Kennedy Media Club

The Kennedy Media Club is a national forum for dynamic conversation, insightful storytelling, and informed debate about the issues shaping Australian journalism today.

Originally launched in early 2020 as the Sydney Media Club, the initiative began as a space for newsmakers and newsbreakers to connect, collaborate, and share the stories behind the headlines. The inaugural event featured legendary political reporter Laurie Oakes in conversation with Ben Fordham, setting the tone for a program centred on integrity, curiosity, and fearless discussion. After a pandemic pause, the Club returned in 2021 with major events including Leigh Sales interviewed by John Lyons, followed by a standout presentation from multi-Kennedy-winning investigative journalist Nick McKenzie.

As the Kennedy Foundation grew in 2023, the Club expanded its reach. In partnership with Telum Media, the Kennedys launched national “On the Road” events in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, further widening our engagement with media audiences nationwide. These events have featured journalists such as Hedley Thomas, Matthew Condon , Sharri Markson, Joe Hildebrand, Ray Kuka, Kat Feeney, Ben Butler, Mark Morri, Mathew Dunckley, Prof. Catherine Lumby, Prof. Monica Attard, Prof. Alex Wake and many others whose insights and discussions helped shape the decision to rebrand the initiative as the Kennedy Media Club, reflecting its broadened scope and national footprint.

Today, the Kennedy Media Club hosts a dynamic year-round program across major cities, featuring some of Australia’s most influential voices in journalism, academia, and public policy. Recent events have welcomed leading journalists and editors from ABC, SBS, News Corp, Nine, Seven, 10 and Sky News.

Our panels and conversations explore the issues that matter most — from the complexities of defamation law and the ongoing fight for press freedom, to the impact of AI on newsrooms, the rise of disinformation, and the future of investigative reporting. Legal experts, media executives, and respected academics regularly join these sessions, offering diverse and balanced perspectives on the evolving media landscape.

At most events, we strive to include representation from all major media houses, ensuring a broad, inclusive, and industry-wide view of the challenges and opportunities facing modern journalism.

Now a highlight of the Australian media industry calendar, the Kennedy Media Club continues to foster insight, connection, and meaningful dialogue — strengthening the national conversation about the future of journalism.

  • AI: Friend or Foe for Journalism?: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Truth and Truth

    Watch this stellar line up of experts tackle the BIG questions ;

    Justin Quill (Moderator)
    Justin Quill is a partner at Thomson Geer Lawyers and a seasoned legal and media expert. He has extensive experience advising media organisations on complex legal, ethical, and technological issues. As moderator, Justin will guide the discussion and engage the panel on the critical impact of AI on journalism, truth, and trust.

    Dr Matt Collins AC KC
    Dr Matt Collins AC KC is a leading legal expert with decades of experience in media, defamation, and communications law. He has advised major media organisations on complex legal and ethical issues and is widely recognised for his work in protecting journalistic integrity. Matt brings a deep understanding of how AI intersects with law, ethics, and the responsibilities of the Fourth Estate.

    Rita Arrigo
    Rita Arrigo is a renowned digital & AI strategist, she cultivates innovation with emerging technologies & serves as the Strategic Engagement Manager at the National AI Centre, where she is focused on empowering the Australian AI Industry growth for collaboration across the AI landscape, elevating Australia's global AI adoption and a responsible AI industry. Rita provides a national perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the age of AI, facing contemporary journalism.

    Justin Smith
    Justin Smith is an author, journalist, and broadcaster whose work spans print, radio, and digital media. As a professional storyteller, he understands the impact of technology on the media industry. Justin brings a compelling insight and commentary to the discussions about the ethical, social, and practical dimensions of AI in journalism.

    Professor Alex Wake
    Alex Wake is a journalism professor at RMIT University, with a special interest in   in modern news room practice including  digital media and innovation. She has been working at  the intersection of journalism education, news and AI, exploring how technology is transforming reporting, audience engagement, and editorial decision-making. Professor Wake combines academic insight with an acute awareness of real-world media challenges.

    Mathew Dunckley
    Mathew Dunckley is Deputy Editor at The Age, with extensive experience leading editorial teams and managing high-profile news coverage. He has been at the forefront of navigating newsroom innovation and adapting reporting practices in a rapidly changing media environment. Mathew brings a strategic perspective on how AI is influencing journalism today and what it means for the future of news.

watch the Full panel discussion Here

  • The Investigators: Hedley Thomas and Matthew Condon LIVE

    Join two of Australia’s most respected investigative journalists for an unforgettable evening of stories, insights, and hard-hitting conversation. These two prominent journalists will take you behind the headlines, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and ethics of uncovering the truth. Hear firsthand how they navigate complex investigations and discover what drives their relentless pursuit of justice and accountability.

    Hedley Thomas is The Australian’s national chief correspondent, an eight-time Walkley Award winner and one of Australia’s most acclaimed investigative journalists. His globally renowned true-crime podcasts, including The Teacher’s Pet and Shandee’s Story, have been downloaded more than 100 million times and helped deliver justice in long-cold cases. In 2022, Hedley was named Australia’s Journalist of the Year.


    Matthew Condon is an award-winning journalist and the author of more than 18 works of both fiction and non-fiction, including the bestselling true crime trilogy – Three Crooked Kings, Jacks and Jokers and All Fall Down. His other books include The Trout Opera and The Motorcycle Café. In 2019 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. He is a senior writer and podcaster for The Australian.

watch the full conversation here

  • AI and the Fourth Estate -Ethics, Integrity, and Innovation in Modern Journalism

    Bringing together leading voices from journalism, law, and academia, this panel will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the Fourth Estate. With expertise spanning editorial leadership, media law, industry innovation, and frontline reporting, our speakers will examine the ethical, legal, and professional challenges of AI — and the opportunities it presents for the future of journalism.

    Louise Roberts (Moderator)
    Louise Roberts is a columnist with Sky News Australia and a highly respected journalist, broadcaster and media executive. With extensive experience across newspapers, television and digital platforms, Louise has held senior editorial roles in Australia and overseas. She brings deep industry insight to her role as moderator of this important discussion.

    David McCowen
    David McCowen is the Director of Content, Motoring at News Corp Australia. He has led editorial teams across print and digital platforms, overseeing major coverage and strategy in one of the nation’s largest media organisations. David brings a wealth of knowledge on audience engagement and the evolving role of content in modern journalism.

    Marlia Saunders
    Marlia Saunders is a Partner at Thomson Geer Lawyers, specialising in media, defamation and intellectual property law. She advises leading Australian publishers and broadcasters on complex legal, ethical and reputational matters. Marlia’s expertise provides vital perspective on the legal frameworks and challenges surrounding journalism in the digital and AI era.

    Professor Monica Attard OAM
    Professor Monica Attard OAM is Co-Director of the Centre for Media Transition at the University of Technology Sydney. An award-winning journalist with a distinguished career at the ABC, she now leads research into the transformation of journalism and its role in a rapidly changing media environment. Monica combines academic insight with decades of frontline reporting experience.

    Joe Hildebrand
    Joe Hildebrand is a columnist with News Corp Australia and one of the country’s most recognisable media commentators. With a background in both print and television, Joe has built a reputation for sharp, often provocative commentary on politics, culture and society. He brings a dynamic and engaging voice to debates about the future of journalism.

  • Investigative Journalism: The Obstacles, Its Importance, Its Future

    It was a chilly night in our southern capital city but Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre was buzzing with a terrific panel and an enthusiastic audience.

    The subject of our Kennedy Foundation’s Media Club event in partnership with Telum Media was , 'Investigative Journalism: The Obstacles, Its Importance, Its Future'.

    There is little argument about the importance of good investigative journalism to our polity and our membership of it as citizens.

    Investigative journalism has never been easy but the panel spoke at length as to how it was getting increasingly difficult to perform, especially when it came to the myriad of legal obstacles in its way and the rapid decline of transparency in the conduct of corporate and government entities.

    Quality investigative journalism is a rigorous undertaking. Working off a lead or hunch, investigative journalists invest countless hours diving into painstaking original research: interviewing sources, verifying facts, and carefully scrutinising public records and other documents to uncover the full story.

    The panel spoke  about the trials and tribulations of its exhaustive pursuit, separating facts from fiction, the dead ends and dry gulches, the highs and lows and the seemingly unimportant sliver of information that brings a house down.

    But as audience and panel alike attested the financial pressures confronting mainstream media, the wild west of digital disruption, the increasing lack of transparency in our civic world and that ass of law are strangling the life out of this key journalistic vehicle.

    A big thank you to Nick McKenzie and Ben Butler for sharing their insights and experiences, and for Sharnelle Vella for hosting and sharing her perspectives and expertise!

  • Breaking News and Building Bridges - A conversation with some of the best Journalists in the West

    The Kennedy Foundation Media Club held its first event in Perth last Wednesday, October 4, and boy, was it a success. We had 115 guests at the headquarters of Wesfarmers and it was the perfect venue with a vast collection of outstanding art lining its walls.

    Our thanks to them for providing us the venue for what was a vibrant discussion with our terrific panel: Anthony De Ceglie, Editor-in-Chief, The West Australian, Pamela Medlen, Presenter and Reporter, ABC News WA, Ray Kuka, News Director, 7News Perth and Ashleigh Nelson, Sports Reporter, 10 News First Perth.

    Our own Kate Allman, Kennedy Foundation director, steered the discussion across a bevy of issues such as the Internet age and the pace of 24/7 news today, and as WA has always had its own distinctively flavoured media content and brand, what makes Perth news different and unique?  

    Our audience was totally attentive, made some great contributions and our thanks to our partners in excellence, Telum Media.

    What a wonderful part of the country, and we’ll definitely be back!

  • Telling the Truth - Obstacles to Public Interest Journalism

    Well, what a view and what an event!!

    Courtesy of our new sponsors, giant legal firm Thomson Geer, our Kennedy Media Club event was held at their headquarters in Sydney with an expansive view over Sydney Harbour, but all eyes and ears were on the panel discussion, “Telling the Truth- Obstacles to Public Interest Journalism”.

    Our guests came from all corners of the media world, ‘Sixty Minutes’, ‘Sunday’, ABC, News Corp, Fairfax, lawyers, public relations and journalism students.

    They’d come to hear a panel discussion moderated by Jason Morrison that dealt with the vast range of obstacles to the truth being told that are present in Freedom of Information processes, Privacy legislation, Defamation, clickbait and media manipulation by crime authorities and even the criminals themselves.

    Our panellists were lawyer, author, former journalist and now Professor of Media at Sydney University, Catharine Lumby, Mark Morri, Crime Editor with The Daily Telegraph, Justin Quill, Thomson Geer’s media industry legal specialist, Steve Barrett, legendary journalist and one of the founders of the Kennedy Foundation and current Foundation director and investigative journalist with News Corp,  Natalie O’Brien.

    They provided a good balance of personal experience, history and fact. Justin Quill was especially impressive both in his articulate knowledge of media law and his passion for legal reform.

    Many in the room, not familiar with the hard facts of journalism, were stunned by the number of obstacles the media face in telling the truth, revealing the facts and demanding transparency from our public authorities.

    All set against a background of digital disruption and the emerging behemoth of ‘AI’. As one panellist opinioned to the question, “Where do we go with the sixth estate? Mars!!! Who knows!” Overwhelming, perhaps, but a valuable conversation we need to keep having.

    A great night was had by all.

  • What or who makes headlines?

    To say our Brisbane Media Club event, “Making Headlines” in partnership with Telum Media was an outstanding success would be an understatement.

    It was simply terrific, 125 people in attendance from all sectors of our media focus who were the recipients of a vibrant, intelligent and often hilarious presentation by our panellists that totally engaged the audience.

    And they were, Robert ’Crash’ Craddock, veteran sports journalist with News Corp and Sky , Kat Feeney, ABC journalist and broadcaster, Ben Smee, Qld Correspondent for The Guardian and Alison Sandy, Freedom of Information Editor Network 7.

    Crash’s hilarious anecdotes, Kat Feeney’s personal career journey, Ben Smee’s tales about eclectic career, including at that definitive headline newspaper the NT News and Alison Sandy’s personal journey of perseverance and story success.

    We could even have extended the discussion for another hour.

    Our panellists gave their personal perspectives on their career experiences as they related to big headline-making stories they were involved in, the great stories that never saw the light of day, personal anecdotes, the highs, the disasters, frustrations and what the business of journalism was like, what’s changed and where it’s headed.

    It was informative and, just as importantly, entertaining.

    Kate Allman, as our MC, was once again terrific. The art of the interviewer/moderator is not an easy one, its takes focus, intelligence and agility and Kate nailed it.

    The supporting staff from Suncorp’s corporate division were relaxed, professional and incredibly generous and helpful.

    And their venue atop their new Brisbane headquarters has to be the best in town, spacious, panoramic views over Brisbane in the rich glow of a setting sun, amazing ceiling video graphics and probably the best audio/sonic space in town.

    All in all, a great event with great numbers and a great marketing success for the Kennedy Foundation. 

  • What makes an Australian sporting moment great

    In April, the Kennedy Foundation in partnership with Telum Media hosted our first networking event in Melbourne. Known as the nation’s sporting capital, it was the perfect location to bring together media colleagues, PR professionals and journalists over an insightful chat about sport and the business of modern sports media.  

    An all-star line-up of Australia’s best sports broadcasters and journalists joined board member Kate Allman on stage for a lively panel discussion. Gerard Whateley, Abbey Holmes and Catherine Murphy shared funny, inspiring and memorable anecdotes about their careers, the ethics of sports media and sponsorship, and their roles in calling some of the nation’s biggest sporting moments. 

  • Sharri Markson in Conversation with Joe Hilderbrand