SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
Today’s note comes to you from the Herald’s newly opened Parramatta bureau.
At the desk behind me, bureau chief Anthony Segaert is finalising a project exploring an intensifying war about who gets to speak for western Sydney – particularly as the region’s economic, cultural and political power skyrockets.
Next to him, reporter Ellie Busby is writing a story about 14 amateur sleuths spending a huge amount of time trying to get to the bottom of one of Sydney’s favourite urban legends: the Blue Mountains Panther.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Parramatta bureau team: Mostafa Rachwani, Anthony Segaert and Ellie Busby.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
From the desk next to me, reporter Mostafa Rachwani recently published this great first look at the Parramatta Eels’ new $70 million Centre of Excellence, the world’s largest rugby league facility.
Our fabulous little office here above the $3.5 billion Parramatta Square urban renewal project has a view that encapsulates why the Herald has established a dedicated reporting team in the geographic heart of Sydney.
As I type, I can see the new Powerhouse Parramatta (the largest cultural investment in Sydney since the Opera House) rising from the riverbank, and can look down into a huge hole in the ground which will eventually become one of the stations on the Metro West rail line. A little further along, I can see the terrific CommBank Stadium, a real boost for sport in the heart of Parramatta since its opening in 2019. And all around us are new apartment buildings, filled with families and young professionals who are part of a boom that will see the population of the City of Parramatta and its 22 surrounding suburbs climb from 516,000 to 892,000 by 2041.
Anthony, who heads up the new Parramatta bureau, joined the Herald in 2022 and jumped at the chance to move from our North Sydney headquarters. Like Ellie and Mostafa, he’s bursting with ideas and energy about how to make sure our coverage truly reflects everything going on in this exciting part of Sydney.
I thought I’d ask him a few questions about Parramatta. Enjoy!
Anthony, tell me why you were so eager to take on this role?
Two things combined for a perfect job: the first is that I really love Sydney and wanted to keep writing about its future – where better to do that than in the heart of its second major CBD? The second is the chance to start something completely new: setting up a new bureau is any journalist’s dream, and having the chance to do it in an area I really love? As I say, perfect.
The Herald is often seen as overly focused on the eastern suburbs and the north shore. How do we prove to readers in Parramatta that we are serious about covering this part of Sydney?
The perception exists because, for a long time, that’s how we worked. I think journalists are naturally drawn to areas and people of power, and in the past, western Sydney didn’t have a lot. That’s certainly changing, but regardless, a city’s daily paper should cover stories that matter to people in every corner of the city. This is us catching up with a rapidly changing Sydney. The best way to prove we’re serious about covering Parramatta and the west is by showing residents and readers we are taking them seriously. Australian media has long characterised people living “out there” as a singular body of voters, defined only by their race or language. But in reality, this is one of the most nuanced, diverse and exciting places, with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. For us, that means, more than anything, becoming more embedded in our communities and having a real stake in the region’s future.
What can subscribers expect from the team over the coming year?
Subscribers – particularly those living or working in and around Parramatta – should expect to be surprised, intrigued and moved by our storytelling. We’re taking a bit of a start-up approach: we’re here to break stories, be bold and try new things (which will sometimes result in flops – bear with us, and send us feedback).
Can you share some Parramatta tips?
Best coffee: homage. The wonderful Liza runs it as a homage to her brother-in-law, Sam. If you’re ever feeling a bit blue, a visit to homage is a guaranteed cheer-up.
Best lunch: Get a takeaway from anywhere and sit at a table or beanbag in Parramatta Square. Watch a game of giant chess or table tennis, listen to live music, and watch the world go by before popping into one of the nicest public buildings Sydney has recently produced.
Best hidden gem: Sydney Olympic Park cycle paths. Well, maybe not a hidden gem, but certainly an underappreciated part of Sydney and part of the 2000 Olympics’ ongoing legacy.
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