Journalist Spotlight | Interview with Adelaide Miller, Investigative Reporter for ABC Four Corners

Today, Medianet is joined by Adelaide Miller, Investigative Journalist for the ABC. Here, Adelaide speaks on her body of work, and gives a glimpse into her current media diet and cycle.

As someone who has worked in PR yourself, what do you wish PR knew about you or your work?

Understanding the general patch that journalists cover would help them know which stories are worth pitching. I know it is difficult for those in PR to know every detail about a journalist’s job description, but I often get sent press releases for stories outside my scope of work. 

I also think it’s important to understand the ABC’s audience and how we report. For example, we don’t promote products or brands in our storytelling. 

You’ve worked in various roles at the ABC—Producer, Researcher and Reporter. How did you adapt to these different roles? What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced stepping into them?

I always loved to write, and during my time as a producer, I missed the opportunity to interview talent and craft stories. So, after a few years of producing, I started pitching stories I was passionate about telling for a digital audience. After some time away from writing, it was challenging to know when the right moment to start putting words to the page was, but the best piece of advice I got was to just start and cut later. 

After writing a few features for our national digital page, my interest turned to long-form investigations, where I began researching and reporting for TV, audio and digital. There are always many legal and editorial challenges that come with investigative reporting. Still, I try to approach each of these situations like a sponge: soaking up as much information from my colleagues and editors around me and bringing that information to each new story.

What perspectives and stories are you personally most interested in hearing about through your work?

I am passionate about reporting on social issues and gendered violence, which has been the bulk of my reporting for the last two years. Domestic violence and sexual assault are complex topics to report on, and a lot of vicarious trauma comes with stepping into this space. However, I feel incredibly grateful to be in a position where women and families trust me with some of the most sensitive details of their lives.

As an Investigative Journalist, what does your media cycle look like? Are there any major dates/events that you plan for/look out for content?

Sometimes, when I’m deep in an investigation, it can be difficult to come up for air and look at the daily news cycle, but there are a few news podcasts I rotate each week to keep me up to date. 

I also engage weekly with other national and international investigations across television, digital, and audio. Most of my stories haven’t been tied to a particular date/news event but instead came from a source reaching out and sharing a personal experience that has sparked a wider investigation. 

Lastly, what makes for a memorable pitch? Have you received any lately and what made them stand out?

In my experience, emphasising the human element is most compelling. I find people are always the most powerful, and I feel more confident going into a pitch meeting when I have strong voices and experiences. With any story, I always ask who my audience is and why they should care. If I can answer this early on, it helps me formulate my top line and the spine of my story.