August 2026
Dear members and subscribers,
Thanks very much to all of you who filled out our survey. Congrats to the winner of the Palais Theatre double pass, Genevieve Lally. (Read on to learn about two new member giveaways.)
Some early findings from the 2026 Melbourne Press Club Survey results include:
- networking and professional development were the two most popular MPC member benefits;
- mis/disinformation, press freedom and AI were the media issues respondents are most keen to see the MPC advocate on, with supression orders not far behind; and
- 67 per cent of respondents have an interest in learning more about podcasting, while only 28 per cent already work with the format. This was among the strongest results in the survey.
We have heard you loud and clear and will continue to advocate on the key issues facing the media, while running more networking and social events. We have entered a partnership with the Kelvin Club in Melbourne Place, a former broadcasting studio for 3LO, 3AW and the ABC, and look forward to running formal and informal events in its charming lounges (keep 1 December free for the 32nd Quills launch). To celebrate the partnership, we are giving away one Kelvin Club membership, worth over $1000. You have to be a current MPC member to win – just email us to enter the draw.
We have removed barriers for those eager to enter our industry and made student memberships free. Those enrolled in a tertiary journalism/media degree can sign up here.
On the advocacy front, we recently co-presented an Open Courts Act roundtable with University of Melbourne to discuss the need for the Attorney General of Victoria to reform suppression orders to improve transparency and Open Justice. We followed up with the release of this press release.
One of the next issues the Press Club will be discussing is around free speech, when our chair Michael Bachelard speaks on a panel after a screening at the Nova of Silenced, a film which follows international human rights lawyer and free speech defender Jennifer Robinson's fight for survivors of gender-based violence to tell their story. Members – please email us for a chance to win a double pass to see the film and panel on 3 September. (Renew or check your membership here.)
We also attended the launch of the final report from the Australian Local News Resilience Project (ALNR) at Deakin Downtown, which discusses the issues of news deserts in regional Australia, and the development of the Australian Local News Proximity Index to map media outlets and assess how well communities are actually served by local news.
We have a number of exciting events in the calendar which are open for bookings:
More on these events below.
The Melbourne Press Club Trivia night at the Carlton Brewhouse in Abbotsford was a hoot last year, when the Conversation team took out the coveted first prize. We're thrilled to confirm that it will return to the same venue on Thursday November 19, so please save the date.
And keep an eye out for the announcement of events coming up this year that promote key principles of democracy – medical-based science, a trusted election process, a free press and open Justice.
See you at one of our events soon,
Patrick Donovan
MPC CEO
Michael Gordon Fellowships
Two more MG Fellowship stories published
– Coming up...
Masterclass: Business Reporting
9 September 2026
6pm – 8pm
From the outside, the world of business can look remote and inaccessible. It has its own language, and often, its own rules. So how do journalists crack that code? How do they find the stories and make them relevant and engaging?
In a rare opportunity, we have two of Australia’s finest business journalists – Adele Ferguson and Chris Gillett – discussing their award-winning partnership, and revealing how they identify the stories, what groundwork they do, how they plan and then deliver meaningful and often, ground breaking, business journalism.
The panel will also feature Leona Goh (Risk Consulting Partner at Grant Thornton), and our moderator Emily Barrett (Managing Editor, The Saturday Paper).
Learn more and book
Presented with Grant Thornton Australia
The Devils in the Detail
10 September 2026
6pm – 8pm
With the Tassie Devils football teams set to enter the AFL in 2028, and interest in the club reaching fever pitch since the ABC's satirical TV series on the club's formation Ground Up, everyone wants to hear what CEO Brendan Gale has planned next.
Who will they recruit? How is the stadium tracking? Can they bridge the fierce north-south rivalry and unite the state? What will the theme song sound like?
Come and hear from the Devils CEO himself, as well as award-winning footy journalist Caroline Wilson.
Learn more and book
The Edit: Footy journalism at 7NEWS
15 September 2026
6pm for 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Hear from 7NEWS presenter Rebecca Maddern, chief football reporter Mitch Cleary and meet other members of 7NEWS team from on-air and off-air.
They'll share insights into their broadcast journalism journeys.
See 7's newsroom in action while the flagship 6pm Melbourne bulletin is going live to air.
Book now
Please note: as this event has limited capacity, priority will be given to those who didn't attend last year. Those who attended last year are welcome to book, but will be placed on a waitlist and have their ticket cost refunded should this event reach capacity.
Westside Stories Business, Politics and Community Summit
1 October 2026
9am for 9.30am – 1pm
It's growing faster than many other parts of the country. It's got history, diversity and energy, but just how much do we really understand about what makes Melbourne's western suburbs such a vibrant part of our city?
Have we fallen into some of the old cliches and stereotypes about the west? What are the different stories we can tell and who can tell them best? Should there be a Minister for the West?
In the lead-up to the 2026 Victorian election, the Melbourne Press Club, with support of Melbourne Airport, takes a look at some of the key issues that will shape the region in the next decade – from data centres to freeways, from media to housing – and asks the politicians about their upcoming plans.
Book now
A N Smith Lecture in Journalism
Industrialised deception: the media's truth crisis
In a world where fake content is becoming indistinguishable from reality, join award-winning journalist Craig Silverman to explore what this new media landscape demands of journalists, media organisations and audiences – and how do we protect our ability to know what, and who, to trust?
Register for your free ticket
Note: the A N Smith Lecture in Journalism is hosted by the University of Melbourne. Queries should be directed to the university.
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