It’s always exciting to return to a place that has played such a significant role in your own story. A place full of memories, familiar faces and milestones. This week that place was Brisbane as we officially launched the 2026 #MeetTheMedia national tour, and what a way to start.
It had been far too long since #MeetTheMedia visited Queensland. After a false start last year, returning with a sold-out event at The Warehouse in Fortitude Valley made it all the more rewarding. From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric.
With eight leading media professionals representing print, radio, television and digital across both commercial and non-commercial media, there was something for everyone. The venue, the production, the refreshments, the media, and most importantly, the attendees, all combined to create a first-class event. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin the 2026 season.
The opening panel featured Mia Glover, Georgia Holland and Madura McCormack. Three outstanding journalists who set the tone with honest, practical advice about what it really takes to work with the media. Mia apologised in advance for being direct, but the audience didn’t see it that way. They appreciated the honesty. It was the reality check many needed. Georgia and Madura gave a fascinating insight into the daily workings of a newsroom and explained exactly what makes a story worth pursuing.
The second panel kept the momentum rolling with Halina Baczkowski, Madeline Larsen and Jade Richardson. Halina spoke passionately about the power of regional stories and why they so often become national conversations. Jade highlighted the multi-skilled life of today’s journalist, where no two days are ever the same. Madeline, wearing both presenter and journalist hats, shared what captures her attention for both local and national news audiences.
The final panel included Jason Matthews, fresh from his breakfast show, and James Willis. Their discussion centred on local and national storytelling, the stories that matter, the stories that connect, and how to package them for today’s media. Their humour, chemistry and genuine passion for journalism were obvious and appreciated by everyone in the room.
Before morning tea, we heard from Jacqueline Brooker from The Business of Speaking, who shared valuable insights into helping speakers and experts become more confident and effective communicators both on and off the stage. It reinforced a message we firmly believe; every expert is a potential speaker and every speaker is a potential media expert.
Morning tea wasn’t just about the coffee. The room was buzzing with conversations, introductions and new connections. The energy was infectious and it genuinely felt like the networking could have continued all day.
Then came what many consider the most challenging part of #MeetTheMedia, the speed networking workshops. Every attendee had just 90 seconds to introduce themselves, pitch a story, or seek advice from the journalists around the tables. It was fast paced, occasionally nerve-wracking and filled with plenty of laughs. Jason Matthews even conducted his final conversations standing up so he could make a quick exit for an outside broadcast.
We wrapped up the day with a final debrief from the media panel, offering one last round of practical tips and observations. The journalists spoke highly of the calibre of attendees and the quality of the story ideas they’d heard throughout the day. Even after the formal program finished, many stayed back to continue conversations and mentor those wanting to improve their media approach.
Brisbane has always held a special place in the Media Stable story. At one stage it was our second-largest membership base outside Perth and the launching pad for experts such as Olivia Maragna and Sel Watts, who both built outstanding media careers. It’s exciting to see our presence in Queensland growing again, and we look forward to welcoming more experts into the Media Stable community.
The national tour is now officially underway.
If you’re planning to join us in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide, I would encourage you to secure your ticket sooner rather than later. Places are limited and they’re filling quickly. I look forward to seeing many more of you in the media over the months ahead.
By Nic Hayes, Managing Director of Media Stable
