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Investigative journo Paul Barry joins Crikey

Investigative journalist Paul Barry has joined independent online publisher Crikey in a full time role with a brief to deliver off diary stories.

Barry, a veteran of the ABC and Sydney Morning Herald, told Mumbrella: “I’ll be digging about. I guess it’s the sort of thing I might have done for Four Corners. I’m interested in power and how it works.”  

Barry is the author of several books about media and establishment figures including The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond, The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer and Rich Kids, which covered the notorious collapse of One.Tel.

Crikey is published by former SMH editor Eric Beecher. Barry is arguably the most experienced investifgative journalist to have been employed by independent media. He said: “It is brave, but Eric is brave.”

Barry, a Walkey winner, declined to say what he would be earning but said it was “in the ballpark or a little less” than a journalist of his experience would earn at News Ltd or Fairfax.

Crikey’s main editorial base is in Melbourne, but Barry will remain in Sydney. Barry said: “I need to talk to the people at Crikey every day, but I don’t need to be there.”

More recently, he guest hosted the ABC’s Media Watch during Jonathan Holmes’ sabbatical.

Beecher said: “We continue to attract outstanding talent who are choosing to leave traditional media platforms to work in the new world of online journalism. Our commitment to going behind the scenes and telling the stories that other media refuse to tell will be further strengthened by the appointment of Paul.”

Amanda Gome, CEO of Crikey’s parent company Private Media told Mumbrella: “When we have a good year we reinvest it into journalism, and we’ve just had a good year. We’ve hit every budget and Crikey is now profitable.”

She said that Crikey has more than 15,000 subscribers. A full price subscription is $160 a year.

Private Media is also advertising for a deputy editor for business site Smart Company, and has more announcements due in the new year, Gome said. The company is also looking for a full time marketing executive.

Crikey editor Sophie Black said: “Crikey has consistently displayed a commitment to investigative journalism, and we’ve pursued this with even more vigour over the last year with our coverage of the federal election, three state elections, several special projects in conjunction with universities and our long-running coverage of WikiLeaks.”

Meanwhile, Crikey has been accredited by the Audit Bureaux of Australia for its online traffic after becoming the latest publisher to ditch autorefresh of its ads.

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