We Used to be Journos

In this special episode of Only Fran Jan chats to author Sarah Wilson about the rising sense of dis-ease she has about the world. With so much upheaval and uncertainty - how is one to navigate a world that feels like it's, well, collapsing? In this conversion they talk about collapse - what it means, how Sarah came to the idea, the difficulty of accepting some hard truths about the world, that things will get worse before they get better, and ultimately what a new world can look like and what is needed to get there. Sarah's new book is I Eat The Stars and you can follow her on Substack

Should we be worried about Pauline Hanson’s latest poll surge? The Etterati asked, so we separate genuine trends from poll hysteria.We also unpack the shocking moment a radio boss groped his employee on stage at Australia’s biggest audio awards night - we saw it happen!Plus, a 25-year-old woman moved to Australia, started a new job, and weeks later she was dead. Her family is demanding answers, protests have been held, and questions have been raised in Kenya's parliament — so why has Australian media not covered it?And finally, Jan recommends a powerful essay on how the press helped manufacture consent for Gaza’s genocide, while Antoinette finds an unlikely antidote to Karl Stefanovic's podcast pivot.Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis counselling in Australia: 13 11 14 Meriton Group statement received after podcast record: “Meriton was very saddened by this unfortunate incident. We take such matters seriously and give priority to ensuring that these matters are adequately investigated by NSW Police. We have been informed that NSW Police is treating this incident as a self-harm incident."Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber here.If you want to see our mugs as we yap you can watch the episode in full here.

This week the Teals were chatting about forming a new political party designed - in part - to counter the rise of Pauline Hanson and the far right.This got Jan Fran wondering about the other colour-specific party that’s supposed to be doing that: the Greens. As she watches the rise of the far right with abject terror Jan wonders why the Australian Greens haven't quite made the same inroads as their UK counterparts and what it might take for them to do so. SUPPORT ETTE MEDIA: and subscribe.

In this episode, Jan and Antoinette explore why flotilla activists trying to break Israel’s illegal blockade are finally getting media attention, and look at how one interview took a very bizarre turn. We explain why the largest mining company in the world is suing the small independent outfit Michael West Media and why you’ve probably not seen much about it.Plus we give you an inside look at the Sydney Writers Festival and examine the latest Murdoch media purchase by the apparently “good” Murdoch brother, James. Antoinette gives her yes to a premium niche Aussie newspaper making a return to print, while Jan appreciates writers’ festivals showing more bravery. BUY Women Who Win here.JOIN ONLINE BOOK CLUB event with Australia Institute this Friday.SUPPORT Ette Media.

This week One Nation’s Pauline Hanson released a policy that will see more gas industry’s money flow to the public purse. It sounded… legit. And that’s got Jan Fran worried.SUPPORT ETTE MEDIA by becoming a subscriber here.

Novara Media's Ash Sarkar knows a thing or two about starting (and growing!) an independent media company.In this special episode, the British journalist and author sits down with Antoinette Lattouf for a conversation about independent media, political journalism and the danger of "audience capture".They unpack the rise of indie media in the UK, failures of the BBC, “objectivity” in journalism, and whether mainstream media can still hold power to account.Plus: Ash’s defamation win and the pressures facing independent outlets in the age of AI.Subscribe to Ette Media to support independent media.Follow Ash Sarkar on Instagram.Buy her book Minority Rule. Shout out to Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio for hosting us in their studios.

This week, Jan Fran examines the Albanese government’s attempt to sell its federal budget like a brand campaign — inviting influencers to pitch for access to the budget lock-up alongside journalists. It’s also an exploration of the line between “newsfluencers” and journalists, and what that means for political media in Australia.Become a subscriber of Ette Media.

In this special episode of We Used To Be Journos, Antoinette unpacks her new book Women Who Win through the lens of media literacy, power and representation.Yes, they get into Antoinette’s own headline-making battle — but this episode goes far beyond one story. Drawing on interviews with 30 women, alongside the stories of trailblazing Australian women no longer with us, the conversation explores how women in public life are framed by the media during their fights, their failures, and even their victories.From media smears to myth-making, this is a conversation about power, narrative control, and the women who kept going anyway.GRAB A COPY Women Who Win.MEET ANTOINETTE ON HER book tour across Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne Perth, Margaret River and Sydney.Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber here.If you want to see our mugs as we yap you can watch the episode in full here.