Media Movers: News Corp appoints Fiona Connolly, Fagerström Inc., New Triple j hosts, marie claire, Brisbane Times

Posted on 12 August 2023

Media Movers takes a look at the recent movements announced across the industry during the week of 7/8/23

Media Movers across the industry include:

• Vanessa Gibson has started at SEN as news director, based in Queensland.

• XXVI, part of branding agency Principals, has announced a raft of promotions to support the growth of new and existing client projects.

With a team of 13 spread across Melbourne and Sydney, the brand voice consultancy – launched in 2005 – has cornered the market on strategic brand voice and communications development working with companies including NAB, Telstra and Jetstar.

• Matilda Rudd has started a new role as the deputy commercial editor at 7NEWS.

• Based in Canberra, Sarah Basford Canales has joined The Guardian as a political reporter.

• Jerker Fagerström has launched his new business venture, Fagerström Inc. after announcing his departure from Thinkerbell.

Fagerström took to LinkedIn on Wednesday to share news of his departure from the Melbourne-based independent advertising agency, where he was appointed to the newly created position of managing partner eight months ago.

• Joe Attanasio has joined Yahoo as a senior news producer.

• Natasha May has switched from a live blogger at The Guardian to now a health reporter.

• Nine Publishing has revealed the refreshed brand identity for the Brisbane Times.

Part of the revamp for the publication includes increased investment in an expanded editorial team, refreshed brand identity, a stunning marketing campaign and a new vigour to provide Queenslanders with news like never before.

With numerous new editorial hires, including food and culture editor Matt Shea, city reporter Courtney Kruk and sport seporter Nick Wright, Brisbane Times will set a new benchmark in local news for a changing, progressive city. As Brisbane becomes a growth area with a Gen Z demographic, the investment in the masthead in the lead-up to the Olympics in 2032 will ensure the region is served with world-class journalism into the future.

• Marc Churches has started as a senior digital content producer at 2GB.

• News Corp Australia has announced the appointment of Fiona Connolly as head of lifestyle networks

In this new role for the Editorial Innovation Centre (EIC), she will be responsible for maximising audience engagement for the media company’s lifestyle journalism across all masthead channels.

Connolly will work closely with the editorial teams of the publisher’s lifestyle brands, including Taste.com.au, delicious., Escape, Body+Soul, Kidspot, Stellar, Vogue Australia, GQ Australia, as well as the News, Sport and Business Networks and real estate teams to ensure the best content reaches the widest possible audience and is more discoverable on multiple platforms.

• The Townsville Bulletin has welcomed Cas Garvey as their newly appointed editor.

• Triple J has announced Abby Butler and Tyrone Pynor will take over hosting duties on Triple J Drive from Friday, August 11.

Abby (24) & Tyrone (24) are no strangers to the afternoon slot; they’ve been at the helm of Friday Drive since the beginning of 2023. Listeners will already know their faces from triple j’s Sydney World Pride and Mardi Gras coverage, or that time they searched for the tallest person at Splendour In The Grass, and when they uncovered the baddest Grandma of them all while chatting with Eliza Rose at Groovin the Moo.

• Alex Darling has been welcomed by ABC News Breakfast in Melbourne as a producer.

• Bruce Hill is now a senior journalist at The Australian Jewish News.

• Are Media has announced the appointment of Georgie Abay as editor of its market-leading fashion and beauty brand, marie claire, effective 11 September 2023.

An experienced editor, journalist, author, podcaster and entrepreneur, who has worked across the globe from London to Dubai to Sydney, Georgie joins Are Media most recently from MECCA Brands, where she was the acting head of content & editorial strategy before moving onto content manager for M-Power, the company’s social-change programme that focuses on the advancement of gender equality.

• Concrete Playground Melbourne has welcomed David Allegretti where he’ll be planning, writing, and producing organic and branded content.

• Jeremy Fernandez, one of the ABC’s most accomplished presenters and journalists, is to take up the post as main anchor of the NSW 7PM News.

Already well-known to the NSW 7PM audience as a weekend presenter, from Monday 11 September, Fernandez will present the bulletin five nights a week. He takes the baton from Juanita Phillips after her outstanding two decades in the role.

• Olivia Condous has started as a lifestyle writer at Time Out Melbourne.

• Adam Murray has been promoted to sports editor at NBN News Newcastle.

• Bastion Reputation has recognised and rewarded three experienced staff with promotions to new positions in a move that further reinforces the firm’s continued growth and is a statement of intent for the year ahead.

Former elite sports senior communicator and journalist, Jeremy Arnold, has been promoted to the new role of associate principal consultant and joins the corporate affairs agency’s senior leadership group.