'Small but mighty': our journalists reflect on their time with Pro Bono News

We’ve heard what your favourite stories are, now hear from our journalists!

Today, after more than 20 years, Pro Bono News draws to a close.

Over that time Pro Bono News has been the voice of the for-purpose sector, and our journalists have been at the forefront of reporting on its news, its successes, its challenges and its changes.

We asked some of our journalists (past and present) to reflect on their time with us and share with us their favourite Pro Bono stories. Here is what they said.

Nikki Stefanoff

Nikki was a journalist for Pro Bono News from 2021 to 2022. Since leaving the newsroom she’s gone on to join Today Design, one of Australia’s first B Corps, as a content strategist. 

Australia’s first eating disorder recovery facility set to open on the Sunshine Coast

This is a story I’ve thought a lot about since first writing it. I remember at the time being blown away by the passion of the team at Wandi Nerida and, at the same time, shocked at how little support is available for people living with eating disorders. Every state should have at least one Wandi Nerida. 

Why I became a B Corp: Marnie Hawson

I wrote a lot of stories about B Corps during my time with Pro Bono News but my favourite will always be the one-woman B Corp powerhouse that is Marnie Hawson. Hawson demonstrates that you don’t have to be a big business to make an impact. 

Compostable cling wrap that breaks down faster than orange peel

Since writing this story, Jordy and Julia Kay’s Great Wrap has gone from strength to strength. Every time I read about another sustainable business ball they’ve knocked out of the park, I feel so thrilled for them because I remember talking to them about their ideas and goals when I interviewed them for this piece. 

Luke Michael

Luke worked at Pro Bono News from August 2017 to February 2022. Since leaving Pro Bono he has gone on to work as a digital communications coordinator for Kinetic.

A sad and sorry history of Newstart

I really enjoyed putting together this analysis of the unemployment benefit payment and the battle to raise the rate. There wasn’t really an article like it at the time and it resonated with a lot of people.

Charity Advocates Ask – What is Dr Gary Johns Hiding?

I think this was a good example of the kind of sector-specific journalism Pro Bono News excelled at, giving readers a glimpse of the troubles plaguing the ACNC under Dr Johns’ leadership.

Why are so many older Australian women becoming homeless?

This story – looking at the human face of Australia’s homelessness crisis – made a strong impact on our audience, and I was proud to see it selected as a finalist at the Victorian Homelessness Media Awards.

Maggie Coggan

Maggie worked at Pro Bono News from August 2018 to April 2022. She is now working as the communications and PR coordinator for Victoria Daly Regional Council, covering five remote communities in the Northern Territory. She works closely with the council and community members to share the unique stories from this part of the country. 

Look how far we’ve come: Corporate social responsibility

Doing a deep-dive on how far corporate social responsibility has come in Australia was no easy task, and was one of the most challenging pieces I tackled during my time at Pro Bono. But taking the time to look at the history of corporate giving, its challenges, successes, and how far it has to go was fascinating and I hope valuable for the social sector.

The hairdressers on the frontline of the fight against domestic violence

I loved this article because it is representative of small-scale, grassroots social change that takes place so frequently in the social change space. One person saw a problem, and came up with a solution that has the potential to change the course of someone’s life. These unique, people-centric stories were something I loved about working at Pro Bono, and I feel lucky to have been able to shine a light on issues that would otherwise be missed in mainstream media. 

We need to talk about racism in philanthropy

Racism in philanthropy continues to be a dark shadow of the sector, and while one article certainly doesn’t do the issue justice, I really loved interviewing the brave people working tirelessly to change the narrative. The social sector – while doing a lot of amazing things – has much to grapple with when it comes to fair representation and not shutting out the people it’s meant to be helping. Pro Bono News’ role in highlighting such issues is one of the reasons why it played such an important part in shaping the sector, and why it will be sorely missed.

Ellie Cooper 

Ellie worked at Pro Bono News from July 2015 to March 2017. She’s now a social worker in the family violence sector.

Family Violence Royal Commission Report ‘To Change Everything’

I remember clearly coming together with the (small but mighty) Pro Bono News team to capture the voices of the sector reacting to Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence. It felt like a watershed moment. 

When Charities Need to Break the Law

The Australian Governance Summit may sound like a dry event to some, but this panel discussion grappling with the tension charities face between abiding by the law and working in alignment with their values was fascinating to me. 

Brewing a Message in a Can

I loved writing about social enterprise in my time at Pro Bono News, and Sparkke brewery was a standout. It’s a women-run business in a male-dominated industry, producing a sustainable (and delicious) product with a social justice message.

Danielle Kutchel

Danielle began at Pro Bono News in April 2022. She is currently on the hunt for a new role but until then will continue freelancing in for-purpose and disability-related news.

“My time with Pro Bono News was too short, but I’ve been able to pack so many important stories in. I feel so privileged to have been trusted with them, and I’d like to thank readers and those in the sector for getting in touch and being so welcoming and open. Whittling them down to just three was very hard, but here are some of my more recent favourites,” she said.

How much would it cost to end homelessness? We’ve got the answer.

This was one of my final stories for Pro Bono News and I think it’s a really good example of the sort of journalism we excelled in — thinking bigger, going beyond the major headlines and challenging what people think about social issues. 

“You have no rights”: the refugees left behind

As a journalist my priority is always to centre lived experience and tell people’s stories in their own words. Pro Bono News always made space for these sorts of stories. Again, this article extended the narrative on a piece of news that had vanished from the mainstream news cycle and offered extra insights into a key piece of Australia’s refugee policy.

Australian NGOs enabling disability-inclusive disaster prep in Pacific

As someone with lived experience, disability issues are close to my heart. This was a follow-up to another story I wrote last year, and I love the way it draws together the lived experience of people with disability on the ground, and the work of Australian NGOs to try and combat a pretty horrific issue — and one that is only becoming more and more vital to address as the climate crisis ramps up.

Ruby Kraner-Tucci

Ruby joined Pro Bono News in September 2022. With the publication wrapping up she is working as a freelancer and looking forward to a period of travel later this year.

“While my time at Pro Bono News may have been short, it was ever so sweet. I feel privileged to have been trusted to deliver sector-specific news to our incredible readership, and to share meaningful stories of passion, commitment and drive to make our communities better,” she said.

EXCLUSIVE: Meet the new ACNC commissioner

One highlight of my reporting was following the appointment of Sue Woodward as the new Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission head, which involved this exclusive sit-down addressing her hopes for the regulator’s future.

ChatGPT, generative AI and the future of the for-purpose sector

Exploring the impact of generative AI, including ChatGPT, on the for-purpose sector was a really interesting undertaking, particularly as the technology continues to advance – making a strong case for charities to invest in this space.

Burying our preconceptions about funerals

My favourite part of my job has been speaking with the leaders of charities and social enterprises, and using our platform to highlight their fight to create systemic change. My recent conversation with Jennifer Briscoe-Hough, general manager of not-for-profit funeral service Tender Funerals, about her mission to make funerals more accessible and affordable continues to stay with me.