Digital age heralds ‘golden era’ for journalism, says News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller

News Corp Australasia boss Michael Miller has heralded a new golden era of journalism, as media companies continue to adapt to the evolving needs of a more ‘agile’ audience in the digital age.

Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australasia: ‘We are, in many ways, entering a current affairs golden era. And it’s a great time to be a journalist.’ Picture: Liam Kidston.

News Corp Australasia boss Michael Miller has heralded a new golden era of journalism, as media companies and reporters continue to adapt to the evolving needs of a more “agile” audience in the digital age.

Launching NCA’s future series BEYOND ’23, which this year will comprise a book of essays by senior company figures on global issues and trends, as well as a conference in Sydney next week to be attended by leaders from a cross-section of industries, Mr Miller said it was critical that media companies engage in thoughtful discussions on the nation’s “next horizons”.

“Media is normally a good lead indicator of how society and consumers and audiences are changing,” he said.

“Our audiences are becoming more agile. We are no longer routinely reading a daily newspaper and watching the evening news – we as a society are consuming news constantly through multiple devices in multiple ways with multiple views throughout the day.

“Technology has made us far more connected to current affairs, and made us far more likely to engage with it.

“We are, in many ways, entering a current affairs golden era. And it’s a great time to be a journalist.”

 

Mr Miller said next week’s BEYOND ’23 conference in Sydney is the latest chapter in the company’s push to encourage open debates on the emerging issues that are central to all Australians.

“If you look at what News Corp has done over the past five years, our mastheads have been facilitating the big debates, through The Global Food Forum, The Bush Summit, The Bradfield Oration and The Future series, among others,” he said.

“Last year, (through BEYOND ’22) we were looking at what the immediate post-Covid future might look like.

“I don’t see BEYOND ’23 as a continuation of the previous year … this is its own moment in time. New themes are emerging. We ­always need to be able to review and reset.”

The BEYOND ’23 conference will include a panel comprising some of Indigenous Australia’s most prominent leaders discussing the Voice proposal, followed by a session featuring expert demographic analysis based on data from the most recent Census to explore how the nation is changing more rapidly than at any time in our history.

The event will finish with The Australian’s associate editor Cameron Stewart and Australian Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos discussing the US midterm elections, against a backdrop of evolving global economic and military crises.

Mr Miller said the November 8 conference would be the year’s “pinnacle event for Australia’s thought leaders”, featuring senior representatives from the fields of politics (federal, state and local), business, media, technology, higher education, infrastructure, arts and charities.

“BEYOND ’23 reflects our transition from a traditional publisher to broader forums and mediums to enable important discussions,” he said.

“The concept is consistent with what our purpose has always been, but we’re finding new ways of forwarding the conversations.”

Mr Miller said it was particularly encouraging that other media companies were engaging with the event. “The wider media has a role to seek to ask the difficult questions, to be curious, to aim higher, but also to encourage others to aim higher.”