Fireside

09/11/2023

Fireside is proud to be a partner at this year. As part of the partnership we have produced the first-ever printed edition of .au . It’s going down a treat!

18/04/2023

When a team of Aussie innovators developed a new way to generate renewable electricity from the ocean, they knew they had a winner on their hands.

What Wave Swell Energy didn’t have was a way to share their success with the world – especially at a time when solar, wind and batteries were generating all the renewable energy buzz.

To grow, Wave Swell needed to connect with three discrete audiences: governments, the energy sector and prospective project partners. But first the company would have to overcome the complicated legacy that had followed wave energy for years, which made experts and investors wary.

What Wave Swell needed was a new narrative, one that framed wave energy as an exciting opportunity. Enter Fireside.

We worked with Wave Swell to develop a compelling narrative about their technology and the power of the ocean, and then took that story to market via a series of ambitious and engaging announcements.

To do this, we held a workshop to identify the strengths of the company’s unique UniWave technology and define the role wave energy could play in the future energy mix.

Next, we used this narrative to underpin a series of media announcements that went on to attract global print, radio, television and online headlines, creating new interest in the wave energy opportunity and attracting new partners to support Wave Swell Energy’s next deployments.

Does your organisation have a great innovation you want the world to know about? We're here to help. With decades’ worth of experience straddling the worlds of strategic communications and media, we know how to tell stories audiences want to listen to. Get in touch today.

15/02/2023

📻 Tune-in alert! Fireside head honcho Ben Hart was on ABC Radio Melbourne this morning, discussing the week’s media winners and losers with host Ali Moore.

Between Adani and the Sally Rugg/Monique Ryan affair, Ben dove into some interesting research about the Voice to Parliament’s ‘Yes’ campaign. Were they a winner or loser? Listen to this audio clip to find out.

20/12/2022

The call came in the middle of October: could we create a magazine about Australia’s net-zero journey – one featuring insights from some of the biggest names in tech, finance and politics, that reads like something you’d pick up at an airport newsagent and which looks good enough to put on your coffee table?

Our answer, of course, was yes. (“This is what we do” may have been our exact words.) But then came the clincher: could we do all of this in just six weeks, when the Clean Energy Finance Corporation was set to celebrate its 10th anniversary?

The answer, if these pictures don’t give it away, was another resounding yes. And so, many thousands of words and a few late nights later, ‘Towards Zero’ was born. Combining our team’s magazine-making experience and strategic comms nous, the result is a 32-page, high-GSM publication that marks an important milestone in our client’s story.

Does your organisation have a great story you’d like to see captured in a bespoke, high-impact magazine? How about a commemorative book, newsletter or online content hub? With over two decades' worth of editorial experience under our belts and a passion for all things involving the written word, we're here to help.

16/12/2022

When a reporter asked the actor Tom Hiddleston for the rules he lived by, he responded with four short sentences:

“Be kind. Be on time. Take the work seriously. Don't take yourself too seriously."

Those 14 words etched themselves into Fireside founder Ben Hart’s mind when he first heard them. And now they’re stuck to the walls of the Fireside head office, gently reminding us to be nice, to respect other people’s time, to do good work but to enjoy ourselves while we do it.

23/11/2022

It’s always nice to see a local project get picked up by the international media – especially when that media is an internationally read magazine published out of New York City. So we were thrilled to see Jacobin run this piece on Darebin Council’s campaign to save the Preston Market from inappropriate development.

We helped define the narrative at the heart of the Save Preston Market campaign, pitting the market as the heartbeat of Melbourne’s northern suburbs and a cultural asset that should remain in public hands. As Jacobin puts it, the story is “more than a case study in the politics of development. It’s a David and Goliath battle reminiscent of The Castle.”

The article sadly overlooks some of the campaign’s wittier slogans (Fireside fave: “Preston Market: There cannoli be one”), but manages to highlight the bigger issues at stake when developers don’t take the community’s wishes for their own neighbourhoods into consideration.

Swing here to read the full Jacobin take: bit.ly/3OuGrxC (Content warning: features more talk of class consciousness than Fireside clients may be used to. Onward, comrades.)

14/11/2022

How do you talk about climate change in a way that mobilises people to save the planet without scaring them into inaction? It’s a question we've found ourselves asking in the wake of increasing natural disasters, as our news feeds become clogged with more and more bad news stories about the state of the world​. And it’s a question we decided to put to leading climate communicator Claire O’Rourke on the latest episode of StoryCraft, our podcast about the power of storytelling.

In this engrossing, tip-filled conversation, Claire and Fireside founder Ben Hart talk about why hope might trump shock and fear when it comes to climate communication, whether the climate movement has been too late to the party in developing engaging messaging about the impending crisis, and what kinds of stories we might need to tell to get us out of the climate mess we’re all in.

Listen at the link below, or search for ‘StoryCraft with Ben Hart’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Link: https://the-story.media/articles/claire-o-rourke-says-stories-of-hope-can-save-us-from-a-climate-disaster

09/11/2022

We’ll be the first to book a holiday if our friends at Cliniko ever decide to pivot into the caravan park business. Until then, we were thrilled to join the health software juggernaut for their biannual global meet-up in Healesville, where staff from around the world are flown in to spend time with each other in real life before retreating each night to a fleet of luxury caravans overlooking the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley.

We first started working with Cliniko two years ago, when Kate Hunter asked us to help spread the word about the company’s unique workplace culture: no offices, no meetings, no job titles, unlimited annual leave – the list of innovations goes on. It’s an inspiring model, one driven by founder Joel Friedlaender’s belief in flexibility and trust.

That first project produced some great storytelling about the business benefits of building work around life rather than the other way around. (You can watch some of our videos here: https://lnkd.in/ge9VkE9q.) And it’s inspired us to explore how Fireside can be as flexible and human-centred as possible in the way we work, as well.

Thanks to Joel and Kate (pictured here with Fireside's Luella Charles and Chris Harrigan) for your hospitality and ongoing trust in letting us help Cliniko tell its story. We’ll see you at the next campout.

02/11/2022

The Queen Victoria Market isn’t just a go-to destination for fresh produce – it’s the beating heart of Melbourne’s vibrant culinary scene and one of our most treasured cultural institutions. But despite the love we all feel for the market, after 150 years, it’s started to show its age. Which is why the City of Melbourne is now embarking on a $250 million plan to revitalise the site for the 21st century.

It’s a much-needed update, but one that comes with its fair share of difficulties. For one thing, how do you update a site for modern use while paying respect to the historical features that made it so special in the first place?

To answer this question, the market turned to Fireside to develop a vision for its future. Based on lengthy discussions with key stakeholders and in-depth market research, we created a narrative to guide all communications about the site as construction progresses, recognising its special place in the heart of all Melburnians while acknowledging the need for improvements.

By threading the past with the future in a compelling story of now, we were able to bring stallholders and customers along for the journey, ensuring the market remains true to its core values while building anticipation for what’s to come.

19/10/2022

At Fireside, we believe storytelling can be a superpower. That's why we publish .au, a free digital magazine about all things narrative. And it's why The Story recently published an article about the good folk at , a children’s centre in Melbourne’s west that gets kids ready for the future by teaching storytelling as a core life skill.

The idea, as founder Jess Tran explained it to editor Chris Harrigan, is that by learning how to tell stories (by grappling with narrative arcs and inciting incidents and all the other highfalutin literary devices usually reserved for TV writers’ rooms), children won’t just learn how to spin a yarn—they’ll learn how to be better scientists, better engineers, better lawyers, better whatever it is they want to be.

Click the link below to find out why 100 Story Building does what it does.

At a children’s centre in Melbourne’s west, educators are getting kids ready for the future by teaching storytelling as a core life skill.

11/10/2022

If you consume any Australian media, you’ve probably encountered Van Badham. Whether as a guest on Q&A, a columnist at The Guardian and New York Times, or as the co-host of her Week on Wednesday podcast, Badham has carved out a name as one of Australia’s most visible political commentators.

It’s been a long, interesting and occasionally controversial career. On the most recent episode of StoryCraft, Badham steps us through the whole journey – including the role fellow “bolshie woman” Clementine Ford played in inspiring her to pick up the pen.

Listen below, or search for ‘StoryCraft with Ben Hart’ wherever you get your podcasts.

– Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ghqfaXyY
– Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gF_fg7Dh
– PocketCasts: https://pca.st/5if4fz1e

06/10/2022

Another week, another string of media successes, clunkers and own goals clogging our news feeds. At Fireside, we often dissect these over lunch. But yesterday, our founder Ben Hart was on ABC Radio Melbourne to talk them through with . Was a fun chat, discussing everything from Optus to stage-three tax cuts to the litany of controversies currently plaguing the AFL – the latter of which you can hear a small sample of in this clip.

05/10/2022

Two great outcomes today on two very different issues.

In The Age (and then on ABC Radio Melbourne), the news broke that Queen Victoria Market is set to ban the sale of fake Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander products. It’s a development CEO Stan Liacos has been working on for some time, driven by his desire to protect and encourage Aboriginal art and culture. And it’s a message we’ve been proud to help QVM develop and then tell to the world.

Then over in The Guardian, a great piece about the good work being done by Wave Swell Energy. We helped Wave Swell secure global coverage of their artificial blowhole technology earlier this year – but the story continues. CSIRO recently released a report on wave energy which found that deploying Wave Swell’s tech would help slash renewable energy costs (while also making our grid more stable and reliable). We were thrilled to help get this development the coverage it deserves.

Working on something great you want the world to know about? Get in touch to see how we can help.

26/09/2022

Himangi Singh always wanted to work in media, but was frustrated with the options open to her in Mumbai. Determined to bring a more sophisticated and liberal approach to her reporting, she looked across the seas to Australia and enrolled in Monash University’s Master of Media and Communications.

One post-graduate degree would be enough for most budding journalists. But not for Himangi. She’s currently completing her second master’s, at Monash’s School of Journalism, where she’s focusing on digital, print and investigative and data journalism.

As if this wasn’t enough, Himangi is also Fireside’s first-ever communications intern. She’ll be here over the coming months to help with everything from social media engagement to content creation and everything else story- and comms-related. We look forward to tapping into the new perspectives Himangi brings to Fireside’s work.

17/08/2022

We’re pretty young by agency standards – just three and a bit years old. It’s a blip on the radar compared to some of the bigger players. But that hasn’t stopped us from doing some pretty ambitious stuff. Case in point: last year, we decided to launch an editorially independent magazine celebrating the art and science of storytelling.

It’s called The Story, and it’s our contribution to the ever-growing discourse around storytelling. It’s a topic that’s quite fashionable at the moment, but which often lacks much by way of substance. We wanted to create a place where people could dig into the deeper issues about storytelling, and walk away with practical tools to help them become better storytellers themselves.

With the help of our friends at Positive Vision, we made a short video to explain the thinking behind The Story. Featuring Fireside founder Ben Hart and Story editor Chris Harrigan, it's our little attempt to explain how these two things fit together.

To subscribe to The Story’s newsletter – which is free, and comes out every month or so – head to https://the-story.media/?subscribe=true

05/08/2022

If you want to solve climate change, you have to think creatively. Which is exactly what the boffins at Wave Swell Energy have been doing.

For the past year, the Victorian start-up has been working to change the way we generate energy. Their solution: an artificial blowhole that harnesses the power of the ocean to create clean, renewable electricity back on land.

We’ve been working with Wave Swell to bring the idea of ocean energy to the world. Which is why it was great to see ABC News pick up on this story over the weekend (and spark a flurry of positive conversations on social media).

Of course, this is only the beginning of the Wave Swell journey. There’s plenty more science to do, and plenty more story to tell. We’re excited to be along for the ride.

For the first time in Australia's history, a wave energy converter trial has successfully generated energy from the chaotic and wild ocean waves to power hom...

03/08/2022

We don’t really consider ourselves spin doctors. (“Storytellers for good” is how we usually describe what we do.) Still, it was a pleasure to tune into the Spin Doctors on ABC Melbourne radio and hear Fireside head honcho Ben Hart discuss the week’s media winners and losers.

With host Virginia Trioli, Ben weighed in on everyone from the Reserve Bank of Australia (loser) to treasurer Jim Charmers (winner) to the Shrine of Remembrance. Was Victoria's national memorial a winner or loser? Listen to this audio clip to find out.

26/07/2022

Did you know that Fireside counts one of Melbourne’s best writers and editors among its small but highly talented group of in-house storytellers?

Before landing with us, Chris Harrigan oversaw the much-loved magazine Smith Journal. Other notable achievements have included being called out in New York Magazine for an amazing, almost certainly apocryphal story he told about hot chips, seagulls and the Frankston line. (You can check out that story over here: https://nym.ag/3PR6mz9)

Now as our Editorial Lead, Chris spends a lot of his time shaping Fireside’s passion project (our fireside hustle, if you will) The Story – a magazine about the art and science of storytelling. But he’s also available to help clients with writing and editing work, which more often than not involves sifting through behind-the-scenes complexity and turning it into engaging, eyeball-ready content that can find its intended audience with laser-like accuracy.

If that sounds like what your organisation needs, Chris is here to help. Get in touch with us today at [email protected]

13/07/2022

If you work at Melbourne software company you won’t have any limits on how much annual leave you take, and when. On any given day, you can choose when you work, where and how many hours.

These are just two aspects of an approach to work autonomy and flexibility that has reaped huge benefits for the company. In 10 years it has grown to be a global leader in its sector, with highly motivated and loyal employees who love having jobs that fit around their lives (and not the other way around).

When Cliniko wanted to inspire other businesses about a different way of working - and the benefits of that to their business and their people - they turned to Fireside to help develop a narrative about this carefully-designed work culture, and compelling videos and articles to tell that story.

The first story, about software developer Hagen and developed with , has just been uploaded to Cliniko’s blog and we couldn’t be happier with how it’s come up.

06/07/2022

Did you know we publish an online magazine called The Story? The latest issue is hot off the digital presses, and it’s packed with great content about all things storytelling.
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​We’re particularly thrilled with this piece on ‘cli-fi’, a literary sub-genre that has evolved out of sci-in in response to climate change. Is cli-fi just morbid entertainment, or can it actually help us avert disaster? That's just one of the questions this article seeks to answer.
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Available for free, The Story represents Fireside's commitment to fostering deeper conversations about narratives and the role they play in creating change. Head to the link below to read.

The climate crisis has sparked its own literary genre. Is it just morbid entertainment, or could ‘cli-fi’ actually help us avert disaster?

06/07/2022

Andrew Mueller is the type of writer we assumed went out of commission after Hunter S. Thompson left Rolling Stone.

Curious about subjects big and small, he understands how to get to the heart of the story, knows just how much of himself to insert in it, can turn a phrase you’ll want to re-read several times just to see how he pulled it off, and frequently churns out the most interesting take on a subject you probably didn’t know you wanted to know about.

(He’s also toured, at various times, with both Radiohead and Hezbollah – the magazine double bill we didn’t know we needed.)

Mueller recently sat down with Fireside big boss Ben Hart for the debut episode of the second season of StoryCraft. Together, they discuss how the media world has changed since Mueller started writing (typewriters are out, computers are in), what it takes to make it as a writer, and why he’s surprisingly optimistic about the future of the industry.

Listen via the link below, or search for ‘StoryCraft with Ben Hart’ wherever you get your podcasts.

An interview with writer, editor, podcaster and pundit extraordinaire Andrew Mueller, who's toured with everyone from Radiohead to Hezbollah.

27/06/2022

It’s been a tough few years for Victoria’s artistic community. With exhibitions screeching to a halt during the pandemic (and still not quite back on their feet even now), many artists have struggled to keep the lights on, let alone progress their careers.

That’s why places like Gertrude Contemporary ​are so important. As the oldest contemporary arts organisation in Victoria, Gertrude provides a heavily subsidised space for artists to develop and expand their practices as well as running an extensive exhibition program throughout the year.

To help get the word out about Gertrude and the vital support its Studio Program offers early to mid-career artists, Fireside founder and Gertrude board member Ben Hart stepped in to help make this video.
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​Produced with longtime Fireside collaborators Positive Vision, the video highlights the experience of Gertrude studio artist Mia Salsjö, who says Gertrude has been a career-changer, giving her much-needed, low-cost space to expand her practice in new directions and take giant creative risks.

The Gertrude Studio Program has supported great artists at pivotal moments in their careers since 1985. Over 300 artists have taken part in the program since...

23/06/2022

Like all Melburnians, the Fireside team are all big devotees of the Queen Vic Market. That's why we have loved working with QVM to develop a compelling narrative about the extensive program now underway to protect the market's heritage, create amazing new community spaces and make it an even better place to shop and trade. That story is now coming to life, with CEO Stan Liacos penning this oped in today's Age, outlining the community benefits of the transformation. We were pleased to help get it into the paper. Read it at the link below.

In a city of market lovers, no Melbourne marketplace is more loved than the Queen Vic. And that’s why we need to ensure it continues to evolve.

20/06/2022

We love helping good organisations develop great campaigns. So we were thrilled when we were approached by two of Melbourne's most respected community legal centres, .org and Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre, when they were considering joining forces.

Fireside helped the merger working group develop a compelling change narrative to get members from both organisations over the line. We created content to tell that story and built the infrastructure needed to hold an impartial, legally binding Special General Meeting. (We even established a proxy voting system to ensure members who couldn’t attend could still register their vote.)

The result? A resounding victory for the merger and strengthened support for vulnerable communities across Melbourne's north.

You can read more about the project below.

For decades, the vulnerable and disadvantaged in Melbourne’s inner north have turned to Inner Melbourne Community Legal and Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre for help navigating a complex legal system. When the two much-loved institutions decided to join forces to strengthen that suppor...

09/06/2022

Testing... is this thing on? ​
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​​That's right: after a brief hiatus, StoryCraft is coming back for a second season – and we couldn't be happier with how it's turning out.
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Hosted by Fireside founder Ben Hart (with help from The Story's Chris Harrigan), it's a podcast about the art and science of storytelling, featuring chats with some of the planet's best journalists, broadcasters, campaigners and content creators.

We've just put the final touches on the first episode, and it's a corker (if we do say so ourselves). Look out for StoryCraft season two, launching soon wherever you get your podcasts.

26/05/2022

Twenty-five years ago, the Bringing Them Home Report outlined a path to healing and reconciliation for Australia’s Stolen Generations. Across 700 pages, the report recommended 54 crucial steps to make things right.

A national apology was one recommendation. Financial reparations was another.

A quarter of a century later, we’ve had a national apology, and we continue to observe Sorry Day every May 26. But no national reparation scheme is in sight.

As Professor Bronwyn Carlson writes, “All the ‘sorrys’ in the world won’t provide justice, support or compensation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families. Remembering this significant day is the least we can do.”

On this Sorry Day, let’s strive to do more than the least. Because sorry is more than a word; it’s a commitment to setting things right.

Today is National Sorry Day. This is when we commemorate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families.

28/04/2022

Have you checked out The Story yet? It's a digital magazine all about the art and science of storytelling and a big part of Fireside's commitment to fostering deeper and more informed conversations about stories and their role in creating change in the world.
​Our latest politics-themed edition has just come out, featuring great articles about Grace Tame's gamechanging approach to public advocacy, a deep dive into political branding ... and so much more.
If you haven't already, you should really sign up to our free newsletter, so you'll never miss a new edition. As well as links to original content from The Story, it also includes our picks for the best stories we've come across in our recent travels. Here's the link: https://the-story.media/?subscribe=true

A magazine about the art, craft and science of storytelling.