The Reckoning: Pandemic Politics

Sydney Festival and UNSW Centre for Ideas present Politics has been transformed by the COVID era, with national power siphoned towards state premiers, the allergy to massive government spending thrown out the window and scientific advice brought to the fore. But as well as new developments, the p…

The Reckoning: Australia's Turning Point - Dan Ilic Special

What defines Australia in 2022? We’ve always pinned our identity on land and sea. As an island full of unique animals and home to the oldest living culture in the world, we’ve lived off the land one way or another, be it from bush tucker or mining the minerals in our red earth. But as our environm…

The Reckoning: Australia's Turning Point

Sydney Festival and UNSW Centre for Ideas present What defines Australia in 2022? We’ve always pinned our identity on land and sea. As an island full of unique animals and home to the oldest living culture in the world, we’ve lived off the land one way or another, be it from bush tucker or mining…

The Reckoning: The Price of COVID

Sydney Festival and UNSW Centre for Ideas present While many of us (sorry Melbourne) spent 2020 believing we had escaped the worst of the pandemic, 2021 brought forth the ugly reality of living with the virus. Even as the nation returns to something that feels like normal, beneath the thrill of gi…

Chris Reason: Terror on the Ground – Lindt Café Siege

When the Lindt Cafe Siege brought the Sydney CBD to a standstill, the Seven newsroom was in the unique position of being right at the crime scene. Chris Reason was on air for hours and hours to cover the breaking story, while police snipers also used the newsroom as a tactical vantage point. Reason…

Kate McClymont: Digging up the Underbelly of Sydney's Upper Echelon

The Sydney Morning Herald investigative journalist Kate McClymont has seven Walkley Awards – including the 2002 Gold Walkley and 2020 Print News Walkley – and a reputation that strikes fear into the heart of politicians, criminals and anyone who’s dabbled in corruption. She’s a hilarious storytelle…

Patrick Abboud: 'Doing' Diversity: Out and Proud

Patrick Abboud uncovers stories you never knew existed in ways you won't forget. Broadcasting for more than a decade across SBS, the ABC and now Network 10, Pat’s speciality is ‘doing diversity’ and his award-winning storytelling is described as “Must Watch TV”. An openly gay journalist and presen…

Laura Murphy-Oates & Lorena Allam: The Killing Times

The Killing Times won the 2019 Walkley Award for Coverage of Indigenous Affairs, netting Guardian Australia’s Indigenous Affairs editor Lorena Allam her first of two Walkleys for Coverage of Indigenous Affairs. Descended from the Gamilaraay and Yawalaraay, Allam led the Guardian investigation track…

Nick Moir & Sylvia Liber: Triggered – Photojournalism in Natural Disasters

Nick Moir is Chief Photographer for The Sydney Morning Herald, and the 2020 Nikon-Walkley Feature/Photo Essay Award-winner for Firestorm, Moir’s middle-of-the-inferno coverage of the 2019/2020 summer bushfires. Illawarra Mercury photographer Sylvia Liber is the 2020 Nikon-Walkley Prize winner for …

Dalarinji – Ours, Yours, Everyone's

Sport has done an admirable job of using the connectivity of the internet to combat the isolation imposed by COVID – how can Australia’s arts scene, in particular, First Nations artists, make the most of the nbn™ network to expand the regional and global audience for Australian art?  Sydney Festiv…