Billi FitzSimons has been promoted to editor of The Daily Aus, continuing her family’s legacy in journalism.
The 24-year-old, the daughter of The Project host Lisa Wilkinson and Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons, announced the news in a post on her LinkedIn last week.
She kept news of her promotion brief: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as editor at The Daily Aus!”
FitzSimons joined the publication in September 2021 as a political journalist.
She previously worked under Mia Freedman at Mamamia for four years. She began at the publication as an editorial intern in 2017 before becoming employed as an editorial assistant.
FitzSimons’ talent saw her move up to news writer before being promoted to senior news writer in April 2021.
She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), Government and International Relations, Digital Cultures in 2019.
In her new role as editor, FitzSimons will be responsible for helping guide the publication’s editorial output of engaging news content for its audience of young Australians.
Her promotion comes after The Daily Aus launched the election podcast series Young, Dumb & Informed last year, which FitzSimons hosted.
In the series, she examined four issues – housing affordability, climate policy, mental health, and Indigenous recognition in the political system – that young people need to care about in Australia.
FitzSimons explored these topics from three different perspectives of the political spectrum and how those perspectives play out in the real world.
Billi FitzSimons said: “How traditional media delivers news to young people, and how we actually want to consume the news, are at odds with each other. Young, Dumb & Informed moves away from jargon and assumed knowledge and instead focuses on the context needed to understand the basics of election-defining topics.”
The series also features in-depth interviews with key politicians, experts, and advocates, with notable subjects including Liberal MP David Coleman, Labor MP Emma McBride, and Greens leader Adam Bandt.
A new podcast series by The Daily Aus has been launched called No Silly Questions, releasing new episodes from March 23.