Impact Report This photo is part of Nick Moir’s Walkley-winning photographic essay, Firestorm. Contents 2 Introduction 19 Coronavirus by the numbers 3 Unprecedented year of growth 22 NSW state politics 4 Stories with impact 24 Australia-China relations 5 Secrets of War 26 US election 6 Dyson Heydon controversy 27 Bushfires 7 icare investigation 29 Environment 8 Crown Unmasked 31 Opinion 10 NSW regional hospitals 32 The Dalarinji Project 11 Blacktown hospital deaths 33 Life 13 Toxic property deal 34 Good Weekend 14 Sports rorts (Bridget McKenzie) 37 Photography 15 The Bribe Factory (Unaoil) 41 Awards 17 Global pandemic The Sydney Morning Herald Impact Report 2020 1 Introduction It’s been one of the most challenging years on record for the media, but The Sydney Morning Herald has finished 2020 even stronger than we started. Readers came in droves for our coverage of the unprecedented summer bushfire crisis, but even more stayed with us for the global pandemic. Why? Because the Herald puts the reader at the centre of everything we do. Our 24-hour coverage of COVID-19 gave readers the vital information they needed, while the diverse opinion, analysis and context kept people engaged in the issues. Beyond the pervading story of the pandemic, the year has showcased the Herald’s journalism as fearless but fair; we tackle issues from all sides of the argument and pursue stories that matter most to both our local communities and our national identity. We continue to place high value on our investigative journalism because it’s our job to hold our most powerful institutions and people to account. While our competitors at home and abroad have cut jobs and costs, we have not. Rather, the Herald has delivered record growth with a 20 per cent rise in our subscriber base. We have maintained our firm grip on the #1 spot as the country’s most-read masthead across print and online, with more than 9 million readers in September alone; double the size of the audiences of both The Daily Telegraph and The Australian. The support of our subscribers has allowed us to invest in public interest journalism that has made a difference, whether it was uncovering a toxic land deal in western Sydney, alleged war crimes in Afghanistan or a sports rorts scandal in Canberra. Investigative journalism is expensive and legally fraught, but our commitment to it differentiates us from our competitors. Reader response to our bushfire crisis led us to create a five-member climate and environment team at home, and we retained correspondents abroad in London, Asia and the United States. We did this all without compromising our local coverage, even increasing the size of our reporting team on Macquarie Street, adding an Indigenous affairs reporter and photographer, while maintaining dedicated teams on health, education, crime, courts and urban affairs. The strength in the Herald’s newsroom is unmistakable. This year may have been an anomaly, but whatever challenges 2021 brings we’ll help you understand the biggest issues and navigate the world’s complexities with incisive, independent, fact-based journalism you trust. Lisa Davies, editor The Sydney Morning Herald Impact Report 2020 2 An unprecedented year of growth 7 comment moderators who #1 20% 93,888 articles published more than Country’s most-read masthead increase in the number of published this year, including across print and online paying subscribers, that 1,316,138 supported the work of… New positions 64 national 23 business including: 451 43 sports • National environment team staff members nationally, including: • Indigenous photographer + reporter • 341 journalists, photographers, editors, 21 world • Reader editor videographers, magazine and production staff 20 opinion • Newsletter editor 18 culture • 58 national news team members, across • Five trainees given full-time positions federal politics, business, environment and world • 52 national life team members, across culture, lifestyle, Good Food and Traveller 18 politics 23,285 10 lifestyle subscriber-only 1,180,183 2 healthcare event streams newsletters delivered each week 2 technology 3 education 1 explainer 2 money 4,195,627 2 environment Please Explain podcast downloads articles published every day comments in 2020 The Sydney Morning Herald Impact Report 2020 3 Our journalism led to... Secrets Crown Unaoil - The Sports rorts Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie of War Unmasked Bribe Factory resigning as Federal Sports Minister. The most significant inquiry in recent The excoriating of Crown Resorts over The arrest of a senior corporate figure military history into alleged war governance failings before a public inquiry and warrants issued for two others linked crimes committed by a small clique and Crown delaying the opening of its new to a global bribery scandal involving the of SAS soldiers in Afghanistan, with hotel and casino in Barangaroo after its Australian corporate behemoth Leighton allegations against 19 individuals directors and executives admitted to serious Blacktown Holdings (now CIMIC). referred to the soon-to-be-established wrongdoing. office of the special investigator for Hospital criminal investigation. deaths NSW regional Party Games Dyson Heydon Blacktown Hospital’s obstetricians The resignation of Liberal Party threaten to resign en masse before hospitals factional figures and a Liberal securing a dedicated operating controversy Party of Victoria investigation into theatre for obstetrics procedures An “urgent review” of sexual NSW parliament launching an inquiry into branchstacking; the corruption while nurses and midwives walked harassment processes in the justice regional and rural hospitals; the Health watchdog examining the allegations for out demanding better staffing and system, ordered by the NSW Attorney- Minister ordering an independent review abuses of taxpayer funds. safer conditions; the local health General, and the NSW Supreme Court into one patient’s death and the treatment district agreeing to implement the appointing an independent adviser to of another three patients; and a local doctor, recommendations of a review of its handle sexual harassment complaints. due to be replaced by telehealth services, obstetrics services. being reinstated. The Faceless icare Toxic Man investigation The removal of three Victorian state cabinet property deal ministers as Labor’s national executive The resignation of the icare CEO, three intervened in the Victorian division to icare directors including the chairman, The referral of a toxic land deal to the preselect state and federal candidates and the NSW Treasurer’s chief of staff, NSW Auditor-General and anti-corruption until 2023; anti-corruption watchdog plus a parliamentary inquiry into the watchdog ICAC as well as the resignation of IBAC launching a major inquiry with the workers compensation scheme. Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples. Ombudsman. The Sydney Morning Herald Impact Report 2020 4 Secrets of War “Public interest journalism is It is hard to think of a more consequential series of stories The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have published in their 364 not a popularity contest and years of combined history than the investigation into allegations cliques of elite Special Air Service Regiment soldiers committed sometimes the most important war crimes in Afghanistan. When investigative reporters Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters stories are contentious and suggested looking into potential SAS misconduct in Afghanistan in 2017, senior editors expressed the same concerns many uncomfortable.” readers had when they first heard the allegations. How can we be sure these alleged crimes occurred? Were the actions of soldiers justifiable “in the fog of war”? Should we judge brave soldiers fighting in unimaginably tough conditions? A turning point was when McKenzie played back confidential, anonymised interviews with SAS whistleblowers. It was clear listening to their testimony that they themselves had no time for “fog of war” arguments. The whistleblowers were vindicated when the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Paul Brereton, found credible evidence 19 Australian special forces soldiers committed up to 39 murders of innocent Afghans. Now those current or former soldiers will face criminal investigation, possible prosecution and the stripping of their medals. Public interest journalism is not a popularity contest and sometimes the most important stories are contentious and uncomfortable. McKenzie’s moving Good Weekend feature about Dusty Miller, an SAS combat medic haunted by what he saw in Afghanistan, encapsulates why this difficult investigation was so important. James Chessell, executive editor Chief of the Defence Force, Angus Campbell. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen The Sydney Morning Herald Impact Report 2020 5 Dyson Heydon controversy When the Herald broke the news that former recommended the AFP investigate High Court judge Dyson Heydon was found allegations of indecent assault against by an independent inquiry to have sexually Heydon. No charges have been laid. harassed six women at the court, the impact The former judge did not renew his was “seismic”, according to one of Sydney’s barrister’s practising certificate and his top silks. name disappeared from the website of the We revealed the findings of the High Court top Sydney chambers where he had spent investigation, along with exclusive testimony much of his career. Federal Attorney- from the victims who had fought for justice General Christian Porter asked anyone who for years. The effects of