Kennedy Media Club
In early 2020 the Kennedy Foundation established the Sydney Media Club to provide a monthly forum for newsmakers and breakers. At a time when the issue of press freedom has united the media in an unprecedented display of cooperation, the Sydney Media Club (SMC) celebrates the bond all journalists share in their pursuit of the truth. The inaugural luncheon was hosted in February 2020 by Ben Fordham and featured the legendary political reporter Laurie Oakes as a fundraiser for his former Sunday show producer Tom Krause, who suffered crippling injuries from a car accident six months earlier. The SMC lunches resumed in March 2021 and featured 7:30 host Leigh Sales, interviewed by the head of ABC Investigations and former Sydney Morning Herald editor John Lyons. Our next SMC event was held in May of that same year at the historic City Tattersalls Club, where the 2020 Kennedy Prize winner Nick McKenzie of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Nine's 60 Minutes presented solo to a crowd of over 100.
With the growth of the Kennedy Foundation in 2023, we expanded our presence to engage more of our nation's audience. In partnership with Telum Media, we have begun to take the Kennedys On the Road. The first stop was Melbourne in April, and then in June, we travelled to Brisbane. With the need to reach more audiences , we re-branded to the Kennedy Media Club in July. In September, we will host a powerful discussion on the topic of obstacles to producing quality public interest journalism. Then in October, we will set off again to meet friends and industry in Perth to explore important issues and ideas that are affecting the media industry.
PERTH October 2023
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!
SYDNEY September 2023
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.
BRISBANE June 2023
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.
MELBOURNE April 2023
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.
Sydney Media Club - November 2022
Sydney Media Club - May 2021
Sydney Media Club - March 2021
The “famously unflappable” Leigh Sales in conversation with John Lyons
The inaugural Sydney Media Club - February 2020
Legendary political reporter Laurie Oakes in conversation with Ben Fordnam
