Billi FitzSimons recently shared news of her appointment as editor of The Daily Aus. While she has faced some criticism for it, the daughter of Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons made it clear her focus is on delivering the best quality of journalism for her audience.
FitzSimons spoke to Mediaweek about her vision for the publication in the year ahead, No Silly Questions podcast, and what she’s learnt following in the footsteps of her famous parents.
The 24-year-old joined The Daily Aus in September as a political reporter last year before being promoted to editor six months into the role.
While she is only a few weeks into the new position, she said that the transition from reporter to editor has happened “quite naturally” for her.
“I think editing is something that I’ve always been quite interested in, and I was lucky enough that it’s something that I’ve been able to explore while I’ve been here, and I was starting to explore it.”
FitzSimons noted that as a small team of eight people, she would often help with editing alongside the publication’s co-founder Zara Seidler.
“She would get me to help out editing here and there. It’s been challenging, but also exciting.”
FitzSimons explained that the publication’s focus on connecting with a young audience and breaking down the news in a simple and easy to understand way drives her passion for the role.
“It is all hands on deck. We all help out where we can,” FitzSimons said of the team.
“I think that the beauty of working for such a small company is you learn so quickly. I’m not just doing one thing. I’m not just at a desk all day. I’m helping wherever I can. That’s something that I loved about working for The Daily Aus, just how collaborative it is and how supportive it is, and we’re all just here to learn.”
In the year ahead, the publication will focus on the upcoming federal election and the Budget in Canberra, which she and political journalist Tom Crowley are gearing up for next week.
FitzSimons said: “We’re super excited about it and committed to bringing the audience with us through multi-platform explanatory journalism. We’re want to break down politics to young people, and it’s an incredible time to do that with the federal election coming out with the Budget next week.
“We’re super excited to be in the Budget lockup and do the best we can in analysing what comes out and explaining it to our audience,” she said.
FitzSimons also shared that her role includes producing and presenting the newly launched podcast, No Silly Questions.
She explained that the series deconstructs and presents big issues and concepts in Australian politics and policy to its younger listenership and features interviews with politicians.
“I think that’s a unique opportunity for our audience to hear directly from politicians. For a lot of our audience, that will be the first kind of touchpoint of hearing from a politician on specific policy,” she said, adding that they ensure politicians take part in simple discussion without the jargon.
So far, the audience response to No Silly Questions has been positive; she said: “We are a team of young people, and so our priority is speaking across to our audience of young people and not speaking down to them. I think that’s resonated with the audience.
“We understand because we’re their age, so we reflect our audience, and I think that that’s the biggest thing that we’ve got from the responses,” she added.
Her passion for journalism stems from her parents – The Project host Lisa Wilkinson and Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons – who she credited for teaching and instilling the value of working hard from a young age.
“Seeing my parents work as hard as they have instilled in me how important that is. People are entitled to their opinions, and all I can do is focus on what my output is. So I’m just focused on the hard work,” she said.
While many praised her appointment as editor, some critics were quick to make harsh comments and opinions on social media.
Billi FitzSimons said: “I would be lying if I said, I’ve ignored it, I haven’t. But I completely understand that people are entitled to their opinions.
“My focus is on delivering the best quality journalism that I can and leading this team of incredible young journalists,” she defiantly added.
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