In case you’re not across it, Storyology is the brainchild of Australian journalism royalty the Walkley Foundation – so you know it’s the real deal. This year, the team has gathered some of the industry’s most brilliant minds to go behind the headlines we see every day and explain what makes great journalism great. Whether you’re curious about the process, appreciate fine storytelling or just love sinking your teeth into the truth, this is the festival for you. When it comes to the Storyology offering, patrons are spoilt for choice with a fantastic array of events happening over the course of the festival. Friday night’s opening panel brings together Trent Dalton, George Negus, Lenore Taylor and Melissa Lucashenko to chat about the books that changed their lives, which is a great segue into Saturday’s jam-packed schedule.
The main day of Storyology kicks off with Saturday Morning with the Papers, where guests such as cartoonist Sean Leahy, Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist Mark Schoofs (of BuzzFeed News fame) and local powerhouses Lenore Taylor, Danielle Cronin and Paula Doneman join forces to give audiences the inside scoop of how the news is made. This will be followed by a show-and-tell session with Sydney Morning Herald chief photographer Nick Moir, as he takes audiences through the finer points of dramatic weather shots in Shooting the Storm. Prepare for some serious inspiration during Power shifts: Identity, diversity, #MeToo, where a kickass panel of fierce women moderated by ABC’s Cathie Schnitzerling and including Catherine Fox, Rachel Hancock and Bri Lee will talk about large-scale change and the people leading the charge. Finish your day off with Killer Stories, where an all-star panel (including The Teacher’s Pet host Hedley Thomas) will dissect and discuss the compelling nature of the true crime genre and its particular suitability to podcasts.
Want to open your mind? You can grab tickets to Storyology through Eventbrite.