-breaking investigations by numerous Walkley winners into corruption and criminality within the building union, serial sexual predation within the Catholic Church, Chinese language political espionage in Australia. This isn’t a plug for the Walkleys. My involvement within the judging course of has given me coronary heart that Australian journalism is alive, properly and thriving, regardless of the cataclysmic disruption of current years.
Justin Stevens, ABC director of reports: Casey Briggs’ evaluation of the vote throughout our “USA Votes” election protection was world class and the work by our regional investigations group on hyperlinks between the farm chemical paraquat and Parkinson’s illness is essential and impactful. Exterior the ABC, the standout items previously yr have been Nick McKenzie’s CFMEU investigation and Kate McClymont’s investigation into the conduct of Alan Jones.
John Buckley, media reporter for Capital Transient: It’s laborious to say! For all the priority concerning the state of journalism — and media — there’s nonetheless a ton of nice journalism going round, each right here and overseas. The final two tales I picked over and re-read a number of instances have been the NYmag media particular (it’s enjoyable to attempt to guess who’s saying what), and [last week’s] Murdoch reveal from The Instances (however Jim Rutenberg may have his byline on a menu and I’d learn it twice over).
Cam Wilson, affiliate editor at Crikey: WIRED — “Anybody Can Purchase Knowledge Monitoring US Troopers and Spies to Nuclear Vaults and Brothels in Germany”. I additionally actually need to give a shoutout to SBS’ protection of international affairs and the impacts again in Australia for the previous few years, significantly its protection of Israel-Gaza, has been [a] stand-out for being accessible, clear-eyed and courageous in a approach that doesn’t get sufficient flowers as a result of it’s understated.
Sophie Black, editor-in-chief at Crikey: Each week in our Thursday assembly every member of the Crikey group share their finest reads of the week, a chunk of journalism that lit up their mind not directly — in order that’s a bunch of inspiring hyperlinks to nice journalism dropping into Slack recurrently, and I all the time love how different they’re, from kind to topic, together with on the bottom reporting, literary scandals, critiques, nice obituaries, deep dives and stuff we want we’d considered. Some examples embrace:
- The Verge, “Six hours below martial regulation in Seoul”, Sarah Jeong.
- Vainness Honest, “Cormac McCarthy’s Secret Muse Breaks Her Silence After Half a Century”, Vincenzo Barney.
- LA Assessment of Books, “Conservatives and Counterrevolutionaries: Corey Robin’s ‘The Reactionary Thoughts’”, Lily Geismer.
- The New York Instances, “Invoice Moyes, Australian ‘Birdman’ Who Popularized Cling Gliding, Dies at 92”, Michael S. Rosenwald.
- The New York Instances, “America Should Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny”, Caity Weaver.
- ABC, “The mullet is alive and properly in AFL”, Alex Lim, Katia Shatoba and Thomas Brettell.
Calum Jaspan, media author for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: I actually loved Paddy Manning’s piece in Bloomberg within the aftermath of Trump’s election win whereas I used to be on vacation not too long ago.
Homosexual Alcorn, former editor of The Age: I’m writing a e-book, so I’m not absorbing as a lot media as beforehand, though I did get critically within the US election. It’s not an editorial however the Ezra Klein dialog with David Remnick on Israel and Gaza was excellent. I learnt lots and they didn’t keep away from the complexity in any respect. Riveting, and I want the protection of Israel/Gaza in Australia was half pretty much as good. Domestically, the “Constructing Unhealthy” tales from The Age/Herald have been excellent, essential and eye-opening. That is laborious journalism to do.
Paddy Manning, journalist and writer: It’s a bit private however when it comes to Australian journalism Katherine Wilson’s essay “Down on the Farm”, within the September situation of The Month-to-month, has turned me vegetarian or at the least off factory-farmed meat for good. This First Canine on the Moon cartoon on Gaza not too long ago floored me.
Steve Austin, host of ABC Radio Brisbane Mornings: The final nice piece of journalism I learn was by Matt Taibbi, former Rolling Stone journalist now operating his personal small publication Racket Information. “Past the Regulation”, September 14 — a chunk about Joe Biden signing a continuation of the Proclamation 7463 declaring a “Nationwide Emergency by Purpose of Sure Terrorist Assaults.” Primarily noting that for practically 1 / 4 of a century the US political class has seen match to droop virtually each authorized safety in an effort to preserve powers to struggle “terrorism”. It was an excellent reminder of why governments love energy and aspect with one another to proceed the enlargement of their powers, regardless of if they’re Democrats or Republicans.
Rachel Withers, freelance author: I’m appreciating every little thing Alex McKinnon is doing together with his web site/e-newsletter, every little thing is okay*, together with this piece on how the Human Rights Fee buckled to Zionist bullying, and this on NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson’s expertise with such bullying. All of it’s clear, complete, and helps readers acquire a greater understanding of how energy works in Australia.
Antony Loewenstein, impartial journalist: Kellie Tranter’s investigation for Declassified Australia on Australia’s ongoing and shut commerce ties with Israel, revealed in early November.
Marc Fennell, presenter and journalist: Not learn however I cherished the podcast Ghost Story. It’s a podcast sequence a few household ghost story that unravels in deeply unpredictable methods. It’s an exquisite mixture of the sceptical and playful. It utilised simply the correct quantity of private element to chop by. I additionally love something that permits us to reexamine uncomfortable points of the previous by a singular, approachable prism.
Karen Percy, media president at MEAA: There’s a lot nice work on the market!! However I’m going to go for one thing uncommon for me. I learn a wonderful piece earlier this yr by Sue Smethurst — Name of the Wild — which ran within the Weekend Australian journal. It’s about an artist, her life and the bodily and emotional challenges she’s overcome by her life. It featured nice descriptions that set the temper and put us within the topic’s studio. The wealthy photos by Sean Davey and Smethurst’s textual content wove a ravishing narrative. It was evocative, shifting, thrilling, and confirmed the ability of what we do in a most surprising approach.
Dave Earley, viewers editor at Guardian Australia: I skim a lot it’s laborious to consider a single piece, however I hold coming again to any of the investigations of the workings of the far proper, significantly the place they’re influencing political outcomes, and extra in order it intersects with tech and social media. It’s laborious to not lean towards your personal publication when that’s what you spend essentially the most time looking at, significantly in a task like mine, however Jason Wilson’s revelations concerning the far proper within the US all the time get me. However different mis- and disinformation investigative journalists and the work they do, and I’d add Cam Wilson to that (give the person a increase, then he can purchase me a beer the following time we run into one another).
Have one thing to say about this text? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au. Please embrace your full identify to be thought-about for publication in Crikey’s Your Say. We reserve the best to edit for size and readability.
